Kelly Kulina: Eulogy

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

While today is certainly a very sad day as we mourn the loss of a family member, dear friend, and trusted colleague I am here this morning to speak about the wonderful man that Kelly Kulina was and to celebrate everything he stood for. As the President of Baseball Factory and someone that helped to bring Kelly into our Company, it was an honor to have been able to work with a man day in and day out that exemplified so many wonderful qualities. Kelly was loyal, honorable, incredibly hard working, dedicated, sympathetic, and had such integrity. He will be dearly missed by everyone that was blessed to know him.

Back in 2001, when Kelly decided to work full time with us, it was such a tremendous turning point in our history. He was so well respected and connected in the college baseball community and his addition to our team really helped to put us on the map. To use a sports analogy, it was like a middle market MLB franchise that landed a big time free agent in the offseason. It totally changed the face of our Company and Kelly’s impact and legacy continues to live on today and will be indelible into the future. I knew he would do a remarkable job when he told me during his interview that he always wanted to help players that tried out for the Univ. of MD baseball team while he was the coach, that weren’t quite ACC caliber players, but had a chance to play somewhere in college if they had more direction and knowledge of the college recruiting process. With that conversation as a backdrop, Steve Sclafani and I knew we had found the right man for the job.

If we fast forward to today… through his work at our Company, Kelly has made the dream of playing college baseball a reality for thousands of players across the nation. What a tremendous gift he was able to provide for these families that will last for a lifetime.

I will miss Kelly dearly. More than a co-worker he was a true friend and confidant. Over the 8+ years we worked together, I think we traveled almost 40 times on various business trips, many of which we flew, roomed, ate, and drove around together in our rental car. Our routine on these trips was to get up early and workout. Kelly would always scout out a gym that was close to a smoothie place. We would grab a smoothie and head out. Kelly and I were a dangerous combination in a rental car because neither one of us were blessed with a strong sense of direction. Almost every trip we took we were bound to get lost at least once as we were trying to find a baseball field. Thankfully GPS came out a few years ago to give us a better chance of finding our way. We would always laugh about how before GPS we had to use “the force” to find out where we were going.

He was such an incredible communicator, but he was an even better listener. For all the years I knew him, I don’t think he ever interrupted someone even once. He always gave you his full attention, and made you feel special. We all can learn a valuable lesson from Kelly. He was a great example of living in the present moment. On our trips, we often spoke to large groups of Baseball Factory players and their parents about the college recruiting process and I always enjoyed having to keep Kelly on track because everyone that knew him knew that he loved to talk, and if you weren’t careful we could have been there all night. We had a system where I would give him a sign and he would quickly wrap up from telling one of his “quick” stories that we all enjoyed listening to so much.

I think many people dream of having a fulfilling career where they can honestly look themselves in the mirror each day and say they went to work at a place they loved, for a mission they were passionate about, and doing work that truly made a difference in the lives of the people they touched. We all can have some peace knowing that this was the case for Kelly. Coupled with the loving support of his wonderful family (Le Ann, Kell, Lavin, and Josh) he truly lived a remarkable life.

From spending time with him and Le Ann, it was evident to all that they had a special marriage built on mutual respect, love, and affection. We would talk frequently in the office about how excited he was for their date nights and their quality time spent together. He was a committed father and loved his three children dearly.

It is amazing and inspiring to see the number of quality friendships that Kelly had in his life. Looking around this room today, and reading the numerous emotional and touching memorial blog posts that have poured in, his relationships were everlasting from his childhood, baseball playing career, his coaching years, and time spent providing professional service to families across the country. What a great legacy he has left during his gracious lifetime.

I know I speak for everyone at Baseball Factory when I say…Kelly, you will never be replaced, and you were truly one of a kind. Rest in peace my friend, and may God bless you and your family.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

In Memory of Kelly Kulina...

An important message from our President and CEO about Kelly Kulina…

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the tragic and sudden passing of Kelly Kulina, Senior Vice President of the Exclusive Program. Kelly has been a member of the Baseball Factory team since 2001. He was incredibly dedicated to providing only the best customer service and advice to each and every player he worked with in the Exclusive Program. He helped hundreds of players reach their dreams of playing college or professional baseball. He was an outstanding leader and somebody that will be forever missed. He was a huge part of what made the Baseball Factory the Company it has become today.


Right now our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Eulogy by Rob Naddelman [read]

Photo Album of Kelly [view]

Watch the Tribute Video:

Kelly Kulina touched the lives of thousands of people through his community, coaching career, and with the Baseball Factory. He was instrumental to help a multitude of aspiring baseball players achieve their dream of playing college baseball. Many people have expressed a desire to help his family during this difficult time, and as a result, a college fund has been set up for his children. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please make any donations payable to the “Kulina Children's Educational Fund” and mailed to:

“Kulina Children's Educational Fund"
SunTrust Bank
8200 Snowden River Parkway
Columbia, MD 21045

OR

Taken to any SunTrust Bank

This is our chance to give back and reciprocate for all the college success stories that Kelly helped to make come true. Please help to give his own children that very same gift and opportunity.

Sincerely,

Rob Naddelman and Steve Sclafani

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Put Your Blinders On!

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Blinders are used as a popular training tactic in horse racing. Wikipedia defines “Blinders” to mean the following: Blinders, also known as blinkers or winkers, are a piece of horse tack that restrict the horse's vision to the rear and, in some cases, to the side. They usually are made of leather or plastic cups that are placed on either side of the eyes, either attached to a bridle or to an independent hood. Many racehorse trainers believe this keeps the horse focused on what is in front of him, encouraging him to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. (this bold/italic sentence is most appropriate for the message contained in this week’s blog)

It would be very helpful for some parents that are going through the recruiting process to put their own blinders on! So many families get wrapped up in what other teammates and players in their county are doing for recruiting. Many Baseball Factory parents have complained to me that other players are hearing from coaches, receiving letters, and moving forward in the process so why aren’t things moving more quickly for us? When I hear parents express this type of frustration I usually give the following advice:

1. Most parents overstate the level of interest their sons are receiving from college coaches. Receiving a camp invitation in the mail does not necessarily mean that the college coach is recruiting you. Most of the time parents get excited for their sons and harmlessly stretch the truth about what is really happening. For two great blogs on how to gauge a college coach’s recruiting interest, make sure to check out Kelly Kulina’s entries entitled: What’s In a Letter-Part 1 and Part 2.

