The University of San Diego announced the signing of eight players for the 2010 season. Singing with USD are: Mike Dedrick (Canyon View / Cedar City, Utah), Evan DeLucca (Immaculata HS / Whitehouse Station, N.J.), Cameron Garfield (Murrieta Valley HS / Murrieta, Calif.), Matt Moynihan (Cathedral Catholic HS / San Diego, Calif.), James Needy (Santana HS / Santee, Calif.), Andrew Walter (Cactus HS / Peoria, Ariz.), Jake Williams (Brophy Prep / Scottsdale, Ariz.), and Aaron Wirsch (El Toro HS / Trabuco Canyon, Calif.).

	Elaine Shepard
	Andrew Walter will play at USD next year for Coach Rich Hill.

 
Mike Dedrick is a 6-3 right-handed pitcher, who is ranked No. 39 top high school prospect by Baseball America. He was first-team All State as a junior, selected as an Under Armour All-American. He had a busy summer playing in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, the Perfect Game National Showcase and the Area Code Baseball Games, where he suited up for the Cincinnati Reds.

"Mike is a very competitive RHP, low 90's with a dynamic curve ball, stated Coach Rich Hill in a USD press release.  "He has one of those electric arms that we can't wait to get here.
 
Evan Deluca is a 6-1 left-handed pitcher, comes to San Diego all the way from New Jersey and the coaching staff of USD thinks he is a sleeper. 
 
Cameron Garfield is catcher out of Southern California and is one of the best catchers in the state. He was selected to the Angels Elite Scout Team this fall and over the summer played for the Milwaukee Brewers Blue team. He was named to the CalHiSports.com All-State Underclass Team in 2008.  The other two catchers on that team were Max Stassi (Yuba City, Calif.) and Andrew Susac (Jesuit, Carmichael, Calif.).

"Cameron has that rare quality of being a physical offensive player while playing a premium defensive position, stated Hill.  "He should step right in and provide a serious punch to our line-up and is one of the premier position players in the country.
 
Matt Moynihan, an outfielder, will bring more athleticism and speed to the team. At the 2008 Area Code Games (Milwaukee Brewers Blue) Moynihan posted the seventh best SPARQ Rating at 76.94. This past summer he played at the Perfect Game National Showcase in Minnesota.   

"With his speed and athleticism, both centerfield and the top of the order are in good hands for years to come, commented Rich Hill.

James Needy was selected as the No. 68 top high school prospect by Baseball America.  He was selected as the Santana Varsity Most Outstanding Athlete and was selected to the Area Code Games for the
Milwaukee Brewers.  He played in the USA Baseball's Tournament of the Stars and in Perfect Game National Showcase.
 
Andrew Walter goes to USD from Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz.  He was a member of the Arizona Junior Sunbelt team as a junior and played in the Area Code Games for the Cincinnati Reds.  As a junior he pitched in 48.7 innings and posted 84 strikeouts with a 2.01 ERA.
  
Jake Williams was a teammate of Walters on the Cincinnati Reds Area Code Team. He was selected to the Tournament of the Stars with AABC and played in Perfect Games' National Showcase. He is the son of former Major League slugger Matt Williams.
 
Aaron Wirsch, joins the Toreros is a stand-out hurler at El Toro High School. When the Milwaukee Brewers decided to to take him to the 2008 Area Code Games, the Oakland Athletics picked him up.  He recently played in the Southern California Scouts Association Jesse Flores Memorial Game at USC this November.

"Aaron has that ideal pitcher body with a very loose arm action and his command of three excellent pitches, said Rich Hill.  "Aaron has a chance to be the next great left-handed pitcher in a long line of Torero star lefty's.

 USD Press Release contributed to this story.

By Andrew Drennen

Texas A&M signed 10 athletes to national letters of intent.

"This strong and versatile class is a tribute to the tireless work that (assistant coaches) Matt (Deggs) and Jeremy (Talbot) put in all year long," Rob Childress said on CSTV.com. "We feel this is a group that will not only fill the needs of our program, but is one that is made up of players that can excel in the tough, hard-nosed style of play that is Aggie baseball."

