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Competition Often Breaks Down Mechanics, But It Doesn’t Have To…

“Practice makes perfect” as the old saying goes. But practice and competition are two completely different ball games, and it’s important to understand the connection between the two in order to excel at both.

Athletes train all throughout their off-season to fine tune their strengths and work out the kinks in their game, but it’s easy to lose the momentum built from preparation when the lights come on. 

The difference is often in your mindset.

In order to be at your best during competition, you need to come into the game prepared, and then position yourself mentally to allow your raw talent and skills to take over.

At the end of the day, you can practice as much as Kobe Bryant, but if you don’t have that Mamba Mentality during the heat of competition, this can all be for naught.

Flow State

“Flow” is the feeling of excelling at something naturally, defined as occurring when “you’re so immersed and energized by an activity that the rest of the world seems to disappear.” (Psychology Today). This is often referred to as “being the zone.”

Flow state, while difficult to achieve, is optimal for allowing your abilities to shine through without overthinking, pressure, or stress holding you back.

Flow state occurs when the skills you’ve mastered before entering a game are matched with the adrenaline of the moment, combining to bring out the best in your abilities.

This happens effortlessly, but can be harshly contradicted by putting unnecessary pressure on yourself or feeling the need to do something extraordinary.

By positioning yourself for success mentally, your physical abilities should naturally follow suit.

Making the Mental Adjustment

The most important thing to understand is that if you’ve worked your absolute hardest, there’s no moment you don’t deserve to play in.

Your preparation justifies you being on the mound, in the field, or in the batter’s box at any given moment, and you should never feel like you have to be more than the player you are to seize the moment.

It’s often hard to handle the pressure of a big moment when you’re thinking about it. When you think too much you get tight, your heart rate goes up, your brain starts over analyzing, and you can’t get past your mistakes.

Instead, think back to all the swings you took in the cage, all the ground balls you’ve fielded in practice, all the bullpen sessions you’ve thrown. Reflecting on everything you’ve done up to that point will give you confidence, whereas focusing on what you need to do will increase the stress you put on yourself and can impair your performance.

It’s also important to understand that you will make mistakes.

Messing up is a natural part of life, but it’s how you bounce back from mistakes that will define you. It’s very easy for one mistake to compound into many if you let it get to your head. 

If you strike out or make an error, shake it off, it happens to everyone! Reset your mind, and think back to all those times you did it well in practice!

Just don’t let pressure and/or shame overpower your fundamentals.

While practice is a good time to be a perfectionist, game time is not. Analyzing your mechanics during practice will help you get better, but doing so in the heat of competition will only stress you out, without leading to a positive state of mind or any additional improvement.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, and all the pressure you place on yourself at one moment in one game isn’t going to take away from the practice you have put in over the years. Positive thought can’t replace practice, but it can set you up for the success that a strong work ethic brings.

Practice Makes Perfect

Improvement is never ending. 

Every time you step on the field is an opportunity for improvement, games just aren’t the time to focus on that. Competition will make you better, but it’s not the time to focus on improving your skills, it’s the time to apply them. 

Practice is about working towards the bigger picture of improving yourself as a player, which is done through creating an actionable plan for growth and working hard towards it. But competition is about that exact moment, the little picture that means the world when you’re immersed within it. 

By working hard in practice, you’ll trust yourself and be more confident to excel in big moments than you will from stacking up unnecessary pressure on yourself all at once.

Excelling in competition is a culmination of preparation, which comes from your hard work, and then allowing this to flow through you when it matters most, which will ultimately boost your chances of success.

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Work SMARTer and Harder

Goal-setting is something we all do, and it is essential to success in anything. Whether it be for a big dream such as a future career or a small choice like maintaining a healthy diet, goals have always been at the core of individual improvement. 

But you know what’s more important than establishing goals? 

ACCOMPLISHING THEM!

It’s easy to say you want to do something, but simply saying this doesn’t give you any direction into how you’re actually going to get it done. In order to accomplish the goals you set for yourself, you need to be focused and create an actionable plan.