2. Each college coach has a different set of recruiting needs. Not all Division I schools are created equal. The same is true for Division II, Division III, NAIA, or Junior College programs. Each school has a different ability level, number of scholarships, and positional needs for their incoming freshman class. Just because another player hears from a Division I school, and you believe your son is a better all around player, it doesn’t mean he is a better fit for that particular school.

3. The college search process is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to show patience in this process and understand that building a recruiting class takes a lot of time for a college program. You need to be respectfully aggressive with your marketing approach, but don’t put unrealistic time frames on the process that only create more stress and frustration.

Remember that every family is on their own path. What is good for one player as far as college is concerned may not be good for another. Stay focused on what is the best course of action for your son, and don’t worry about what is going on around you. “Keeping your blinders on” will help you gain perspective, stay on track for the race, and not be distracted by what is going on around you….remember the Wikipedia definition from above?

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

15 Year Anniversary

Steve Sclafani: All Access Pass

It was 15 years ago today...

On July 22, 1994, coach Bumps Vaughn of Prince George’s Community College was nice enough to let me and legendary San Francisco Giants scout Mike Toomey use his field. With the help of a video camera “loaned” to me by my father, the Baseball Factory was born. Five players were video taped that day including Chad Wiener (from Hammond High School), Billy Hite (Atholton) and Aaron Smith (Howard), all whom were from High Schools in Columbia, MD where I grew up.

As a kid growing up, three adults had a major impact on my life. They were my mom, my dad and Mike Toomey. I met Mike when I was a young player attending a baseball camp where he was instructing. His positive approach and ability to help each and every kid he worked with get the most out of themselves immediately resonated with me. I was the kid who called Mike non-stop to ask him about baseball strategy, hitting mechanics, 20/80 scouting scale…you name it. Mike was always gracious with his time and helped me to believe in myself as a player.

When I called Mike in 1992 to help find me a collegiate summer league, Mike didn’t hesitate finding me a spot in the Shenandoah Valley League. There was no way a no hit, under-sized all glove Ivy League second baseman was finding his way into that league on his own. Mike stuck his neck out for me, and as a result, I had the best baseball experience of my life that summer. I also began to realize how much of an impact one person can have on another person’s life and career.

To this day, Mike’s “can do attitude,” upbeat teaching style, and style of going above and beyond for all of our players is a constant theme that our staff gladly deploys. At the end of the day, what I’ve learned is that the more giving you are of yourself, the more life seems to give to you.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Pay it forward.” “Do More than what you get paid for.” There are many different sayings that epitomize this philosophy, but the bottom line is that, The Baseball Factory was founded on the principle of putting yourself in a young player’s situation and doing everything in your power to help that player achieve his best both on and off the field.

As I look back at many of the players we have helped develop and place into college baseball, there is nothing more rewarding in my mind than watching a player train rigorously on the field, improve his game, keep his grades up and then have a successful college career. Serving as a mentor to young people the way Mike Toomey served as a mentor to me can truly be the difference maker in a person’s life.

15 years have came and gone and both Rob Naddelman, our President at BBF, and myself would like to thank each and every player, parent, coach and staff member who we have come in contact with during that time period. (We’d also like to extend that’s to our wives, who have put up with all of the travel and late night phone calls!)

Helping young people to believe in themselves and have hope goes way beyond baseball. We hope you have enjoyed experiencing baseball “The Factory Way.” Thanks for believing, Mike.

Oh, and dad, you can have that video camera back now.


Steve Sclafani is the CEO/Founder of the Baseball Factory. Sclafani’s ability to create new opportunities for baseball players nationwide and to develop exposure vehicles has led to over 20,000 Baseball Factory and Team One players competing at the college level, $500 million in scholarships, and over 2,000 players selected in the MLB draft. Sclafani was recognized as a member of Baltimore’s prestigious 40/40 Club, honoring 40 top executives under 40 years of age. Steve is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he played second base.

The Delicate Balance

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

How hard do you push to motivate your children? When is it better to back off and let them be the one to show the effort? When are you doing more harm than good by trying to encourage your child to work hard and achieve success?

It seems like every parent goes through the mental exercise of evaluating this delicate balance. How much is too much when trying to motivate your child? This analysis can feel like an emotional tug of war in your heart and mind. Parents are supposed to guide, direct, advise, and advocate for their kids, but do we do more harm than good at times? How do we know when to take our foot off the accelerator and apply it to the brake as it relates to encouraging our kids to achieve success?

Over the last few months, I have started to navigate this delicate balance with my oldest daughter, who will turn six this month. She is a very independent young child with a strong sense of self awareness. She is fairly coordinated and athletic and has taken up gymnastics, dancing, and swimming. When things come easily to her, she has no problem jumping in and giving a strong effort. However, when she tries something new, or when she doesn’t get it “right” on the first try, she has a tendency to want to give up and she gets pretty frustrated.

In response to her frustration, I have tried a few different tactics to “help” her that have had varying levels of success. When I push too hard or tell her that she has to do something, I am usually met with resistance. What I have found to be the most successful approach is to listen to her, understand where the frustration is coming from, encourage her, and provide positive reinforcement. I also try to help her achieve success in small doses so that her confidence builds. In the end, it is important that I let her have a voice in the process and resist the temptation to apply the “daddy knows best” philosophy.

We see this dynamic play out hundreds of times a year with Baseball Factory parents and players. Some of our kids appear to only play baseball because their dad wants them to. Some look like they play to try and make their mom happy. Some really love the game and want to play at the next level. As parents, the key is to really listen to your child and resist the temptation to let your ego dominate the interaction. Playing baseball is supposed to be fun. If it isn’t a whole lot of fun for your child (or for you), maybe it is time to change your approach and recalibrate this delicate balance. Sometimes the best motivation for your child can be for them to know that their will to improve needs to be cultivated from within, and not from persistent prodding from mom or dad.


