Jason Middleton has been an assistant coach for the JMU baseball program since 2008. His responsibilities at JMU include being the outfield coach, first base coach, and assists in recruiting. Before coming to the JMU baseball program, Jason was a coach at Redlands Community College in Oklahoma, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and the University of North Alabama. He is a native of Blue Springs, Mo. and played collegiately for Longview Community College.
I had a chance to sit down with Jason to discuss baseball and what he looks for when he is recruiting. People often ask me about suggestions for getting recruited and I'm not positive what to tell them because recruiting is not an exact science. I covered this topic along with a few others in this interview that is the first of many interviews to come while I am training at JMU. Hope you enjoy it!
On a side note, as I mentioned in the interview JMU started their 2011 season against Bucknell. I missed the first inning, so you would assume that I didn't miss too much. However when I got to the field the Dukes led 15-0. They had hit 6 home runs during the inning including going back-to-back-back on 2 separate occasions. JMU went on to win 37-7 and set school records for runs, hits, RBIs, extra-base hits, and total bases. The Dukes went back-to-back-to-back again later in the game. Jake Lowery and David Herbek both started off the season in good fashion hitting 3 homers each. JMU plays Bucknell 3 more times this weekend. You can also see a few highlights from JMU's opening game on ESPNews.
Showing posts with label JMU Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JMU Baseball. Show all posts
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Impact Freshman: JB
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization that helps children with brain tumors. The foundation matches young children with a nearby college or high school sports team in order to pick up the spirit of the child and their family. The team essentially adopts the young child and he/she becomes part of the team; they are present at team picnics, practices, games, etc. as often as possible. This is clearly beneficial to both parties, the family receives 30 (or more) new friends, who are there to pick up their spirits and give them something to look forward to, while the team gets to meet special young people who are courageous beyond their years.
The Start
Jaclyn Murphy was ten years old when she developed a malignant brain tumor. Jaclyn's parents reached out to the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team because Jaclyn was a huge lacrosse fan. When the Northwestern team heard of her condition they immediately sent back autographed media guides and other souvenirs. This very easily could have been the end of the story, but it was only the beginning. Jaclyn went on to meet the team and was eventually "adopted" by the team. They were in constant communication, whether it was email, talking on the phone, text messages, or seeing each other in person whenever Jaclyn could make it to a game. This relationship has only grown in the years to follow, as Jaclyn is as much a part of the team as any of their star players. Both parties were greatly effected, Northwestern women's lacrosse, who had not previously won a national championship, went on to win the national title five consecutive years from 2005-2009. They were the national runners-up in 2010. More importantly, Jaclyn has friends to lift up her spirits and help her in her ongoing fight. After her diagnosis Jaclyn underwent surgery, radiation, and chemo. She made progress through the treatment and started heading in the right direction...Fast forward about five years and I heard that Jaclyn had a clean MRI at the end of 2010 and is cancer free. But she is scheduled for another in March because of the possibilities of the re-growth of a tumor.
Justin Brown
I was fortunate enough to be a part of the 2010 JMU baseball team that adopted 7-year old Justin Brown of Haymarket, Virginia through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. In February 2005, then 2-year old Justin was diagnosed with a Craniopharyngioma brain tumor. He underwent surgery shortly after and had the lemon-sized tumor removed. The tumor left him legally blind in his right eye along with other medical complications. Justin would have two more surgeries about a year later to remove a re-growth of the tumor; Craniopharyngioma tumors have a high rate of recurrences. Justin also underwent six weeks of radiation treatments in order to help his condition...Fast forward to present day and Justin is in remission. This guy is clearly a fighter and is an inspiration to all who are lucky enough to meet him.
Justin and his family first met the team at our annual end of fall cookout. He and his brother Josh had a catch, threw around a football, and played basketball with all of the players on the team. In February 2010 the Browns visited JMU for a practice that Justin and Josh participated in. Later that day, Justin was formally introduced as the newest member of the JMU baseball team at an annual preseason baseball barbecue. He signed his letter of intent like any other recruit would, received his own customized jersey (as seen in the photo), and received his own locker with his name plate. Justin threw out the first pitch at two games during the season, one of them on Justin Brown Day, where all children were admitted free of charge and had the opportunity to run the bases on the field after the game. JB and his family were also able to attend many other games during the season. On those days, Justin and Josh would be out on the field doing their pregame warm-up, stretching, and running with the rest of the team. In 2010, the JMU baseball team was the regular season champions in the CAA. JB will continue to be a part of the JMU baseball family in the years to come, as I was lucky enough to see the Browns at the preseason barbecue about a week ago. Justin was called up in front of a crowd of 75 people and given a standing ovation as head coach McFarland shared a little bit about JB's story.
