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June 2013

Grand Slam USA will be providing you with a monthly newsletter to update you on the facility, training opportunities, and the

Grand Slam Baseball Club. Check this newsletter for the latest announcements regarding central Iowa’s most experienced

baseball/softball training facility. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/grandslamusa and follow

us on twitter @grandslam_dm and visit our website http://www.grandslamdsm.com

For Your Information

Youth Baseball and Softball Information

Grand Slam USA will be conducting a youth baseball fall league at Walnut

Creek Little League, starting in August and running for 8 consecutive

weeks. This will be an instructional league open to any baseball player ages

10-14. Grand Slam USA instructors will be present at every game to help

enhance players’ skills and game instincts.

Grand Slam USA will also be running youth softball clinics this fall. Any

softball player from ages 9-12 may participate. These clinics will cover

several aspects of softball over an 8 week period.

*More information and registration for the youth fall league and

softball clinics will be available later this month. Please continue to

check our website, Facebook, and Twitter.*

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Grand Slam USA will host a week of summer camp from June 17-

21st and Walnut Creek Little League. Camp runs from 9:00am-

3:00pm with a lunch break at noon. For more information and to

register stop in at the front counter, call, or access our website.

• Information and registration for the Grand Slam High School Fall

League and skills clinics are available. This year an added bonus is

the assembly of an All-Star Team that will compete against teams

from Omaha and Kansas City. Please inquire at the front counter or

call to register. Spots are filling up quickly, so be sure to register!

The registration deadline is July 1.

• Scheduling for lessons and rental times is now available online.

Check our website for more details. Scheduling CAN still be done

over the phone or at the front counter.

Phone # 515.278.1070

Monthly Quote

Listen if you want to be heard

Grand Slam Baseball Club

Grand Slam Baseball Club Results:

May 11-12

The Riders dominated the competition at the Slugfest NIT, outscoring opponents 51-4 for the weekend. The team went 5-0 for the

weekend and destroyed their opponent in the championship game, scoring 19 runs and giving up zero.

The Razorbacks went 3-1 and finished 2nd

in the Early Bird Tournament in Fort Dodge. Mitch Pomeroy and Noah Janssen led the

way for the Backs at the plate, both batting .500 on the weekend.

May 18-19

Grand Slam Red went 3-0 in pool play at the Kansas City Sports Challenge, earning a first place seed for the championship bracket.

With the help of a productive offense and the slugging of Nick Addison, the team took home the first place trophy, and improved their

record to 14-5. Tristin Salcido played a solid second base, and helped his team with productive innings on the mound.

The Longhorns took third place in the Slugfest Tournament, going 3-2 or the weekend. Carter Baumler opened up the weekend for the

team, helping his team to an 8-5 victory, by going 3-3 at the plate and throwing three productive innings on the mound. The

Longhorns scored 35 runs over the weekend with the help of Drew Jirak, Caden Backstrom, Adam Brauch and Anthony Potthoff.

May 24-26

The Vipers won their third tournament of the season, improving their record to 17-7 on the season. The boys placed first in the Stars

and Strikes NIT, with a solid 5-0 record.

After moving up to AAA competition, the Riders finished first in the Silver Division of the Stars and Strikes NIT. The team’s stellar

win streak ended, after losing two games on the second day of the tournament. The Riders bounced back from the losses and scored a

total of 26 runs in its next three games.

Grand Slam Baseball Club

Grand Slam Baseball Club Results:

June 7-9

Grand Slam Longhorns 11U offense too much for Oklahoma Ambush in 11-1 rout

Grand Slam Longhorns 11U refused to relinquish the lead after grabbing it early against Oklahoma Ambush, recording an 11-1 victory on Friday at

LineDrive Super NIT. Eleven runs in the first three innings allowed Grand Slam Longhorns 11U to put the game away early. A hit by pitch, a groundout

by Jack Johnson, and a two-run single by Jake Auer during the first inning and an error, a groundout by Caden Backstrom, and a wild pitch in the second

inning supplied the early offense for Grand Slam Longhorns 11U. Adam Brauch got a hit in each of his two at bats. He singled in the first and third innings.

Jake looked sharp on the mound. Oklahoma Ambush managed just one hit off of the Grand Slam Longhorns 11U's pitcher, who allowed one earned run,

walked four and struck out four during his four innings of work.

Anthony Potthoff's big day not enough, as Grand Slam Longhorns 11U loses 11-3 to Lou Collier Baseball Stars

Anthony Potthoff went 2-3 at the plate, but Grand Slam Longhorns 11U fell 11-3 to Lou Collier Baseball Stars at LineDrive Super NIT on Saturday. Grand

Slam Longhorns 11U gets more hits, but not more runs in 8-3 loss to Rico Smoke. Grand Slam Longhorns 11U lost 8-3 in four innings at LineDrive Super

NIT on Saturday, despite outhitting Rico Smoke five to three. Drew Jirak had a busy day at the plate, collecting two extra-base hits. He doubled in the first

and second innings.

