Silver Sluggers Tryouts Rapidly Approaching
The Silver Sluggers travel team put together by the Woodall Baseball Academy will be hosting their tryouts on July 27th and 28th. Tryouts for the 12U, 13U, and 14U teams will take place on the 27th, while players in the 15U-18U age groups will try out on the 28th.
The tryouts for the 12U-14U teams will take place at Ripp Park in Waunakee. Players in the 12U age group will take the field from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, and the 13Us and 14Us will both try out from 11 AM-3:30 PM. The cost is $30 per player. The Woodall Baseball Academy staff (including former Major Leaguer Brad Woodall) will give instruction to each player throughout the day. When the tryouts are done, the staff will select the best players to form the Silver Sluggers teams.
The 15U-18U event will double as both a tryout and a showcase camp. It will be held at Warner Park in Madison and be attended by several college coaches. 15U and 16U players will go from 9:30 AM-1:30 PM, while the 17Us and 18Us will play from 11 AM-3:30 PM. The cost is $125 per player.
Players at the 15U-18U tryouts will participate in typical showcase drills, including timed running events, throwing from the infield and outfield, and scrimmages against the other players. Pitchers will also be evaluated and their velocities will be recorded. Players will receive instruction from the Woodall Baseball Academy staff as well as the input of the college coaches in attendance. All results and stats from the event will be distributed to players and coaches afterwards. The Woodall Baseball Academy staff will also select the teams for the Fall 2015 and Summer 2016 seasons based on performances at the event. Those teams will participate in tournaments throughout their respective seasons.
Showcases and playing travel baseball are some of the best ways to get on the radar of college coaches, and this event offers players a chance to do both. The individual drills will allow each player to see where his game’s strengths and weaknesses are, and the scrimmages will show each player how he stacks up against his peers. And of course, there is the opportunity to make connections with college coaches, which is invaluable in moving on to the next level.
The Silver Sluggers’ philosophy is as follows:
Our philosophy is to provide expert coaching, the opportunity to travel and play against very strong competition, and to help prepare players to reach their long range goals in baseball. If you are familiar with our philosophy, Silver Sluggers will be very similar to how we train players for success on the field. Our focus will be on preparing to win rather than winning at all costs. We will prepare and play the right way, with respect for the game, our opponents, and our teammates. Most importantly, we will learn how the game of baseball, work ethic and teamwork translates into success off the field as well. We are incredibly excited to start this organization and teach young players to compete at a very high level.
