So I just got back from that Vanderbilt baseball camp thing, honestly wasn’t sure what to expect but figured hey, maybe pick up a tip or two for the Sunday league games, you know? Showed up early Saturday morning, grass still wet with dew, smelled like baseball leather and sweat already – classic.
First up: Hitting Drills
Coach had us line up at the cages right away, no messing around. Started super basic. Felt kinda silly at first, just tapping the damn ball off the tee real soft. Coach yelled “Stop trying to kill it! Just meet the ball!” Focused on keeping my hands back, really letting the ball travel deep before swinging. Did this for like, 10 minutes straight. Felt boring? Yeah. But man, by the time I stepped into live pitching later, felt way more controlled. My mistake was always rushing.
- Step 1: Tee work focusing ONLY on contact point (used orange dots on the net).
- Step 2: Soft toss from the side – coach aimed low and away, high and tight, forcing me to adjust WITHOUT dropping my back shoulder.
- Step 3: Short-toss rapid fire. Coach just rapid-firing balls from like 15 feet away. No thinking, just pure reaction swing. Legs felt like jelly after.
Huge thing learned: DO NOT pull your head out to watch the hit! Keep your damn eyes DOWN on the contact zone even after swinging. Game changer for consistency.
Infield Fielding – The Grind
Okay, this is where I usually suck. Ground balls? Ugh. Coach separated us into groups near second base. Started with simple slow rollers right at us. Emphasis? Butt down, glove out front early. Sounds obvious, right? But I caught myself reaching sometimes. We practiced this “Funnel” move – glove out, field the ball, bring it straight up the middle of your chest into throwing position. No fancy scoops or stabs unless absolutely needed! Less movement is faster.
Then they cranked up the fungo bats. Hitting hot shots left and right. Forget fielding cleanly at first, just focusing on getting my damn body IN FRONT of the ball. “Eat it with your chest!” coach yelled. Took a nasty hop off the collarbone – hurt like hell, but proved his point! Gotta commit your whole body, not just wave a glove at it.
Pitching & Mental Stuff
Didn’t pitch much myself (old arm!), but watched the younger guys. Key takeaway for weekend warriors like me? Control beats speed every time in rec ball. Saw dudes throwing gas but walking guys constantly. Coach stressed simple two-pitch sequences: fastball low, changeup away, repeat. Location, location, location. More time spent on fielding the position after the pitch than max velocity drills – backing up bases, covering first. Boring? Maybe. Wins games? Absolutely.
The mental wrap-up was solid too. Coach basically said: Prepare like you wanna win, but play loose and for fun. Overthinking kills instinct. Easier said than done when you’re 0-for-3, but trying to hold onto that.
Overall? Legs are wrecked, slept like a rock, but picked up some legit simple stuff anyone can try next practice. Stop trying to be a hero, nail the fundamentals first. Still hurts where that damn ball bounced off me though!