I would be happy to answer any questions directly from parents that want to talk further about this topic. Feel free to post a comment by clicking on the link below.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Live Exposure

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

One thing we did right in Kyle’s college search process was to take advantage of opportunities for live exposure—in fact, I wish we had done more of it. Getting live exposure was key in generating and securing interest from coaches. We were a bit limited by Kyle wanting to look only at schools in warm climates—a plane ride away, that is—but hey, what’s life without a challenge?

Kyle attended Baseball Factory tournaments and Team One showcases in Florida, Arizona, and one close to home in New England. Prior to heading to Florida and Arizona, Kyle contacted coaches in the area to let them know he had an interest in their schools and would be attending the tournament. Sometimes they responded to Kyle’s emails, and sometimes they didn’t. Kyle’s attendance (and thankfully, solid performance!) at the Florida tournament opened the door for his meeting with the coach at the school he ultimately chose. Also, we made sure to tour as many campuses as we could. With locations like Florida and Arizona, it was a dirty job….Kyle forwarded his player page to coaches that did not go to the showcase or could not meet with us.

Kyle also attended a couple of camps. Again, I wish we had done more of it, but done so selectively. Camps can be a great opportunity for exposure, and a chance to see how your son likes that particular college’s environment. Since the players on the school’s baseball team usually work the camps, your son also can get an idea about how he might fit from a personality standpoint. I would strongly suggest doing some research before sending your money in, however. It can be a costly approach and you want as much of a return as possible. Make sure that the coach is interested in your son as a prospect, not just a camper.

Here’s what not to do. Kyle had been invited to a camp called ‘Elite Recruits’ (or something similar to that) at a school and location in which he had an interest. Because of a schedule conflict with American Legion baseball, he passed. Shortly thereafter, Kyle received an invitation to another camp at the school—this one spent part of the time specializing in catching, one of Kyle’s positions. We spoke with the man running the camp, and decided it would be a good opportunity. We forgot one critical question, though—Will the head coach be there?

We had flown across the country for this camp. We met with our contact—someone affiliated with the baseball program—for about an hour-and-a-half, touring the campus. He also met with us briefly after the first two days, telling us he would see us after the third and final day, and give Kyle an evaluation. A couple of the assistant coaches ran the camp, along with the players. They were nice guys. Kyle really liked them, and they were complimentary to Kyle. Noticeably missing, though, was the head coach. Apparently, he had gone on vacation. He came to the camp for about 15 minutes on the last day. He sought out one of the campers—someone local he clearly had scouted—then left…no introduction to Kyle, who had flown across the country to be there. And oh…our contact who was going to give us the evaluation after the last day…didn’t show…had an obligation outside of the area. Kyle got some great comments from the players, but we didn’t get a lot of feedback or contact after we returned home. Lesson learned—find out if the camp really is an ‘Elite Recruit’ camp or just a fundraiser for the team. And make sure the head coach is going to be there.

I also would recommend attending local showcases and your state’s version of the Olympics, whether your son wants to stay in the area for college, or not. Scouts “know people who know people.” One of our sons got recruited by a school in the Mid-Atlantic region because their scout was friends with a scout in our area who had seen Brian play. Don’t just ‘throw it out there,’ though. With time and money involved, do some homework. Find out which coaches have committed to the showcases, and how well-attended the events are expected to be. If possible, talk with families who have attended them in the past. Find out their experience. This part of the college search can be an exciting and fun time—and an important one for opening doors for your son’s future.



Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

Control...Are you in or out of control?

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Controlling your surroundings, relationships, and even your children is a tough challenge for all parents. Even with my little ones, I hear all the time, “I want to do it myself daddy,” when I overstep my bounds and try to do small things for my girls. As they get older and I want to insert myself into their college or job search, I am sure it will be even more of a challenge to strike the necessary balance.

What I am starting to learn is that every day, and every situation is an opportunity to empower my children to handle themselves with self esteem and pride, versus stepping in and doing everything for them. In the end, it may make it easier for me to just handle it, but what am I teaching them in the long run?

Parents of young men that are going through the college search process have a great opportunity to help educate, guide, and empower their children to make good decisions. Don’t do all the research yourself. Resist the temptation to write his cover letters and resumes for him. Ask your son good questions. Get his mind thinking. Try as hard as you can to get him to speak about what he is interested in. Help him understand how courses of study in college translate into real jobs. Educate him on the power of networking and how attending college gives you a network and resources you can tap into for a lifetime. My partner at Baseball Factory is Steve Sclafani, my former teammate at the University of Pennsylvania. I probably continue to tap into my large Penn network at least once a week. It is a powerful tool.

Keep encouraging your child even when he is struggling to find the answers to his future. Hold back on your urge to control the situation for him and help him to seek out what is in his heart and his dreams. Take him to college campuses, watch college baseball games with him on ESPNU or CSTV, go on the Internet with him to research classroom sizes and academic disciplines. Encourage him to follow his intuition and give him the space to explore different options. Balance out what you think is best versus what truly makes him happy. That trust will go a long way towards his self confidence.

When you start to get the urge to take over and control his future, step back and ask yourself these questions, “Who am I satisfying here? Who’s best interest am I serving? Is this more about me then my child?” If your ego is in control, check it at the door and allow your child to stand on his own. It is one of the best gifts you can give as a parent.


Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Should I Walk-On?

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

I can’t tell you how many of our Baseball Factory parents and players have asked this question over the past 15 years. For anyone not familiar with the term “Walk On,” it is in reference to a player that decides to attend a college and earn a spot on the baseball roster without having a scholarship commitment, and in some instances, without even being recruited. It certainly is a very tough decision and there is no blanket answer to the above question. Each family and each baseball program is a unique circumstance.

The New York Times had a great article recently entitled, “For College Walk-Ons, a Road Less Traveled Makes All the Difference.” It detailed the stories of Brett Gardner (current CF for the NY Yankees), Ryan Howard (former MVP for the Philadelphia Phillies), and Eric Karros (former 1B for the LA Dodgers). All three of these players walked on to their college baseball programs and then turned into Major Leaguers. While these stories are very inspirational and are a testament to their hard work, it doesn’t mean that “walking on” is the right decision for each family. For every Brett Gardner success story, there are hundreds of players that get cut from their college program and never have a chance to pursue college baseball.

