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| TEAM FASTBALL USA |
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| Team Fastball At The University of Notre Dame, Frank Eck Stadium |
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In the Summer of 2010 Team Fastball USA began officially competing in 7 tournaments at the 15U level. Capturing the 2010 "Battle of Bats" Tournament championship, and finishing in the semi-finals in two additional tournaments.
Staying true to the mission of "development", Team Fastball in 2011 decided to play up against 17U competition despite having ten 16year old players. The philosophy is to put development over winning. Despite having a very young squad, Team Fastball USA 17U, captured another tournament championship in Battle Creek in 2011, and the very next week won the USSSA Rockford tourney. A few weeks later Team Fastball would just miss of capturing it's 3rd tournament championship losing by 1 run in the Final game which would have concluded a 3 game sweep in one day playing in 95 degree heat.
In addition to playing up against older competition which included 18U tournaments and 17U tournaments, Team Fastball also competed at the highest levels of tournament competition. Team Fastball USA played in the US Baseball Championships in Richmond, VA losing 4-1 in the elimination game to the eventual tournament champions. Team Fastball also continued to play some of the best competition in the country playing in Showcase Tournement at the University of Notre Dame and surrounding schools playing among dozens of college coaches representing several Division I baseball programs across the country.
Team Fastball USA added 3 additional teams in 2011. Team Fastball USA 15U for the second year in the row competed in the WWBA World Championships in Marietta,GA. In addition just like the 15U team the year before, the 15U team played up against older competition in 3 different 16u tournaments which included advancing to the semi-finalis in two tournaments and winning the USSSA Rockford tourney. Team Fastball in 2011 had teams at the 13U, 15U,16U, and 17U levels. In 2012 Team Fastball will have five teams, 14U through 18U.
While most programs constantly focus on the winning aspect, Team Fastball continues to challenge it's players with the development concept and playing against older and better competition and playing in the top tournaments. Winning or losing against better competition is part of the development process. While other organizations take talented players and ask them to play down, Team Fastball often takes talented players and asks them to play up against older competition. This concept is to put your overall improvement over winning.
Team Fastball players go through an entire year round training program emphasizes and guarantees improvement. Most notable many of our players improve and enhance throwing speed an average of 4mph, and hitting improve hitting power by improving ball exit speed an average of 5mph. A challenging baseball specific strength and conditioning program. The Black Belt Training focuses on specific explosiveness for baseball athletes and is key reason for our players reaching the 90mph mark in hitting and throwing. Black Belt along with full access to our Explosive Hitting and Black Belt Training For pitchers and positon players has led to huge gains and improvements among our students and players.
Team Fastbal Players also take part working with Coach Adam Kotowski, who leads the "Mastering the Mindset" sessions. These sessions focus on getting the most out of the mind to help improve performance. This area alone has helped players reach new heights in performance. Without the right mindset you don't maximize your training performance or game time performance. In addional Team Fastball also works with defensive specialist, Coach Bill Rosencrans on position specific defensive training.
NO OTHER ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES OFFERS AND GUARANTEES THIS TYPE OF TRAINING AND IMPROVEMENT. COULD YOU USE 4-5MPH OF ADDITIONAL THROWING OR HITTING POWER?
Team Fastball is the Revolution in Travel Baseball!
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| Coach Ryan is handed the Battle of the Bats Championship Trophy in Battle Creek,Michigan |
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| Battle Creek Champs |
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| Team Fastball USA Players doing in between inning work staying loose and mentally sharp. |
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| Anthony Santos Does his arm care band workouts in between innings |
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| Dom Demicco is met by his team after hitting a first inning home run in the semi final game win in Rockford |
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| Team Fastball 15U Celebrate their Championship at the USSSA Tourney in Rockford |
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| Dan Behof rounds the bases after hitting his second 3 Run Homer in the Semi Final Game which lead Fastball to it's second Tournament Championship in two weeks |
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| 17U USSSA Rockford Tourney Champs |
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| Robert Zerfas and TJ Brown warm up in the bullpen. Both Zerfas and Brown display 80mph plus fastballs |
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| Coach Ryan speaks with Team Fastball at the East Cobb Baseball Complex in Marietta, Georgia, WWBA National Championships |
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| Mike Woods performs the Fastball USA post game pitching routine At Notre Dame |
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| John Buttita Slides into Third During The 13U Opening Weekend Tournament |
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| Team Fastball Warming Up Prior to The Game. The Fastball wake up/warm up is unique and a crucial part of our performance and successful results. |
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| Corry Biesty Delivers a Pitch For the Team Fastball 13U |
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2012 Tryout Information
This mission is clear. Team Fastball USA is looking for elite athletes who have the burning desire to improve. We are not looking for those who are simply satisfied with their situation and talent level. Our program is 100% focused on development and improvement. Our version of development is improvement and we back it up with measurements, recording, documentation of every aspect of baseball training including throwing power, velocity, command, hitting power, ball exit speed, distance, bat speed, strength, speed, and quickness.
