John K.

I am currently a High School Teacher and Coach. I have coached Baseball, Softball, Football, and Basketball.I have Coached at the High School level for 17 years. I have been a coach/instructor in the Private Sector for over 25 years, Private Baseball Businesses, Kennesaw State University, Saint Louis Cardinals Organization, and Detroit Tigers Organization. And now I’m proud to be instructing for D-bat!!! I have worked with all ages from T-ball to Professional. I have a Bachelors of Science degree from Kennesaw State University and I am a certified teacher in the State of Georgia in Health and Physical Education, Special Education General Curriculum, and Special Education Adapted Curriculum.

In High School I played baseball, basketball, and football. I earned player of the week multiple times in all 3 sports. I was offered scholarships in all 3 sports. I was offered a full scholarship to Clemson to play both Football and Basketball!!! I loved Kennesaw State University and I wanted to play Baseball!!! I am in the North Gwinnett High School and Gwinnett County Hall of Fames. I was selected for the All-State and All-County teams for Baseball. I have been a High School Coach for over 15 years. I am a certified teacher in the State of Georgia. I received the honor of Outstanding Teacher Leadership at my High School. I have coached one of the highest ranked travel teams in the nation for the past 10 years. I played 4 years at Kennesaw State University where I broke 22 pitching records. I was named athlete of the year for KSU in 1990. I was named conference and Region players of the year. I was chosen All-American while at KSU. I earned the honor of College Player of the year for the State of Georgia in 1990. I was named Male Athlete of the year by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. I was named to the Kennesaw State University Hall of Fame. Played Pro Baseball for 5 1/2 years for Saint Louis Cardinals Organization and 3 1/2 years with the Detroit Tigers Organization. While playing professionally I set 3 League Records for saves and I am currently still the record holder for most career saves in the minor leagues. I received 3 Rolaids Relief awards, as well as MVP for the St. LouisCardinals Organization. In my professional career I played in 6 All-Star games. (Minor League) I won a Caribbean World Series with the Dominican Republic where I had 2 wins and 2 saves!!! I participated in 2 other World Series with Mexico and Venezuela.

In the first session the student will be assessed at what skill level they are currently. I will ask the student or parent what are there concerns. With a beginner level student I will walk them through the basics of how to catch a ball through which way you turn your glove in order to catch the different levels of the ball stressing always with 2 hands. If the ball is on the ground you use the alligator mouth to "chomp" the ball into your glove while knees are bent not straight. A fly ball in front of you, your glove turns into a basket that has to be under the ball and the throwing hand traps the ball. A high fly ball is directed as body behind the ball glove to the sky an throwing hand traps the ball and is ready to throw. Hitting for the beginner begins with a proper sized bat that they can control and swing while staying balance. Introductory is using "knocking knuckles" for proper bat grip moving to bat head up, then to hip rotation "belly button looking at pitcher", to extension of bat to the ball extending through the ball for a full follow through. A beginner pitching or throwing lesson would consist of the importance of balance and stepping towards the target, making a "T" as the hands separate, then back together as you reach to the target. An advanced lesson may consist of pitching to your arm slot. If you are an over the top pitcher your rotation of the ball is straight back, so your antagonistic pitch would be a 12 to 6 curveball, because the most important strategy you have as a pitcher is that all of your pitches out of the hand must look the same to the hitter. A good change for an over the top pitcher is a split or a circle change as both of those pitches are easiest to throw for that type of pitcher. A 3/4 to sidearm pitcher would be best to throw a slider as the rotation of the ball will look similar to their fastball. Other advanced theory is the slight movement left or right of the pitchers thumb can make the ball move left or right on their fastball. This is more of a cut fastball. This is a great pitch if it is a hitters count "1-0,2-0" and he is looking fastball. You can give him his fastball just surprise it is eating up your hands! An Advanced hitting lesson would consist of having a hitters approach at the plate. knowing the tendency of what pitch you may get and picking it up out of the pitchers hand. Also, working on keeping your hands always above the ball and inside the ball, this is what gives you full power. If the hands drop the bat head drops and slows the swing down which means slow getting to the ball and good chance of popping out. A pop fly only 1 person has to catch it a ground ball at least 2 people have to make a play. I could go on with many more drills.