Wildcats Winter Training in Full “Swing”

With the fall season over the Wildcats have moved inside the wonderful Webber Academy Athletic Park Fieldhouse to start their winter training! The first phase of winter training is designed to give all players arms a break after an extensive summer and fall season. This is especially important for pitchers but position player’s arms have been taxed in 2023 as well with the Wildcats baseball program playing well over 250 games across the four high school-aged teams. Many Wildcats players threw more in the past five months than they have in their entire playing careers and to avoid injury it is important to rest their arms and focus on gaining strength elsewhere. 

Wildcats pitchers working with Chris Reitsma

Pitchers dryland training with Chris Reitsma

Throwing Program

As November comes to an end the Wildcats are moving into their throwing program designed by Chris Reitsma. Starting almost a month earlier this year players will begin ramping up their arms for the season. The Wildcats have been following the same throwing program since its inception and are proud to have had very few arm health issues and no major injuries to our young pitcher’s arms. Bullpens and high-intensity defensive drills will start in January when all player’s arms are ready. 

Lifting Program

15U Coordinator and Strength and Conditioning coach Noah Or developed a comprehensive weight training program for Wildcats players to follow and the Wildcats Baseball Program has dedicated a significant amount of practice time to the weight room throughout October and November. We are excited to take this very important first step in player development and have already seen immense progress from all players in the weight room and on the field. To keep players sharp, practices have been a mixed bag of strength and conditioning and baseball skills. Coaches have had the opportunity to work with players in smaller groups and focus on specific baseball skills that are often overlooked in large practice situations, players are encouraged to maintain their fundamental skills and position-specific training routines while developing other necessary college baseball attributes. 

Water Bags AND Swing Training

Also new to the program this year are water bag workouts and swing training circuits! Hitting Coordinator Cole Armstrong has designed two separate programs for players. The water bag workouts are short but intense training sessions designed for core and back strength while also training players to rotate and engage in the same movements used when swinging. In November, in conjunction with the water bag training coach Armstrong implemented a swing circuit for low-impact swing training.