We measure everything. All players will also take part in a 2012 in-season measurement program which focuses on documenting game progress, results, to help assist on where improvements need to be made.
Tryouts For Team Fastball USA
Saturday, August 6th & Sunday August 7th
9am - 1pm 5pm - 9pm
13U,14U,15U,16U,17U,18U
Who should tryout ?
We are looking for those who embrace long term devlopment over the obsession with winning a single game or tournament.
Join our cycle of training which begins in the fall and continues throughout the entire year. This includes when to rest, when to train, and how to train depending the time of year.
If you have zero interest in working hard, and don't have the burning desire to play at the next level then don't bother applying for Team Fastball.
We are looking for those with the burning desire to improve and want to play at next level. Burning desire means those who don't mind working harder than everyone else. Those who dont' mind being different than everyone else. Lazy is not a good quality for a Team Fasball kid.
Development comes first over winning a single game or tournament.
Progress and measurements and taken tracked all year round.
A Complete Training Cycle for players who are passionate and serious about playing at the next level regardless of what that level is!
More info:
Tryout Information:
Click Here:
After registering for tryouts you will be sent the Team Fastball Application/Information document within 72 hours. YOu will be assigned a tryout time for Saturday, August 6th and Saturday, August 7th.
A $25.00 tryout registration fee is required when registering for tryouts. You register on-line below.
Team Fastball 13U
Team Fastball 14U
Team Fastball 15U
Team Fastball 16U
Team Fastball 17U
Team Fastball 18U
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| Brandt and Iliopoulos Get Selected to Play in US Baseball Championship All Star Game on CBS Sports |
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| Kraemer Brandt flies around first after crushing a ball in the gap. Brandt has been Team Fastballs centerfielder lead off hitter for the past 2 seasons and ran a 6.86, 60 yard dash, at Team Fastball tryouts in 2011. |
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Chris Iliopoulos and Kraemer Brandt of the Team Fastball 17U have both been selected to play in the US Baseball Championships ALL-Star game which will be televised on July 26th on CBS Sports network. Iliopoulos is a left handed hitting third basemen and first basemen from St. Patrick High School going into his senior year. Brandt is a left handed hitting speedster and centerfielder from Conant High School going into his junior year. Both have spent several years training with Fastball USA and now play for Team Fastball USA.
Iliopoulos has hit well over .400 throughout the season for Team Fastball which also includes belting 4 home runs during the summer tournament season. Along with this Chris also won the Home Run Derby at the US Baseball Championships in Richmond, Virginia.
Brandt is hitting .394 for Team Fastball and leads the team in stolen bases and serves as the teams starting centerfielder and leadoff hitter. Brandt also figures to play a key role for Contant High School as a junior next spring.
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| Iliopoulos Wins Home Run Derby at US Baseball Championships in Richmond, Virginia |
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| Chris Iliopoulos (center) with his team members in Richmond,VA after winning the Home Run derby at the US Baseball Championships. Chris was the Teams Leading hitter in batting average and home runs for Team Fastball USA 17U in 2011 |
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Long time Fastball USA student and 17U Team Fastball USA player, Chris Iliopoulos wins the home run derby over 24 others at US Baseball Championships.