2008-09 Aggies Signing Class
Jake Feckley RHP Wylie, Texas (Wylie HS)
Todd Glaesmann OF Waco, Texas (Midway HS)
K.C. Hobson 1B/LHP Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale HS)
Mason Leavitt LHP Frisco, Texas (Legacy Christian Academy HS)
Kyle Martin RHP Austin, Texas (St. Michael's Academy HS)
Dylan Mendoza LHP/OF Austin, Texas (Lake Travis HS)
Shelby Miller INF/RHP Brownwood, Texas (Brownwood HS)
Cody Rogers OF Hallsville, Texas (Hallsville/Panola College)
Michael Wacha RHP Texarkana, Texas (Pleasant Grove HS)
Brandon Wood OF/RHP Fort Bend, Texas (Clements HS)

Feckley was a two time pitcher of the year at Wylie High School with a 1.85 ERA as a junior.  He struckout 74 batters in 2008.

Todd Glaesmann, an outfielder from Waco, Texas was a member of the 2008 Texas Rangers Area Code Baseball Team.  Glaesmann was one of the top players at the event, and because of his exploits on the field, he was named to the 2008 All-Area Code Team.

"The experience at Area Code was unbelievable, recalled Glaesmann in an August 2008 story on ESPNRISE.com.  "The competition was so much better then what I had faced throughout the summer and it helped me see where I stood with the other talent around the country.

He was strong on both sides of the ball.  Back in August, when Glaesmann spoke with ESPNRISE.com about his decision, he stated that he felt comfortable in College Station and it seemed like the right fit.  

K.C. Hobson was a member of the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers Area Code Baseball Team last August and this fall played for the Milwaukee Brewers Fall Team.  In 2008 Hobson was named to the first team all-state by CalHiSports.com, as an utility player.  Other players selected to that team were Anthony Gose, Cutter Dykstra and Kyle Skipworth, to name a few.  He hit .505 with seven home runs with 17 doubles and 57 RBI, while going 10-0 with a 3.03 ERA.

Shelby Miller was a teammate of Glaesmann on the Texas Rangers Area Code Baseball Team in 2008 and like Glaesmann was named to the 2008 All-Area Code Team. He went 8-2 with a 1.11 ERA and 131 strikeouts and tossed three straight no-hitters, one shy of the state record, and followed that with a two-hit shutout. He hit .413 with nine home runs and 32 RBI.

Some information gathered from CSTV

Posted by Andrew Drennen

The University of Washington baseball team received National Letters of Intent from nine high school seniors during the early signing period.

The nine signees, all from Washington, are: Chase Anselment (Edmonds/Meadowdale), Adam Cimber (Edgewood/Puyallup), Jake Lamb (Seattle/Bishop Blanchet), Collin Monagle (Port Orchard/South Kitsap), RHP Nick Palewicz (Seattle/Ballard), Eric Peterson (Renton/Liberty), Andy Smith (Poulsbo/North Kitsap), RHP Tyler Sullivan (Kingston/Kingston), and Brian Wolfe (Snohomish/Snohomish).

"It's an excellent class," Washington head coach Ken Knutson stated on GoHuskies.com. "The thing that stands out is that its well-balanced with hitters and pitchers. We're bringing in a lot of left-handed power, plus three power arms and a top strike-thrower. It could be one of those special classes if all of them make it to college after the draft."

Posted By Andrew Drennen

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets inked seven high schoolers to letters of intent for the fall of 2009.

"I think it's a solid class, Danny Hall said in a released statement.  "Going into it, our primary focus was to make sure we got some pitching, and I think we did just that.

2009 Signing Class
Luke Bard | RHP | Charlotte, NC (Charlotte Christian)
Tucker Barnhart | C | Brownsburg, Ind. (Brownsburg)
Clay Dalton | RHP/1B | Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb)
Buck Farmer | RHP | Conyers, Ga. (Rockdale Co.)
Ben McKinney | RHP/OF | Johnson City, Tenn. (Science Hill)
Crawford Simmons | LHP | Statesboro, Ga. (Statesboro)
Brandon Thomas | OF | Atlanta, Ga. (Pace Academy)

Bard is rated the No. 13 baseball recruit in the state of North Carolina went 9-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 2008.  Playing in the outfield as well, Bard hit .336. He helped guide his Charlotte Christian team to a runner up finish in the state playoffs.  He was also a memeber of the 2008 Oakland Athletics Area Code Baseball Team at the 2008 Area Code Baseball Games.

Barnhart is one of the top players in the nation and was a four-star recruit by Baseball America's Prospects Plus. He was named a 2008 Louisville Slugger High School All-American after being
tabbed honorable mention All-America by Collegiate Baseball in 2007. He played in the 2008 East Coast Showcase. 

