Coaching styles that made me who I am today, how it shaped me as a player, and what I took from each of them.

Justin Hesse: Co Owner and Coach of Clash baseball. My first experience in “scout” baseball got me ready for high school at an exponential rate. We had more rules and expectations than my high school did and Corona Del Sol was extremely competitive. I learned so much about the game on this team, it truly set the foundation for my career and what I strive to give back to the kids today.

Lou Frazier: Played 6 years of Major League Baseball and coached for a few years after, including first base coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lou was my first hitting coach. He taught me a linear approach to hitting in order to use my small stature at the time to increase my power. First coach I learned more about how your first move affects what happens down stream. “Scissoring” in hitting has taken off with many guys teaching this on social platforms but Lou taught me long ago that the scissor was more of an affect to first move in the swing.

Mike Fetters: Played 16 years of Major League Baseball and Coaching Major League Baseball for 10 years. I tore my subscapularis my freshman year and Mike taught me how to throw again. Fett became my pitching coach for the next 10 years, got me to college, and kept me injury free over my career. Mike taught me the value of using simple cues to fix complex mechanical issues. He shaped the way I pitched, competed on the mound, and after years of researching biomechanics, everything he taught me couldn’t be more spot on.

Bill Sandillo: Was a hitting coach for 6 MiLB teams and has been studying swing mechanics for 28 years. Teacher of rear legged hitting. Coached me in the Northwoods League. Saw Bill coach several players to summer league MVP’s in the toughest summer leagues in the country including the cape. Learned swing mechanics from Bill my Senior year of highschool and again when I stopped playing to give back generations coming up.

Micah Franklin: Hitting Coach and Player Development Coach for the Dbacks. Coached the Dbacks scout team my junior year of HS. Probably the best team I’ve ever been on, which had 14 of the 17 being draft picks. True definition of hard nosed coach that didn’t let anything slide. Showed me the importance of all the little things on the field and how they’ll make or break you as a prospect.

Jeff Carter: Played 10 years of pro ball and coached/ managed 10 more years of pro ball. As a player Coach Carter helped refIne me defensively and solIdified my approach at the plate. Gave true meaning to what an approach could do for your swing on any pItch. As a coach, he’s my mentor and someone I look up to. Always a step ahead and was able to put kids in a position to succeed. Showed what it meant to slow something and be able to articulate it to a team so they could go out and attempt to master team concepts.

Casey Upperman: Player development coach for the Oakland A’s. Gave me my first look at coaching groups of kids in the private sector as well as coaching professional athletes. A blessing to my growth as a coach, was able to take a deep dive into mechanics and work with high tech equipment to develop players from all levels.