Chris is a senior at St. Patrick High School in Chicago. On Thursday night, Chris displayed his power hitting 3 home runs in the opening round of the derby to advance to the final round. In round 2 Chris added another 3 home runs along with some other impressive shots to be crowned the home run derby champion.
Congrats to Chris on this accomplishment!
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| 2011 Battle Of The Bats Champs! Back To Back |
Team Fastball 17u defeated the Franchise 4-3 in the championship game in Battle Creek,MI. Great pitching, timely hitting, and outstanding defense gave Team Fastball a 4-1 record in Battle Creek for the weekend.
Highlights included 4 great pitching performances by Andrew Hjellming, Michael Woods, Dan Behof, and Pat Bellinger. Austin Foote closed the door and came away with the save in the championship game.
Aggressive baserunning by Kraemar Brandt and TJ Nolan led to the championship victory. Dom Demicco and Nolan let down successful bunts for hits to spark a three run inning. Demicco nailed a potential run out at third base from right field earlier in the game to crush a potential rally.
To learn more about Team Fastball keep checking this web page along with teamfastballusa.com.
Congrats to the Batttle of the Bats 2011 Champions.
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| Team Fastball 15U and 17U Win USSSA Rockford Tourney !!! |
What was that fire work show in Rockford???
Two fields side by side was a perfect setting for a power display for both Team Fastball USA teams in Rockford. In a matter of minutes balls went flying out of the park on both fields.
Ethan Bloom hit his third home run in 2 days for the Team Fastball 15U. Dominic Demicco was the second batter in the game in the semi final game hit and opposite field home run.
Moments later on the 15U field Anthony Santos hit a deep blast over the left field wall for Team Fastball. Just two batters after Demicco, and minutes later Danny Behof hit a three run homer in the top of the first to give Team Fastball 17U a 5-0 lead against the FOG Orioles in the first inning.
Two innings later Behof hit his second Three run homer of the game to cap the fire work show in Rockford. Both the 15U and 17U teams went on to win the Rockford tournament in exciting fashion. The 17U team swept winning three games in one day including defeating the FOG Orioles which defeated Fastball the day before. Team Fastball 15U swept two games on Sunday including the championship game in which Santos pitched them to a 3-2 victory.
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| Team Fastball 15U Celebrates on Field after the final out of the USSSA Rockford Tourney Championship Game |
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| Team Fastball USA 2011 15U Squad After Winning The USSSA Rockford Tourney |
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| Team Fastball USA Crashes in on Kenosha |
A weekend of freak injuries, massive heat, and good pitching saw two Team Fastball USA teams just miss of facing each other in the Kenosha tournament the weekend of July 8th.
Team Fastball 16U and Team Fastball 15U both played in the 16U bracket and lost in the semi final games. Team Fastball 16U just missed of entering the championship game losing 9-8. A home run from Dan Urban gave Team Fastball a late lead in which was not enough to hold on. A freak injury for the 15U squad opened up a big inning in the semi final game.
Team Fastball 17U was faced with having to win three games again like they did in Rockford. This time in 95 degree hit. Team Fastball won the first game 17-0 behind home runs by Joey Jianette and TJ Nolan. In Game 2 Team Fastball won a tight ball game behind home runs by TJ Nolan again and Chris Iliopoulos.
The title game saw Team Fastball battle back from being down 4-1 and tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the 7th before losing in bottom half of the 7th. This day was another example of the gritty, determined, never give up style of play that Team Fastball as become known for.
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| Team Fastball Player hits 92mph |
Dom Demicco (Lake Zurich HS, 2013) has been training with Fastball USA for nearly 2 years. Now going into his junior year, Demicco hit a new high on a outfield throwing drill at 92mph crushing his previous high. Demicco also hit 88-89mph several times. Demicco plays right field for Team Fastball 17U and displays and tremendous arm from the outfield.
In addition to being a left handed hitter and outfielder, Demicco also pitches. On the mound his fastball has already hit 83mph with a dynamite curve ball to match his fastball. As of today Demicco's throwing velocity has improved 13mph in two years. His hitting ball exit speed has jumped from 77mph to 93mph. This is the concept of development that Team Fastball does not just talk about. What you measure, you can improve!