Dalton was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's All-Northwest Georgia team in 2008.  He posted a 10-2 record with 89 strikeouts and a 2.14 ERA in 2008.

George Farmer is a three-star recruit, according to Baseball America's Prospects Plus. He was named the MVP of the 2008 Connie Mack World Series. He hit .473 with 10 home runs and posted a 2.02 ERA with 63 strikeout.

Posted by Andrew Drennen

UCLA head baseball coach John Savage has announced that nine high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent to play in Westwood in 2010.

"Our coaching staff did an outstanding job putting this class together, John Savage said in a released statement. "Coach Vanderhook and Coach Pearse worked extremely hard over the last several months. We feel that we have several impact position players that will have great careers at UCLA.

David Nick, Scott Griggs, Jeff Gelalich and Cody Keefer were all members of the Milwaukee Brewers Area Code Baseball Team in 2008.

Additionally, current high school senior Trevor Bauer, a right-handed pitcher at Hart High School, signed a grant-in-aid to enroll at UCLA in January 2009. He will graduate from Hart High School in December and join the Bruins for the 2009 season.

Trevor Brown UTL Valencia, Calif.
Jeff Gelalich OF La Verne, Calif.
Scott Griggs RHP Alamo, Calif.
Dennis Holt OF/LHP Yorba Linda, Calif.
Cody Keefer OF Davis, Calif.
David Nick INF Cypress, Calif.
Cody Regis INF Glendora, Calif.
Max Stassi C Yuba City, Calif.
Trayce Thompson OF Ladera Ranch, Calif.

UCLA Baseball release helped contribut to this report.

By Andrew Drennen

The 2008 AL MVP Award went to the Boston Red Sox' Dustin Pedroia. He was recognized earlier in the baseball award season when he received an AL Gold Glove.  Pedroia went to Woodland High Schoo, located just North of Sacramento and graduated in 2001.  In the summer before his senior year, Pedroia played for the San Francisco Giants in the 2000 Area Code Baseball Games.  Some other names from the 2000 Area Code Baseball Games include Prince Fielder, David Wright and Jerad Weaver to name a few.  

In 2001 Cal-Hi Sports recognized the infielder's exploits and named the then 5-10, 160 pounder to the first team all-state.  In that same 2001 season, Delmon Young was named state sophomore of the year.  

Pedroia received 16 first place votes and became the first AL second baseman to win the award since 1959, when Nellie Fox took home th honors.  According to the Sacramento Bee, Pedroia is the first Sacramento area player to win this award, in only his second full season.  

Posted By Andrew Drennen

Illinois announced the signing of six student-athletes. The 2009 signing class is composed of Christian Cummins, Davis Hendrickson, Brandon Hohl, Kevin Johnson, Matt Milroy, and Seth Schwindenhammer.

"Our staff is extremely excited about the quality of this signing class," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said in a press release. "We have added six players who are as athletic as we have had in any single class. All of these players have demonstrated that they are quality students, quality people and in the top echelon of baseball players in the Midwest."

Christian Cummins | IF | Harrisburg HS |  Harrisburg, Ill.
Listed as the No. 30 prospect in the state by Prep Baseball Report he hit .438 with 35 RBIs and eight home runs. Harrisburg went 31-3 last season and earned a berth in the IHSA Sweet 16 in 2008.

Davis Hendrickson | OF | Macomb HS  |  Macomb, Ill.
He is ranked No. 25 in the state by Prep Baseball Report, who also lists him as the third-best defensive outfielder in the state in the Class of 2009. He was a first-team All-Olympic Conference selection in 2007-08 hitting .468 with five home runs, 39 RBIs and 19 steals.

Brandon Hohl | 3B/SS | Lincoln-Way East HS |  Mokena, Ill.
Prep Baseball Report ranked him as the No. 31 prospect in the state and the No. 7 hitter in the state in the Class of 2009. He led Lincoln-Way East to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association summer state championship and earned All-IHSBCA Summer State Tournament honors.

Kevin Johnson | RHP | Mt. Carmel HS |  Midlothian, Ill.
He went 8-2 with a 1.56 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 2008, including one no-hitter. He was an honorable mention All-State selection by the Chicago Sun Times and a All-Chicago Catholic League selection

Matt Milroy | RHP/OF | Marmion Academy |  Batavia, Ill.
The No. 8 recruit in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, he hit. 467 with 44 RBIs and seven dingers. He was named All-Area by the Aurora Beacon News, the Daily Herald and the Kane County Chronicle and named the 2008 Beacon News Player of the Year.

