Heads-Up Baseball 2.0
Day 1
Player A- Wow, the ball looks big! I love hitting.
Player B- I have felt better. My body's a little sore. Can't say I am swinging it great, but it could be worse.
Player C- Why did I swing at the pitch in my eyes and take the one down the middle? I can't hit. You may only have 70% of your stuff on a give day, but your mission is to give 100%.
Goal: Give 100% of what you have to win the next pitch!
Player A- Wow, the ball looks big! I love hitting.
Player B- I have felt better. My body's a little sore. Can't say I am swinging it great, but it could be worse.
Player C- Why did I swing at the pitch in my eyes and take the one down the middle? I can't hit. You may only have 70% of your stuff on a give day, but your mission is to give 100%.
Goal: Give 100% of what you have to win the next pitch!
Day 2
Emotional Roller coaster - things go your way one moment and against you the next.
I hit bombs in BP, but in games I freeze or swing at bad pitches.
Goal: Practice competing under pressure, if you hope to play well under pressure.
Day 3
Responsibility is the ability to respond to any situation by focusing your thoughts and actions on the next pitch. Being responsible means you choose your thoughts and actions. No responsibility means I am a victim of my circumstances.
Goal: Maintain focus and a positive attitude when adversity strikes.
Day 4
Choose to focus on what you can control. You can not control what happens around you (Umpires, weather, getting a hit, etc.), but you can control how you respond. You must be in control of yourself before you can control your performance.
Goal: Attitude is a decision.
Attitude is a decision
3-2 count, big game and you make what you think is a great pitch...but the umpire calls it ball four. It is normal to get upset and angry in that situation. But how will you choose to respond? The goal is to give 100% of what you have to win the next pitch. How does getting mad at the umpire help that?
Attitude is a decision
Try to focus on things you can control. Instead of the umpire, weather or how you feel, execute.
Play catch, attack the zone, QAB.
Day 5
Knowing yourself is essential for preparing yourself to compete. Present moment awareness enables you to adjust pitch to pitch, and allows you to take ownership of your performance. You can simplify the idea of awareness by imagining a traffic signal light inside you. When you feel good (confident, focused, present, ready) - Green light. When something throws you off your game, you feel off, and the game speeds up on you - Yellow light. When you lose control - Red light.
Goal: Understand awareness
Learn from your mistakes. Ask 3 questions:
1. What worked?
2. What do I have to get better at?
3. How will I apply what I learned to my next performance?
Day 6
A complete routine has 3 parts:
Day 7
Attitude:
Many players spend more energy on trying to avoid what they don't want to happen than they do on what they do want to happen. I don't want to strike out or don't walk this guy. What is your mission? To have a great performance.
Attitude:
"When I feel myself losing control or the game is speeding up on me, I look at the foul pole. This is my reminder to release that last pitch and focus on the next one." Evan Longoria
Day 8
Compete- Giving 100% of what you have got right now to win the next pitch.
"Being in control of the 15 seconds between pitches is as important - or more important - than being in control during the pitch."
Green light- Prepared, focused, confident (A game)
Yellow light- Rattled, nervous, Not confident, negative voice in head (B game)
Red light- Scared, tense (can't focus), You believe your negative self talk (C game)
You can be cruising through a game with a green light feeling and focus, and 1 of the following things can happen:
1. Bad call by umpire- Anger, frustration, tension
2. Make an error- Embarrassment, hands tighten up
3. Give up several runs- Think "I am a loser"
4. Swing at a bad pitch- Speed up and forget routine
What can you do?
Take a breath
Take extra time- Step off the rubber or out of the box, adjust your hat, jersey or glove.
Use a release- Use your foot to wipe away whatever just triggered you.
You are not a robot. You will get upset no matter how much mental training you do. Express the feeling, then release it and get back to the next pitch.
Emotional Roller coaster - things go your way one moment and against you the next.
I hit bombs in BP, but in games I freeze or swing at bad pitches.
Goal: Practice competing under pressure, if you hope to play well under pressure.
Day 3
Responsibility is the ability to respond to any situation by focusing your thoughts and actions on the next pitch. Being responsible means you choose your thoughts and actions. No responsibility means I am a victim of my circumstances.