That’s where the acronym SMART comes in, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

Looking at your big picture ambitions through the SMART goal lens will help provide direction for getting there, allowing you to better channel your efforts to ensure you’re getting the most return out of your hard work!

Let’s take a look at how this is done.

Specific

Of course you want to be a better baseball or softball player, everyone does, but if this is the only direction you have for improvement you’re going to get lost along the way.

Broad goals are overwhelming, which is why it’s important to evaluate your game and identify actionable steps you can take towards improving a specific area of it. 

Pick a weakness you’d like to fix or a strength you want to build on, and ask your coaches what drills and exercises they recommend to improve your skills in this specific area. Once improvement in this area is satisfactory, move on to a different element of your game.

The more you accumulate skill in a variety of areas of your game, the closer you will be to accomplishing the overarching goal of becoming the best ball player you can be!

Measurable

When creating goals, it’s important to establish what accomplishment of the goal will look like so you know when to move on to your next one. 

If you find yourself struggling, you may find it necessary to lower your expectations or move in a new direction, but if you aren’t keeping track of your progress you won’t know whether or not this is beneficial. 

Some goals, such as committing fewer errors or lifting a heavier weight, can be measured easily with a number. 

This is important feedback, but numbers don’t always tell the complete story. To be a well-rounded baseball/softball player, it’s important to find the intangible elements of your game that need improvement as well, such as putting together more quality at-bats or being a smarter player.

Attainable

Your goal should challenge you to push yourself while also being attainable given your age and physical abilities. Different players are capable of attaining different feats, and it’s important to understand who you are as a player when determining if your goal is a realistic expectation.

For example, don’t expect to hit a homerun your first year playing with 90 foot bases, but if you were used to crushing balls on the little league fields, learn how to drive the ball to different parts of the significantly expanded outfield.

If you realize along the way that something isn’t as attainable as you thought it was initially, don’t be afraid to pivot!

Relevant

Obviously your goal should be relevant to improving your game, but more specifically your goals should be relevant to getting you where you want to be as a player.

Every player has different strengths and weaknesses, and what you choose to work on will shape you into a certain style of player.

Many people assume that goal-setting revolves around fixing your weaknesses, but building on what you’re already good at should be worked for as well. 

For example, if you’re naturally slow, running a few extra suicides after practice probably isn’t going to convince coach to give you the steal sign. But if you have a great eye at the plate and get on base a lot, get in the batting cage at a higher speed than usual to get even better at what you’re already good at and stay ahead of the pack as you move to higher levels of play.

Timely

It’s important to hold yourself accountable when working on a goal, and a great way to do this is to give yourself a deadline, or multiple if you have a multi-step plan.

Wholistic improvement is an ongoing process, but we recommend that you limit your deadlines to at most one season or offseason. That way, you’ll be free to explore a variety of aspects that contribute to your game rather than putting all your time and effort into one particular skill.

Remember to be ambitious with this. It’s ok not to accomplish every goal you make, but you should always be pushing yourself to achieve more!

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Ava Biasotti – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

baseball-clinic-camp

"Ava is a very special athlete. She’s extremely hard working and competitive. Her want to get better is nearly unmatched by any of our other athletes, but what really sets Ava apart from the crowd is her attention to detail. She always makes sure her form is perfect and all the little things are right in her movement and exercises. You combine that with her work ethic and attention to detail, and you have one special athlete. I believe those attributes really shine through not only in the weight room but also on the field. I really can’t say enough great things about Ava. She will be a force to mess with as she begins her career at the collegiate level."

Our First County Bank Athlete of the Month for November is Ava Biasotti from New Canaan. Ava, now seventeen years old, has been consistently adding to her extremely impressive resume since the age of five. From a very early age, she was representing her town in multiple all star tournaments. It was around the age of ten when she really started to fall in love with softball, particularly as she continued to develop as a pitcher.