Seth Schwindenhammer | OF/RHP | Limestone HS |  Bartonville, Ill.
The No. 12 recruit in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, he was named to the IHSBCA All-State team, and the Peoria Journal Star All-Area first team. He hit .427 with 42 RBIs and 13 home runs and led the Mid-Illini Conference in RBIs, homers, on-base and slugging percentage.

Illinois Sports Information Department baseball release helped contribute to this report.

Posted by Andrew Drennen

Cleveland State signed eight high schoolers last week.  "This is a very talented class," said head coach Kevin Kocks on CSTV.com. "We were able to get a good group of young players from northeast Ohio that fit into our system."

The Utah Utes head baseball coach Bill Kinneberg announced the signing of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Joining Utah for the 2010 season are Rick Anton (Prescott, Ariz.), Brock Duke (Salem, Utah), Zach Adams (West Jordan), Tyler Wagner (Henderson, Nev./Bishop Gorman HS), Cam Schiller (Prescott, Ariz.) and Kevin Ponzo (LaVerne, Calif.).

Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss announced the signing of seven to National Letters of Intent. For Boss, this is his first recruiting class since coming to Michigan State in July. MSU signed Torsten Boss (Lowell, Michigan.), Casey Dishman (Saline, Michigan.) Jordan Keur (Hudsonville, Michigan.), Andy Tinkey (Commerce, Michigan.), Andrew Waszak (Rochester Hills, Michigan.), Anthony Wieber (Lansing, Michigan.) and Joel Williams (Circleville, Ohio). Andy Rademacher (DeWitt, Michigan.) has accepted admission into Michigan State.

Eleven high school seniors have committed to play baseball at East Carolina University in 2010, head baseball coach Billy Godwin announced. Four of the players in the signing class played in the 2008 Area Code Baseball Games. The latest group of preps will take the diamond for the Pirates in 2010. The class includes Jake Harris, Joseph Hughes, D.J. Jauss, Tyler Joyner, Nick McBride, Tanner Merritt, Bryan Bass, Walker Gourley, John Wooten, Chris Gosik and Mike Trout.

Posted by Andrew Drennen

LIST OF SIGNEES

Daniel Brown RHP Broughton Raleigh, N.C.
Cameron Giannini RHP Hargrave Military Danville, Va.
Jake Matthews LHP Powatan Powatan, Va.
J.J. McLeod RHP Skagit Valley College Burlington, Wash.
Jerry Neufang C South Florida CC Stafford, Va.
Josh Richardson SS/P Greenbriar Christian Chesapeake, Va.
Chris Roach LHP Chipola College Andover, N.J.

The Liberty Flames signed seven early, including five pitchers.  Here are the list of players:

Brown was the team MVP for Broughton High School and compiled a 4-1 record with 10 saves over 2007 and 2008. During the same period, he pitched 68 innings and fanned 99 batters. "He has been clocked consistently in the 85-88 mph range and features an outstanding curveball. We expect Daniel to make an immediate impact on our pitching staff, Liberty Head Coach Jim Toman said in a school release. 

Giannini has posted a 12-4 record with a 1.78 ERA. He only walked 24 and struck out 145. He batted .565 with nine home runs and 63 RBIs over 2007 and 2008. The right-hander earned VIC All Conference first team honors in 2007 and 2008, was named to the Danville All Metro Team in 2007 and 2008 and was named 2008 VISAA All State second team in 2008. "He throws a heavy, sinking fastball which has been clocked in the low 90's and can throw three pitches for strikes. We fully expect Cam to compete for a weekend starting role as a freshman, Toman said.

Matthews was a member of two state championship teams at James River High School and he had a 3-1 record en route to the 2008 state championship.

"Jake is a classic left-hander, who pitches in the mid 80's with his fastball, Toman remaked on LibertyFlames.com. "He can throw three quality pitches for strikes, in any count, and really knows how to compete. We are very pleased that Jake has decided to join our program and we have high expectations for him to make an immediate impact.

McLeod, in two years, threw 62 innings and and struck out 71. He posted ERA's of 2.08 and 0.92 in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Richardson helped lead Greenbriar Christian to back-to-back state titles in 2007 and 2008. He was selected as an Under Armour pre-season All American and chosen as the No.3 Top Prospect in the Under Armour Team One South showcase held in Atlanta, Ga., last summer.

