Anna Kasner, Most Improved 10 year old pitcher

"Anna locks on Target"

Anna Kasner, 12u Pitcher

Most Improved

10 year old

Pitcher
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Every year I will see up to 200 players needing instruction. Anna came to a private evaluation in 2009. I just thought she was a little kid wanting to have a little fun learning about fastpitch hitting. Dad, Jason, was an All League player in his day from Mt Tahoma and showed her a few batting tips. Anna showed me she had an aggressive swing and would let go of her bat each time with one hand. In fastpitch we instruct the hitter to drive through the ball and to hold-on to the bat with both hands over the shoulder for power. After few laps around the park after disciplining her (with fair warning) each time she let-go of the bat, Anna realized she got herself into a situation she never seen before with a coach... discipline. Self discipline is the basic fundamental for the beginner and advanced pitchers. A pitcher just cannot survive on the mound without it. The big "D" is what pitching or hitting or fielding a ball properly in tough situations is all about.

" I saw that Anna needed discipline, she was used to being in the limelight at home and center of attention. But most of all Anna came to camp in excellent physical condition. That is what make trainers just a little excited when evaluating an athlete. I knew from first glance and how she ran on those "D" runs this kid was going to be a special player. Young athletes want to learn. Anna learned to apply her skills with each lesson and on her own with dad Jason. She is also very stubborn, in a positive way. Maybe a perfectionist. That will also come out in practices. After months of training I was able t pull-her potential out of her. A great character trait to have, being stubborn. Some kids don't have it. Later on she struggled with her new skills at LL games and took her lumps. Now, no longer playing little league, Anna stepped it up a few notches after several months of pitching, fielding and hitting training. Pitching and playing up at 12u Club ball for a 10 year old is very,very hard for anyone. Anna not only showed she could impact her team with hits, runs,stolen bases... but also pitching. Anna not only played up, she proved she belonged there competing with the big-girls. She is one of them now."

-Coach Adam

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" Anna pitched 5 innings against a big team and hit for 3 of 4 at bats with 3 rbi's. She struck out 7 batters and allowed only 2 hits! Your pitching practices with Anna have really helped allot. All her pitches looked good. Anna really focused well when she was behind in the count a couple times and was able to strike them out. She remembers what Adam told her about keeping her inside fastball mechanics as well as being consistent on each location of every pitch. At Western Worlds she was a different person, possessed! The first 3 innings she got ahead in the count and struck out the lead hitter and we (coaches) were just quiet, probably because we were in shock. What a jump from the beginning of the season where she would get behind in the count. By far her inside fastball is the best I have seen, with speed. The lead-off hitters get jumpy when it comes flying in. Now we are working on more power from her small frame with Adam. Other coaches are noticing a huge improvement. WE really did not expect this to happen so soon. Anna works hard and wants to pitch, I don't have to remind her about practice."
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Thanks Adam,
coach Jason and Diane Kasner
2009 Acers Kasner 12u

Kendahl Sugai, 11 year old LFA-Pitcher of the Year

Kendahl Sugai, 11 yo
Champion 12u Pitcher
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"LFA 11 Year old Pitcher of the Year"

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11 year old Kendahl Sugai came to LFA Auburn/Puyallup Summer Camp in 2008 and really liked how the change-up can make hitters look silly. She then asked me to teach it to her so I did. In all my 10 years teaching pitchers, I have never seen anyone at any age throw the change up perfectly such as Kendahl did on her first try, after warm-ups. I put a bucket behind home plate or 43 feet and ask the pitcher to throw it very slow with so much control. I was with another pitcher when I heard Kendahl scream and shout, "I GOT IT ! I GOT IT ! In the bucket!!"
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In the course of Kendahl playing in the 2009 season she had fun throwing the change up and winning a good share of her games for 12u Blue Jays and Acers-Kasner 12u. I think playing up made all the difference. Kendahl learned how to strike out batters older than her. She built confidence in practice and used that confidence in games she won while on the mound. Playing on 2 teams as a starting pitchers is something my goddaughter Shay did but not till she was 12 years old. Playing on two teams can toughen up any one and it says allot about the character of the pitcher...they are dedicated and appreciate the sport personally. I think Kendahl is outstanding for her age and experience. What she has accomplished will set the bar higher for future 10u and 12u pitchers walking into my pitching program. She trained very hard with me and her dad/coach Darin and her other coaches. It's a team effort of coaching and training the pitcher to reach perfection for a particular pitch. Congratulations Kendahl on your outstanding achievement!
-coach Adam
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"She loves it! I think she just got a kick out of watching the pitch and when coach Adam threw it at her in the batters box she just laughed and laughed after she missed the ball! Later on she stopped laughing and got upset she could not hit it. Now Kendahl enjoys doing that to batters on her own. She works very hard. We have to watch out that she does not over train or over pitch. "
dad/coach Darin Sugai

Auburn Acers-K 12u/Puyallup Bluejays-S 12u
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"I created a drill called 1,2,3 walk-ups for outstanding pitchers like my daughter Shay and later for Alexa Derrick of undefeated Emerald Ridge 4A High School of Puyallup. The 1,2,3 walk-ups is aerobics for pitchers on so many physical benefits. The main thing is conditioning the total body of the pitcher. Distances for the exercise is limited to experience and condition of the athlete. Only a trained professional should evaluated what is best for your pitcher. The remedy for starting pitchers for strong shoulders and rotator cuff muscles and a stronger back where allot of load is placed on during a 45 min work-out or time on the mound in a game is 1,2,3 walk-ups."
Coach Adam
bodycoach@hotmail.com
(206)227-9698