Ava began her travel softball career at the age of twelve, where she solidified her primary position as a pitcher. However, when she was not pitching, you could find her over at the hot corner playing third base. She quickly became known for both her pitching velocity and also her movement on her pitches. Her control followed very shortly after that. By the time she was sixteen, she was regularly racking up the strikeouts and had already enjoyed multiple tournament championships with her fellow CT Angels.

The local competition was fun and all, but Ava really wanted to challenge herself. She really wanted to go up against the very best. She earned herself a spot on a national team with the Jersey Intensity organization, giving her that exact opportunity to go face some of the best competition in the country.

She was able to pitch in high profile tournaments including the Texas Bombers Showcase, IDT in Colorado, and PGF Nationals in California, where the norm was facing Power 5 Conference commits. She has continued on with the organization with their 18u team, and is looking forward to attending these events again in 2022.

In addition to travel softball, Ava absolutely loves representing New Canaan High School by taking the field with the same girls she first started playing softball with. She has been starting on the mound since her freshman year. She has received honorable mention in All-FCIAC both her freshman and junior year, as well as being selected to the Junior Select L/LL game.

Ava is a senior, she is an honors student, and she is a member of the National Honors Society. She is enrolled in and enjoying multiple AP and Honors classes across her curriculum, particularly really taking a liking to science and her Mandarin language classes. She plans to pursue Astrophysics and Aerospace Engineering in college. She recently accepted an offer to continue her academic and softball career for the Bowdoin Polar Bears.

You can most often find Ava working on her spin and her swing, but especially in the winter you can find her snowboarding down the slopes in Southern Vermont. If not there, try the New Canaan Softball League, where she spends a significant amount of time volunteering. She helps out with both team practices and pitching clinics. Bottom line, Ava cannot get enough softball, as she loves giving back and helping those coming up the ranks behind her, in addition to playing. She genuinely loves surrounding herself with both coaches and players who are just as committed to the game as she is.

We here at BVSA want to congratulate Ava once more on earning this honor of First County Bank Athlete of the Month! The hours of hard work and success both on and off the field do not go unnoticed. We are excited to see what the future has in store for you! Congratulations!

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Maddox Hoffman – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Copy of SammyAbdelwahab (1)

“I have watched Maddox play for a few years now and have had the good fortune to work with him over the last several months. Hoffman is an outstanding athlete who can do everything. His work ethic is unmatched and his desire to be his best is so evident. His knowledge of the game of baseball and of his own skill set is very impressive. More importantly he is one the finest young men I have ever met. Always looking to lend a hand, courteous and thoughtful of others around him and so mature for his age. I look forward to working with him and watching his career evolve, it has the potential to be very special!!! Congrats Maddox, well deserved!”

Frank Ramppen, Private Instructor Tweet

BV’s First County Bank Athlete of the Month for October is thirteen year old Maddox Hoffman from Saxe Middle School. Maddox, also known around friends, family, and teammates as “M”, is the definition of a multi-sport athlete. He prides himself on being exactly that as he steps foot on the baseball diamond, the football field, and the basketball court throughout the calendar year. His “down time” from all of that comes on weekends during the winter months where he laces up the skates and hits the ice for some ice hockey. Ask him which sport is his favorite and he will probably go with whichever one he just finished playing. Safe to say, he loves it all.

Baseball has been particularly kind to Hoffman recently. He was fortunate to be a part of a World Series team this summer, in which he pitched and played shortstop for the New Canaan Rams. He finished his 2021 spring and summer campaign with a remarkable .433 batting average in 134 at bats. Out of those at bats, he led the team in doubles with fourteen. His numbers certainly speak for themselves but his leadership on the field is what makes him stand out from the rest. 

Just in case Hoffman’s baseball resume wasn’t impressive enough, he is also the captain of his seventh grade football team. What position does he play? Quarterback, of course. His team is headed to the championship game, with him leading the charge with his 1,000+ yard, 12 touchdown season. Did I mention he plays linebacker too? At this point is anyone even a little bit surprised? Hoffman was voted on by his teammates to be captain this season, and that honor and accomplishment is extremely well deserved. 

