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Gladiator Baseball Program
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2009 High School District Champions
Placed Widefield HS baseball in the "ELITE" top 8 high school baseball teams in the state. Congradulations to our players
IMPORTANT Bulletin Board
Please check the bulletin board for new and updated team activities and information. The prior home page information has been moved to the bulletin board. The bulletin boad will be the new location used for team specific information. Once at the bulletin board, use the pull down menu at middle of the page for topic areas (i.e. "summer baseball") select and information for summer baseball will be there.
2009 WHS All-Conference Players
Evan Kenebrew: COS Player of the Year; Top 50 In State; and 1st Team All-Conference
Steve Stone: 1st Team All-Conference
Max Martinez: 1st Team All-Conference
Lonny Schoon: 1st Team All-Conference
Derrick Cruz: 2nd Team All-Conference
If You Are a Competitive Player--Open Your Future Baseball Doors by Playing at WHS
We have the most comprehensive baseball program in Colorado Springs. You will receive instruction, repetition, philosophy, along with exposure to a MLB Associate Scout (Twins organization) and Ex-MLB AA player--your WHS Head Coach. Since Coach McCabe arrival, Widefield HS Record is 68 wins - 27 losses. Our program consists of: core strength, speed, and agility training, followed with extensive pre-season winter workouts at an indoor college facility. Play in our extensive summer baseball program starting with our incoming 9th grade team thru our varsity level team. Even after graduation, play college summer baseball with the Doubleday's baseball club. A total and comprehensive baseball program built for the player wanting to play baseball at the college/university level. Our baseball program is offered for ALL our Widfield HS players to participate, not just the varsity players. So if you are serious about baseball, Widefield HS baseball program is for you. Please take the time now to reach your future baseball goals. Below is our baseball program specific details. If you have any questions or require additional information on our program, please feel free to contact Coach McCabe.
Our Baseball Program Season Outline
"We Play How We Practice"
MLB Scouting: Dec - Aug (9 months)
Coach McCabe is a MLB Associate Scout for the Twins organization. Being a scout has lead to making personal contacts with the following universities:
LSU: Coach Paul Mainieri
Auburn University: Coach John Pawlowski
Rice University: Coach Wayne Graham
Northern Colorado University: Coach Kevin Smallcomb
Air Force Academy: Coach Mike Hutcheon
CSU-Pueblo: Coach Stan Sanchez
Mesa State College: Coach Steve Woytek
Other associate scout's that I deal with and trade player information: Yankees, Red Soxs, Padres, & Giants.
These contacts have been reached based on scouting of players. Scouting occurs at local college's/universities within Colorado, but expands to players outside the Colorado area during college game scouting (i.e. Air Force vs San Diego State), players spotted from San Diego State are fair game to be recruited. Also scouting occurs within the summer college season of the Doubledays (description below). In this college league (15 teams) players are seen from across areas. Any possible MLB prospects are provided to regional scouts. Also I scout Colorado high school MLB prospect players and pass appropriate information to regional scouts besides sharing this information with other scouts in the Colorado area. If you have the talent and attitude, playing at Widefield High School can open doors for you.
Baseball Core Training: Oct - Dec (2 months)
Max Performance Center develops a WHS baseball specific core training program. This program is designed by a prior MLB trainer. The goal of this program is to develop speed, strength, power, and agility through core conditioning. Max Performance provides our team a training discount.
College Planning & Recommendations: Dec - Apr (4 months)
Any player that plans to play baseball at the college/university level should speak with Coach McCabe. Once the player decides (with Coach M input) on possible colleges, the player is responsible to provide Coach M with the a stamped envelope (for each school in the players consideration)with the school name, address, and baseball coach's name, so a recommendation letter could be mailed. Also provide college coach's phone number (if Coach M does not already have it), so a call can be made. This responsibility is with the player. Coach McCabe follow-up's calls will occur throughout the season.