"Not only is Josh a legitimate two-way player, he is also a proven winner, said Toman.

LibertyFlames.com was the source of information in this report.

Posted by Andrew Drennen

Ronnie Richardson, out of Lake Region High School in Eagle Lake, Florida was one of three member of the Thunder team to sign a national letter of intent.  Richardson will move on and play at the University of Central Florida in the Spring of 2010.  At the 2008 Area Code Baseball Games, Richardson played on the Oakland Athletics team, which represented the Southeast.  In the program he was listed as an outfielder and accoring to NewsChief.com he may see some time on the mound.

By Andrew Knepper

Oklahoma has just announced its early commits that include 10 prep stars that, according to OU's press release, are listed on Perfect Games crossckecker to be prospects for this years upcoming MLB draft in June.   

	Elaine Shepard
	Chad Kettler at the 2008 Area Code Baseball Games. Kettler is off to OU next fall.

The Sooners have brought in four instate prep stars and the rest coming from the Lone Star state.  

Four of OU's recruits attended the Area Code Games this last August with Ryan Gibson, Austin Kirk and Jarek Pritchard playing for the Chicago White Sox Area Code as Chad Kettler played for the Texas Rangers team this past summer and all ended on a high notes.  

They look to be some of the players who get lost to this years upcoming MLB draft, but with how strong this recruiting class is, it should not affect them too greatly.  

Below is the list of Oklahoma's recruiting class of prep stars:

Position | Player | School/State

LHP - Ryan Gibson - Yukon High School, OK
OF - Jarek Pritchard - Charles Page High School, OK
LHP/1B - Austin Kirk - Owasso High School, OK
LHP - Brandon Bargas - Owasso High School, OK
SS - Chad Kettler - Coppell High School, TX
C/1B - Abel Baker - Denton High School, TX
1B - Drew Harrison - Waxahachie High School, TX
LHP - Jordan John - Calallen High School, TX
SS - Jack Mayfield - Del Rio High School, TX
RHP - Drew Verhagen - Heath High School, TX

By Andrew Drennen

Baylor University signed eight in the early signing period this year.  "We are really pleased to be able to announce this class, Bears head coach Steve Smith said in a released statement.

	Elaine Shepard
	Jake Miller at the 2008 Area Code Games.

"This is a very good group of players, and we feel like this group will go a long way toward meeting our needs in the next year. The position players particularly the infielders are all athletic and versatile enough to play anywhere on the field. Obviously, we focused on left-handed pitching, and we're very pleased with what we were able to get in that area.

Three of the Bears' signees played for the 2008 Texas Rangers Area Code Team this past August.  The trio, Logan Vick, Josh Turley and Jake Miller helped guide the Rangers to the best record and tournament winners. 

Turley's Texarkana-Texas High School team went 25-5 in 2008 and on the mound, the hurler posted an 8-1 record with a 1.03 ERA.  Over his career, Turley, has won over 25 games with a 1.24 ERA.  He was the 2008 District MVP and made the THSBCA second team all-state.

Jake Miller is going into his senior year at Stratford High School, in Houston, Texas.  In 2008 he batted .419 with five homers and 32 RBI.  In addition to playing in the Area Code Baseball Games, he was selected to play in the Texas Scout Association North-South Game. 

Out of Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, Logan Vick was named to the first team all-state, all-area and all-district teams.  He hit over .500 last year, with six homers and 36 RBIs.  Not only does Vick excel on the baseball field, but also he is a solid football player, too, playing both wide receiver and kicker. 

Here is the list of signees to Baylor:

Tyler Collins | OF | Trophy Club, Texas (Justin Northwest)
Zackry Dodson | LHP | LaCoste, Texas (Medina Valley)
Taylor Eikenberry | LHP | Rock Falls, Ill. (Rock Falls)
Lawton Langford | IF | Uvalde, Texas (Uvalde)
Jake Miller | IF | Houston, Texas (Stratford)
Max Muncy | IF | Keller, Texas (Keller)
Josh Turley | LHP | Texarkana, Texas (Texas)
Logan Vick | IF | Kerrville, Texas (Tivy)

By Andrew Knepper

Over the past few years, Strongsville High School (Ohio) has produced several conference championships and won the state title in 2006.  This year they are graduating five seniors that have signed letters of intent to go future their baseball careers at Division I schools.  