“He is probably the best quarterback in our grade, and it’s crazy how he is always working so hard to be even better. He does a great job at being a leader.” – Henry Reagan, Football Teammate

Academics are just as important as what athletes do on the field, and Hoffman is no exception to that. He not only maintains straight A’s in the classroom, he takes it a step further. He has recently started community service initiatives in order to give back as he is very thankful for everything he has. On top of that, he also does baseball lessons for his two younger brothers, Cole and Brody, as well as with some of their friends too. Last but not least, he is in the process of launching his own baseball card business. 

Success is something Hoffman is very familiar with so far in his young life. Success comes with respect for the game, leadership on and off the field, and becoming a role model for those that come after him. The leadership comes with a ton of responsibility and accountability. Hoffman has become that role model for his two younger brothers, giving them some big shoes to walk into as they continue to grow and get older as well. 

“Maddox is one of the most consistent, diligent, and competitive athletes we have working in the building. At such a young age to be so conscious of the process it takes to become better and then dedicate the time to it is not just a given. This work ethic extends into the classroom and his side hustles as well and it is amazing to see, but more so be a small part of.” – Justin Virgulak, Assistant Instructor 

We here at BVSA want to congratulate Hoffman once more on earning this honor of First County Bank Athlete of the Month for October! The hours of hard work and success on the field do not go unnoticed, and the leadership and the way Hoffman carries himself on and off the field are second to none. We are so excited to see what the future has in store because it is only going to get better from here!

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Sam Abdelwahab – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Sam Abdelwahab
Sammy FCB
Sam Abdelwahab
Sammy Team
Sam Abdelwahab Team Pic

Our September, First County Bank Athlete of the Month is 10 year old Sammy Abdelwahab. Abdelwahab who is our youngest athlete to be recognized for this honor to date is easily one of the most deserving we have had. The young standout puts in the time and effort in like very few. Abdelwahab is either at the academy with Abate Training, with his team through NC Select, or on his own at home constantly working to be a better baseball player. What should not go understated though is the swag he walks through life with. Abdelwahab is easily noticed with matching attire for his favorite team, repping New Canaan, or any combination of loud colors which is reminiscent of a young Zack Ramppen (August FCB Athlete of the Month) at the old academy. Abdelwahab’s swag, confidence, and awareness to name a few, are qualities that help separate him from other players his age.  

Abdelwahab is predominantly an infielder (shortstop specifically) who is also a solid option on the mound as well for his teams. He can get the job done no matter where you put him or how intense the game situation might be. This is only helped by the fact that Abdelwahab has been playing baseball since he could stand up. The game is in his blood! New Canaan Travel has been the beneficiary to this point of Abdelwahab’s abilities on the field, as a teammate, and as an example to other players around him. However, those skills are only improving as he moves into his third year of working with Abate Training. The results are becoming more and more noticeable. Recently Abdelwahab played in a Perfect Game tournament in New Jersey and lit up the competition. At the plate he went 7-9 (.778) with 2 home runs and 9 runs batted in and on the mound he was 2-0 helping his team reach the championship game. A stellar run of games that only help solidify what we can all see coming in his future.

Mike Abate had this to say, “​​Extremely proud of this young man. Just a young kid playing the game the right way. With addition to his MVPs and player of the month awards, to leading his team to both a state and regional championship. What you don’t see is all the hard work he puts in not only on the field but off. He plays the game with heart and a great deal of passion. This is the way it’s suppose to be played at any level! Keep working hard Sammy and these Home-runs will be the first of many!

Success is something that Abdelwahab is very familiar with so far in his young life. He has already been a part of two Cal Ripken state championship wins and regional title where he was recognized with the MVP award. He and his team will be headed to the Cal Ripken 10U World Series this coming summer, which is another chance for more to see his incredible skill set. With all this success though Abdelwahab is just like most other kids his age. When he is playing or working for baseball he is playing football and basketball with his friends. He is a mega sports fan – watching his Mets and Giants any chance he gets! Abdelwahab also enjoys fishing, video games, and playing with his younger brother. He is a good student who loves to read short stories but best to make them about sports, those are his favorites! When he grows up he wants to play baseball in Florida and then ultimately professionally but additionally wants to be a team doctor.