Pre-Season Winter Baseball Indoor Workouts: Dec - Feb (2 months)
Bus transportation is provided 3-times per week from Widefield High School to our college in-door workout facility. The facility consists of 5 batting cages, pitching lanes, and small infield area. We work our basic hitting approach. Pitchers work on pitching philosophy, pitch count, control,fastballs and off speed pitches. Facility support picthers throwing live to our hitters. We are able to work on all defensive plays and game plans. Allows us to be fully prepared prior to kicking off our season.
Pitching Bullpens: Dec - Feb (2 months)
Bullpens at WHS to develop the following: pitch sequence, pitch selection, pitching pilosophy, inning pitch count goals. Bullpens throwing all pitches working on pitch location and building up to a game pitch count.
High School Season: mid Feb - Apr (2.5 months)
Our season opens with a round-robin 4-way scrimmage with Denver teams (Mullen, Heritage, Chatfield, and Widefield). We practice or games everyday, except Sundays. Our practices include extensive batting practice, bullpens, and defensive work. WHS playbook and practice plans are utilized.
During Spring Break Widefield varsity team travels to Phoenix, AZ for a 4-game tournament. Our season consists of 19 games.
Baseball Banquet: beginning May (1 night)
Usually held the first week in May, with food, fun, and laughs. Highlighted with video show (CD) on each squad (varsity, JV, and C) games.
High School Playoffs: beginning May - mid May (3 weeks)
Play off seeding is a true seeding. District round (1st weekend) is a single game elimination with max of two games (DH).
Regional round (2nd weekend) is double game elimination. Championship round is double elimination.
Summer Baseball Season: end May - mid Jul (2 months)
Varsity Team: We play in either Denver or Pueblo league (25 -30 games) with 4-tournaments (~17 games). Specific players will be invited to play in ~4 Colorado Springs Doubledays (college) games. Total games ~48.
One year just played 7-tournaments playing in Nevada (Vegas!!), Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, & Colorado.
At times we change-up our summer program to add some diversity and allow for player exposure.
JV Team: Plays in the COS High School JV Summer league. This league was established and is conducted by Coach McCabe. Each time plays ~20 league games with an end of season tournament.
Incoming Freshman Team: Plays in the COS High School Freshman Summer league. This league was established and is conducted by Coach McCabe. Each time plays ~20 league games with an end of season tournament.
Colorado Springs Doubledays: Jun - Jul (2 months)
A local college team playing in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League. League consists of college players playing Div I, II, and NAIA levels. Games are played in Pueblo-Colorado Springs-Denver-Grand Junction. League consists of ~ 30 games with a tournament qualifier to play in Wichita, KS (Jay Hawk Finals).
To play on the Doubleday’s, you must be a graduating high school senior (college signed) or a returning college player. Doubledays home games are usually played at the AFA varsity field. Team has been established and is coached by Coach McCabe. Other Rocky Mountain team coach's, besides the Doubledays, are Associate MLB Scouts. Exposure occurs within this league and every year 1-2 players are drafted by MLB teams.
Go straight from Widefield HS baseball to play Doubleday's summer ball before entering your college fall baseball program.
Off Season : Jul - Sep (2 months)
Player's break.
Twins Scout Team: Sep - Oct (6 weeks)
Establishing a Fall team (future Doubledays College players), which will consist of ~15 high school players & AFA Prep cadets destined to play college baseball (essentially COS All-Stars) to play JUCO's and Denver competitive teams (Slammers). Games will be on Saturday's(DH), played at AFA Varsity Field. Team Coach by Coach M and two AFA Assistant Varsity Coach's. Team being established now. If interested please contact Coach M (see contact info for phone number).
Baseball & Concentration
Distractions are a big part of baseball, so players must learn how to handle them so performance isn't diminished. A loss of focus will usually result in lost opportunities, more errors, and opponents taking advantage of your lack of focus. If you're not focusing 100% (practices and games), you are not performing at your highest potential.
If your concentration is broken, or you have trouble regaining focus, there are a few ways to deal with this:
1. Rituals-Rituals help calm you down and focus on the task at hand. They provide consistency to your approach, which intensifies your focus and increases confidence. You can have pre-game rituals as well as rituals for during a game. They give you a sense of control and stability in an unstable environment. Get pre-performance ritual/routine down before the season starts so that you're comfortable with it. Many athletes use changing into their uniform as a trigger to get ready to go play.