Attending Ohio University, Ryan Bores, a 6-foot-3 right-handed hurler will be entering his college career with a 3.4 GPA.  Bores obtains a 86-89 MPH fastball and according to head coach Josh Sorge, " He'll be a 90-92mph type pitcher come this spring if he continues to work at it like he did last season and put our team in a pretty good position to win a lot of ball games."

Verbally committed to the University of Cincinnati, Jason Pascuzzi will be entering his final season coming off a fine summer showing.  According to coach Sorge, Jason finished this summer with an 8-0 record and am impressive 1.71 ERA playing for Diamond Premier. "Although he doesn't throw 90mph, his secondary stuff is lights out and he really knows how to get hitters out," coach Sorge praised of Jason in a released statement from Srongsville High School.  

Kris Hill and Brent Castro will both be attending Cleveland State next year.  Coming back after a devastating concussion that held him out of the 2008 season, Castro will be mixed in the rotation with a mid-80's fastball and will be playing the hot corner on his off days.  

Hall on the other hand is an athletic right-handed pitcher who sits in the mid to upper 80's and has a good curve.  Coach Sorge said about Hall, "Kris has so much upside as a pitcher, not only because he has a great arm, but because he's such a super athlete.  His arm works well, he's got a plus body, and he really wants to win.

Behind the plate, Kody Krizman has committed to Wright state where he enters with a 3.2 GPA. Coach Sorge said that Kirzman will be the third catcher for Strongsville to move on to the college ranks (Tyler Martin '06, Kent State, Anthony Bokar '08, Marietta College).  "He's a big, strong, left-handed hitter who can play a corner infield position as well as catch, said Sorge.

Looking to hold onto their recent 2008 conference championship with this strong crop of players, the Mustangs look to make a run to the state title again with the addition of transfer student Justin Jameson, a freakish Right-handed pitcher, who stands in at 6-foot-8 and throws his heater around the low-mid 90's.

By Bob Keyes Special to ESPNRISE High School Baseball

What is Bat Speed?
Bat Speed: Bat speed is measured in miles per hour (MPH) and considers only the highest speed of the bat head (peak velocity) through the hitting zone. Only the best hitters reach their highest bat speed just PRIOR to contact with the baseball. Most hitters produce high bat speeds through their mechanical efficiency. However, a hitter can also produce higher bat speed with more strength (specific resistance training program).

What is Bat Quickness / Acceleration?
Bat Quickness / Acceleration: Bat quickness is measured IN TIME (1/100th of a second) and shows how quickly the bat head travels from initial movement (launch) to contact.

Bat Speed & Bat Quickness is a result of Bio-Mechanical Efficiency & Torque (Rotational Force). Strength is one variable that contributes to this goal.

Bio-Mechanical factors related to bat speed:

How do we know what good mechanics are? Over the last twenty years the computers at Bio-Kinetics Research & Development have told us many things by breaking down and analyzing hundreds of the best hitters in baseball. What makes our data so unique is that it was taken from live Major League Competition; from this video we were able to create 3-dimentional motion analyses. The following is what we often refer to as the absolutes of good hitting. While going over the absolutes it is important to remember it's not how you do it, it's if, when, and in what order you do it that's important. If there was only one right way to swing a bat every one in the Major Leagues would look exactly the same.

For us at Bio-Kinetics R&D, bio-mechanical efficiency is defined as all the body's systems working together in a continuous dynamically balanced state in the best possible place, time, and order.

Dynamic Balance:
Dynamic balance is knowing and controlling your center of gravity from start to finish. Controlling the center of gravity means going from the ball of one foot to the other while keeping the posture stable with the head directly over the center of gravity. At foot landing, the front foot will be slightly open with the weight being on the inside of the ball of the foot. At this point the hitter will be at his strongest balanced position and ready to produce a turning or rotary force called torque. Torque produces rotational acceleration.

Kinetic link / Sequential Rotation:
Some call it sequential rotation; others refer to it as torque (rotational acceleration) and scientists often call it the kinetic link principle. Regardless of the language, what it amounts to is producing kinetic energy (KE) from the ground forces to the lower half of the body and sequentially transferring that energy from the feet, into the lower torso, up into the upper torso and finally into the hands & bat. Optimal transfer of energy will only take place when the previous segment is moving at its maximum velocity.

