New Website for Elite!

Visit us on the web now at www.elitebaseballtraining.com

Our website reflects the same progressive technology that Elite uses in its everyday training. Check us for our video analysis upload service, the nation's only 3D hitting analysis from AMM, or our live on-line Skype lessons! You can also book all of your lessons and camps right on our website.

Facebook link!!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=731624685&sk=wall

Click the facebook link for more video and written tips!

See you on the field!
Justin

Friend Elite Baseball on Facebook and Twitter!

Send me a friend request on Facebook. My user name is Justin Stone. Email- elitebaseballtraining@hotmail.com

Twitter - Username - Elitebase1 - email, elitebaseballtraining@hotmail.com

Double Duty coming to St. Louis this week. Featured in ESPN Magazine.

Our annual Double Duty Classic tryout in St. Louis is this week. I will be in St. Louis from Thursday to Sunday looking for talent. The St. Louis tryout has produced some outstanding players the last three years. Through this venue, we discovered Blair Springfield (Decatur, IL), Chuckie Jones (Boonville, MO), and Lance Jeffries (McCluer High School). All hit the national scene with the help of our event. Springfield was drafted in the 7th round by the Cubs. Jones was the 7th round by the Giants, and Jeffries looks to be drafted this year. It is a good feeling to be able to get players help in forwarding their baseball careers. Because of Nathan Durst and Dan Puente of the Chicago White Sox, the Double Duty Classic has become a major event for scouts across the country.

See below, a recent article in ESPN on how our Chicago White Sox inner city program started and how it is helping kids today. I was on the ground floor of the program, writing the proposal for the inaugural season.

http://rise.espn.go.com/baseball/articles/2011/02/09-baseball-ace-program.aspx?pursuit=Baseball

Research at the Kinetic Performance Center

Sorry - the busy season is upon us and its tough for me to sit down at a computer. Those of you who know me, know I am the biggest proponent of video analysis with hitters. To me, video analysis has revolutionized, and increased efficiency in hitting instruction. Hitting coaches who do not use it, are simply guessing. It is impossible for the human eye to breakdown a complex movement of the swing - real time. I have upgraded my cameras and equipment three times in the last year, as technology is steaming ahead in this field (using casio ex fh 100 camera, filming indoors at 120 fps, outdoors at 1000 fps on JC Video Ultimate Software). Now, 3D analysis capability is available, and will blow the current 2D analysis away. I've been working with Michael Napolean at the Kinetic Performance Center in downtown Chicago the last two weeks learning about how 3D analysis can improve teaching of the baseball swing. I told Michael, I got more out of the first 5 minutes of the program than I have in the last five years of teaching (and that's a lot). I was so excited about the analysis, I recruited White Sox big league coach, Mike Gellinger to go with me yesterday to test our swings. Instantly, pages and pages of feedback are fed into the computer immediately after the swing. The best feedback we can see fromt the 3D analysis is with the efficiency of the swing. It will not only tell us if the kinematic sequence is correct, but how much transfer and output are in each segment. With 2D analysis, good instructors can "see" what it is suppose to look like, but with 3D analysis there is specific statistical data to back it up. You can see how this would benefit being able to attack one particular transfer segment of the swing. To understand the data, you would first have to understand the kinematic sequence. TPI 3D, whose technology we were using, has a simple explanation of sequencing if you need a refresher: http://www.mytpi.com/mytpi05/TPI3D/article.asp?id=329 As a basic synopis after testing our swings, you will notice on mine, I had a huge overload on my backside (I was really trying to cut it loose!). The overload led to an exaggerated hip loading, causing my hips to have to start unloading sooner. (You will see this in the early gradual acceleration of my red line). After this flaw, my swing was in good sync, but I got less transfer from my hips to my core. (We would want the hip turn to be less gradual than mine was). I did have excellent hip and shoulder seperation which led to a fast swing and acceleration of the bat. With Mike's swing, his whole negative move and advance was more controlled and less pronounced than mine. His swing had near perfect synchronization but less total output. I attest this to me getting more degrees of rotation in both my hips and torso than he did. There are pages and pages of data I could write from just one swing and I have been scouring the data for the past two days. The clips I've added are a small fraction of the total data it provides. I will continue to update as I collect more data. John Mallee, Florida Marlins big league hitting coach, spoke about furthering this research together. The next step is to get some big league hitters as test subjects to get some good parameters of a high level swing. It will be exciting to see where this leads us into improving hitting instruction!

