The Baseball Center
202 W. 74th St.
212-362-0344
thebaseballcenternyc.com
For nine years The Baseball Center has loomed large over the Upper West Side, both figuratively and literally. The Center’s GM, Derek Aucoin, is a towering presence who pitched two games for the Montreal Expos in 1996, and he has put together a large and knowledgeable staff that supervises everything from private groups to classes to after-school programs.
“Self-esteem is a big component of how we conduct our classes,” says head instructor Michael Lombardi. “[Kids are] going to have a great time and also learn how to play baseball.” They can do that at Bonanza Week (morning and afternoon sessions, ages 5- 7 and 8-10), or on travel teams that visit Montreal and Orlando, or on Bomber teams in the summer for kids ages 13-15 who may not get on a summer team because of school.
Even two-year-olds can pick up a bat at Jr. Sluggers. There’s more. Want a private tutoring session? Want to step in against the Pro-Batter system, a video screen that simulates major league pitching and can reach 95 mph? Want to throw a baseball-themed birthday party? It can all happen at the Baseball Center, an aptly named place where baseball is at the center of it all.
CYO /Manhattan Youth Baseball
116 E. 97th St.
212-996-4469
manhattanyouthbaseball.com
It’s fitting that in June of 2008 CYO/MYB moved into a former school on the Upper East Side. “We’ve been teaching baseball the right way,” says Brett Brown, a director at the facility. “We’re all about fundamentals, we’re all about having fun, and we’re all about teaching baseball.”
With five batting/fielding cages, a room for infield work, and several workout rooms complete with weights, medicine balls, and other types of fitness equipment, the Academy offers anything a young player needs to improve. That includes travel teams culling from a pool of over 700 boys and girls in their rec leagues. And that makes for a competitive atmosphere that produced a team capable that won a tournament in the Caribbean.
Speaking of which, Brown sees another bonus in the facility’s location. “We’ve been able to reach out to Spanish Harlem, to the community, to get a broader base of ballplayer and families that are involved in our program,” he says. “And that’s only because we’ve opened up this facility.”
Remember, it used to be a school. Luckily for many kids, it still is.
If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that winters in New York City are long. And cold. And did we mention long? Right. Well, that’s a shame because baseball—a game synonymous with spring and summer—can easily get lost when the temperature drops and the wind gets whippy unless you know where to look.
That’s why we’re here. Check out these four major NYC baseball oases in the city that offer year-round baseball clinics, classes and instruction.
555 E. 90th St.
212-369-8890
asphaltgreen.org
“Unfortunately in the city, because outside there is minimal field space, you don’t get to play year-round,” says Jeff Trezza, an instructor at Frozen Ropes at Asphalt Green. Right off the bat he pinpoints the major obstacle facing many city sports facilities. Luckily for him, Frozen Ropes—one of the biggest baseball clinics in the country—recently partnered up with the Upper East Side’s sports mega-center, Asphalt Green. Aside from getting to use their stellar facilities, Trezza sees another advantage to the symbiotic relationship.
“There’s so many kids playing all different sports, which I think is good, and now it gives Asphalt Green kids a chance to learn baseball.”
Trezza and the other instructors go through “extensive” training in order to teach patented programs such as Diamond Strength, a specialized physical exercise based on baseball ability and the certain muscles used while playing baseball. Frozen Ropes also offers “devo” or developmental teams, and they have tunnels under the gym for batting and pitching drills.
But if the temperature gets tolerable enough, you can plan on seeing the Asphalt Green kids outside, enjoying the fruits of a great partnership.
Crossover Sports Academy
320 E. 20th St.
866-468-8072
crossoversportsacademy.com
Gerald Horton has a whistle, and he’s not afraid to use it. If any of his students at the Crossover Sports Academy get out of hand, or get a little lazy, that’s the time to bust it out. That, or a loud yell will do.
Don’t be fooled, though. The atmosphere is always upbeat, always positive. In a fourth floor gymnasium, Horton shows the correct way to stretch, distribute weight during a swing, field a ground ball and throw.
“It’s all about proper technique,” Horton says. “If you have proper technique it means so much more.”
Horton’s background is as a professional coach and former Middle School Teacher. Today, at Crossover Sports Academy, his mission is to train children ages 5-16 in an encouraging environment designed to build their self esteem with a positive message in order to leave them feeling confident and empowered. We strengthen a player’s game as well as their spirit by promoting the principles of sportsmanship, character, teamwork and integrity.At Crossover Sports, they say “If you had fun, you won!” That makes a lot of sense to us.
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bbq grill smoker cooked upon the exact grilling.