Justin is a tough kid, how can he not be after everything he has been through. He has undergone more in his short life than most people will in their entire lives. It is clear to all those around him that Justin loves to be around the team; he loves to run around and play baseball like any other child. He is always smiling and most importantly, he loves life. I can only hope to have half of the strength and courage that JB has. His story and my experiences with him, I cherish and will never forget. The biggest lesson that I have learned from Justin is to enjoy life everyday and to be thankful for all the blessings that I have. The team has benefited tremendously from meeting this special person because no matter how difficult things seem to be with baseball, we think about Justin and remember how fortunate we are. As I mentioned earlier Justin is in remission, but the possibility of re-growth is always there, so your thoughts and prayers are always appreciated. Special thanks to David (Spider Monkey) Warner, the JMU baseball team manager because he was crucial in getting our team involved with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Quotes from other JMU baseball players:
The Start
Jaclyn Murphy was ten years old when she developed a malignant brain tumor. Jaclyn's parents reached out to the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team because Jaclyn was a huge lacrosse fan. When the Northwestern team heard of her condition they immediately sent back autographed media guides and other souvenirs. This very easily could have been the end of the story, but it was only the beginning. Jaclyn went on to meet the team and was eventually "adopted" by the team. They were in constant communication, whether it was email, talking on the phone, text messages, or seeing each other in person whenever Jaclyn could make it to a game. This relationship has only grown in the years to follow, as Jaclyn is as much a part of the team as any of their star players. Both parties were greatly effected, Northwestern women's lacrosse, who had not previously won a national championship, went on to win the national title five consecutive years from 2005-2009. They were the national runners-up in 2010. More importantly, Jaclyn has friends to lift up her spirits and help her in her ongoing fight. After her diagnosis Jaclyn underwent surgery, radiation, and chemo. She made progress through the treatment and started heading in the right direction...Fast forward about five years and I heard that Jaclyn had a clean MRI at the end of 2010 and is cancer free. But she is scheduled for another in March because of the possibilities of the re-growth of a tumor. Justin Brown
I was fortunate enough to be a part of the 2010 JMU baseball team that adopted 7-year old Justin Brown of Haymarket, Virginia through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. In February 2005, then 2-year old Justin was diagnosed with a Craniopharyngioma brain tumor. He underwent surgery shortly after and had the lemon-sized tumor removed. The tumor left him legally blind in his right eye along with other medical complications. Justin would have two more surgeries about a year later to remove a re-growth of the tumor; Craniopharyngioma tumors have a high rate of recurrences. Justin also underwent six weeks of radiation treatments in order to help his condition...Fast forward to present day and Justin is in remission. This guy is clearly a fighter and is an inspiration to all who are lucky enough to meet him.
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| Justin and his brother Josh taking part in a pregame prayer |
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| Playing catch with Justin, Josh before a game |
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| Justin high-fiving after a win |
Jake Lowery: “Justin has shown us that we can get through anything. Getting through a tough workout is nothing compared to him fighting for his life. We are so fortunate to have the presence of Justin in our lives.”
Trevor Knight: "Justin has been a great inspiration to us and great motivation for us to take advantage of the opportunities that we have as Division I athletes."
Evan Scott: “Justin has provided us with inspiration by showing us how to never give up even when faced with great adversity. We all admire his courage.”
McKinnon Langston: “Justin’s experiences and victories in his life have been an eye-opener for me. We often take the things we have and can do for granted. Justin has made me appreciate life’s journeys and he has helped me to be more thankful.”
David Warner: “Justin is a superhero. He is incredibly brave and it is an absolute honor to have him as a part of the JMU baseball family.”
Trevor Knight: "Justin has been a great inspiration to us and great motivation for us to take advantage of the opportunities that we have as Division I athletes."
Evan Scott: “Justin has provided us with inspiration by showing us how to never give up even when faced with great adversity. We all admire his courage.”
McKinnon Langston: “Justin’s experiences and victories in his life have been an eye-opener for me. We often take the things we have and can do for granted. Justin has made me appreciate life’s journeys and he has helped me to be more thankful.”
David Warner: “Justin is a superhero. He is incredibly brave and it is an absolute honor to have him as a part of the JMU baseball family.”
Great video about Justin and the JMU baseball program.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Infield Fundamentals
I see so many young players who don't have the proper infield fundamentals and mechanics. Having the proper fielding position is something that every player can master with practice and repetition. The best part is that it isn't difficult to train your body to get into the correct fielding position consistently. This knowledge is applicable for players from little league up to the big leagues and is something every player and coach should know.
I found this picture from my freshman year at JMU. Our head assistant was a great infield coach and was huge on infield fundamentals. I don't think there was one practice freshman year that he didn't correct my mechanics. I really like this picture to show the proper fielding position and I'll break down some key points.
The Base - Having a solid, athletic base, I believe, is the key to having a fundamentally sound fielding position. Your feet should be slightly outside of your shoulders in an athletic position much like you would guard someone in basketball. Your shoulders and feet should be perfectly squared up with the ball.
Sink the Hips - As you can see in the picture I have bent my knees and sunk my hips. A lot of younger players make the mistake of bending at the waist. You should be bending at the knees and getting your back side low to the ground, while maintaining an athletic position. Another common mistake is to squat too deep into a position similar to a catchers squat; we definitely want to avoid that. Getting into the correct fielding position will also lower your eye level and allow you the best view of the ball as it approaches.
