Welcome to Baseball U North 2020
Baseball U North New Jersey launched in the fall of 2015 and is currently entering its 5th year of operation. We run year round baseball training consisting of middle school spring seasons, middle and high school summer and fall seasons, 3 month winter training cycle, specialized clinics, and private instruction. Our teams participate in USABL or independent league play, tournaments, college showcases, and blue chip prospect tournaments. Additionally, we participate in several Perfect Game WWBA tournaments. This upcoming season will see our teams participate in PG tourneys in Georgia, Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
As our 2020 baseball year begins, we have lined up an outstanding schedule of training and games. Once tryouts conclude and invites have been sent and accepted, players will begin training in December. This will start with speed and agility drills and strength and conditioning based workouts. We have contracted with a certified personal training staff to provide our players with the opportunity to strengthen and condition their bodies to handle the rigors of an extended club baseball season. In months 2 and 3 of winter training, players will incorporate their training into specialized baseball drills conducted by our experienced staff of coaches and instructors.
Beginning in early January, our Bio Pitch sessions will begin. Going every Monday and Wednesday evening for 8 weeks, players that sign up for this training will experience proper arm car and maintenance via the use of heavy balls, bands, and hot/cold throwing days. All designed to increase velocity intelligently. This training is discounted for our program players and is offered to all players 13 and up. While geared for pitchers, all positional players are encouraged to participate. This training is optional and has a separate fee.
Teams 14U and under will enjoy both a spring and summer season. Playing roughly 45 games combined, these teams will travel to mostly only NJ sites for weekend tournaments. 1-2 practices will be held during the week. Locations range from fields in Cranford or St Joes Metuchen. Teams 15U and up will play a summer season beginning in mid-June and ending first week of August. They will play approximately 25-30 games including Diamond Nation events, Richmond County Perfect Game events, college showcases, and USABL sponsored events.
The high school level summer teams (15U-18U) will be exposed to the recruiting environment at these events. Dialogues with college coaches in attendance and the performance our players and teams can be extremely influential on a college recruiter. We work diligently to place players in the best college programs that their academic and athletic abilities have indicated. Discussions with our coaches, parents, and players occur so that the college recruitment process is less stressful and the player’s best fit is collectively decided.
Roving Instruction
We are very fortunate to have some of the best instructors in the area be a part of our program. Ani Ramos has coached on the high school, college, and professional levels. Currently the assistant coach at New Jersey powerhouse St Joseph Regional High School Montvale, Ani will be visiting different age levels checking in on players offering advice and instruction. Ani also runs a renowned catching academy in Bergen County that has seen some of the state’s best talent attend.We also have pitching coach Ralph Citarella in our program. Ralph has pitched professionally for the Chicago White Sox and the St Louis Cardinals. He was a two time 1st round draft pick. Ralph oversees all pitching aspects in our program. He offers group and individual lessons and is the current pitching coach at St Joseph High School in Metuchen.
Recruitment
This is a critical component of the high school player’s career. Baseball U North is dedicated to identifying and assisting in the player development and recruiting phase. We place teams in venues and on college campuses that are heavily attended and well respected by the college and professional coaching ranks. Furthermore, we carefully select which college campus showcases to attend. We do this geographically conscious of the ideology that the more places we visit, the more people will see our players. After all, it is our principle to get these coaches to see our players. Our administration will help bridge the gap in the recruiting process. We also utilize SportsRecruits (www.sportsrecuits.com). This is a program that is for Baseball U players only. It allows a player, parent, and coach to create a dialogue, send photo//video, and schedule meetings to enhance a player’s exposure. The fee is part of the player’s tuition.
Uniforms
Our colors are burnt orange, white, and black. Uniforms provided include hat, 2 jerseys, belt, and socks. The player is responsible for white pants. The uniforms will be lettered and numbered. Measurements and uniform specs will be taken as the winter season progresses. Additional clothing can be found at our online store.
Equipment
Each player is responsible for his own gear. Batting helmet, bats, catching gear, etc are all the sole responsibility of the player. Baseball U North does not provide individual equipment.
GameChanger
The app is used for all announcements and correspondences during the winter. Additionally, the app is used to keep schedules, scores, and team/player stats during the season. The URL is http://gc.com or you can download the app.
Perfect Game Tournaments
Perfect Game has become the standard that all teams and players need to be associated with. They have become the measuring stick that college and professional scouts utilize when shaping their teams. Prospects attend PG tourneys and are visible by colleges from all over the country. These events are now held all over the east coast. In addition to the team scheduled events identified above such as Richmond County and Woodbridge, our players have the opportunity to participate in tournaments in Georgia and Florida. Not every program can say that. These southern tournaments give maximum exposure to players to be seen. In this day and age of college recruiting, we see the younger player getting looks. Freshman are signing to play college baseball 4 years from now. Like it or not, this is the avenue the recruiting business has taken.The competition for the country’s best high school talent has gotten even tougher. Come play with us andbe seen by the best.
College Campus Showcases
These events have proven vital to player development and have acquainted the player with the inner workings of the college program. Heavily attended by paid college coaches from a wide geographic region, these coaches observe and evaluate players based on game and clinical results. They converse and, in some cases,even offer the invitation to join their respective school on the spot. Fees associated with these trips (flight, lodging, food, etc) are
the responsibility of the player/family. Some colleges visited by our program the past few summers include:
University of Delaware
University of Scranton
Rutgers University
Monmouth University
University of Pennsylvania
Lafayette College
George Washington University
University of Maryland
Indoor practices
Any winter training, indoor scheduled practice or drill, including inclement weather practice changes, and Bio Pitch sessions take place at The Turf at Strength and Fitness Club – 570 South Ave. East Cranford, NJ 07016 – https://strengthandfitnessclubturf.com/
Outdoor practices
All outdoor practices, program intra-squad scrimmages, or team events take place at St Joseph High School located at 145 Plainfield Ave Metuchen, Millburn High School 462 Millburn Ave Millburn, and Cranford’s Memorial Field Myrtle Ave Cranford.
From all of us at Baseball U North, we sincerely thank you for joining our program. There are many options to play club baseball these days. Programs are popping up all over the place. But we truly appreciate your support and being a part of our program.
Please email us at Baseballunorthnj@gmail.com for more information.
