Boost Your Mental Acuity!

Bernadette Bechta: Blackboard Basics

Summer reading lists can cause groans among high school students. However, the time you spend reading and preparing for standardized tests over the summer can drastically improve your performance in the fall and spring test dates. During the summer months your mind is free from homework, tests, and the daily school routine, so it is the best time to improve your reading and testing skills.

Proper preparation certainly has its rewards! One of my most memorable students is one who could not afford to enroll in a SAT prep class yet needed a high score to receive an academic scholarship. Instead, she decided to read at least 20 books each summer to improve her comprehension skills and vocabulary. The result: a perfect SAT score (1600/1600), a college scholarship, a fellowship for her Ph.D. She is now a Professor at a prestigious university. The lesson here is to visit the library often this summer; checkout books on various topics, look for audio tapes for those baseball trips and college visits, and practice, practice, practice for those SAT tests.

There are several approaches to SAT preparation.

1. If your schedule and budget permits, you can enroll in a SAT prep class that meets your schedule. However, check out the references, ask questions, and determine if the class format meets your learning style. Look for a program with flexible makeup dates that coincide with your summer baseball schedule.
2. If you are disciplined with your time, you can work with SAT Prep books. This can be an effective strategy that allows for flexibility. However, you must work on a regular basis (at least 6 hours/week in the summer), and take Practice Tests and analyze the results. I surveyed my students and included some of my favorites, so here is a list of what I consider to be the best SAT Prep books on the market right now: Bernadette's Favorite Summer SAT Prep Books and a Few Others.
3. Hire a one-on-one tutor. This approach always helps the student who is trying to improve their score to a certain level. A tutor can personalize your approach to the test and help you to analyze your previous scores.

Additionally, while you are visiting colleges this summer and driving to showcases, camps, and clinics, try reading one of these books, mostly sports topics, for pleasure.

Great Sports Stories and more...

Consider reading to be your summer workout for the mind. When you go to the gym, stop at the library. When you pack your baseball bag for a trip, toss in an audio tape or SAT prep book. Give up an hour of ESPN each day to work in your SAT Prep book. The results in the fall will show in your mental acuity; that is, a buff mind!

Bernadette Bechta serves as the main academic contact for all players and parents in Baseball Factory's Exclusive Program. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and advisor at the high school level, Bernadette will provide families with guidance on topics ranging from application essays to financial aid. In addition, Bernadette’s two sons have both gone through the Exclusive Program, so she knows the ins and outs of the process from a parent’s perspective.

Preparation Leads to World Series Championship

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

The biggest play of the World Series clinching game wasn’t the RBI single by Feliz or the slider by Lidge that ended it; it was Chase Utley’s defensive play in the top of the 7th. Utley changed the game and he did it through the long-term and short-term preparation that we preach at our own Baseball Factory Player Development events.

In case you missed it, the play happened in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and a runner on second base. Akinori Iwamura hit a ground ball up the middle that Utley backhanded. He faked a throw to first and threw home to get Jason Bartlett trying to score all the way from second. The inning was over and the tie was preserved. In the bottom of the seventh, the Phillies gained the lead that they would never relinquish.

Let’s look at the many ways Utley had to prepare himself both physically and mentally to make this play.

Physical Preparation

1. He has spent time working on his agility and first step quickness. That showed as he reacted quickly with a crossover step immediately after the ball was hit and had enough range to get to the ball in the first place.

2. He has put in countless hours of mechanical work and it paid off as he flawlessly backhanded the ball – the most difficult play for most infielders.

3. He has worked on his arm strength as he made a throw that is longer than normally required from a 2B. It shows why second basemen need to long toss regularly and not form the habit of all throws being a ¾ arm slot “flip.”

4. He has practiced throwing on the run. His throw was accurate and bouncing it gave the catcher a chance as opposed to a high throw.

Mental Preparation

1. He knew that the runner on 2B (Bartlett) was a fast and aggressive baserunner.

2. He knew the speed of the hitter – Iwamura is a fast runner and is quick out of the box after contact.

3. He had anticipated the different scenarios in his head for any ball hit to him or anywhere else on the field. This way he wasn’t surprised by the play.

4. He understood how valuable the ball is and that a throw must be made with a purpose. A throw to 1B there would not have gotten Iwamura and a futile throw there would have allowed Bartlett to score easily.

5. He knew to always keep your head up and look for the next play. There was no hesitation between his pump fake and making the throw home.

Everything Chase Utley did showed that he is a “true” baseball player. Thanks to his preparation, both mentally and physically, he made the biggest play of the game and put his team in position to celebrate a World Series victory.


Steve Bernhardt is the Executive VP of Baseball Operations with Baseball Factory. Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.