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Matthew Scholtz – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Matthew Scholtz

“I have known Matthew Scholtz pretty much since my first day here at BVSA almost two years ago now, and I am constantly blown away with the different gears he possesses…

One night he can be in here talking Giants football and taking jump shots when picking up baseballs in the cage, and the next night activating “hulk mode” and blowing fastballs by hitters. He is an absolute pleasure to train and to coach, and I’m excited to watch him continue to grow into the player he is.” – Joe Wanderlingh, BVSA Instructor

Bobby Valentine’s First County Bank Athlete of the Month for April is Matthew Scholtz. Matt is currently in fourth grade and a part of the 10U Red team for New Canaan Travel Baseball. Last year as 9U Red, his team made it to the Regional Semifinal in West Hartford.

Matt started playing baseball when he was in preschool, and has played New Canaan baseball every spring and fall season since.
 
This past November, baseball was put on pause as Matt underwent an open heart aortic valve surgery called the Ross Procedure over at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City.
 
It took about two months before Matt was able to resume all activities, including joining his basketball team by the end of January and resuming his baseball lessons at BVSA.
 
Matt has returned to his old self this spring, dialing up his fastball and mixing in his new changeup to keep hitters off balance. He kicked off the month of April going 2-3 with a RBI and struck out five over two innings.
 
Baseball and basketball are just a few of Matt’s many talents. When not on the field or court, he plays keyboard in a band at School of Rock and has earned himself a black belt in Taekwondo a couple years back. 
 
We here at BVSA want to congratulate Matt once more for earning this honor of First County Bank Athlete of the Month for April. He is as tough as they come, having to go through more than any ten year old should. We here at BVSA love having him around the facility and are beyond excited to continue watching him grow! Congratulations, Matt!
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Henry Reagan – First County Bank Athlete of the Month

Henry Reagan - Athlete of the Month
Henry Reagan

“Henry Reagan is one of the most determined, hard-working players I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. He experienced some injury setbacks that have not slowed him down in any way, they seemed to only motivate him more. Henry is so determined and committed to be great. He is such a perfect example for other athletes, and his hard work is really paying off. His improvements over the last few years are monumental! He simply won’t be denied and I’m so excited to see what the future holds. Congratulations Henry, you deserve it!” – Frank Ramppen, BVSA Managing Partner

Bobby Valentine’s First County Bank Athlete of the Month for March is Henry Reagan. Henry is currently the first baseman and designated hitter for CTBC.

It was always sports for Henry as he has played baseball, football, and travel hockey since he was in the third grade. He is entering his second season with CTBC, a team that was once a part of New Canaan Travel Baseball.
 
Henry is a straight-A student in the classroom, and his favorite class this year is Algebra. His favorite teams are the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs, making his favorite players Julio Rodriguez and Anthony Rizzo. His other favorite teams include the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia Eagles.
 
In addition to playing and watching sports, Henry really enjoys working out and playing chess. It feels like every day you can find him at BVSA either in the gym or on the field, putting in work one way or the other!
 
We here at BVSA want to congratulate Henry once more for earning this honor of First County Bank Athlete of the Month for March. We truly admire his work ethic and drive to achieve all of his goals, whether baseball related or following his dream of attending West Point and going into the Army. Wherever he goes from here, we couldn’t be prouder and happier to be a part of his process! Congratulations, Henry!
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BVSA Teaches: Fielding a Ground Ball

BVSA Teaches: Fielding a Ground Ball

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about fielding a ground ball. Hey guys, today we’re going to talk a little bit about the basics of defense and fielding ground balls. Remember, we’re talking about teaching kids of all ages, from little kids to big kids. The smaller, less athletic, and less informed some of these kids are, the more specific you have to be in your teaching.

When fielding a ground ball, we need to get down low into a position where we bend at our knees and waist. We should be able to see our glove out in front of us and the ball. It’s important to bend at the knees and waist enough so that when we get into this position, the kids can see the top of our head. This ensures they are low enough to see the ball and the glove. Forming a triangle with our body is often talked about. Most importantly, we need to have our hands out in front of us when fielding the ball.

Some people teach the “alligator” technique, where the glove is turned up like an alligator’s mouth. However, we don’t teach that here. When players use the alligator technique, their glove tends to turn up, which can cause the fingers of the glove to miss the ball or hit the heel at the bottom, causing it to bounce away. Instead, we teach players to put their glove down with the fingers pointing down slightly but not touching the ground.

Proper Glove Positioning

Fielding the ball slightly left of center is also important because it puts us in a better position to throw the ball since we’re usually moving in that direction. It’s easier to perform the proper footwork when we field the ball slightly left of center. Additionally, holding the glove slightly left or right of center increases our depth perception, making it easier to focus on the ball.