Kelly Kulina, our Senior Vice President of the Exclusive Program, has told me time and time again that when he was the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Maryland, they had 75-100 players each year that would try to walk on. The program might keep one or two of the players and the rest never had a chance to play college baseball. Kelly believes that the majority of these players could have been college baseball players, just not players at the University of Maryland. They were a better fit for smaller programs and not the right match for the rigors of playing Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) baseball. Most of these players probably didn’t market themselves to a variety of college programs or did not have any other college baseball coaches showing interest. With no other baseball options to consider, they most likely chose University of Maryland for academic or social reasons.

My advice to Baseball Factory families on this topic has always been consistent. Have as many options as possible before making a decision to walk-on. Your son may decide that he wants to try and walk-on, because in the end, there are just too many things about that particular school that he loves and can’t pass up. However, I would want that player to have to say “no thank you” to a number of other schools that have shown interest in him for baseball.

In my mind, if you explore all your options, and can make an informed decision one way or another, you can’t go wrong. It is only when you make a desperate move, or when you haven’t given the process 100% effort that regrets seem to set in.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Follow Your Thoughts

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Have you ever paid close attention to your thoughts? Try it sometime. You might be surprised by how much time you spend subconsciously on certain topics. While you are conducting this little experiment on yourself, take notice of how many thoughts come into your brain that are negative or fearful in nature.

Why is it that we spend so much time thinking about negative things? Unfortunately, I have found it to be quite common that people prefer to focus on negative and mentally taxing thoughts versus those that are emotionally gratifying. Wouldn’t we be better served spending our “mental energy” on things that were positive? I know that many people believe that they cannot stop their mind from racing down a certain path, but I would have to disagree. I think each of us has the ability to control their thoughts and direct them in a manner for their most positive benefit.

As parents, I think it is important to share this concept with your children. We all want our kids to be successful and confident in everything they choose to do. Our kids are growing up in a world with intense pressures and ever evolving emotional stimuli, which at times can be negative. If they too are filling their mind with negative thoughts and fearful patterns it could certainly begin to manifest itself in negative behaviors. We want our children to be confident, self assured beings. It all starts with their own self image and self esteem, which is somewhat comprised from their own thoughts. By helping your children understand that they can control their thoughts and maintain a positive attitude, it should only help them produce positive results in their lives, including their performance in the classroom and on the baseball field.

Spend a few days practicing this exercise. If you can keep your mind focused for its greatest good and most positive outlook, I think you will be shocked by how much more emotionally content you can be.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Position Changes…How to Deal With Them as a Parent

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

I think the idea of a player being asked to change positions and play somewhere new on the field can be more traumatizing for the parent of the player then the player himself. I just got back from the Baseball Factory’s Omaha Training and Tournament and met with a number of parents where the topic of position changes came up. When a particular player was asked to play a different position on the field (versus his normal primary or secondary position), I heard the following comments:

Parent 1: Why would he be asked to play anywhere other than shortstop? He is the best shortstop on the team.
Parent 2: He has never played the other positions, so it is really unfair to ask him to play somewhere he is not comfortable.
Parent 3: Why would you put a player in a brand new position and one that he is not used to?

One of our philosophies at Baseball Factory is to try and use our events to help prepare players for their college experience. College programs very often recruit center fielders and shortstops and then place them all around the field in certain spots depending upon how their tools play. For the recruited high school shortstops, the best hands and feet usually go to Short and Second (with the better arm playing short). The guy with the most power and limited defensive skills goes to first and the one with less range and strong hitting skills may go to third.

This happened to me in college when I played at the University of Pennsylvania. As a freshman, I started mostly every game at shortstop after having played SS my entire career. As a sophomore, I got moved to third base because we had a transfer student come in with exceptional defensive skills that played short. After a First Team All-Ivy season as a Sophomore at 3B, for my junior year, I was used primarily as a designated hitter, because we had a pretty good freshman infielder come in that year. You may recognize his name since he is the current second baseman for the Chicago Cubs (Mark Derosa). As a Senior, I split time between 3B and DH because we had another exceptional middle infielder added to our club as a freshman that made first team All-Ivy that year. I still wound up earning 2nd Team All Ivy Honors as a Senior.
Players need to be prepared to be moved around the field for a variety of reasons. Maybe your son is a primary pitcher that also plays shortstop in high school. In college, you will never see a RHP/SS. All two-way players that pitch wind up playing another secondary position like OF, 1B, or DH to help save their arm. Maybe his baseball tools have him better served to be a corner infielder than a middle infielder. Maybe someone on his team got injured and in order to get his bat in the lineup, the manager needs to use him in a different spot on the field. Be flexible and he will have a chance to gain more playing time.

For parents, as your son advances up the ranks past high school baseball and into college, start to understand that things may change, including his postion. Try not to get all bent out of shape and understand that as the game speeds up, his tools may play better at another spot on the field. From my personal experience, keeping an open mind and living up to the challenge of playing a new spot on the field was a great learning exercise for me. I enjoyed playing 3B and DH-ing much more than I would have enjoyed sitting on the bench and watching someone else play shortstop!


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Don't Catch DI-itis!

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

DI-itis is a term that many of the staff at Baseball Factory coined since we started working with parents and players 14 years ago. Parents with DI-itis are obsessed with their son's playing NCAA Division I baseball. Don’t get me wrong, playing DI baseball is a very admirable goal and something that all serious high school baseball players should strive for. However, in college baseball, it is not a given that a NCAA Division I program is stronger than a NCAA Division II program or NCAA Division III program. In fact, may top DII and DIII programs would consistently beat the pants off of some DI programs.

This type of parody amongst the divisions caused Baseball Factory to create its Class System when evaluating high school seniors and determining what level of college baseball we feel would be their best fit. The Class System breaks college baseball down into 10 Classes instead of calling players exclusively DI, DII, or DIII prospects. That is just not accurate for college baseball. The Class System takes a blended approach, knowing that there are many different types of DI, DII, or DIII schools when it comes to college baseball.

