Page 846 – Diamond Prospects

SMC Senior Showcase

14th Annual SMC Senior Showcase Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:00 Campus tours begin 12:00 Workouts begin A low-cost opportunity ($35) for you to workout for SMC staff, other college coaches and professional scouts —Saturday Agenda— 9:00-11:00 Registration Campus Tours every 30 minutes Q & A with Coaches, Financial Aid and Admissions 11:00-11:50 Program in Camak Auditorium: Tim Wallace-Head Coach, Carolyn Sparks-Financial Aid 12:00-12:45 Stretch/Run 60-yard dash (Numerical order) 12:45-1:30 Outfielders/Infielders/Catchers throw 1:30-3:00 Batting Practice (Numerical order) 3:00-4:30 Pitchers throw to gun All times are approximate and will be determined by the number in attendance. When a player has completed his responsibilities on the field, he may leave. Feel free to ask questions of our players throughout the day. Workout will take place regardless of weather conditions. Indoor facilities are available and players should dress accordingly. For information contact: SMC Baseball office – (864) 587-4267 For more information regarding SMC Baseball, click here. .

Diamond Spotlight: Jake Koenig

SMC Commitment: Greenville shortstop Jake Koenig made his commitment to the Pioneers before the fall began and believes he is headed to the right program. In his Diamond Spotlight, Koenig talks to DP about the Yankees, video games and relives team successes from the past. DP-Please list any high school statistics of importance, awards won:… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well. Username Password Remember Me Forgot Password

DP Rankings: Commitments by High School

As we look ahead to the upcoming spring and pre-season rankings begin to trickle out, one way to make some safe picks to click may be which high schools already have seniors committed to play in college. DP takes a look at the Top 20 schools with 2007 signees through November 21… Rank High School Committed 1 Spartanburg 3 North Augusta 3 Riverside 3 Wren 3 Goose Creek 3 6 Fort Mill 2 JL Mann 2 Stratford 2 Byrnes 2 Blythewood 2 Berkeley 2 Dutch Fork 2 Midland Valley 2 Carolina Forest 2 Irmo 2 TL Hanna 2 Spring Valley 2 Brookland-Cayce 2 Boiling Springs 2 Northwood Academy 2 .

Diamond Notes: Winter Baseball Camps

The value of college camps By: Charlie Wentzky – November 21, 2007 Most travel baseball teams have closed the book on the fall, football players are looking back on the season that was and spring hardball is right around the corner. So what does the baseball junky do to bridge the gap that we call winter? Obviously money may come into play at some point but if family funding exists, players may want to take a stab at the college camp circuit. Instead of sitting on the couch and eating Cheetos, playing Guitar Hero or watching a dozen football games on the weekend: Go get better, go learn, go get seen! Most college camps are reasonably priced and the majority of them are stocked with quality instructors. Some camps cater more to the educational angle, others focus more on getting players exposure. The astigma is out there that winter baseball camps were established to pad the wallets of baseball coaches, this notion could not be further from the truth. Most camps are set up to take care of assistant coaches who may make very little – if anything at all – during the other 363 days on the calendar. Money obtained during camps also can go towards supplementing inferior budgets and be used for uniforms, equipment, baseballs, travel, etc. Many times events like this allow players to get to know evaluators, chat with them and see what they are really like. Often times it is difficult to meet college coaches but, in a camp setting, they are roaming around all day working stations and making conversation with players and parents. What better way to laugh and hang out with college coaches and pro scouts than when their sole responsibility is to be there for you? Exposure can be very difficult to get during the winter months because of the Quiet Period rule that keeps Division I coaches off the road until March 1. If you are looking to catch the eye of a DI program, your only chance is at a winter baseball camp. As with anything, some camps are better than others. Some are cheaper than others. Some bring in more college coaches, some bring in more pro players and high school coaches. Most are very good but may offer different things; it really depends on what you are searching for. Regardless of your winter baseball needs, there is likely a camp out there for you. Parents, everyone is always looking for the gift that keeps on giving. What is better than the gift of knowledge that your kid may not be able to get elsewhere. While plenty of prep and travel programs do a good job of passing along the correct information, you cannot put a price tag on fundamentals that may be worded in a way that ‘clicks’ with your son in a way that relates to his game. Most college programs put all of their camp information on their baseball website and make it very easy to sign up. So guys, get out of that Lay-Z-Boy, check the piggy bank and see how much better you can get while your competition sits around and waits for tryouts to roll around. Note: To be linked to every baseball website in our state, check the College Directory section on the Diamond Prospects site, click here.