Players Shine in Caymans. . .

Our 5 day baseball tour of the Cayman Islands is yet again, complete. Over 70 players from the island trained with us 5 hours a day from Monday through Friday. The kids, age ranges 6-17 were so excited to have us down again, and I don't know that I've had that much fun doing a camp in a long time. The kid's personalities were unique and wonderful. It was so great to see kids,some with very little baseball experience at all, starting to grasp the game by Friday. Their faces would light up with big smiles when they started seeing themselves getting better.

At the older level, it is really baseball at its purest form - almost a sandlot type atmosphere. You see, no Cayman player has ever made a serious mark at the collegiate or professional level, so most players there play simply because they enjoy it. A few players that we have now trained over the last 5 years, are ready to make the next step in playing collegiately in the United States. I look forward to helping these players fulfill their dreams in playing collegiately here.

From the travel standpoint, the island was wonderful. We stayed in a condo on the water, and I found it very peaceful to get a workout in each day on our private pier, as the sun rose over the ocean. It was 85 and sunny every day. At night we would talk baseball while watching the World Series at Coconut Joe's or the Royal Palms. The island has a very "small town" feel to at as just over 50,000 people live there. I would be walking downtown after camp and people would call out to me using my first name. They really made us feel at home. My travel schedule will stay busy with 4 more trips to Mexico/the Caribbean planned before March. Below are some television and newspaper links to our stay:

http://www.cayman27.com.ky/news/item/7402

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2010/11/01/Sox-like-our-talent/

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2010/10/29/White-Sox-coaches-excite-locals/

Nazareth Summer State Champs!

A meeting with my good friend, and long time hitting coach at Nazareth Academy, John Sime today reminded me of a overdue post. John's Nazareth Academy squad won the IHSBCA Summer State High School Championship this year. This is quite a feat especially considering how small of a school Nazareth is. For the past 3 years, I have gone to Nazareth to help implement their in-season hitting program. John is a big believer in our system, and it has really paid off for their hitters. Under John's tutelage, Nazareth consistently has a team batting average over .350 and sends many players on to Division I schools. They are a fun group to work with because there isn't one group that is more respectful and hungrier for knowledge than Nazareth. Probably not a coincidence why their so good, huh?

John and I were putting in his hitting analysis system today, so he can help guide Nazareth to another state championship.

Back to the Cayman Islands this October

I will be heading down with some of my White Sox collegues to the Cayman Islands to put on an instructional series for players in their league. The White Sox started a relationhip with the Cayman Island group shortly after the Sox won the World Series in 2005 and it will mark our 5th time going there to instruct their kids. The week long trip is a great 5 days of baseball. Their 4 back to back field-turf fields provide an excellent setting to teach. The beach, sting rays, iguanas and Carribean Drinks aren't bad either!

Halas makes Team USA 40 man roster

Tyler Halas, who I had the pleasure of coaching at the USA Baseball NTIS in North Carolina has been selected to the USA Baseball 14U 40 man roster. Tyler will compete in the USA Trials next summer as one of the few representatives from the Midwest. The roster, predominantly dominated by talent from Texas, California and Florida has had few Midwestern athletes represented in past years. Halas, joins Andrew Owen (Chicago) as making the 40 man roster in the last two years. Andrew has taken lessons with me since I moved to Chicago 6 years ago.