The point is for parents to be realistic when it comes to your son’s baseball potential. Playing for a DII, DIII, NAIA, or Junior College program may be the best fit for him in the long run. Getting hung up on all DI schools may just cause a lot of headache and misaligned expectations. Even if your son does get recruited by a DI school he may in fact play a lot less, and in the end have a worse college baseball experience. Parents who are interested in this topic should take a look at Kelly Kulina’s blog entitled Getting it Right the First Time (Parts 1-4).

Let’s use a hard example of a Baseball Factory family that benefited from kicking the DI-itis disease.

Brice Cutspec was a standout high school Catching/1B prospect from Westminster, CA. Brice was very active with Baseball Factory while in high school. He participated in our Pre Season All America Tournaments, our Team One Showcases, Dodgertown World Series, and Exclusive Program. After a great high school career, he signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Arizona, a tremendous DI program. After getting redshirted his first year, Brice decided to kick the DI-itis infection and transfer to Azusa Pacific University. Some thought he was crazy to give up on Arizona, but in truth, he wanted the chance to play and contribute. Azusa is a top NAIA program that routinely goes to the NAIA World Series.

Did it work out for Brice? Let’s look at his numbers since attending Azusa Pacific:

2007 - .363 batting average, 42 runs, 78 hits, 14 2B, 19 HR, 64 RBI, .693 slugging %. Earned All Conference honors while helping to lead Azusa to a 51-10 record, GSAC Championship, and NAIA World Series appearance.

2008 – Through 5/6/08 - .409 batting average, 27 runs, 72 hits, 11 2B, 11 HR, 58 RBI, .659 slugging % and the GSAC Championship.

I think Brice made the right move and has a better chance to be drafted based upon his standout performance at Azusa Pacific than he did as a redshirt at the University of Arizona.

Patrick Wuebben, our Player Development Coordinator for California, was sharing his thoughts on DI-itis with me a few days ago. He had a good way of summarizing the way parents and players need to look at the situation. He said parents need to be “self aware of their son’s baseball ability.” I think he hit the nail on the head.

So here are the doctor’s orders…Stay realistic, keep an open mind, make a college decision that is the best fit for your son, and cure your DI-itis if you are currently infected!

Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Parents Can Help Kids “Just Say No”

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

It seems like everyone has an opinion about New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his recent admission that he used steroids between 2001 and 2003. I have heard lots of commentary and opinions about A-Rod’s apology, how sincere it was, how truthful it was, or how disingenuous it was. What I haven’t heard enough talk about is how we can help prevent more young baseball players from making the same mistakes. With the fierce competition of Major League Baseball and the high stakes of salaries and signing bonuses for those that achieve success, how do we as a society work to reduce and eventually eliminate drug use in young athletes that are looking for competitive advantages? I personally think parents can help play a large role.

I have never used illegal drugs of any kind. A big reason why is based upon talks I had with my parents and what they instilled in me as a young man. I remember speaking to my dad about the dangers of drugs as a high school student and his advice was right on the money. Here are a few key bullet points of what he stressed to me:

1. They are illegal so stay away from them.
2. The best thing to do is never start, and if you don’t start, you will never have to worry about quitting.
3. You work your whole life to build a solid reputation for how you are perceived. It only takes one bad decision to have that reputation come tumbling down.
4. If you can say that you gave 100% and you did the best you could, that will always be good enough and you don’t have to cheat to gain an edge.
5. Even if you don’t get caught, you will always have to live with yourself, and in those quiet moments you will have a tough time being at peace with your soul.

I think a large key to the hopes of stopping illegal drug use in young athletes is for parents to help ingrain a strong moral compass within their souls. Young adults that are secure in their decision making, feel trusted by their parents, and truly believe in themselves, tend to make well grounded decisions as adults. It is the combination of building strong moral fiber and educating on the dangers of drugs that will go a long way towards curtailing drug use in the future. I personally think we are better off spending our time and energy on this initiative instead of conducting witch hunts and public trials of Major League players.

As parents, continue to speak with your children about these issues and help them make the smart choice when it comes to drugs. “Just Say No” is a slogan that has been around for decades and it may be more appropriate in these times than ever.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Farewell to Dodgertown

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

On December 30, 2008 the last baseball event was held at the hallowed grounds of Dodgertown, the Spring Training home of the LA Dodgers. The final event happened to be Baseball Factory’s Christmas Camp and Tournament. Dodgertown has hosted Spring Training for the Dodgers since they resided in Brooklyn New York. Dodgertown holds a very special place in the history of baseball and it is sad to see the facility coming to an end due to the Dodgers moving their spring home to Glendale, AZ starting in 2009.

Baseball Factory has been calling Dodgertown home for its Player Development events since 2000. Dodgertown’s door opened to us based upon a personal relationship I had with Kevin O’Malley. Kevin was my teammate at the University of Pennsylvania and is the son of former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley. I told Kevin that Baseball Factory wanted to hold a Pre Season All America event to showcase the best players we had seen throughout the calendar year and we needed a premier facility to host the event. He introduced us to the General Manager of the complex and the relationship grew from there. Fast forward to December 2008, and we have held 24 similar events at Dodgertown over the past nine years including our August World Series, November Select Training and Competition, and our December Camp and Tournament. Thousands of players and parents have traveled to Dodgertown to participate in Baseball Factory programs and left with such positive feelings and emotions for this iconic facility.

Here are my Top 10 most memorable Dodgertown moments, from these past nine years and 24 events, that I will always cherish:

1. The Dodgertown Staff. What a pleasure they were to work with (especially our contact Vicki Hahn). The whole staff made us feel at home and worked hard to provide our players with the best baseball experience of their lives. The grounds crew, conference center staff, and dining room workers treated our kids like big leaguers and they will be missed by our staff.

2. The Dodger Memorabilia and Nostalgia. Dodgertown was like a baseball museum. It was amazing to see the photos of Gil Hodges, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, and many, many others. As a baseball fan, you couldn’t help but get chills thinking about staying in the same hotel rooms as these former great players. The Dodgertown staff would always remind me that the room I stayed in each time was Tommy Lasorda’s favorite.

