2023 State Sectional Champs. 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 League Champs. Mike Carcich - 2016 North Jersey and 2023 Bergen County Coach of the Year.
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Joined January 2018
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Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Catcher stances and receiving basics.🔥 If you’re in the Bay Area don’t miss Captain Fun’s Catching BootCamps this winter! Register now at LegendsCamps.com
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
4 drills to activate the lower half when hitting.
1. Jump back: start even with the tee, jump back, load up and fire.
2. Wide rock: start very wide, rock forward and back, feel it in the legs and drive.
3. Preset hips: load and stride, preset the hips, stay back, then fire. Great for players who do not start their swing with their hips.
4. Bucket drill: start with the butt on the bucket, activate the legs, stand up and drive.
#youthbaseball #baseball #hitting #coaching #drills
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Setup at the plate for ages 8 and under.
Back foot on the edge of the plate, toes at the knob of the bat. From there they can cover the outside part of the plate. Rest the bat on the back shoulder and stick the fingers straight out.
Why it matters: at contact you want palm up, palm down, which is strong. Crossed over fingers roll the wrist and take the bat out of the zone fast.
#youthbaseball #baseball #hitting #coaching #littleleague
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Two fixes for kids who cast.
Fix 1: put the belly button up against the knob and take swings, throwing the hands inside. A classic drill that keeps them from hitting the fence.
Fix 2: stand about a foot off the fence. If they drop their hands and arm bar, they feel it right away. Make it a challenge and have them explode.
#youthbaseball #baseball #hitting #coaching #drills
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Why we need a strong front side and a tight turn! 🗣️📝💥
@MiguelCabrera
#softball #baseball #storytime #coaching
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
BUNTING MANIPULATES PITCHER APPROACH AND SETS THE TABLE FOR FUTURE MOMENTS
With 2 outs and no body on in the 3rd inning, losing 4-0, @Brewers Manager Pat Murphy told #9 hitter David Hamilton to lay down a bunt in a seemingly unimportant at bat.
Why?
Because Murphy knew Hamilton was known for bunting and they could set the table for a future at bat and big moment later in the game where he’d get a pitch to hit.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Hamilton bunted.
Hamilton got out.
But in the 5th, in Hamilton’s next at bat, he got a pitch in the heart of the plate and singled scoring a run and bringing the Brewers within 1.
And in the 9th, Hamilton did it again, homering on a get me over slider and extending the Brewers lead to 6-4.
You bunt to create future moments, and the Brewers did just that.
#BuntLife
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
This is a good visual of what I mean when I say take your hands to the ball and stay inside the ball.
When I say take your hands to the ball, I don’t mean push them way out in front of your body. I use it as a cue because I want bottom hand to start working in the direction of the ball while you continue to turn and the barrel follows behind the hands.
Staying inside the ball (keeping hands between you and the ball) allows for a quicker compact swing and so you can drive the ball to the entire field.
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
The best 10 year olds are NOT the best 20 year olds.
Baseball is a slow development sport. So why are we cutting kids at 6, 7, 8, 9, 10?
Keep them in the game long enough to fall in love with it and develop real skills. Love of the game first, always.
#youthbaseball #baseball #coaching #playerdevelopment #funfirst
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SAC BUNT IN LAST NIGHT’S PLAYOFF GAME
1) Runner on 1B no outs bunt directed to 1B to force first baseman to vacate early which gives the runner at 1B time to extend his lead. If the first baseman does not leave early, it takes him longer to get to the ball.
( Carefully with early break & back pick at 1B with the second baseman)
2) If first baseman leaves real early, you have the option to steal 2B & take the pitch.
3) Ball is bunted softly to 1B to force the first baseman to travel further to get the ball. The looser you hold the bat & the closer to the end of the bat you bunt the ball,the softer the bunt.
4) BIG ONE- RH bunter drop steps with his right foot to point his bellybutton & square his hips up to 1B & create backspin. This is key. If his hips are square to the pitcher & he directs the bunt to 1B, he will likely contact the inside of the ball leading to side spin. If the ball is bunted towards the line, it will probably roll foul. The drop step also puts you in position to go down to the low strike by merely lowering your knee to the ground & chest to knee if necessary.
5) The bunter bunts with a flat bat & the elbows are pointed down. Elbows pointed down keeps the barrel from dropping below the hands leading to a pop up. It also give you more plate coverage.
6) The pitch is elevated in the zone close to the hitter’s eyes. No adjustment is required. The thought being that high balls get popped up. IMO this is only true when bunters go up out of the zone to bunt the ball. Usually pitches above the bat get taken for a ball. It is also my opinion that it is tougher to go down to bunt a low pitch with velocity (Even a hard down breaking breaking ball which bunters rarely practice bunting) because they drop their hands & lose the eye bat connection.
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
A two-strike approach isn’t about just trying to survive or slap the ball to the opposite field. It’s about putting yourself in a position where you can explode as late as possible without getting fooled.
The goal is still to hit the baseball hard. You’re just giving yourself more time to see it.
I’m not a big believer in making mechanical changes in the middle of an at-bat. But if I were going to follow a two-strike approach, this is what I’d do.
Don’t become defensive just because you have two strikes. You’re still trying to beat the pitcher.
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
How can we teach our hitters to get comfortable letting the ball travel? Coach Valli (@CoachValli) lays it all out for us 👇
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Are U not getting enough out of your legs when throwing to 2nd base? Here are some drills that will help U feel how to get your back foot underneath and maximize your lower half while throwing. Make sure to Like Share and Follow #catchersu #catcher #catcherdrills #catchertraining #catchingcoach
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
How well do you keep your head still during the middle of your swing? It’s okay to have controlled head movement when you stride forward, but once you get to launch position, your head needs to be still all the way to contact!
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Do you or your team struggle in the big moments? Can't seem to get over that hurdle in big games?
It's time for a mentality shift that can change your career, or your team's entire season and culture.
That mentality: NAMELESS/FACELESS OPPONENTS.
Stop letting emotions dictate how you treat the game and its value. Trent Mongero (@CoachMongero) breaks down how to mentally become a more consistent player, and a more consistent team/program.
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Get just outside the baseball. ⚾️
The 3-Cone Drill emphasizes just that, helping infielders create better angles to the ball. 💪
🔗: bit.ly/ThreeConeDrill
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
The 2 ball speed shuffle is a great, advanced drill to do with a partner.
This drill enforces a lot, including:
-Hand and feet coordination
-Lower half strength and explosiveness
-Staying low and on plane with the feed
-Fluidity and rhythm
-The big one, it forces you to be at or above game speed with the challenge these reps bring
This drill is easier than it looks. Once you get the hang of it, it's a great one to add to your daily routine for some challenge reps.
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
The 3 step, 5 step drill is an incredible drill for increasing range, building lateral explosiveness, eliminating false steps, and getting the most out of attacking plays.
The feeder simply pushes the player 3 to 5 steps to their left and right. Each time the ball is returned to the feeder, the player goes into a repetitive "pistons" movement, firing their lower half in a modified prep step, ready to use that impulse force to self align and explode laterally to make the play.
5 reps per set, because this drill will wear you out. But it's time tested and time proven.
Save this and implement it into your next training session!
Wood-Ridge Baseball retweeted
Make the most of every rep. 💪
Add the Shadow Drill to your infield work to sharpen your footwork and get more game-like reps without needing a ball 🫡
🔗: bit.ly/ShadowDrill