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| CONGRATS TO TEAM FASTBALL!!! 2010 Battle Of The Bat Champs in Battle Creek,Michigan |
| Congrats to Team Fastball on earning the 31 seed out of 113 Teams at the WWBA, National Championships in Marrietta,GA |
Team Fastball USA is a unique concept of development and exposure for baseball players that are serious about improvement and playing at the next level.
Team Fastball USA includes a detailed off-season training program that works on development and improvement of both ability and skill. Our unique training focuses on "objective measurements" providing constant feedback for our athletes improvement.
Led by Seattle Mariners Scout, Mike Ryan. Training also provided by pitching coach and former head baseball coach of North Park University, Coach Steve Vandenbranden.
If we are not improving, then we are standing still. This is how you get passed up!
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| Team Fastball - Taking You Beyond Your Current Ability |
The Team Fastball Difference ?
Our program is clearly one of the only training centers in the country that takes an elite athlete as well as an average athlete and makes improvements. Traditional program simply take advantage of your kids talents and ride that talent for a better winning percentage, bragging rights, and some even claim that they "know" the right contacts. At the end of the day your kid is no better than when he started.
Our focus is clear. If your an elite player you can and will make improvements. If your a developmental player you can and will make improvements. We focus on areas that will prepare you for the next level and give you the best opportunity to showcase the skills both college and pro scouts look for.
Improvement Emphasis and Specialties Include:
A. Velocity
B. Hitting Power (Ball Exit Speed/Distance/Bat Speed/Explosiveness)
C. Running Speed/Quickness/Baseball Specific Strength
D. Health/Durability
Along with these areas you get an opportunity to work with the master of the training the mindset in Coach Adam Kotowski. His program helps everyone take their game and life to another level.
A program that challenges even the best athletes to achieve more. In the off-season of 2010-2011, four players improved ball exit speed to 97mph before the age of 17. Several players have reached and exceeded 90mph of ball exit speed. Our program measures, tracks, and challenges every type of athlete to improve their current situation.
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Team Fastball "The Mission is Clear"
If you're Not Improving Then Your Standing Still
* The most rigorous off-season and year round training program designed to improve all aspects of your game
* Results Oriented.
If you're not improving your standing still.
Team Fastball uses a training program constantly backed by objective measurements for immediate feedback on results. Players track, record, measure virtually everything from individual skill and ability testing all the way to team testing.
* Improvement and long term development outweigh the short term success of a victory. Players are not over used and abused just to pile up a record of wins in order to attract the next year players that will replace the ones from the year before. This is NOT a meat grinder like many programs. Our program is focused on improvement first, winning second.
* Competition: We will measure our individual and team performances by competing against some of the best competition in the area and around the country. In our world, games are simply a test. A test to see how we stack up, and a chance to see where improvement needs to be made. MOST OTHER USE GAMES AS THE ONLY WAY TO IMPROVE....WE ALREADY KNOW THAT DOES NOT WORK.
TAKING PLAYERS WHO ARE ALREADY GOOD AND WINNING IS EASY. TAKING PLAYERS WHO ARE ALREADY GOOD AND MAKING THEM BETTER IS OUR SPECIALTY.
The first National Team put together by Fastball USA is truly a unique concept to the travel baseball world. The focus is primary on development and training improving ability and skill. Winning % will play a secondary role. Our goal is not only to showcase players, it is to improve players to give them more opportunities in the sport of baseball. While most of the travel baseball world will boast about records, we will boast about improvement first, and winning second.
Does this mean we don't care about winning ? NO.
Our philosophy believes players need to learn how to compete. Afterall competing is what sport is all about.
What seperates us ?
If we play winning baseball our work is not done. Every player that enters the Team Fastball organization must improve and benefit from our systems.
Most organizations around the country will simply utilize your talents to improve winning %, tournament victories, and then say they helped you get to the next level. Really?
Our systems are designed to improve a player regardless of his current talents and abilities. Improving at many different levels.
We don't just put great players on our team and say, "Look who plays for us".
Our Mission:
Develop and improve each athlete beyond their current capabilities.
Enhance each player to improve opportunities at being excellent at the next level
Improvement of Ability:
Players and Families have committed to improving ability as a priority. Each player will track and measure progress through the Fastball system.