DP Editorial: Calm down Mom & Dad

By: Austin Alexander-November 18, 2007 Warning! This article is going to step on some toes but will hopefully also serve as an educational editorial for anyone who is the parent of an athlete. In our sport, evaluators find themselves interacting quite often with the parents of baseball players. Whether it be behind the backstop, finding cover during a rain delay or standing in line at the concession stand. Correspondence between coaches and parents occur often via email, phone calls and during the recruiting process. On behalf of virtually every coach and scout on the planet: Calm down mom and dad! Parents, not the teenagers, can make a mess of the recruiting process early and often. It doesn’t matter what state you’re in, parents nearly always have an agenda when they have the attention of evaluators. They love to tell stories about their children and sell their son to anyone who will listen. Understand this, players sell themselves, not your words. That coach or scout is not going to recruit that player because YOU believe he is a good player. Your opinion of your child will not improve his draft status or scholarship offer. In fact, the reverse can be true. Parents gain reputations, good and bad, just like the player does. Coaches don’t spend time in the bullpen or batting cage with parents at the next level. They coach the player. If a parent is perceived to be a high maintenence parent, that can sometimes be all it takes to tip the scales away from an opportunity for your child. I call it a tie-breaker. Evaluators see SO many players. If in their eyes, they believe two players are close to equal, a problem parent can essentially blow their kid’s chance to play at his dream school. If you have caused problems in his high school program or been a thorn in the side of his travel coach, that information will be uncovered. Trust me, it happens. At this point in the article, you have likely thought of parents that I am describing. Maybe YOU are that parent. Understand a few things. There is a difference between telling stories and asking questions. There is a difference between running into a coach and hunting someone down. There is a difference between initiating email after email after email versus returning one. FYI, college coaches and pro scouts DO NOT care about how he played in a 12 and under all-star game. Most evaluators don’t even look at high school statistics. See where I’m going with this? When an evaluator arrives at the ballpark to evaluate, he is in his office. He likely drove a great distance to get there and will get home long after his children have already gone to bed. He is probably making and receiving calls throughout the game regarding all of the other balls he is juggling…all while he is trying to bear down on 18 players. The last thing he needs is to be bombarded by overzealous parents who think they have something important to tell him. Afterall, how would you like to be in the middle of a busy Friday afternoon and have him plop down in your office to tell you how amazing his teenager is? It is the same thing. If you are guilty of this act, you may think back to how nice the coach was and that he talked to you for four innings, he answered every question, etc… He HAS to. They will never be rude but they do file it away. People care about their children and they should. But think of the co-worker that constantly brags about their son, that friend of yours that just goes on and on about their daughter. The difference between you and that college coach you “just happened to run into” is that he hears everyone’s story, not just yours. It really gets old, just to be honest. Trust me, if an evaluator wants to speak with “little Johnny’s” parents, he will find you. So next time you begin a sentence with, “I’m not just saying this because he is my son…”, please stop yourself because you are about to cram your kid down someone else’s throat. Love your children, Lord knows I sure love mine. But know the difference between helping and hurting him. Just a little food for thought. .

Diamond Spotlight: Konstantine Diamaduros

Wofford Signee: Spartanburg High School outfielder Konstantine Diamaduros will follow in the footsteps of family members before him and attend Wofford College. The Terrier-bound hitter hopes his left-handed bat will nestle right into the middle of the line-up during his freshman year. During his Diamond Spotlight, KD talks baseball, hunting and aca… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Player Profile: Aaron Bouronich

Name: Aaron Bouronich High School (coach): Coach Burt Bazzle Graduation year: 2008 Position(s): 1B and pitcher Height: 6’3” Weight: 190 Bats: left Throws: left GPA: 3.657 SAT: Critical Reading 440, Math 590, Writing 500 Class rank: 101 of 636 or top 16% Academic awards: Who’s Who Among American High School Students in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003 Intended major: Sports Management Parent’s names (college attended, if any): Larry Bouronich (Rice Business College) Rachelle Bouronich (Charleston Southern University) Summer team (coach): Goose Creek Diamondbacks, Coach Jimmy Huskey (6 years) Fall team (coach): Goose Creek Diamondbacks, Coach Jimmy Huskey High School statistics: (statistics for Junior year on varsity) Pitcher: W-L 1-2, ERA 1.86, IP 26.33, SO 21, BB 12 Hitter: AVG .397, R 21, 2B 9, 3B 0, HR 2, RBI 22, SB 2 Athletic awards: – 2007 All H.I.T. (Hanahan Invitational Team) – 2007 High School Sports Report All State Team – 2007 Triple Crown Award in varsity season for most doubles, homeruns and RBI’s (also had the most runs scored, most walks, highest batting average, highest slugging percentage and highest on base percentage) – Pitched a no-hitter in Triple Crown Fall Invitational tournament in St. Augustine on 10-14-07 and a 1-hitter the following weekend in Diamond Devil Wood Bat tournament in Charleston, SC) – Pitched a no-hitter in USSSA World Series as a 13 year old 60-yard dash: 7.3 P’s-Top MPH: 86 Hobbies: baseball, fishing, bowling, supporting our school sports programs List any community service or charity work you have done: Adopt A Highway Program Would you consider a junior college? yes What do you want a college coach who is reading this to know about you? I love the game, am a dedicated player, I don’t mind hard work to improve my skills List your top five college choices (optional): University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, Georgia Southern, UNC Wilmington .