3. In January 2000 during our All America event, watching a young Galvin Floyd (current White Sox pitcher) toe the rubber at the bullpen strings mound as a HS Junior and light up the radar gun for the fifty plus college coaches and pro scouts in attendance. Anyone who was there that day knew we were watching someone who was going to be pretty special at the MLB level.

4. In January 2000 and 2001 at our All America events, watching in awe of a young 3B from Virginia as we moved through the defensive workout and batting practice rounds like a polished veteran. He was also the most respectful player that I have interacted with over my many years of running Baseball Factory. I knew that not only would this player excel at the MLB level, but he would be the type of personality to build a franchise around. This player was David Wright, perennial All Star and the face of the NY Mets.

5. In January 2000 at our All America event, watching a relationship build between a young RHP from NJ that I knew intimately over his development, and a scout for the Baltimore Orioles. This RHP from NJ had participated in Baseball Factory events going back to his 7th grade years. He was a diamond in the rough that nobody knew about besides Baseball Factory. The scout from the Orioles took a liking to him and drafted him out of college. The big RHP grew into his body, developed a devastating fastball, and exploding off-speed pitches. He made his debut in the Oriole bullpen in 2006 and is named James Hoey. The scout was Dean Albany, who was just recently named National Crosschecker for the Baltimore Orioles.

6. In January 2001 and 2002 at our All America events, watching the three best HS athletes I have ever seen in person, Lastings Milledge, Delmon Young, and BJ Upton. Lastings hit six consecutive home runs in his batting practice round at Holman Stadium, Delmon jumped on the mound in a joking manner and touched 92 mph with his first pitch, and BJ glided all over the field as a young HS shortstop. These three guys were all 5 tool players with incredible upside.

7. In January 2000 and 2003 at our All America events, watching two HS arms from Florida that were destined to excel in the bullpen for any MLB club. They both made their debut in 2008 with the St. Louis Cardinals (Mark Worrell and Chris Perez) and should have fine pro careers. Those guys were bulldogs in high school with a ton of competitive flair.

8. Hearing the incredibly moving and motivational speeches from Clint Hurdle and Rick Sofield. These guys can really get you going and know how to push players to achieve greatness.

9. Seeing former legendary college coach, Jim Spooner, share his knowledge of the game with thousands of players. Spoon was the Baseball Factory’s version of Don Zimmer. Sadly, Coach Spooner passed away this year after a long battle with Leukemia.

10. Watching countless high school players learn, attack their weaknesses, improve their game, and develop into fine college players with great careers due to the great programs that Steve Bernhardt, our EVP of Baseball Operations, put together for these boys.

Thank you for the memories Dodgertown! Although Baseball Factory has some very exciting plans for new events in 2009 that will be released shortly, Dodgertown will always be remembered fondly in our hearts.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Ask Questions

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where all they do is talk about themself? They never ask you a question about how you are doing or what is going on in your life. Usually you exit that conversation feeling pretty disappointed.

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received from a colleague of mine was very simple: ask questions. If you want to make people feel good about themselves, and you want to be a better conversationalist, the easiest thing to do is engage the other person and ask them how things are going in THEIR life or what THEY are thinking about.

I have found that “asking questions” works very well when trying to communicate with high school baseball players. Young men aged 14-18 don’t always make the best talkers, but if you are genuinely concerned with their well being and you engage them in discussion by asking them thought provoking questions, usually you get a much more productive conversation. This applies a great deal when discussing the college recruiting process and schools they are interested in attending. I tend to ask our Baseball Factory players questions such as:

1. Can you see yourself being happy at that school?

2. What do you think about going to school with classroom sizes of 300+ students?

3. What did you think of the baseball coach and his philosophy? Can you see yourself playing for him?

4. Have you thought about what academic discipline you want to pursue?

5. How do you think you will do being that far away from home?

The list can go on and on. The point is that engaging your counterpoint in a discussion with questions is sure to get their mind thinking and usually makes the person feel special and valued. I think this is a good tactic for all parents to practice, not only with their children, but also in their everyday life with other people they come into contact with.

If you feel yourself approaching every conversation by only talking about yourself, take a step back and remember this blog and ask the person you are speaking with a question instead. I am sure you will see the conversation move in a more positive direction.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

There is Good High School Baseball Talent All Over the Country

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Many parents believe that the best baseball players in the country have to come from warm weather states. Do you agree?

I would agree that the average high school player in the warm weather states (ie: California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc) tends to be stronger versus the colder/seasonal climates. This is most likely a result of these players having the distinct advantage of getting to play outside on a year round basis. While the average high school player in these areas may be stronger, I have found over the years at Baseball Factory that there is upper echelon talent all over the country and in places you might not suspect.

Let’s take this past weekend for example. I traveled to Portland, Oregon to run Baseball Factory’s Under Armour National Tryout and Signature College Recruiting Program in Monmouth, Oregon (just outside of Portland). Keep in mind, this event took place in November so we utilized an indoor facility. Baseball Factory hadn’t held an event in Oregon since 1998, but we have had the pleasure of working with many Oregon based players over the years in events that took place in other states. In fact, 25% of the current Oregon State baseball roster are alumni of Baseball Factory or Team One.

Getting back to this weekend, we worked with a total of 45 players. This group was extremely focused, engaged, and serious about baseball. Everyone showed up on time and they had a strong sense of desire and determination. Once the baseball drills and testing started, this group did not disappoint! As a whole, this was one of our most talented sessions to date this year. Keep in mind that Baseball Factory holds 200 events a year in areas all over the country and into Canada. Would you ever suspect that Portland, Oregon would be one of the most talented groups? I am sure the players and parents that were in attendance this weekend would have.

So if you live in a state that is not known for producing top high school baseball talent or is in a seasonal climate, don’t let it get you down. All it means is that you might need to be a little more creative. Seek out alternate ways for your sons to train like using indoor facilities in the colder months. Just use it as motivation to help your sons work harder!

If anyone from our Oregon session is reading this blog, thanks for a great weekend. It was a pleasure meeting the parents and working with this talented group of players. Baseball Factory will certainly not be waiting another 10 years before we come back to Oregon. Most likely it will be closer to 10 months.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Smith Family Update

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

After my previous blog was posted (Gaining Perspective on What Really is Important), I have received a number of requests from readers to let them know how Gianna Smith was progressing and how people could contribute to the Smith Family Cause.