We here at BVSA want to congratulate Abdelwahab once more on earning this honor of FCB Athlete of the Month! The hours of hard work and success on the field do not go unnoticed. We are excited to see what the future has in store because it is only going to get better from here on out!

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Saturday Morning

Joe Wanderlingh

Easy Like Saturday Morning

On a Saturday morning, everyone at the field is excited to be a part of the team’s doubleheader, even if it takes a few innings for you to wake up. The coaches, parents, and players are all ready for five hours of straight baseball.  Parents have the coolers packed and chairs out, the coaches have coffee in hand and lineup cards written out, and the kids have their eye black on, pants rolled up, and they take the field. There is nothing better than just watching the kids, no matter how old, just go out and play the game they love.
 
The key word there is PLAY, remember that word. Yes, everyone would like to win and one can certainly argue baseball is more fun when you win, but the reality is that the competitiveness and emotions of the outcome should not go past the field. Once you get in your car, or once you get home at the latest, the W or the L in the standings should be the least of your concern by then. Anyways, not the point of this story. 
 
This image can be ruined rather quickly by one or a few in attendance.  How is it ruined? “Just throw strikes!” “You have to visualize!” “Get your elbow up, we just worked on this!” I can go on and on. These statements are made by both coaches and parents, and it usually goes on all day long. The intent is always in the best interest of the kid, I get that completely. I am not arguing that in the slightest. But these kids are out there and they want to just play, so let them PLAY.
 
It doesn’t matter what happened in between the lines, the kids are kids and they want to have fun, so let them! The competitiveness and intensity is a key part of baseball and what makes it so great, but our kids have become more and more frightened that they are going to make mistakes, which just leads to more mistakes followed by a loss of interest in playing the game next week or wanting to play again next season. 

I challenge you as the parent or as the coach to allow and almost encourage mistakes. Mistakes give us coaches something to talk about after the game down the left field line. They give us a focus point in practice the following Tuesday. It helps each and every player LEARN and grow as a player and as a young man, whether they were a direct cause of the mistake or not. It helps them understand how and why this is a team game. These mistakes can be both physical or mental.

It does not matter if the team is eight years old or fourteen years old, let these kids have fun, enjoy their experiences, maybe even watch them figure it out for themselves and adjust right in front of your eyes without you saying a word, and then break everything down after the last out with them.  We all want to be a part of what really is a special Saturday week in and week out, so let’s all play our part and enjoy the piece that makes the day so special, our kids with smiles on their faces competing, learning, and working together as a team.

Joe Wanderlingh

Joe Wanderlingh

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Zack Ramppen – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Zack Ramppen – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Zack has always been different. Anytime you evaluate talent, the great ones have the ability to make the game look slow. In a world full of “size matters“ Zack makes those comparisons mute. This kid just knows how to play the game of baseball. He’s special and has the “it” we all look for in players. I have a great deal of confidence in Zack on being the best he can be. West Virgina is getting a great player and I wish him luck!

BV’s First County Bank Athlete of the month for August is Zack Ramppen, a senior at New Canaan High.  Ramppen is one of the most athletically gifted members of the BV Community.  He is also unequivocally one of the most unique personalities we have at the academy.  There is no other individual who is similar to Ramppen in his approach to baseball, his relationships with teammates, coaches, people in general, and life as a whole.  For those who have known Zack for the entirety of his time back state side since Japan, have had the pleasure of seeing him go from the little guy over at Camp Ave to the mature future Mountaineer headed off to West Virginia roughly a year from now.  His drive, determination, instinct and relaxed outlook on baseball allow him to not just compete but stand out amongst his peers and opponents.  Headed into his Senior year as a captain of the baseball team at NCHS, this being his 4th year on Varsity – Zack is ready to make an impact on the field with his play, and more importantly as a leader of this Rams squad.