Axis of Rotation:
Maximum rotational velocity takes place on a vertical axis with a strong posture and dynamic balance. The faster the body rotates the faster the bat is going. The bat, with violent action, is fired through the hitting zone as the front side becomes firm. The front leg will snap straight just before contact is made. This allows the remaining links (upper body-hands-bat) to accelerate forward at its highest potential rate of velocity.

Bat Lag:
Bat lag is the final link of the rotation sequence; feet first and hands last. The bat lags behind and is delivered by the entire body, to and through the ball. The bat itself is the very last link to rotate. When the lower half of the body has rotated and the belt buckle is facing the pitcher, the bat will still be coming from behind the hitter and gather speed because of the rotation of the lower body segments (i.e. kinetic link). Knowing HOW the body works in sequence from the feet to the hands is very important to understanding the true force and efficiency of hitting.

Hitting drills to improve bio-mechanical efficiency:
Hitting drills are designed to help a hitter become more efficient at a hitting a moving baseball. The body must learn how to time and recognize all pitches. Then the body must deliver the bat through the ball at an exact contact point. All this will be accomplished in less than 4 tenths of a second. Now that's an athletic event! The drills we use should be in line with the absolutes of hitting and always be in the correct sequence and dealing only with what really happens during a swing.

Some drills are done at high speed and are close to actual game speed.

1. Live batting practice vs. regular pitchers
Live batting practice vs. real pitchers is as close to game conditions as a hitter can get. The problem is that the hitter's adrenaline is not at game speed and there could be a high percentage of failure. The attitude of the hitter now becomes extremely important. Knowing that seeing good fastballs and breaking balls will definitely make a hitter better has to be the focal point, not the immediate results. Finding live pitching is not easy, as most pitchers have to be ready for actual games, so the next best drill is live batting practice from coaches at a closer distance.

2. Live batting practice by coaches at a close distance
This batting practice allows for some control of the situation, and different areas of the strike zone can be worked on over and over. There is much more success with a coach pitching because the ball is not traveling as fast and there is less movement. Confidence is a factor with this drill and usually the hitter feels good when finished. A good drill specific to hitting involves a ball coming toward a hitter that has to be timed and recognized.

3. Standing in vs. pitcher's on side work to recognize and time pitches.
This is a tremendous drill that is not utilized enough. Hitters can see fast pitches, breaking balls, and movement over and over again. The quicker the hitter can pick up the ball out of the pitcher's hand (within the 1st 5 feet) and recognize speed and location - the bigger and slower the ball will look!

Remember that a hitter does not hit what the pitcher throws, he hits what he sees! Just as a ball looks "huge" when taking a 3-0 pitch  so can it look that way anytime. This drill should be a must for all hitters, high school age and older.

Some drills are designed for teaching the body to create energy under a controlled environment.

1. Soft toss from a screen set in front of hitter
This drill allows the hitter to work on bat angles and hitting pitches in all areas of the strike zone. A hitter learns contact points , angles for left field, centerfield, and right field hitting, and how to create bat quickness and speed using the correct hitting sequence.

2. Soft toss from the side of the hitter
This drill also allows the hitter to work on all areas of the strike zone, but the hitter must deal with difficult angles at times, as the ball is coming from the side. It is still an acceptable drill if the person tossing knows how to flip correctly and keeps the hitter in a good rhythm and sequence.

3. Long tee (soft toss) to an open field
This drill is also done from straight on (screen) or from the side and gives instant "feed back" with every swing. Incorrect contact points, short distances, topspin, etc. are all immediately recognized and can be corrected instantly.

4. Tee work into a screen
This is a good drill to get loose and is usually best while waiting to hit, or when the hitter is alone and just needs to polish his mechanics. Using a tee can cause a hitter to keep his head down (eyes buried on the home plate area) when contact is made. The correct way to use a tee is to start with the eyes looking out at the pitcher and tracking the ball to the tee without severe head movement backwards. The eyes will remain just out front of the tee and ball.

5. Dry swings for "visualization"
This is a great drill for the hitter who needs to teach the body how to attack different pitches in the strike zone. Using an "under loading" bat and a heavy bat is recommended for this drill  one will teach speed and the other will teach strength. Teaching the mind to "see" (visualizing) all pitches is so very important.

Some drills are counter productive and will not re-enforce what really happens during a good swing.