As the ball is bouncing towards us, there’s rhythm and timing involved. We want to time our movement to get to the ball in the best athletic position possible. Having great hands also requires having great feet. Our feet get us to the right position, so it’s important to read the bouncing ball and move our feet efficiently to get into the ultimate position to field the ball.

For more information, click the video below!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Breakdown Drill

BVSA Teaches: Breakdown Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the breakdown drill. Hey guys, here’s another fun little drill to help the kids run through the first base on a ground ball to the infield. Set up a little barricade with cones or wall buckets or whatever you have. Then, use little arrows to remind them that they have to break down and look right.

They’re going to do it all the way from home plate, where they’re running hard, free to the bag. Their attention should be on the base. Here’s my imaginary line, and I can run and then further go full speed. There’s a little obstacle to go right and break it. Now, I’m turning right and seeing what’s next.

Again, I love base running drills. They love little obstacles, so have some fun with it. Hope this helps!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Banana Turn Drill

BVSA Teaches: Banana Turn Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about the banana turn drill. Hey guys, here’s a quick little easy drill that the kids love for teaching them the banana turn at first base on a base hit. Kids love running the bases, so be as creative as you can with drills for running the bases. They love to make it a competition, so use cones, baseballs, or whatever you have. They can practice directing their run and come up with a nice little gradual arc.

Have them start out on the play and then coming down hard. If they start that gradual arc and catch the inside of the bag while running by, they can practice their breakdowns over here. Another really good thing is to have one of the coaches or a ball bucket just right here off the bag. This forces them to catch the inside of the bag, whether it’s the right or left foot. This way, their body doesn’t hit whatever you put in place there. It’s really effective and really fun. Hope that helps!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 3rd Base

BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 3rd Base

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about baserunning from 3rd base. Hey guys, today we’re talking specifically from third base. One thing that I haven’t mentioned on all the other bases and this is really, really important and this is another tool to throw your players to have in their toolbox. You’ve got to pay attention to the pitcher and his tendencies, his release point, and you could get really good jumps on bad pitches just by watching the pitcher’s release point. So you’re watching him, he’s throwing a lot of curveballs or a lot of sliders or a lot of dirt balls in general, you can kind of tell from his release point that he let go of that ball way too late and that’s really good chances of being a spiked ball that the catcher is not going to be able to stop. 

Being aggressive with your footwork, be aggressive anticipating that you’re going to take another base. The same thing when it’s up. Guys throwing high, throwing balls to the backstop, pay attention to his release point a little bit, give yourself every advantage you can. So now, especially at third base, you know you can taste it now, your whatever field you’re playing on that many feet away from scoring.

Coaching and Foul Territory

Alright, so third base, your third base coach here is giving you instructions and I’ve coached third base a lot my life and usually tell your player with less than two outs, whatever you’re choosing to do whether you’re playing contact and they’re going on any ball hit on the ground, that’s up to you in that particular situation but you’re teaching them that they need to freeze on the line and tag on a ball in the air. Of course you’ll tell them, they’ll take their lead, there will be a fly ball, and there they go. Let’s hope you’re really going to hammer that home. That when they’re on third base with less than two outs, they have to tag on a fly ball.

Okay, so your lead at third base has to be in foul territory. If the hitter hits a ball and unfortunately hits the baserunner, it’s going to hurt. But, in foul territory you’re not out, in fair territory you are. So when you take your lead, you need to be watching the pitcher, he’s the only guy that can get you out. At some of the younger ages, the third baseman will hold you on which is really weird. At the higher levels, there will be nobody holding you on but you should know where the third baseman is. You can take a peek back to see where he is. After that it is just between you and the pitcher. You’re watching his arm slot, not many pick offs at third but you have to look for the pickoffs. For more information, click the video below!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Tagging at 2nd Base

BVSA Teaches: Tagging at 2nd Base

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about tagging at 2nd base. Another point on the baserunning: When hitting a base hit to the outfield and rounding the base, you need to be aggressive and force the outfielder to stop. The distance you run before breaking down depends on where the ball is hit. If the ball is hit to right field, I make a hard turn with my right foot inside the bag. If it’s hit to left field, I break down a little shorter. The farther away the ball is hit, the more aggressive you should be with your turn before breaking it down. This is important because if the outfielder bobbles the ball, you can take the extra base easily.

In another scenario, when you’re on second base with nobody out and there’s a fly ball to the outfield, you need to be tagging. If you go halfway and the outfielder catches the ball, you have to go back to second. This puts your team in a bad position with one out and a runner on second. But if you tag up, you can get to third base, and now it’s first and third with nobody out. The setup for tagging will be different depending on where the ball is hit. For example, for a long fly ball to right field, you should hug the base like you’re in a stolen base position.