Ramppen is pretty synonymous with baseball in this area, so it isn’t too much of a surprise how in his blood baseball has been from the beginning. Ramppen spent his developing years in Japan while his father Frank coached with none other than Bobby Valentine.  So his second home was a stadium – not much more need to ingrain baseball into you.  Ramppen spent so much time in the stands, in the dugout and out on the field soaking up what it took to be a top level athlete.  Satozaki was Ramppen’s favorite player in Japan and the reason he wanted to start catching (an amazing decision that was).  It didn’t take long for Ramppen to display some unbelievable talent even at such a young age.  Between the fun had at the field and the seriousness of Japan’s little league baseball it gave the perfect opportunity for Ramppen to start developing.  Once the Ramppens came home he picked up right where he left off, New Canaan baseball and the academy didn’t know what hit them!  Everything about him was different; the little things clicked so much faster and with ease then for others.  This was clear for everyone he was exposed to, including long time BVSA employee Tim Giuliano, who had this to say:

“Zack is one of those players who clearly makes a physical difference on the field. But the beauty of his ability is not realized until the car ride home. As you reflect on all the little events that influenced the game it’s obvious that not only is Zack involved in every moment, he creates the pulse of the game.“ 

As Ramppen got to the high levels of Ripken in New Canaan and even in his early years on the big field his play never skipped a beat.  Ramppen always found a way to affect the game – offensively, defensively, on the bases, or simply as a teammate (and is still the same to this day).

It didn’t take long for heads to turn once Ramppen walked into New Canaan High.  His impact much like his older brothers was going to be felt on the baseball team from year 1 as a freshman.  That is exactly what happened, Ramppen made Varsity as a freshman and started the first three games at third base until he took over behind the plate.  Ramppen showed out and brought an energy to the team, one of youthful exuberance along with leadership that would go a long way for future years.  Unfortunately, there was no Sophomore year due to COVID but the comeback Junior season was definitely one to write home about.  Ramppen lit up the field, leading his team in nearly all offensive categories (if not all of them) and was an exemplary leader amongst a relatively inexperienced Varsity squad.  What separated Ramppen throughout the entirety of the FCIAC though, was his stellar play behind the plate.  Controlling the pitch staff, limited past balls, and a non-existent running game against it was clear the level he was playing at.  This led to being named to the All-FCIAC East team and being drafted in the CT Fantasy Baseball draft. 

The momentum steamed rolled into the summer as Ramppen, in his first summer playing Time To Sign, continued to stand out and garner recognition.  Between his coaches, his teammates, opposing coaches, and opposing players it was clear to all Ramppen came to play.  Play he did. Ramppen during his first tournament in Georgia got noticed by the right eye.  For four straight days the West Virginia scout came back to see how Ramppen was going to not just impress but top his performance from the previous day.  It was not too long after the offer was extended and accepted to commit to playing at West Virginia University.  Founder of Time  To Sign, Berg Ohanian had this to say, “How lucky are we as coaches to have a player like Ramppen – plays it the right way 100% all the time. From a good baseball family, and we can see why Zack is so good. It was a pleasure being around and having this kid with us. Bright future ahead.” It has all come together for the once little guy who used to be running all over the academy having a blast and now will get to pursue his dream of playing Division One college baseball in the Big 12 Conference. Taking him one step closer to reaching professional baseball.

Outside of baseball Ramppen is a dedicated student and has been able to achieve making honor roll every quarter of his high school career except for one.  It’s this commitment that makes it so clear that when Ramppen sets his mind to what he wants anything is possible.  His ability to stay cool, calm, and relaxed under pressure only allows for the game or whatever endeavor he takes on to slow down so he can reach the highest.  We are proud to have such a great person (more than an athlete) representing B.V.S.A.  The future is so bright and we cannot wait to see what he is able to accomplish!