1. ONE ARM DRILLS SWINGING "DOWN THROUGH BALL".
Swinging "down through" the ball does not happen and practicing this is teaching the wrong skill. Done correctly, the one arm drill can build strength. Using a "short" bat the one arm drill can distort the relationship between the sweet spot of the bat and your hands. knowing this relationship (distance) is a key for success.

2. Tee work off the new tees that require a downward swing.
Again, swinging down does not occur during a good swing and should not be taught.

3. One knee drill - "tomahawking" high pitches.
The hands are always "above the ball and the bat head is always below the ball" on the way to contact. Tommy hawking, or chopping at a high pitch (bat head above the hands) does not happen  so don't practice it.

4. Batting practice vs. machines at very high speeds.
While the thought process behind seeing pitching at high speed is more game like and you can see good breaking balls, this can also really hurt a lot of hitters. There is no timing when facing a machine, and when the ball speed is high the hitter does not have time to get into full rotation and becomes a "top ½ first hands" hitter. The machine should be set at a slower than average speed (around 50-60 mph) to allow the hitter to make his own timing and be "on time" so that the correct sequence of hitting can be used.

5. Swinging a heavy bat during skill work.
Swinging a heavy bat is all right for building strength, but when trying to hit a moving baseball from a pitcher or coach the body will cheat (because it's not strong enough) to get to the baseball and poor mechanics will appear. Use a heavy bat for visualization or soft toss only.

6. Rapid-fire soft-toss to quicken up hands and bat speed.
This does not quicken up the hands or the bat speed. It actually slows down bat speed because the hitter cannot get into rotation and can only use the hands. This is entirely out of sequence and is teaching the body incorrectly! With that said, there are coaches that believe this drill will build strength in the smaller muscles of the arms that may lead to more bat speed. To date there is no research to support this and the small benefits that might come from this drill would not out weigh the possible bio-mechanical inefficiency that may come from practicing the swing incorrectly.

Bon Keyes is the Director of the Utah Baseball Academy and is a SPARQ Mater Trainer.  

As you read earlier in the week, the Southern California Scouts Association held the Jesse Flores Memorial All Star Game at USC.  The game included many of the top 2009 and some 2010 players from Southern California.  Here are the velocties from the pitching at the game.

Tyler Matzek (Capistrano Valley) FB: 87-92; SL: 78-83; CB: 70-76; CH: 82

Matt Hobgood (Norco) FB: 91-93; SL: 81

Paul Strong (Marina) FB: 85-88; CB: 73; CH: 7

Chad Thompson (El Toro) FB: 85-88; CB: 71-73; CH: 75

Bryan Berglund (Royal) FB: 90-92; SL: 81-86

Lucas Lapoint (Knight) FB: 85-90; CB: 67-69; CH: 76

Bennet Parry (Poway) FB: 84-86; SL: 77; CB: 63; CH: 72-73

Michael Gonzales (Twenty-Nine Palms) FB: 85-87; CB: 73-76; CH: 79

Johnathan Hoffman (El Camino) FB: 83-87; CB: 72-74

AJ Berglund (St. Francis) FB: 88-90; CB: 75; CH: 84

Gabe Encinas (St. Paul) FB: 83-88; CB: 72-74

Vincent Velasquez (Garey) FB: 86-88; CB: 72-73; CH: 74-77

Tyler Skaggs (Santa Monica) FB: 88-91; CB: 66-68; CH: 82-84

Aaron Wirsch (El Toro) FB: 85-87; SL: 78-79; CH: 77-79

Justin Bellez (Mira Mesa) FB: 88-89; SL: 75-79; CH: 77

Kurt Heyer (Edison) FB: 85-89; CB: 68-76; CH: 73-74

KC Hobson (Stockdale) FB: 88-91; CB: 76; CH: 82

Brooks Pounders (Temecula Valley) FB: 88-91; CB: 77; CH: 80

Andrew Bellati (Steele Canyon) FB: 86-88; CB: 75-78; CH: 80

Kyle Hooper (Saugus) FB: 85-89; CB: 71-73; CH: 79

Mitch Patito (Patriot) FB: 88-91; CB: 74-77; CH: 77

Peter Tago (Dana Hills) FB: 87-89; CB: 69-74

Griffin Murphy (Redlands East Valley) FB: 85-88; CB: 68-71

David Armendariz (Notre Dame) FB: 86-91

Jesus Valdez (Hueneme) FB: 88-91; CB: 70

Wes Hatton (Norco) FB: 88-90; SL: 80-84