Rico Smoke was sparked by Jackson Dixon and Jake Powers, who teamed up for three hits and four RBIs.

In the top of the first, Grand Slam Longhorns 11U grabbed the early lead, 1-0. Drew doubled to ignite Grand Slam Longhorns 11U's offense. A single by

Caden Backstrom then moved Drew from second to third. Rico Smoke quickly matched Grand Slam Longhorns 11U's strong inning with a three-run inning

of its own in the first. Rico Smoke scored on a wild pitch, an RBI single by Jackson D, and a fielder's choice. Grand Slam Longhorns 11U tied the game in

the second on a two-run double by Drew that scored Jake Auer and Cole Perlinger. Rico Smoke never surrendered the lead after the third inning, scoring

four runs on a two-run home run by Jake P, a groundout by Jackson Buss, and a walk by Jake Wilcox.

Grand Slam Longhorns 11U gets more hits, but not more runs in 1-0 loss to Rico Smoke

Grand Slam Longhorns 11U lost 1-0 in six innings at LineDrive Super NIT on Sunday, despite outhitting Rico Smoke four to three. Rico Smoke couldn't get

anything going as long as Jack Johnson was pitching. J gave up just three hits, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out three during his five

innings of work. Rico Smoke's lone run of the ballgame came in the second inning on an RBI double by Jake Wilcox.

IF YOU DON’T TRY IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN Michael Bennion, Instructor

If there is one thing I have learned from the game of baseball, it is to never give up. The game is not over until the last out is made.

At every level, I have seen players lethargically run down the line. At every level I have seen players sluggishly go through the

motions of drills during practice. Nobody in this game is gifted enough and skilled enough to stop practicing and lazily go through

the motions.

It’s been nearly a century since Babe Ruth first displayed his abilities, and we have yet to see a player who has been considered

better than the “Great Bambino.” You can never be satisfied with your skill level because there are always milestones to reach, and

these days, people are always looking for the next greatest.

I’ve never seen anybody increase their skills by participating in drills at a 50 or 60 percent level. I’ve never seen anybody beat out an

infield single by jogging to first base.

When an inch can be the difference between a win and a loss, why would a player jog down the line on a routine ground ball, when

they can run as hard as they can for 90 feet and increase the chances for their team to score a run?

I see too many players quit running three steps out of the batter’s box because they failed to hit the ball past a fielder, when all it

takes is a bobble, a throw in the dirt, or improper footwork, for a runner to make it safely to the bag.

I see too many kids hit a routine ground ball or fly ball in the infield, and start jogging down the line. The second they start jogging,

they have given up. They have quit on themselves and their teammates before the defense has successfully fielded the ball and made

the throw. They have taken themselves out before the umpires have told them they are out.

You will not reach base every time you hit a ball, but you will reach base a lot more if you sprint there instead of jog.

You will fail at some point in your life, whether it’s sports, school or your job. But each time you fail, you are inching closer to

success. If you quit however, you will never succeed.

GET TO KNOW

Allison Jones

High School: Southeast Polk HS 2006 - Elite First Team All-State Softball as a Pitcher

2007 - First Team All-State Softball as a Pitcher

College: Missouri Western State University 2008 - Freshman of the Year (Softball), First Team All-MIAA

selection, First Team Daktronics All-Central Region, NFCA All-Central Region

2009 - First Team All-MIAA selection, First Team Daktronics All-

Central Region, NFCA All-Central Region

Still hold records for wins in a season, and most strikeouts looking (career-3 years).

Grand Slam USA: 3 years as Softball Pitching Instructor

Q: What is your favorite MLB Team? A: Minnesota Twins

Q: What is your favorite movie? A: Pitch Perfect

Q: What is your most memorable moment in softball? A: Pitching all 18 innings my junior year of high school to beat Ottumwa 1-0.

Q: Do you have any hidden talents? A: I am double jointed

Q: What are your hobbies? A: Hunting, Fishing, Horses

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to young softball players? A: Listen to your parents...they really do have your best interest at heart.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT Grand Slam Riders

The Riders (originally the River Dawgs) started with a question back in the

Spring of 2008 on a field at Raccoon Valley Little League. The question

posed by Rush Nigut, was “can we put together a top notch baseball team

made up of just friends and classmates?” Too often, competitive youth

athletics seem to be a mercenary activity with players jumping from team to

team in search of wins or playing time.

The original team was made up of kids from Raccoon Valley Little League.