Early Signing Period Rankings: Class of 2008

-Diamond Rankings: 2008 Graduates- Right-Handed Pitchers Rank Name High School HT/WT B/T Committed 1 Matt Price Sumter 6-1/175 R/R South Carolina 2 David Haselden Spartanburg 6-4/230 R/R Clemson 3 Jordan Lyles Hartsville 6-4/175 R/R Undecided 4 Richard Mounce Blythewood 6-1/185 R/R Clemson 5 James Rawls Batesburg-Leesvill… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Recap: Fall Classic

Recap: Charleston Fall Classic By: DP Staff Writers, November 2-4, 2007 Once again the recruiting season ended with a bang in Charleston as 41 travel teams took part in the 15th annual Fall Classic. Diamond Prospects had coverage there and will take you to the Port City to break down some of the top performances from in-state players… Ki… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Diamond Notes: A structured routine for pitchers

The answer is a structured routine By: Austin Alexander-November 7, 2007 Most pitchers and parents out there believe if they can buy enough lessons and get with that one pitching guru, that everything will come together and their velocity will jump 10 MPH! While many mechanical flaws can be fine-tuned in the bullpen and quality instruction is an element to success, there is another way to build and maintain a strong and healthy arm. Bad news though, it requires some forethought, a lot of work and loads of dedication. Two words: Structured routine, period. People want velocity to emerge like magic during one lesson or bullpen with a coach. Pure ignorance! You want to maintain velocity deep into a game or season, the only answer is a structured routine…a foreign term to most high school kids. Ever wondered why some prep arms come out of the gate hitting 87 in the top of the first, top out at 84 in the second inning and sit at 80-82 when their most critical pitches are being thrown during the latter stages of the game? Some young pitchers pitch in the mid to upper-80’s when the season begins but, come playoff time, their do-or-die pitches range between 81-83. Answer: They prepare sporadically. Seldom ever do they prepare within a routine that never wavers, never. Not weather, not books, not what they think is a busy schedule. You either commit to it or shock your body. There is no in-between. Two variables can justifiably affect an in-season routine. Two-way players and coaches who will not keep their pitchers up-to-date with when his next start will be. There is no question that having to juggle a position with pitching can make it tougher to execute a routine. But I liken it to a switch-hitter who has to work overtime to keep himself sharp on both sides of the plate. He has to treat his craft as though he is two separate players, therefore having to put in more time than the average hitter. Coaches should have a plan for their starting pitchers. But in the event they don’t, most coaches at least have an idea of who is going to start for them on the mound. If the coach does not communicate this to his pitchers, then the pitcher should take it upon himself to open the dialogue between he and his coach. If a player is truly committed to his body, his craft and the team’s success, that coach will most likely open up and help the pitcher formulate a routine designed to help his club win baseball games. Afterall, what coach doesn’t want to develop young talent and win championships? Here’s a dose of honesty… Pitchers, ya gotta work! You have to commit your mind and body to a gameplan. Chances are you have long-tossed, lifted and run poles before. Maybe even quite a bit, even more than other players on your high school team. While that might win you the “coaches award”, if it is done without a design and executed on a daily basis – without fail – then you are basically spitting in the wind. Hall of Famer and 300-game winner Tom Seaver is well-noted for a night that he did not pitch. He’d been scheduled to throw a Sunday game on the road that was rained out. When his flight landed late that night, he had the Mets clubhouse attendant turn the stadium lights on so he could throw his 100 pitches into a net. It was his day to pitch. His body knew it was his day to throw…and so he did, in the middle of the night, even though it was far from convenient. I once had a pitcher who was our #1 starter and was scheduled to pitch on Friday night game against a conference rival. It was a Wednesday and his day to lift. We had a game on the road and returned to campus at 3:15 a.m. Fifteen minutes later he was in the weightroom, got his lift in AND was in class less than four hours later. Did I mention, he got the save in that game against the #1 ranked team in the country (because it was his day to throw) AND wrote a term paper on the bus ride home. That’s commitment to his schoolwork, himself and the program! So what should a pitcher do between outings? It’s going to vary from player to player. Every arm, body, delivery and demands are different from guy to guy. Instead of flooding DP with emails over what a good routine may entail, we’ll refer you to a previous article written by David Marchbanks as a starting point. To view, click here. Understand, however, that a routine has to be individualized and may be amended if the arm and body don’t cooperate. On a staff of fifteen, it is conceivable that there may be 10-15 different daily routines. That speaks to how the individual has to be in touch with his arm and body, then determine what the arm/body needs to be ready to go on his day to pitch. Consistent communication is strongly encouraged between the pitcher and his pitching coach in an effort to arrive at the precise routine. Here is another angle. Players who commit to excellence, generally have a psychological advantage over their opponent, whether it be a teammate that they are competing with for a job or a rival on the other side of the field. When you truly pay the price to have success, you feel like you are mentally on a power-play against the competition. Now, the majority of high school pitchers reading this article will think this theory sounds great and consider altering their lackluster way of going about their business…but then go right back to winging it the way they always have and wonder why their velocity fluctuates. It’s a choice every player has to make for himself at some point. It can’t be pushed on him …