I am proud to report that Gianna has made great progress since my last entry. She responded extremely well to the steroid treatments and her lungs are functioning much better. Ryan was even able to hold her for the first time last week, which is wonderful news!

If anyone is interesting in contributing to the memory of Graden Smith, you can make a contribution to the organization Athletes in Action. Athletes in Action will be using the proceeds to aid in the construction of their baseball stadium in Xenia, Ohio. The stadium will be named: Graden 'Grady' Smith Memorial Field. Please send donations to:

Athletes in Action (for Grady’s Field)
651 Taylor Drive
Xenia, OH 45385
Phone – 937-352-1234
Contact – Matt Richter

At Baseball Factory, we have a close knit group of staff that is very much like an extended family. Even though Ryan is only a part time employee for us, he embodies all the characteristics of a full time staff member and has always given his heart and soul to our organization. Based upon our relationship with Ryan, we are happy to announce that Baseball Factory will be contributing $5,000 to the ‘Grady’ Smith Memorial Field Fund. We hope you will join us in making a contribution to help honor his life and preserve his memory in the new stadium.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Notes from Wrigley

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

I spent this past weekend at the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. With Wrigley Field serving as the historic ballpark for this inaugural event, it was an amazing setting to showcase The New Prototypes of baseball.

A few highlights from the event:

When Steve Bernhardt, the Executive VP of Baseball Operations for Baseball Factory, introduced the players at the welcome dinner on Friday night and read their bios, it was clear that the talent at the Under Armour All-America Game would surpass all other major summer events. The welcome dinner took place in the Wrigley Field Stadium Club.

The magnitude of the event really hit home when the players and their families were led on a tour of Wrigley Field, including the dugout, bleachers and press box.

The players got a true feel for Chicago on Saturday as they toured the city on a speedboat that took them out on the lake and up the river.

Holy Cow! Dinner on Saturday night led the players to Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse. The players met with Phil Nevin and Clay Matvick, the ESPNU broadcasters for Sunday’s game.

Close to 2,500 fans were in attendance on Sunday at Wrigley Field.

Jayce Boyd (Cantonment, FL) edged out Josh Elander (Round Rock, TX) in the Home Run Derby, presented by Mattingly Baseball. Elander hit eight home runs during the first round and Boyd thrilled the crowd by hitting four homeruns out onto Waveland Avenue.

Elander was the top prospect at the 2008 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament that took place in Arizona this January. Boyd was the top prospect at the Under Armour Showcases – Team One South in Atlanta, Georgia, this summer.

Chicago was also host to the Air & Water Show this past weekend. As such, the game was witness to various fly bys including the famous Blue Angels.

Legendary Chicago Cub player and broadcaster, Ron Santo, spoke to the players before the game and threw out the honorary first pitch.

Former Chicago Cub players Bill Matlock and Doug Glanville were in opposing dugouts as coaches for the game. Matlock later led the crowd in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.

David Renfroe, a standout player at the 2007 Under Armour Southeast Tournament, won MVP honors for the Team One squad. He struck out five batters in two innings of work and hit a towering homerun during his only at bat of the game. The RHP/SS is verbally committed to the University of Mississippi.

Mychal Givens, a participant at both the 2007 & 2008 Under Armour Southeast Tournaments, won MVP honors for the Baseball Factory team. He pitched a scoreless inning, hitting 96 MPH on the radar gun, and also went 2-3 with three runs batted in.

Baseball Factory held on to win by the score of 5-4, taking the inaugural Under Armour All-America Game over Team One.

Between the organ playing in the background, the ivy on the walls, the balls landing out on Waveland, and the amazing high school talent displayed at Wrigley Field, this event will be one these players, coaches, and fans will not soon forget. I know that this is a memory that will last me a lifetime, and hopefully a launching point for these players as they continue on their path to college baseball and beyond.


Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.

Wrigley Field Here We Come!

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

On Sunday August 17th, The Baseball Factory is powering the Under Armour All America Game at Wrigley Field. It is the first time that a high school game has been played at Wrigley Field. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with the honorary first pitch coming from Mr. Cub (Ernie Banks) at 1:20 PM CST.

The game features the 36 best high school players in the nation. The players in attendance were either seen at a Baseball Factory or Team One Event, or were highly recommended by our network of professional scouts. These players should all go on to have fine college or professional careers.

As a parent, I can’t imagine the joy and pride I would feel if my child was selected for such a prestigious honor. To be recognized as one of the best 36 players in the nation is truly remarkable. With 450,000 kids playing high school baseball in the United States, these 36 players represent the top .01% of our nation’s high school crop of baseball players.

Good luck to all the players in attendance. I would be lying to you if I said that I wasn’t very excited for the festivities and to see the players perform. I also want to thank Under Armour and the Chicago Cubs for their support of the event. It has been a great collaborative effort between our three organizations to put on this program.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

LIVE: From the Under Armour Southwest Tournament

Dave Lax: We're There

In the end of July temperatures above 110 would make you believe that you were in the desert. At the first day of round robin play at this year’s Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament the temperature touched 113 degrees. However, the scorching temperatures did not seem to sway the players or the fans. All of the teams came out with good spirits and played good baseball.

In the early games of the day the St. Louis Pirates took advantage of extra outs given at the expense of the Baseball Factory White team and notched the first win of the tournament 11-3. The Arizona Clash, which played in the finals of last year’s tournament, was back and came out with an opening game win against Baseball Factory Red. The Clash squeaked out the win by a slim margin of 4-3. The final game of the morning showcased a high level of defense as only four runs came across the plate. In the end the Players Baseball Academy 16U team won 3-1 over the Baseball Factory Navy.