Instincts

Conversely, when there is one out and you’re on second base, you’re not automatically tagging. You’re going halfway, and if the ball drops, you need to score and get back to the base to tag up. Good baserunners will have an instinct for reading the play. They’ll know when a ball is hit really deep but really high. If the outfielder is running away, they can go back and tag up and still score. The rule of thumb is when there is one out, you’re going halfway and reading the play.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Judging the distance of your turn

BVSA Teaches: Judging the distance of your turn

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about judging the distance of your turn. Hey guys, I have another point on the base hit to the outfield and rounding the bases aggressively. The distance you run and how far you round the base depends on where the ball is hit. For example, if the ball is hit to right field and I know it’s a base hit. I’m going to make a good hard turn with my right foot inside of the bag. But if the ball is hit to the right fielder, I break down a little shorter. Opposed to if it was a base hit down the left field line or to the left-center field gap. 

The farther away the ball is hit, the more aggressive and far you get with your turn before you break it down. If the fielder bobbles the ball, you can take advantage and easily get to second base. However, if the ball is hit to right-center or right field, you need more of a bobble or kick to take that extra base. It’s important to teach players these techniques.

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 2nd Base

BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 2nd Base

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about baserunning from 2nd base. This video is about baserunning and leads, specifically at second base. Knowing where the defense is playing is critical for getting good jumps to score or get back on line drives. It’s important to not be scared at second base and to teach kids how to be a threat on the basepaths. When getting off the base, it’s essential to keep your eye on the pitcher, the only person who can get you out. Many kids turn around to look at the shortstop, but this shows the pitcher that the baserunner is scared. 

It’s also important to know the situation of the game. The outs, the hitter, and everything else to become a better baserunner. When shuffling off with your secondary lead, make sure your shoulders remain square to the plate to avoid giving the catcher an invitation to throw in behind you. Timing is crucial, and you should be prepared to react in any direction. If the ball is in the air, you must read it and freeze or run depending on the situation. The first base coach is your eyes for the shortstop, so be prepared when in your lead position. To learn more about baserunning from 2nd base, click the video down below!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com 

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BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 1st Base

BVSA Teaches: Baserunning from 1st Base

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Frank Ramppen talks about baserunning from 1st base. Hey everyone, today we will be discussing some important aspects of baserunning, specifically from first base. We teach a lot of kids at different levels, some that have leading, some that don’t. Here are a couple of key components to being a good baserunner and doing things the right way:

Firstly, when you get a hit, whether it’s to the outfield or infield, it’s not the time to celebrate. You need to listen to your first base coach and look at your third base coach for signs. Once you know what’s next, smart baserunners survey the land and check out the players’ positions. Especially the outfielders, so that you know without looking, or before looking, you have an idea of where they are.

You do not have to be fast to be a good baserunner; it helps, but I’ve seen lots of fast-paced runners who are not good baserunners. There are a lot of guys who aren’t as fast but are even better because they have instincts. They’re checking out and anticipating what’s going to happen. They give themselves every advantage they can to succeed at what they’re about to do.

Timing when Baserunning

The key element to successful baserunning is timing. Whether you’re in little league and leading off the bag or higher levels and taking your lead, timing is essential. When the pitcher throws the ball and the batter is about to hit it, you’ve got to be ready to go. You can’t be napping or daydreaming. You must anticipate the ball’s movement to be ready as soon as it reaches the point where you need to go.

As a baserunner at a level where leading is allowed, you need to talk about your leads. We like to lead off the base with our left foot, then right foot, and then shuffle off. We feel that this puts you in the best position not to get tricked by the pitcher. A quick step off when your legs are crossing over one another can get you picked off. The leads you take depend on the individual, but as a rule of thumb, you don’t want to take a lead that’s too short you have no chance to steal a base or beat a throw that you should beat to the base. 

Similarly, you don’t want to take a crazy long lead that will get you picked off. You’ll be thinking, “I’m going back, I’m going back.” You need to determine what that lead is for you, and usually, a couple of shuffles put you in a good position. The rule of thumb is that you should get far enough so that if the pitcher throws over you are a step and a dive away. For more information on baserunning from 1st base click the video below!

Contact Us!

Here at BV Sports Academy, we are a passionate group of dedicated baseball and softball instructors with some pretty impressive resumes. More importantly we have been educated by Bobby Valentine himself. We teach a proven curriculum that has developed some of the finest talent in our area, and we’re just getting started. We’re have been blessed to be joined by some of the top programs around when it comes to other sports like lacrosse and soccer. Parties for all ages, we do those too! There is something for everyone at BVSA. We look forward to helping all athletes become the best they can be. If you would like to book anything or have any further questions, please email info@bvacademy.com