Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos
Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net
New Images Available under Image area
2008 Game Schedule Now Available
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Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net New Images Available under Image area 2008 Game Schedule Now Available
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Chip Brown
Batting
The week before the first coaches meeting in 2008, i was outside working with Henson, Logan, and Chip. The purpose was to teach Henson and Logan how to pitch from the stretch. After Henson and Logan threw, I asked Chip to get on the mound. His response was "I can't pitch". However, he can pitch! He has improved so much since last year. He was throwing as many pitches in the strike zone as out of the strike zone. This is much different from the Tee-baller we remember from 5 years ago who would get the ball and throw it as hard as he could not knowing (or seeing) where it would go. Chip has the skills, he just doesn't realize it. In our first game of 2007, Chip equaled his 2006 hit total, got his first career RBI, and first game winning hit. Chip continued to progress and we were very pleased with his improvement during 2007. Chip played right field, but with our pitchers, right field is the most important outfield position. Our pitchers throw hard, and most balls are hit to the right side. Chip made a number of very fine plays and throws back to the infield quickly to prevent runners from advancing. During the Championship playoffs, Chip made one excellent catch after another and a number of superb throws back to the infield to hold runners to one base At this age, most youth coaches place their weaker players in right field. The Cubs coaches believe the right field position is the most important because more balls are hit to right field than any other outfield position. As long as Chip continues to block the ball with his body and make quick, strong throws back to the infield, he will continue to be one of the Cubs hidden assets. Chip was a key reason why the Cubs won the Championship in 2007. One missed ball in right field could have meant the difference between winning and losing. In 2008, Chip will need to continue to work on bat speed and swinging with authority. He has a lot of power, he simply doesn't realize it yet. Once he learns to snap his wrists and open (rotate) his hips he will discover where his power comes from. We may need to work with Chip from the batting tee more often. Major league players still use the tee with coaches to fine-tune their swing. Young ball players (and many youth coaches) rarely understand the importance of working out with the batting tee. We also will work with Chip in using two hands when he is playing catch. If we force him to use two hands and develop this habit when playing toss, he will begin to accelerate quickly in skill level. He has all the other pieces necessary, this is just the one missing ingredient in fielding. Boys learn more hand-on baseball skills by playing catch than they ever learn by standing around in practice waiting for their turn to field the ball.
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Westside Youth Athletic Association Website Helton Genealogical DNA Project - Hilton Family Tree - http://hiltonfamilytree.com
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