Goal: Maintain focus and a positive attitude when adversity strikes.
Day 4
Choose to focus on what you can control. You can not control what happens around you (Umpires, weather, getting a hit, etc.), but you can control how you respond. You must be in control of yourself before you can control your performance.
Goal: Attitude is a decision.
Attitude is a decision
3-2 count, big game and you make what you think is a great pitch...but the umpire calls it ball four. It is normal to get upset and angry in that situation. But how will you choose to respond? The goal is to give 100% of what you have to win the next pitch. How does getting mad at the umpire help that?
Attitude is a decision
Try to focus on things you can control. Instead of the umpire, weather or how you feel, execute.
Play catch, attack the zone, QAB.
Day 5
Knowing yourself is essential for preparing yourself to compete. Present moment awareness enables you to adjust pitch to pitch, and allows you to take ownership of your performance. You can simplify the idea of awareness by imagining a traffic signal light inside you. When you feel good (confident, focused, present, ready) - Green light. When something throws you off your game, you feel off, and the game speeds up on you - Yellow light. When you lose control - Red light.
Goal: Understand awareness
Learn from your mistakes. Ask 3 questions:
1. What worked?
2. What do I have to get better at?
3. How will I apply what I learned to my next performance?
Day 6
A complete routine has 3 parts:
- Before the performance- "I have a very clear and detailed pregame routine for defense and hitting. I stay with my pregame routine because that’s where my consistency begins.” Chris Bryant
- During the performance–“When I feel myself losing control or the game is speeding up on me, I look at the foul pole. This is my reminder to release that last pitch and focus on the next one.” Evan Longoria
- After the performance- Let go of any negative emotions, clarify the lessons learned, and put myself f in position for success next time.
Day 7
Attitude:
Many players spend more energy on trying to avoid what they don't want to happen than they do on what they do want to happen. I don't want to strike out or don't walk this guy. What is your mission? To have a great performance.
Attitude:
"When I feel myself losing control or the game is speeding up on me, I look at the foul pole. This is my reminder to release that last pitch and focus on the next one." Evan Longoria
Day 8
Compete- Giving 100% of what you have got right now to win the next pitch.
"Being in control of the 15 seconds between pitches is as important - or more important - than being in control during the pitch."
Green light- Prepared, focused, confident (A game)
Yellow light- Rattled, nervous, Not confident, negative voice in head (B game)
Red light- Scared, tense (can't focus), You believe your negative self talk (C game)
You can be cruising through a game with a green light feeling and focus, and 1 of the following things can happen:
1. Bad call by umpire- Anger, frustration, tension
2. Make an error- Embarrassment, hands tighten up
3. Give up several runs- Think "I am a loser"
4. Swing at a bad pitch- Speed up and forget routine
What can you do?
Take a breath
Take extra time- Step off the rubber or out of the box, adjust your hat, jersey or glove.
Use a release- Use your foot to wipe away whatever just triggered you.
You are not a robot. You will get upset no matter how much mental training you do. Express the feeling, then release it and get back to the next pitch.
Assistant Coach - Matt Ciolek
Coach Ciolek, a 2007 Madison Central graduate, enters his seventh year of coaching. Coach Ciolek comes to us after playing four years of collegiate baseball at Asbury University. He will serve the Indians by being the Junior Varsity head coach and an assistant for the Varsity.
In his career at Asbury, Ciolek played first base and was selected to the KIAC All-Conference team his Junior and Senior years. He was also selected to the NCCAA Regional Team his Senior Year. In his Junior and Senior years, he led the Eagles in RBI’s and home runs. In his career at Asbury, Ciolek had .342 batting average, had 17 home runs and 108 RBI’s.
Ciolek graduated from Asbury University in 2011 with a degree in accounting and now works for the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.
Coach Ciolek is the son of Rob and Paula Beth and has a sister, Christina, and also has a fiancé Jordan.
