Grant Baseball Academy of Oakland 12u National Champions

Congratulations go out to the members of the Grant Baseball Academy team of Oakland (65-4) who won the Travel Ball 12u National Championships in Marietta, Georgia. Gamespeed athletes London Penland (C), Darius Foster (CF) and Robert Brue (P) are members of the team. The team faced one of the best teams in the country in the Central Florida Gators (70-5) led by the number one twelve year old in the country pitcher Seth Caddell.

The Florida team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first two innings but Grant battled back in the late innings with some key hitting, base running and heads up play.

This Grant team has won an amazing twelve tournament titles this season.

Congratulations also go out to coach Wil Ash long time Gamespeed supporter and father of Gamespeed all time great Johnny Ash who played for Stanford and went onto the professional level.

You can watch the game video at: http://ws.playonsports.com/events/36165

Grant Baseball Academy of Oakland 12u National Championsqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:25-08:00

Rising Stars: A Parent’s Guide to Youth Athletic Development Over-training: Making the pain stop.
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Rising Stars: A Parent’s Guide to Youth Athletic Development Over-training: Making the pain stop.

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Rising Stars: A Parent’s Guide to Youth Athletic Development Over-training: Making the pain stop.

In my previous blog I spoke about the dangers of heavy athletic workloads and ways for parents to manage them. One of the results of overloading is over-training. There’s not much research in regards to younger athletes so we must rely on what we’ve learned concerning adult athletes. Generally, the symptoms of over-training are fairly easy to spot. However, with kids they may not exhibit them in the exact same way as an adult. In addition, children are less likely to possess the verbal skills to articulate what is going on with their bodies or emotions to properly alert parents and coaches. Therefore, parents should be versed on the most common signs and causes and be vigilant in reading their child’s responses to their athletic activities and be ready to respond.

The Signs of Over Training

Physical Symptoms:

Persistent fatigue, low energy.
Complaints of prolonged muscle soreness.
Loss of appetite.
Increase in occurrence of overuse injuries sprains, strains (ankle, knee, elbow, shoulder, back areas).
Frequent colds or infections.

Non-physical Symptoms

Difficulty sleeping.

[…]

Rising Stars: A Parent’s Guide to Youth Athletic Development Over-training: Making the pain stop.qckstep22016-12-09T00:03:25-08:00

GS: All Eastbay Baseball & Softball athletes.

MITCHELL KRANSON, De La Salle, Sr., catcher — The East Bay Athletic League MVP hit .383 with 24 RBIs for the NCS Division I champs. He’s headed to Cal next season.

MAX DUTTO, San Ramon Valley, Sr., infield — Cal-bound shortstop hit .350 with

home runs and 28 RBIs and played tremendous defense.

SEAN PETERS, De La Salle, Sr., outfield — Also headed to Cal, Peters sparked the Spartans offense with a .380 batting average, 16 RBIs, 10 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases.

Softball

First team

KRISTA WILLIAMS, Amador Valley, Jr., outfield — A Northwestern commit, Williams patrolled center field and was a quick leadoff hitter for the East Bay Athletic League champions. She was named to the EBAL first-team, helping the Dons to an appearance in the NCS Division I title game.Second team

LINDSEY CHALMERS, California, So., pitcher — The powerful sophomore pitched the Grizzlies to the NCS Division I semifinals.

GS: All Eastbay Baseball & Softball athletes.qckstep22016-12-09T00:03:25-08:00

Rising Stars: A Parents Guide to Youth Athletic Development
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Rising Stars: A Parents Guide to Youth Athletic Development

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Rising Stars: A Parents Guide to Youth Athletic Development

Do you have a young athlete? Rising Stars is a series of topics providing some advice and insight to parents about today’s youth sports culture.

Too Much of A Good Thing

In my eighteen years as a performance trainer I’ve observed the evolution of youth sports. Gone are the days of my youth when athletic outlets were simple neighborhood youth leagues, “rec” leagues, Boys & Girls clubs or the YMCA. Nowadays, for lack of a better term it has gotten “hardcore”. Parents must learn how to navigate the new landscape of youth sports if their athletes are to participate, enjoy and excel.

This is the first in a series of articles where I will be sharing the same knowledge and advice I give my clients at Gamespeed in the hopes of keeping our young athletes safe and successful. Feel free to post comments or share your stories.

In recent years it has become increasingly acceptable for young athletes to participate in “high level” athletic, sporting and training activities. Travel teams, select clubs, showcases, tournaments, and performance training programs are a regular part of a young athlete’s life. Couple this with a “more is better” […]

Rising Stars: A Parents Guide to Youth Athletic Developmentqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:26-08:00

Eastbay Player of the Year James Marvel had recipe for success cooking months before the season.

Take the teaching of pitching coach Jeff Pick, add four months of a off season pitchers conditioning at Gamespeed and stir it up with hard work and dedication and what do you get? Eastbay Player of the Year James Marvel for baseball. Congratulations JM!

East Bay baseball player of the year: Campolindo’s James Marvel

By Ben Enos
Contra Costa Times

Posted: 06/26/2012 05:54:11 PM PDT

Updated: 06/26/2012 09:27:15 PM PDT

There isn’t a whole lot more James Marvel could have done as a member of the Campolindo High baseball team.

But even with the lengthy list of accomplishments — three-time North Coast Section champion, scholarship to Duke, regarded as one of the area’s top pitchers — his legacy on the Moraga campus will include much more than what happened on the field.