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August 12th Mandate

Zack Ramppen

A Message From Frank

August 12th Mask Mandate

BVSA has been committed to running our facility with safety to all as the number one priority.  See below for updates about what to expect when you return to play BVSA.  Anything we have below is to be superseded by CDC(click here), OSHA(click here) and CT.Gov(click here) guidelines.

The information on any of these pages is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, links and information, are provided for general informational purposes only. The knowledge and circumstances around COVID-19 are changing constantly and, as such, BVSA makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Further, you should seek advice from medical professionals and/or public health officials if you have specific questions about your return to training and competition.

This mandate will stay in place until posted otherwise on the BVSA website.  This page was last updated on 10/01/2021.

Hi Everyone,

The mayor of Stamford has imposed a face covering mandate effective Thursday, August 12. 
 
“As of Thursday, August 12th at 8:00 AM, an executive order requiring facemasks or coverings in all indoor public spaces in Stamford regardless of vaccination status. Mask or face covering must be compliant with CDC guidelines and are required in any private indoor business or place of employment where social distancing is impractical, unlikely, or difficult to maintain.”
 
BVSA will be adhering to the mandate while continuing to operate at full capacity.  There are no occupancy restrictions. Please follow the following protocols:
 

Everyone must wear a mask when entering the building 

Masks must remain on when moving throughout the building

All parents/spectators must wear masks at all times regardless of social distancing

Instructors and athletes must wear masks when unable to maintain social distancing, 6 ft.

When lessons, classes, practices etc, begin, instructors/coaches/athletes may remove masks to perform scheduled activities.  

When activities stop and social distancing is no longer in place, masks must be worn

Frank Ramppen
Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy
President
4 Largo Drive
Stamford, CT 06907
203-968-2872
frank@bvacademy.com
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Jake Benner – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Jake Benner – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Jake “The Terminator” Benner is a coach's dream. He started training at about 165lbs, through his hard work he’s transformed himself into a 210 lbs powerhouse in about 2 years. He’s one the most determined and hardest working athletes I’ve ever come across.

For the month of May, our First County Bank Athlete of the Month is 17 year old Jake Benner. Benner is easily a stand out amongst his peers, both in stature and what the young athlete has accomplished on and off the field. He earned this recognition long before the month of May but after a solid season for the Vikings the timing couldn’t have been better. We at B.V.S.A. were fortunate to see Benner develop over the past couple off-seasons, spending countless hours with B.V.T. Lab working hard with Renick and Mike. It was in the Lab where you could see the different motor in Benner and the effort he is willing to give to make even the most minor improvement day to day. Those “minor improvements” have been gaining forty pounds and getting not just stronger but faster and more agile. 

“Jake is one of our hardest working athletes. Ask Jake to jump and he says “how high coach”?! He’s the type of guy that comes in, puts his head down, and gets to work every single day with no questions asked. He always puts 110 percent effort into everything he does and it really showed not only in his progression in the weight room, but also on the field this spring. We could not be happier for Jake and his accomplishments and we are excited to see what comes next for this amazingly hard working athlete.”

This is apparent on the ball field if it be for practice or in the heat of a game. The infielder and pitcher is an exemplary leader no matter his performance and a player that his teammates can lean on throughout the season.

Benner is a player that can be relied upon on all sides of the ball; a big bat, with a solid glove and a strong arm on the mound. However it is his calm presence in any moment on the field at the plate, out in the field, or on the mound that raises his value to any of his coaches and teammates. This has been something that he has developed over a long period of time being a ball player. Benner has been playing since the age of 5 and fell in love with the game immediately. It was a perfect fit that was apparent and anybody in Stamford American could easily see as he played through Little League. Benner played for their 11U and 12U All-Star teams with early signs of being a dominant force. He then went on to play Stamford Legion for three years before finding his home with the Clubhouse in Fairfield. The now Junior Captain of the Westhill Vikings has also played basketball for the school in previous years as well but the diamond is where he excels the most. 