Tyler was a pleasure to coach and has a bright baseball future. His game intensity will represent the Midwest well during the USA Baseball Trials.

USA Baseball NTIS

Another step in choosing next year's USA Baseball Team was completed last weekend with the NTIS tournament. Along with Nelson Gord of Playball USA, I coached the 13U Great Lakes team. A first class operation, USA Baseball did a phenomenal job putting the event together. The competition and baseball in general was outstanding. Players on our team that excelled and deserve consideration were Connor Enochs (Iowa), Tyler Halas (West Chicago) and Jake Millosch (St. Charles). These players were among several I defined as true "baseball players." To me, the ultimate compliment. The Great Lakes staff, put together by Pete Caliendo was outstanding. I enjoyed talking the game with them all weekend. Hall of Fame coaches Jim Hall and Terry Ayers, along with St. Charles North coach Jim Richardson and Playball USA coach Marc Besterman were great leaders of their respective staffs. A special thanks to the people of Cary, and especially those at Lake Johnson for their hospitality.

What's new with Justin Stone?

A few updates with a two of the high schools I work with regularly. Lincoln, IL, downstate, just had a one day hitting clinic with me. Coach Pat Hake and his staff had me in recently to work with his team in refining their hitting mechanics. I did Digital Analysis on each of the players to get them started in their fall program. This is the 4th consecutive year I've gone to Licoln, and have to admit, I have more fun there than almost any place I go! They really appreciate my time and effort and the kids really desire to get better. I keep going back because I really feel like the kids appreciate the opportunity to work with me. Pat also goes much too far out of his way to take care of me. I enjoyed a cook-out and night out with his staff to discuss baseball related topics and the Lincoln County Fair is second to none! Where else can I do Digital Analysis and watch a tractor pull in the same day?

October 16 I will be the featured speaker at the Chicago Christain Academy Baseball Fundraiser and Golf Outing. Coach Eric Brauer was a former recruit of mine years ago when I was at Indiana State U. and I have worked with his players in the pre-season for the last few years. I am thankful Eric asked me to help raise money for their baseball program. I plan to take many of my instructors to their golf outing and hope to entertain them when I speak at their fundraiser dinner.

Working with the Australian Women's National Baseball Team

Yesterday, I worked with the Australian National Women's Baseball Team. For three hours, I took them through defensive drills and Digital Hitting Analysis. The girls were so much fun! They hung on my every word and really got a lot out of the day. I was suprised to how sound many of their fundamentals were and how advanced training was getting in a non-traditional baseball country like Australia. Women's baseball is a subject very dear to me, as I was brought up on the game by my mother, who was an outstanding baseball player in her own right. I think it's great that these ladies were following their passion in a sport with very little opportunity for advancement. They are truly playing for "The love of the game!" It was great to make some friends and memories for the day and hope they do well as they travel the United States playing in some of the legendary stadiums from the Women's Professional Baseball League of the 1940's, featured in the movie, "A League of Their Own."

Summer Success! Youth Travel Teams Score Big!

I grew up in a small town, and I have always had a sense of "small town" community where I have lived. I think its important to get involved in the communities you live in and give back what you have to offer. I have trained two of my neighborhood teams to incredible success this summer. The Welles Park 12U travel team and the Windy City Storm 13U travel teams had great summers. Welles Park, down the street from my house, had not won a travel game in two years prior to this season. I designed and led a training program this winter and spring and put a professional coach in place for them. The turnaround was amazing. After losing 40 consecutive games, the Welles team finished 15-4 in the NSBL, finishing 4th out of 20 teams, beating many full time travel teams along the way. Last week, they competed in Cooperstown, beating two full time travel teams from the East and Southeast and competing with several National level travel teams. To add, the team became fan favorites amongst the Cooperstown staff and the 120 teams present, as our boys have some dynamic and memorable personalities. I remember distinctly in January, when Mikey D. asked me, "Coach, just help us to win 1 game this year, PLEASE!" Well, they won their first game and never looked back, and more importantly than wins, it was fun to see the confidence and self esteem of these boys reach new heights this summer!