Hands Out - You want to get your hands out in front of your body. This picture really emphasizes how far out in front of my body my hands are as I prepare to field this ground ball. Another tip that I learned from my college coach was to start with your glove on the ground. There are a couple reasons for this. Especially at younger levels of baseball, the majority of missed ground balls go right through the wickets because the fielder never gets his glove all the way to the ground. It is also much quicker to move your glove up to field a ground ball, so always start with the glove on the ground and work your way up.
Get Your Head in There - Your head should be in front of your feet giving yourself the maximum vision of the baseball. This is very hard to get younger players to do because some are fearful of the ball popping up and hitting them in the face. For players at a higher level, you can't be afraid of the ball or you will never be a successful infielder. Many times I have seen teammates and myself take a ball off the chin, but that's part of the game.
The Triangle - If you draw lines between your two feet and hands, it should form a perfect triangle. This technique often helps younger players grasp the correct fundamentals.
Fielding the Ball -You are in a fundamentally sound position, now all that is left is to field the ball cleanly. Make sure that your fielding arm isn't locked out or too stiff as you want to be loose and able to move your glove quickly to adjust to a bad hop. Your throwing hand should be slightly above your glove to ensure a clean catch and to keep the ball from rolling out of your glove. As I noted above, the majority of errors happen when the ball goes below the fielders glove. Remember, start from the ground and work your way up.
I found this picture from my freshman year at JMU. Our head assistant was a great infield coach and was huge on infield fundamentals. I don't think there was one practice freshman year that he didn't correct my mechanics. I really like this picture to show the proper fielding position and I'll break down some key points.
The Base - Having a solid, athletic base, I believe, is the key to having a fundamentally sound fielding position. Your feet should be slightly outside of your shoulders in an athletic position much like you would guard someone in basketball. Your shoulders and feet should be perfectly squared up with the ball.
Sink the Hips - As you can see in the picture I have bent my knees and sunk my hips. A lot of younger players make the mistake of bending at the waist. You should be bending at the knees and getting your back side low to the ground, while maintaining an athletic position. Another common mistake is to squat too deep into a position similar to a catchers squat; we definitely want to avoid that. Getting into the correct fielding position will also lower your eye level and allow you the best view of the ball as it approaches.
Hands Out - You want to get your hands out in front of your body. This picture really emphasizes how far out in front of my body my hands are as I prepare to field this ground ball. Another tip that I learned from my college coach was to start with your glove on the ground. There are a couple reasons for this. Especially at younger levels of baseball, the majority of missed ground balls go right through the wickets because the fielder never gets his glove all the way to the ground. It is also much quicker to move your glove up to field a ground ball, so always start with the glove on the ground and work your way up.
Get Your Head in There - Your head should be in front of your feet giving yourself the maximum vision of the baseball. This is very hard to get younger players to do because some are fearful of the ball popping up and hitting them in the face. For players at a higher level, you can't be afraid of the ball or you will never be a successful infielder. Many times I have seen teammates and myself take a ball off the chin, but that's part of the game.
The Triangle - If you draw lines between your two feet and hands, it should form a perfect triangle. This technique often helps younger players grasp the correct fundamentals.
Fielding the Ball -You are in a fundamentally sound position, now all that is left is to field the ball cleanly. Make sure that your fielding arm isn't locked out or too stiff as you want to be loose and able to move your glove quickly to adjust to a bad hop. Your throwing hand should be slightly above your glove to ensure a clean catch and to keep the ball from rolling out of your glove. As I noted above, the majority of errors happen when the ball goes below the fielders glove. Remember, start from the ground and work your way up.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Post #1
I first heard about the idea of having a blog through a good friend that I met playing baseball this summer, Jeff Bercume. I played with Jeff on the Vancouver Canadians this past summer, and he told me about how he writes a blog that talks about his baseball journey and all of the baseball knowledge that he has learned on the way. You can access Jeff's blogs at the following site: http://108stitchez.com/
I am from Torrington, CT and I am a recent graduate of James Madison University. While attending JMU, I played four years of college baseball and was selected as the 1145 pick (38th round) of the 2010 MLB Draft in June. I played my first professional season this past summer in the beautiful city of Vancouver, Canada. I am currently in my first off-season as a professional baseball player.
I am starting this blog to keep my friends and family updated on my baseball career and the journey that it has been and is sure to be in the future. This is also for baseball fans of all ages who are interested in the life of a minor leaguer, a college baseball player and the steps that I took to reach these levels. I will be covering a wide variety of topics that will interest fans, players, parents, kids, and coaches so be sure to tell your family and friends to check it out. Thanks.
I am from Torrington, CT and I am a recent graduate of James Madison University. While attending JMU, I played four years of college baseball and was selected as the 1145 pick (38th round) of the 2010 MLB Draft in June. I played my first professional season this past summer in the beautiful city of Vancouver, Canada. I am currently in my first off-season as a professional baseball player.
I am starting this blog to keep my friends and family updated on my baseball career and the journey that it has been and is sure to be in the future. This is also for baseball fans of all ages who are interested in the life of a minor leaguer, a college baseball player and the steps that I took to reach these levels. I will be covering a wide variety of topics that will interest fans, players, parents, kids, and coaches so be sure to tell your family and friends to check it out. Thanks.
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