BASEBALL
 
**Team Banquet 5/9 12:00-3:00 - mandatory for players - informational email for registration, etc has been emailed please be sure to look for it!
 
** Varsity Scr. vs Obama added 5/8 - 10:00 AM - PNC Park
** Eden Game 5/7 cancelled
 
$50 hat sale money is due. This is a player requirement. This fundraiser helps pay for 2nd hat, practice shirts, team long sleeve shirts, pullovers, team meals, food for after away games, various equipment needs, etc.
 
Please continue to sell shirts as well!
Link to purchase long sleeve shirts (fundraiser):
 
Upcoming Schedule (subject to change):
 
Mon 5/4 - Game @ Riverview 4:00 (Riverview HS, Oakmont); players report to AAC by 12:30 for BP ; purple jersey, white short pants, purple socks/belt/hat
Tue 5/5 - Game vs. Riverview 6:30 YT; Sr. Recognition 6:00; SH 2:35; white pinstripe jersey, white pinstripe pants, purple belt/hat
Wed 5/6 - Practice 3:00-4:30 MJ; van departs 2:45; no SH
Thu 5/7 - Practice 4:00-6:00 YT; SH 2:35
Fri 5/8 - Scr. vs. Obama 10:00 AM PNC Park; report to HR then to AAC; black jersey/hat, white pinstripe pants, purple belt
Sat 5/9 - Banquet 12:00-3:00 - Players arrive by 11:45; dress code: collared shirt, dress pants, belt dress shoes (no t-shirts, a-shirts, hoodies, jeans, shorts, jorts, sweatpants, etc.)
Sun 5/10 - OFF - Mother's Day
Week of 5/11 - WPIAL Playoffs Begin
 
 
Important Dates for the Season:

March 2 - First Practice Date
March 2-3 - Tryout Dates
March 8 - Uniform Distribution (afternoon) / Parent Meeting via Zoom 7:00 PM
March 9 - First Scrimmage (trying to schedule one for the 7th as well)
March 14 - Serra Tournament in Elizabeth, PA (all day)
March 30 - First Section Date
April 2-5 - Triduum and Easter Sunday - No Team Activities
April 6 - Resume Team Activities
May 5 - Pre-Game Senior Recognition (vs. Riverview) (6:00 PM)
May 8 - Playoff Brackets Released
May 9 - Banquet 12:00-3:00 (required team function); practice TBD
May 9 - Last day of Regular Season
May 11-27 - WPIAL Playoffs (Championships May 26 and 27)
June 1-13 - PIAA Playoffs
 
 
**Good book on the mental game of baseball: Heads-Up Baseball 2.0; 5 Skills for Competing One Pitch at a Time. By Ken Ravizza and Tom Hansen.
https://headsupbaseball2.com/2
 
**Good article on hitting...players must read....
https://www.beabetterhitter.com/lost-secrets-of-hitting/
 
 
OLSH Baseball apparel and gear:
 
Catchers chest protectors: NFHS/PIAA regulations on chest protectors state that all chest protectors must be NOCSAE certified with proper heart protection.  The other option is a special undershirt with padding that is NOCSAE certified is permitted.  https://www. .org/articles/high-school-baseball-rules-changes-focus-on-player-safety/ 
 
 
A PLAYER WHO WANTS TO BE GREAT CANNOT ONLY PRACTICE AND PLAY THE GAME ITSELF, BUT HAS TO BE A TRUE STUDENT OF THE GAME!
(Otherwise it's just a hobby, and the player will never achieve greatness.)
 
 
**Video by Alex Rodriguez on hitting.  [Very good except I would explain that the hands do go to the ball, but they need to level off and get on the plane of the ball and go through the ball for square contact.  He is correct in saying that a "launch angle" approach is not correct for the high school player.  But chopping down to "get backspin" I don't agree with either (at least as far as the high school game is concerned - the pitcher's velocity and bat speed are not high enough to generate the desired effect).  The truth lies more in the middle.]
 
 
**Excellent article on a great hitting book (The Mike Schmidt Study), pointing out some of the key takeaways:
 
 
The book is out of print but can be bought used if interested:
 
 
Other great timeless hitting books:
The Science of Hitting (by Ted Williams):
 
Rod Carew's Art and Science of Hitting
 
Great book on the mental approach to baseball
The Mental Game of Baseball
 
Pitching:
Nolan Ryan's Pitchers Bible
https://www.amazon.com/Nolan-Ryans-Pitchers-Bible-Performance/dp/0671705814/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19VEFBWWD224Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Uz-Sbr8tF_A-GqzCz8zIgG9QbPVFOuc3bt9vkJGLHM3NUX4iUE5W0ZxPjNMkLm06hzB-J0Dq57Wi5BUwFx6abWgcEIa8i2sj9tijYKPWDFIdQ-sR0qT0hDa4QTxlsbkX94pvghRgbRHAnrxo7glozuUYThxEl-c5hOMmbaQ7lKwnHxcvCDFev7BWsRfkk7su94jcGl2OqXuJKiHrwJm-aBauMkINtlQ5Z2s9_hAuUq4.8is9g-0uMcsmoJmDmOyx7BxL31xSSjmy8bc5jj7LZsU&dib_tag=se&keywords=nolan+ryan+pitchers+bible&qid=1710263280&sprefix=nolan+ryans+pi%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1