The Windy City Storm 13U Elite team won the MSBL elite championship. A very talented group of boys who have college and pro baseball aspirations got their first taste of what "real" baseball is like at the next level. They left "dad" coached travel baseball and got professional training for the first time. It was amazing to see the amount of development in each player and it certainly paid off on the field. This team, who won 5 summer tournaments, has several players that will be future prospects! Above is a picture of the 2010 MSBL Elite Division Champions.

Recently been named USA Baseball NTIS coach

September 9-11 I will be heading back to Cary, NC as a instructor for the USA Baseball NTIS. NTIS is part of the selection process to help identify the top players in the country to play for Team USA the following year. I have recommended players that I work with for this event in the past that have fared very well. In fact, last year, Andrew Owen (Chicago) was one of only a few Midwestern players to make USA Baseball's 40 man roster. I had been teaching Andrew for 5 years. Because of the success my players have had at NTIS, I am now involved as a coach and a committee member who chooses players for a 5 state region. We chose the teams today and I have several more players who have worked with me that are playing in the event. Cary, NC has become my second home for the summer and I look forward to being there for another week upcoming.

1st National Clinic Speaking Engagement

I'm very excited to announce I've been named as a feature speaker for the 2010 BCA National High School Coaches Convention in Nashville, TN Dec 2-5 this year. I will be the hitting presenter and it is quite an honor. To my knowledge, I am the youngest presenter on the National stage. I will be speaking along side people like longtime Major League Manager and ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine, several top Division I NCAA coaches and Jerry Dawson of USA Baseball, who I recently coached with at the USA Baseball Breakthrough Series. I'm really excited for this and will be taking several of my staff to assist and enjoy the weekend. Travis Kerber, will be running my video and Dan Puente with Chris LaPorta will be demonstrating my drills. We look forward to a great time in Nashville! Below is the website for the convention which will be updated as speakers committ to the event.

http://www.baseballcoaches.org/convention2010.jsp

Double Duty Classic and USA Baseball Breakthrough Series

The last few months are always the busiest for me as I'm on the field, for what seems like 10 hours a day. One of my favorite projects is the work I do with the Chicago White Sox ACE program, which is our inner city baseball project. Ran by Nathan Durst and Dan Puente, the ACE program started as an idea by Nathan, our national crosschecker, and a written proposal to the White Sox front office from myself. The Double Duty Classic celebrates past Negro League all star games that use to be held at Comiskey Park. Through White Sox scouts accross the country, we bring in some of the best minority talent to compete against our Chicago ACE program at US Cellular Field. I coached in this year's game for the third consecutive year and ran the on field workout prior to the game for college and pro scouts. This year's talent was the best we've had in the three years. Alex Santana (Miami, FL), Kris Goodman (Minnesota) and Lance Jeffries (St. Louis) were some of this year's outstanding talent from out of the region. Chicago's Quintin Richardson was named MVP of the game. Richardson, who is uncommitted, is one of the best secrets out there for the 2011 class.
It was a treat for me to coach along side Rafeal Santana. Rafeal is the head of the Chicago White Sox Dominican Academy and was a star shortstop for the New York Mets in the 1980's. That was a time where I followed baseball the closest and Rafeal was considered a premier shortstop, along with Ozzie Smith at that time and won a world championship with the New York Mets in 1986. Being a shortstop myself, I had some great conversation about Rafi's career and enjoyed his stories from my favorite baseball era.