In his career at Asbury, Ciolek played first base and was selected to the KIAC All-Conference team his Junior and Senior years. He was also selected to the NCCAA Regional Team his Senior Year. In his Junior and Senior years, he led the Eagles in RBI’s and home runs. In his career at Asbury, Ciolek had .342 batting average, had 17 home runs and 108 RBI’s.
Ciolek graduated from Asbury University in 2011 with a degree in accounting and now works for the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.
Coach Ciolek is the son of Rob and Paula Beth and has a sister, Christina, and also has a fiancé Jordan.
Assistant Coach - Nick Barte
Coach Barte is entering his ninth year as an assistant coach for the Indians. Coach Barte comes to Madison Central from Eastern Kentucky University where he was a four-year starter and letter winner.
Coach Barte graduated from Grandview Heights High School in Columbus, Ohio, where the Bobcats finished with a school record 27 wins during his senior season. During his high school career he lettered in baseball, wrestling, golf, and football. He was named to he 2002 Mizuno All-Ohio team and was the Central Ohio Player of the Year. Barte also played for the nationally recognized Columbus Cobras during the summer while in high school. As his baseball playing career continued, he played in the Great Lakes League for the Lima Locos and then the semi-pro Southern California Fire.
During Barte's tenure at MCHS the Indians have compiled a record of 214-70-1. Coach Barte was named the 11th region assistant coach of the year in 2012 and 2015. In 2014, Indian pitching staff had one of the top ERA's the state at 1.570 and held a WHIP of 1.232.
Coach Barte is the son of Trent and Susan and has one brother, Chris.
Coach Barte graduated from Grandview Heights High School in Columbus, Ohio, where the Bobcats finished with a school record 27 wins during his senior season. During his high school career he lettered in baseball, wrestling, golf, and football. He was named to he 2002 Mizuno All-Ohio team and was the Central Ohio Player of the Year. Barte also played for the nationally recognized Columbus Cobras during the summer while in high school. As his baseball playing career continued, he played in the Great Lakes League for the Lima Locos and then the semi-pro Southern California Fire.
During Barte's tenure at MCHS the Indians have compiled a record of 214-70-1. Coach Barte was named the 11th region assistant coach of the year in 2012 and 2015. In 2014, Indian pitching staff had one of the top ERA's the state at 1.570 and held a WHIP of 1.232.
Coach Barte is the son of Trent and Susan and has one brother, Chris.
Assistant Coach - Tommy Gross
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Coach Gross is entering his eighth year with the Indians. During his time with the Indians, he has worked with the hitters and outfielders. This former Indian was a member of the 1982 state championship team, and played in the final four three times. Coach Gross has also coached at the middle school level for 4 years.
He and his wife, Cindy, have a daughter Mattie, and two sons Trey and Blake. |
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Assistant Coach - Jason Wade
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Coach Wade is entering his 6th season as an assistant coach for his alma mater. Coach Wade is the outfield coach. Prior to joint the Indian's program he spent time coaching at the youth level and was an assistant Varsity coach at Model for 5 seasons. He also coaches summer baseball for the Elite Baseball Club where he also serves as the the Vice President.
Coach Wade, a 1998 graduate of Madison Central, is the owner of Wade's Blades Lawn and Landscape in Richmond, KY, He and his wife Shannon have three sons, Kayden, Christian, and Joseph. |
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Assistant Coach - Tory Bowling
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Coach Bowling enters his 3rd season as an assistant coach for the Indians, where he serves as the pitching coach. In his first year, the pitching staff had an ERA of 1.92. Coach Bowling also teaches Social Studies at Madison Central.
Coach Bowling is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where he earned his bachelors degree in Social Studies. He also graduated from North Laurel High School in 2017, where he played both baseball and soccer. He is married to his wife, Brittany. |
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Assistant Coach - Tanner Sasser
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Coach Sasser enters his 3rd season as an assistant coach for the Indians, where he serves as an assistant for the Freshman team. Coach Sasser also teaches Special Education at Madison Central.
Coach Sasser is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where he earned his bachelors in Learning Behavior Disorders. He’s currently going back to Eastern Kentucky University to get his masters degree in Moderate and Severe Disabilities. He also graduated from North Laurel in 2017 where he played both football and baseball. |
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