For a senior season that saw him help the Cougars reach uncharted territory in NCS play, Marvel is the Bay Area News Group East Bay Baseball Player of the Year.

Things didn’t come easily at times for Marvel, a 6-foot-3 right-hander. Having spent the better part of three seasons as the team’s ace, Marvel was shelved by arm soreness with […]

Eastbay Player of the Year James Marvel had recipe for success cooking months before the season.qckstep22016-12-09T00:03:26-08:00

Football: Ray Hudson MVP of Oregon University All-Nike Camp
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Football: Ray Hudson MVP of Oregon University All-Nike Camp

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Football: Ray Hudson MVP of Oregon University All-Nike Camp

Gamespeed athletes are tearing it up on the football combine circuit. John Mundt (Modesto) at the Nike Sparq Stanford Camp. Now Ray Hudson gets his second camp MVP award. It was just last month that Ray got the honor at the FBU camp in Dublin. The Oregon Ducks All Nike camp is one of the biggest on the west coast and attracts a lot of talent hoping to get in front of the Oregon coaches.

Oregon All-Nike Camp team

TE: Raymond Hudson, 6-3.5 228, Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Breakdown: Hudson became the first tight end all year to take home WR/TE MVP honors after putting on a display of all-around skills and toughness Sunday. Hudson returned after suffering a gash on his forehead to gash the linebackers consistently in 1-on-1s. Still awaiting his first offer but it shouldn’t be long now.

Football: Ray Hudson MVP of Oregon University All-Nike Campqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:26-08:00

Softball: Gamespeeds Cheyenne Cordes freshman heroics in College World Series

I love stories like this. For me it began seven years ago when a seventh grader named Cheyenne Cordes walked in into my Gamespeed facility in Concord. She wanted performance training to improve her speed, power and agility for softball. Back then I could tell she was going to be something special. She was talented , motivated and knew what she wanted. She wanted to play softball for the Cal Bears program. On the way she has racked up numerous accolades, conference MVP’s, tournament MVP’s, US national teams, and even the 2011 California Gatorade Player of the year.

Well she’s a freshman at Cal playing shortstop in the College World Series and has one of the most memorable moments of her career. I’m sure this will not be the only one. GO CHEY!!

GS Trivia: She is the second GS athlete to hit a home run in a college world series. Johnny Ash delivered a game tying one in Stanford’s CWS (2003) a few years back.

Check it out:

Contra Costa Times 5/28/2012 By Jeff Faraudo

For Cal freshman Cheyenne Cordes, her game-winning, two-run home run in the fifth inning of the NCAA […]

Softball: Gamespeeds Cheyenne Cordes freshman heroics in College World Seriesqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:26-08:00

Gamespeed’s Epperson receives award for acheivements off the field.

Epperson receives academic award

Joey Epperson

SBCC baseball player Joey Epperson was honored for his achievement off the field. The sophomore was a key part of the Vaqueros’ WSC North championship squad. Epperson played first base and batted .321 with a team-high 21 stolen bases to earn first-team all-conference honors.
Epperson is the 2012 SBCC History Student of the Year. He has a 3.1 GPA.
The award goes to a student-athlete who has overcome great personal, academic or emotional odds to achieve success while participating in intercollegiate athletics.

Gamespeed’s Epperson receives award for acheivements off the field.qckstep22016-12-09T00:03:26-08:00

Rivals.com interviews Gamespeed athlete Craig Jones

Central Catholic (Modesto) star Craig Jones was one of the best two-way players in California during his senior year. Jones rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and scored 19 touchdowns on offense, while making 91 tackles and forcing two fumbles on defense.

Yet Jones, who grew up a Stanford fan, initially questioned whether he had the ability to follow in the footsteps of childhood favorites like Owen Marecic and Toby Gerhart.

Stanford wasn’t among the schools interested in Jones when his recruitment began to pick up steam late in his junior year – Ivy League schools paid him the most attention. Jones went on an East Coast school tour over spring break of his junior year, and eventually settled on a few favorites: Princeton, Yale, Cornell and Harvard.

“I didn’t think playing at Stanford’s level honestly was going to be a reality so I was kind of concentrating more on the Ivy Leagues,” Jones said.

But after Jones camped with Stanford in the summer before his senior season, the Cardinal’s interest picked up. Then-Stanford linebackers coach Jason Tarver began to increase his communication with Jones, and the sides grew increasingly familiar with one another.

“I […]

Rivals.com interviews Gamespeed athlete Craig Jonesqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:27-08:00

Swimming: Celina Li continues winning ways in pool

No we don’t have a pool at Gamespeed ! But we do make swimmers faster with customized “dry land” training programs. Celina is proof. She has been undergoing year round periodized training with us for the past three years.

Taken from CC Times 5/20/2012

Celina Li won two individual titles at Saturday’s North Coast Section swimming championships.

A day after breaking a 7-year-old record in the 100 butterfly, Li was tops in the event again. Her finals mark of 53.13 was under the old standard, but her preliminaries time of 53.07 will stand up as the NCS record (and guarantee All American status) ….Li also defended her 2011 title in the 200 individual medley. Neither winning time was a personal best for her:

“It was good to see where I am and to get kind of an idea how fast I’ll be at the end of the season,” Li said.

Swimming: Celina Li continues winning ways in poolqckstep22016-12-09T00:03:27-08:00