I have never been prouder of being part of the White Sox organization than I was after this event. Watch the 3 minute piece below from MLB.COM and you will see how special this event is for all those involved.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9908691

Recently, I spent a week at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, NC for the Breakthrough Series, put on by the MLB Scouting Bureau and USA Baseball. In this event, the top minority players in the country take part in a week of instruction and competition in front of scouts. It is one of my favorite events to work. The White Sox took a team made up of all stars from our Double Duty Classic. Coaching with Dan Puente, White Sox scouts Clay Overcash and Kenny Fullman, we had a great time coaching the kids. The last day of the event we changed venues to the Durham Bulls AAA park to play the finals. After winning the championship last year, we were 2-1 this year and took second place. Ty Washington (Texas) and Dustin Houle (Vancouver, Canada) starred for our team. Look for them as big time players on the MLB scale in the future. To note, this was by far the most fun I have ever had working with a staff. Clay, Dan and Kenny were great assistants for me, both in baseball knowledge and comic relief. Below is a link to USA Baseball's recap of Day 1 of the event where we had a big come from behind victory led by Ty Washington.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=9612588

Major League Baseball Draft Results

It's always fun for me to check the Major League Baseball Draft every year and see the number of kids I have crossed paths with through my years of coaching. This is this year's results:

1) 1st Round - Justin O'Connor Cowan, IN
I coached Justin during the Safeco Cup a few years ago at the Seatlle Mariner's Safeco Field. I coached the Chicago White Sox team made up of prospects from accross the midwest. Justin was a freshman, playing against junior, and you could tell he was a special talent. Playing a variety of positions, including a 90 mph performance from the mound, I knew Justin would be a kid with a chance to make the big leagues.

2) 7th Round - Chuckie Jones Boonville, MO
I saw Chuckie at a St. Louis tryout I ran for the White Sox "Double Duty Classic" game. I then coached Chuckie at the Double Duty game at U.S. Cellular Field.

3) 10th Round - Eric Jokisch Northwestern U.
Eric played for one of my friends on his summer high school team. He came up for one of my showcases and dueled against Casey Crosby (former 1st rounder) in front of about 50 college and major league scouts.

4) 17th Round -Corderius Dodd North Side, TX
Corderius was my clean up hitter at USA Baseball's Breakthrough Series in Los Angeles last summer. A big power bat, he helped lead us to championship in LA

5) 20th Round - DK Carey - Florida
I would be extremely suprised if DK is not in the big leagues in 5 or 6 years. An incredible talent, his draft status was low due to a high scholorship at the University of Miami. DK was the top player at the Breakthrough Series last summer and led our team to a championship there.

6) 22nd Round - Colin Bates U. of North Carolina
Colin played for the White Sox Academy travel teams and signed with North Carolina. He is from Naperville, and still works out at the Academy during his school breaks.

7)25th Round - Kendall Radcliffe Morgan Park, Chicago
Kendall was the CF for our Inner City White Sox team for the last three years. He also played for me at the Breakthrough Series in Los Angeles.

8)35th Round - John Lieske - Rockford,IL
John, a pitcher was in several of my showcases over the last few years.

9) 40th Round - Chad Green - Effingham, IL
I knew Chad when he was young and he's played in a few of my events in Chicago. Chad is good family friends with my best friend from college, EIU teammate, Josh Zink.

10) 44th Round - Michael Gerber - Naperville, IL
Michael too has been involved in my fall league and showcases the past few years.

11) 47th Round - Ronzelle Fort - Chicago
Ronzelle has been part of our ACE program since its inception. Ronzelle looks like CC Sabathia and has a bright future.

12) 50th Round - Eric Jagielo - Downers Grove, IL
Eric, a Notre Dame signee, was in a few of my showcases last year.

Fundraiser for Student's Cause Rocked!