“Jake is one of the most talented, hardest working student-athletes to come through our program in years. He is 110% dedicated to everything he does regardless of what it is. In the class-room (4.5 GPA), the weight-room, or on the diamond you will not find a harder worker. Do not be fooled by his quiet and calm demeanor. On the field, he is a fierce competitor who will do whatever he can do to help us win. In my opinion, Jake is one of the best two-way players in the State. I am beyond thankful that he is on our team and we don't have to play against him!"

This made him an easy choice for the Ruden Report to nominate him for Player of the Week, which Benner ultimately won. However, it is with all this behind him as a ball player that will help him excel at the next level in the coming years.

The recognition is not just for his on-field or in the weight room work ethic because it doesn’t stop there for him. As stated above he has a 4.0 GPA and 4.5 weighted GPA. Benner also finds time to be involved with the Academy of Finance at Westhill with future plans to pursue a degree in business at a high academic institution. You can also see him spending a lot of his free time volunteering if it be with Stamford American for their winter workouts, Stamford North in their Challenger League, at the St. Leo’s Church or at Kids Helping Kids. It is simply impressive what he has been able to accomplish and do not just for himself but so many others in such a short period of time. 

We were happy and excited to be able to recognize Benner with this honor of FCB Athlete of the Month. Looking forward to seeing another year of hard work in BVT and what he will be able to achieve on the field but in his personal life as well. 

Congratulations and keep striving to best yourself each and every day because few are as hardworking, dedicated, and determined as you are. It will be a fun ride the next few years to see it all unfold.

2021 Statistics:

Offensive – .510 AVG, .576 OBP, 1.059 SLG, 25H, 8 2B, 1 #B, 5 HR, 18 R, 22 RBI, 5 SB,  

Pitching – 17.1 IP, 2 W, 2L, 2Saves, 7ER, 2.82 ERA, 4 BB, 34K

Resume:

      • Academy of Finance Member – 2019 to present
      • Extracurricular Activities:
      • Westhill High School Varsity Baseball – 2020-present, named Captain Spring 2021
      • The Clubhouse Baseball – Elite baseball club providing top notch baseball instruction to aid in player development and college recruitment – National Team (2019-2020), Prospect Team (2020-Present)
      • Westhill High School Bee Club Member – Present (2021-2022) – Provide bees with shelter and harvest honey to be sold for funding school-based programs
      • Westhill High School Kids Helping Kids Club Member – Present (2021-2022)
      • Westhill High School Freshman Baseball Captain – 2019
      • Stamford Recreational Basketball League – 2019 Season
      • Westhill High School Freshman Basketball – 2018 Season – Coaches Award Recipient
      • Stamford Legion Baseball – 2017-2019 – MVP Award Recipient 2018, Coaches Award Recipient 2017
      • Stamford American Little League – 2009-2016

Volunteer Work:

      • Stamford Challenger Little League – Spring 2021 – Provide baseball instruction to players with special needs and assist with coaching games.
      • Stamford American Little League – Volunteered at winter work out clinics to aid in the development of young baseball players – Winter 2020
      • St. Leo’s Annual Church Fair – Summers 2016-2018 – Assisted with Fair set-up and breakdown; worked various game booths.
      • St. Leo’s Annual Clothing Drive – 2017 – Organized clothes to be provided to the Covenant House for under privileged families.
      • Clothes to Kids of Fairfield County – 2017-2018 – Organized and stocked the store floor to help ensure that the clothing needs of students visiting the store are met and to make the shop a welcoming place for families.
      • Still Meadow Elementary School – Volunteered at family fundraising events – organized events and assisted children with various sport competitions – Spring 2017 & 2018
      • The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County – Volunteered throughout 2017 & 2018 – Sorted donated food items and stocked shelves

Work Experience:

      • Peak Performance Sports Camp CIT – Summer 2019 – Taught young children various sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball
      • Stamford American Little League Junior Umpire – 2018 & 2019 Seasons & hopefully 2021!
      • Awards/Accomplishments:
      • The Ruden Report Player of the Week for outstanding baseball performance – April 2021
      • Westhill Varsity Baseball Captain – Spring 2021 to present
Justin Virgulak

Justin Virgulak

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