The team didn’t have the success it hoped for the first couple of seasons but

there was always a sense that the players were getting better and building

their skills with every tournament. That effort paid off with a 1st Place finish

in the 2010 USSSA 10A State Tournament.

The team continued to make strides in 2011, notching one tournament victory

and a couple of strong finishes. In 2012, the Riders played just three

tournaments. The decision was made that year to concentrate on Little

League in an effort to get as many Riders on the RVLL 12 Year Old All Star

team as possible. That plan paid off when the RVLL team, led by several of

the Riders, won the District 5 Championship and placed 2nd

in the state

tournament.

The success the boys had in the Little League tournament really gave them a

Where are they now? Where are they now? features athletes who have taken lessons, trained,

continue to train, or that have worked at Grand Slam USA.

Spencer Navin is a Des Moines native and 2010 graduate of Dowling

Catholic High School. Spencer has been the starting catcher for Vanderbilt

University the last two years. A 2013 Pre-Season All-American, Navin was

drafted in the 11th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft by the Los

Angeles Dodgers. He helped lead the Commodores to a Regional

Tournament appearance in 2012 and Super Regional in 2013. Grand Slam

USA would like to wish Spencer the best of luck and continued success with

his career.

Player Spotlight Continued….

The success the boys had in the Little League tournament really gave them a clear vision of what was possible for them on the diamond. Many of the boys

started training at Peak Performance to improve their athleticism with an eye on making themselves better baseball players. A number of players also took

one on one lessons at Grand Slam during the Fall and Winter.

In January of this year, the Riders became a Grand Slam Club team, a decision that has had a tremendous effect on the team. The Riders started practicing

at Grand Slam under the tutelage of Jared Norris in January and have had a minimum of two practices a week since then. The 2013 season has been a

successful one thus far for the Riders. It has included two tournament wins, a second place finish, and a silver division championship. It has also been a

season that has seen the Riders move up a class to AAA.

Rush Nigut and Jared Norris have been pulled aside by many opposing coaches and tournament officials this season who wanted to talk to them about the

Riders. The common theme to those conversations was how impressed people were with the Riders as a team, and how respectful and classy the boys were

on and off the field. Compliments like that have more value than any trophies a team can carry home after a tournament.

All the success this year has been a product of hard work; hard work that began back on a field at Raccoon Valley Little League in 2008. It was important

to Rush Nigut at the time to build a team of great players and great friends. Most of the players on the team play multiple sports together: basketball,

football, and cross country. They also spend time together outside of sports at school, Ashworth Pool, the movies, and anything else 13 and 14 year old

boys do to pass the time.

I think it’s safe to say that the Riders have answered the question that was asked five years ago – it IS possible to have a successful team that grows

together and be just as successful as a manufactured team.

CLICK HERE for highlights from Stars & Strikes NIT.

Video Highlights from Riders vs. Vipers. Video Highlights from Riders vs. Travlin’ Thunder.

Video Highlights from Riders vs. Aces.

Video Highlights from Riders vs. Wildcats.

CLICK HERE for highlights from Mad Madness.

Video Highlights from Riders vs. Westside Aces

From The Owner

School is out and the first official day of summer is right around the corner. With this comes days spent at the pool, slumber parties, and all other

recreational activities that are a staple of childhood summers. Being social and having fun is a necessity for all of us, but we cannot forget to manage our

priorities and time. Being a part of a team means a person is a part of something bigger than him/her and needs to make choices based on the greater good.

This can often times be a challenge for individuals and create an internal struggle between selfishness and sacrifice.

Taking time to maintain and develop one’s baseball/softball skills is an individual priority that serves the greater good. The better an individual can be, the

better a collective group of individuals will be. What this means is that a player needs to understand that by taking time to enhance his/her skills, they are not

only benefiting as an individual, but the team benefits as well. Summer is a break from school and seen as a time to relax, but players must make the time to

get better.

Time management is a good start to getting better and staying sharp during the season. A player also needs to manage priorities. Is it more important to stay

up late with friends the night before an early morning game or go to bed early and be rested for the game? This scenario and others like it play out in

households everywhere. Athletes need to base their decision in instances like this on what is best for the TEAM! Sure, we all want to spend time with our

friends and have a good time, but the team concept cannot be forgotten.

Athletes do not need to give up their social life for sports. They simply need to balance both. We do not want kids to forget what it is like being a kid and

we also don’t want them not knowing the values of hard work, sacrifice, and a team before me mentality. Successes are best shared with friends and family,

but accomplished through sacrifice and dedication. When faced with a difficult decision athletes should ask themselves “What is Important Now?”

Practice Tip of the Month

Play the game with the ball in front of the eyes and elbows away from the body

In order to keep your “eye on the ball” you have to play the game out in front of your eyes. This applies to fielding, throwing, and

catching, as well as hitting.