Ability Measurements include running faster, throwing harder, farther, hitting harder, farther with better flight more consistently. Physical improvements and measurements include strength, quickness, agility, and explosiveness improvements.
The bottom line is we are not taking kids who are good but don't want to get better. We are taking already talented althletes and assisting them in their goals of working towards and improvement and the goals of playing college baseball or professional baseball someday.
We are not focused "bragging" about our record. If we play .800 baseball and very little to no improvement has been made in overall ability then we have failed. The average increase in bat speed is 7mph, and the average increase in throwing speed is 7-8mph in one year. These numbers among others including arm health, physical conditioning, explosiveness will be a major part of our goals.
Skill Tracking:
The skills will be constantly measured and developed through off-season and in-season training. Technique that matches professional players. Each player will be allowed to hold their own personal style while improving the principle's that all great players do a like.
Video Tracking:
Each player will have a personal video on-line locker for at home video analysis review by our professional staff which includes scouts, and former college players and head coaches. The video locker is also designed for in-season use.
For example, a player can go home and review video of their swing or pitching motion from the weekends games.
We will put development of each athlete ahead of the winning pct% or records.
We are committed to improving good players and helping them get better. Most programs simply rely and use your skill to help that coach or organization look better. We will improve each player regardless of how good they currently are.
Team Fastball is an Elite team that will compete in local and national tournaments against some of the best competition.
A Final Word About Fundamentals and Development
I read about many schools and programs talking about development. I want to be clear about my philosophy of development and fundamentals.
Development means "results"...period. Improved fundamentals, means improved "performance-results...period. Just because your told that a team or academy is going to work on fundamentals and development does not mean your actually getting better.
Why ? For many fundamentals is what builds development. The problem is many coaches can't agree on what good fundamentals really are. So at the end of the day really what they mean to tell you is your going to do things "according to them".
I don't care about fundamentals if the fundamentals are not creating better "results". We are a results oriented training center. WE OBJECTIVELY MEASURE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. FROM OUR WARM-UP, STRENGTH, EXPLOSIVENESS, THROWING, HITTING, DEFENSE, TEAM DEFENSE, everything is measured.
Therefore if your making a change to appease a coaches so called "fundamentals", you better literally see the results. If not, why are you changing ?
At Team Fastball We Believe in developing the baseball player as an athlete not just as a baseball player.
I noticed teams offering what is called explosive training, however, they have very little connection to the explosiveness required in throwing a baseball or hitting a baseball. In other words students see these as seperate activities. They don't blend "explosive" to the baseball field.
So the result they end up being more "explosive" in training, but not on the field. What's the point ? Our training blends "explosive" into the real baseball world.
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2010 Team Roster:
Kraemer Brandt
Anthony Drago
Austin Foote
Ryan Roach
Dominic Demicco
Mike Woods
Nick Zak
Jimmy Ryan
Danny Behof
Rajul Nallapapa
Mike Viverito
Mike Anciuliss
Joe Jianette
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Tryouts for 2012 Will Be Held in August 2011
2 Divisions of Team Fastball
Elite Developmental Division
Developmental Division
Since we don't believe in the "freak" theory, we understand that players peak, mature, before others. This is why we have two divisions beginning in 2012.
Elite Athlete -
This is the current Elite Player that is looking to improve on his current ability and also be tested against the highest competition.
Elite does not mean we are satisfied with what we are currently. The Elite players still needs to be challenged, improved, and must continue to work towards short and long term goals.
Developmental is a classic case of a player with the heart and desire that also wants to improve. This player will be challenged in the same fashion as our elite player. We will focus on short term and long term goals for this player as we realize some peek later than others. Some with proper training will soon pass the guys who currently at the top of their game. The development team will still face good competition, but may not face the best teams in the country each week.
The bottom line no matter which division, we don't stand still hoping and praying we get better. We focus on improvement regardless of your current situation.
More importantly we get results.
More Tryout info for both Elite Development and Development Divisions will be announced later this spring and summer.
Want to be a Team Fastball Member?
Email: fastballusa@hotmail.com
Age Groups for 2012
18U
17U
16U
15U
14U
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