Michael Gustafson, a 12 year old student of mine, overcame some tough odds by beating cancer. Michael has been my student for four years and continued to train through his illness and chemotherapy. Michael is a very courageous and inspirational young man. Michael recently asked me to be a part of his Relay for Life Team, called "Michael's Miracle Marchers" to help raise money for cancer research through the American Cancer Society. The relay is this Saturday and Michael is the "Honorary Survivor" and will lead the parade lap to start the relay. To help raise money for Michael's cause, I put together a "Rock, Paper Scissors" tournament in Lincoln Square last weekend. 40 people participated, many parents and students of mine played in support of Michael. We had a blast and more importantly we raised almost $2,000 in one day. Special mention goes to tournament winner and Academy Instructor Chris LaPorta who donated the winnings back to the fundraiser. A big thanks from Michael and I to all that participated or donated! If you haven't seen Michael's story, click on the below post:

http://elitebaseballtraining.blogspot.com/2008/10/student-of-week-exemplifies-courage.html

10 Year Old Future Stars and the Importance of Training Frequency

I'll have to say that this year my "Inbox" has been flooded everyday with more positive results from my students than any year previously. While I'd like to pat myself on the back, the true difference has been with the training frequency of my students. I rarely have new clients anymore, because my waiting list continues to be flooded with my regulars that I can't even get into my schedule. With this being said, I have trained my students "How to train" as much as I teach them mechanics and approach.

By the end of a 30-60 minute lesson, the student and I can usually get it right. But, the temporary change only "sticks" if there is the same repetition going on at home. My students are all serious baseball guys and girls, and they have bought in to how important the maintenance work is. My students see results in games, and this makes training on their own more fun and productive. Here are two of the emails from yesterday from two of my youngest students. The picture is of Jack V. who I've had a number of times since he was 7. He and Jake's mechanics match up to some of the best big leaguers!

Justin,

I hope all is well with you. The tune up you gave Jake worked wonders!!! He is now staying tall and hitting nice even line drives. Out of the last 10 at bats he has had 2 doubles, 6 singles, 1 sac fly and 1 strike out.

Here are some pictures of his pitching. He pitched 3 out of 3 hit less innings on Sunday:)

As always, we thank you!!

Rach


Hi Coach Justin,

Jack is looking forward to attending your "Slump Busters" class again this summer. You may remember that he also attended your spring training hitting class. Your class has given him real drills that he can do on his own to maintain a strong swing. This will be his 3rd summer in your class and he is only 10!

Just wanted you so see how he is doing. See you in a few weeks!

Thank you,

Dana V.

Hitting Clinic with White Sox Hitting Coach Greg Walker

Greg Walker recently did a hitting clinic for our White Sox Academy coaches, reinforcing the training techniques we use at our various academies. I ran the digital analysis to illustrate the points Greg was making. He did a great job of talking mechanics. What I really liked was the way Greg spoke of "First Cause." Many hitting instructors can indentify flaws at ball strike, but as I've said many times, most flaws at ball strike are a direct result of a flaw in either the set up, or the "first move" in the swing. Because the swing is a kinetic chain of events, one leading into the next, the error at ball strike, if often due to an earlier error. For example, a hitting coach may see that a player is rolling over at the point of contact and begin working hand path drills. But what Greg and I are saying, is "Why" are the hands rolling over? Here is a scenerio:

The player is overloading his backside, getting his rear knee over his ankle. Instead of advancing forward, knee inside ankle, the rear knee stays over his ankle and spins there during rotation. The "spinning" action causes his upper body to rotate off the ball in a "one piece" swing or "gate" swing. The counter action of the front shoulder opening at the same time as the hip, causes his hands to counteract and disconnect away from the body. Because of the early extension with the arms, the hands have to roll over to get back to the point of contact. All of this is because of the earlier error in the load.

You see, the earlier the error in the kinetic chain, more errors are a result as you move up the chain. Hitting coaches have to determine what "first cause" is to really fix the chain. The is exactly what Greg said when he stated, "...anything else is just putting a band-aid on the swing."

Finding "first cause" is the sign of a good hitting coach. Most hitting instructors can find what is wrong in the swing, but how many can tell you "Why?" If you have one that knows the "Why" you are lucky. Often times, video analysis is a must to find this out, because the kinetic chain works faster than the naked eye. This is something that Greg Walker has utilized with the White Sox, and why he will get the Sox hitters right this season!