2. Focal Points-These serve as a release to get rid of any unproductive thoughts. Pick a stable point on yor field and have that be the place you go to when you lose your focus or are distracted. Focus in on that thing (2nd base, glove, bat, etc), and take a deep breath so you can regain your composure and put your focus back on yourself and the task at hand. Notice, the examples I mentioned are things that are very specific and will be at all fields no matter where you play. If you were to pick a specific sign on your outfield wall, what would you do at away games? This is why it's necessary to pick something that will always be there, no matter where you are playing.
3. Other Releases-Pick up some dirt and then "throw away" negative emotions. Or, go over to your bag put your negative emotions in it and "zip it up." Be creative and find something that works well for you.
You need to be absorbed in the moment and forget everything else. The best competitors forget who they are competing against, forget about the crowd; they are just immersed in the moment - the fun, the challenge, the task at hand. You focus only on yourself, your teammates and getting things done that need to be done RIGHT NOW. Anything else will cause you to falter. If everyone concentrated on what they needed to do, the team as a whole would be much better off. Staying in the present and focused on the task at hand cannot be stressed enough - it will play a huge role in your achieving your goals.
Key Baseball Rules--The Following are Great Rules to Live By in the Sport of Baseball
1. Persistence is more important than talent
2. There is a reason that the word student comes first in student/athlete
3. Respect the game as much as you want to be respected
4. Tuck in your shirt
5. Don't wear your hat backwards
6. Practice hard because you play how you practice
7. It doesn't take any talent to hustle
8. Be a student of baseball. Learn the game. Study the history of baseball.
9. Help your team win whether you play or not
10. Keep a daily diary of what you do at practice and keep notes of your observations. This will help you see the progress you make
11. Never argue with the umpire
12. Agree to let your coach train you
13. Don't cut class and be a role model in school
14. Maintain the grades that keep you eligible
15. Set high standards along with the knowing how to maintain them
16. Don't tell people what you are worth, prove it to them
17. Your girlfriend is not more important than your career choice
18. Your parents love you, but they don't know more than your coach about baseball
19. Don't let anyone make an excuse for you (including yourself)
20. Maintain eye contact with all adults when they talk to you. Practice on your friends
21. It is your coach's opinion of you that counts. He makes up the lineup. Fail to understand this point and you will be out of the game
22. Life is not fair, regardless of what some people want you to think
23. Be passionate about your teammates
24. Love the game
25. The only thing that coaches owe you is honesty
26. Body language screams. It never whispers
27. Balance makes champions. If you focus on hitting and ignore the defense part of your game, you will never be a complete player
28. Be as diligent on defense as you are on offense
29. Defense wins more games than offense
30. Pitching sets the tone
31. Games are lost, not won. Mistakes lead to losses
32. Work on your game everyday of the year. The guy who beat you out for the starting job did, as did the team that always beat you
33. You don't have to be a great athlete to be a good baseball player
34. Show off your talent to your current coach, and future coach by doing the following (all the time):
(a) When you jog to warm up always finish first
(b) When you stretch, do it best
(c) When you play catch, throw to a target and hit it every time
(d) When you play catch, catch the ball or block a bad throw, keep it
in front of you every time
(e) When you are doing a drill, do it perfect every time
(f) Go hard all the time. Never walk on a baseball field
(g) As a batter/runner, run to first base as though it matters that you
are safe. Know the situation on defense and do the right thing
(h) Baseball reveals character, it doesn't build it. Character means
doing the right thing even when nobody's watching
35. The dugout is a classroom. if you are in the lineup the oppopsing pitcher will reveal what he is going to try to get you out with. Pay attention for your next at bat. If you are not in the lineup, your at bat that day may be your only chance to get in the lineup. Don't waste it
36. The dugout is a classroom. Watch every sign your coach gives on offense. It will keep you mentally in the game. Additionally knowing what is going to occur lets you observe the play to see how your teammates and opponents execute.
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