As the temperatures started to rise, the second set of games kicked off shortly before noon. A couple of the Baseball Factory squads took advantage of their back-to-back games and stayed loose to cruise for a win. The Baseball Factory White took out the Tucson Baseball Academy 10-1 using strong pitching and an explosive offense. The Baseball Factory Navy team was squaring off against the St. Louis Pirates who took out Baseball Factory White in the early game. With the Baseball Factory Navy down by one run going into the last inning, they strung a few hits together, tied the game and then a patient at bat eventually lead to the “walk” off win for the Navy squad. In the final of the three games played at midday the Baseball Factory Red ran into the Under Armour Winter Classic powerhouse West Texas Cats. The Cats took their well-oiled machine to an 11-1 win.

In the final two games of the day in possibly the hottest temperatures, the two teams from Texas squared off. On a side note, the sportsmanship of the West Texas Cats was spectacular as they allowed their opponents, the El Paso Dragons, to use some of their baseball gear because the Dragons gear was lost by the airline. As for the game, extra innings were needed to decide a winner. It seemed that generosity would be rewarded as the Cats scored two runs in the top of the eighth; however, the Dragons made a run at the comeback scoring one in their half of the inning. In the end, the Cats held on for the victory.

The West Texas Cats thus far have the best record in the tournament at 2-0. In the other game the Players Baseball Academy 18U team and the Lake Havasu Stars battled it out in extra innings as well. The Players Baseball Academy eventually took the win 5-4.

In an exciting and over-heated day the Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament was officially underway and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the tournament has in store for us. We know the temperatures will be hot, and lets hope the baseball is too.


Dave Lax is the Assistant Director of Marketing at Baseball Factory. Dave started with Baseball Factory in June of 2006 having earned his degree in Business from the University of Maryland, College Park. He majored in Marketing and minored in Communication. At Maryland, he played on the Scout Basketball Team for three years, where he was part of the National Championship team in 2006. In addition to his marketing responsibilities Dave serves as the administrator for Baseball University and helps design and maintain the website.

The Power of Now

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Greetings from Kiwanis-Wallas Park! For the past two weeks, the Baseball Factory has been operating the Kelly Kulina All-Star and Elite Summer Baseball Camps in the Howard County area. The camp was designed to teach and hone the fundamental skills of baseball, while all of the proceeds went to the B.A.S.E.-H.I.T. Foundation. Even as our focus shifted away from recruiting and onto youth development, I had a chance to speak with many of the campers about my experiences with the recruiting process, and I feel that there are still some excellent points to make to our younger prospective student-athletes.

As a former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, I tried looking at prospective student-athletes in terms of the “Three Aces”: 1) Attitude, 2) Academics and 3) Athletic Ability. While athletic ability may be an obvious choice, I think too many players overlook attitude and academics. If a player can’t show me the attitude necessary to compete and willingness to learn, I don't want him on my team. And as for academics, coaches simply do not have the time to waste on athletes who are academic liabilities. Everyone loves to work on their game, but few spend the same amount of time on their studies, which ultimately, will make or break you in the end. For you younger players, you all can work on these two areas starting today- make them a priority!

My staff and I spent a great deal of time trying to instill lessons that can be applied to both on and off the baseball field. The biggest point I made to our campers is that, no matter how hard you throw or hit the ball, you won’t be playing college baseball if you don’t show a coach:

• that you have the discipline to improve your skills beyond physical ability and, more importantly, study hard and effectively in the classroom.


• a willingness and an interest in learning about the game.


• character inherent to a team leader, and someone that will always represent themselves (and their school) in the best way possible.

Granted, not all of this has to start on a baseball field. Instead of finding ways to avoid chores, try actively volunteering to help your parents with everyday tasks around the house. As for school, be proactive and ask your teachers for areas they believe you can improve on, and how to do so. I believe you’ll find that if you change how you approach daily issues and activities, you’ll find a change for the better on the field, as well.

There is no better time than now to focus on being a better player, student and person. The intangibles such as leadership and self-discipline don’t happen overnight. It takes a concentrated effort to change your habits, whether it be how you approach homework, chores or taking extra infield groundballs. So, why not give yourself as much time as you need? Just like in the recruiting process, there is no such thing as “putting it off until later.” Unfortunately, in life, “later” happens in the blink of an eye!


Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Baseball Factory Four Point Check List – Part 1, Baseball, Books and the Beach

Steve Sclafani: All Access Pass

When was the last time you went 4 for 4 at the plate?

No doubt it’s always great to step up to the dish four at-bats in a row and get four hits, but today I want to talk about the Baseball Factory system of moving your career forward as a student-athlete with our monthly four point check list.

Each month you should sit down and ask yourself the following questions:

1) What am I doing to improve my academics? Not only GPA, but preparation for the SAT/ACT.

2) What am I doing to improve my baseball skills? Am I attacking my weaknesses? Do I know exactly what I need to work on?

3) What am I doing to make sure I play against top competition so I truly test my skills in a game situation?

4) What am I doing to promote myself to college and pro scouts?

In our view at Baseball Factory you need a balanced attack that starts with your academics. There is a reason our logo prominently features a book along with a baseball.

Let’s talk this week about improving your academics (GPA/SAT’s). I know what a lot of you are thinking….I’m on summer break and I would be more than happy to get started with points two through four above, but point #1 is not on the radar.

Well let me tell you that the summer is a great time to make academic improvements. For one, you have a lot more time on your hands and can truly focus on your weaknesses in a more relaxed environment. Instead of going to school for seven hours, then off to practice for two hours and then home to do homework, in the summer you can be fresh and well rested and dive into a subject with full concentration for one hour a day. This will help you take a giant step forward in your academic career.

Why not pick one subject that you seem to struggle with every year and get a head start for September? How about picking up a book on a completely new subject to broaden your horizons? What about taking an SAT prep class during the summer?

Have a great summer, train hard, have fun, play lots of baseball, but don’t forget to develop yourself academically and work on the subject that causes you trouble during the school year!

Next week I will discuss what you can do for baseball skills development over the summer.

Sclafani’s ability to create new opportunities for baseball players nationwide and to develop exposure vehicles has led to over 20,000 Baseball Factory and Team One players competing at the college level, $500 million in scholarships, and over 2,000 players selected in the MLB draft. Sclafani was recognized as a member of Baltimore’s prestigious 40/40 Club, honoring 40 top executives under 40 years of age. Steve is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he played second base.