Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Best of the Best PITCHING INSTRUCTORS in OHIO

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Jodi Eickemeyer - Let's Play Ball in West Carrollton, OH.
Pitched at Dayton and was their head coach. Has been pursued by several DI colleges to serve strictly as their pitching coach.

Not sure how many players she has had go on and throw in college, and I would bet she may have lost count as well.. Among some of her former students are Raechal Hatcher (Wittenberg, NCAC Player of the Year 09), Dana Borrs (All-American), Sara Henn (All-American) and I know there are some I am missing.

She is meticulous in making sure students are learning the correct way to throw each pitch and will call out anything illegal and then spend time working with the girl on what they did that was illegal and how to fix it so they throw legally...

Best around, hands down (IMO)!
 
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Jim Johnson (Tipp City, Ohio) SW Ohio

Not only works on technique but works on mindset and how to pitch to certain types of hitters. Really breaks down the pitching game so pitchers know how to throw in each situation.

Here are some clips of my niece with Jimmy at a lesson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaW_ailyujY

Jim does a lot of work with our Valley Storm Pitchers as does Jodi Eickemeyer, former University of Dayton Coach.
 
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We covered Pitching an hitting, what about defese instructors

Hey Dean! Yep, I put a thread out there for that too, but I believe the LACK of similar participation is a statement in of itself.

We shall see, but my expectations are that NOT to many teams/orgs have the resources for this, and therefore Howard Kobata gets to do his Flyby a couple times a year.

I do know of a few people that are taking Fielding Skills seriously and trying to promote them , but that is just a few... Hope OFCers can add a bunch of others that we just don't know about yet....^_^!
 
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RON MARSTILLER - Grand Slam in Dublin Ohio.
Starting pitcher for the USA World International team for 10 years
Starting Pitcher for the TWA National team for 24 years
Played and Pitched in 14 World Tournaments on 5 continents, 32 National, 16 Regional and 36 State Tournaments
National/International Pitching Instructor
Assistant Coach for Capital University from 1998-2002
Assistant Coach for Ohio Dominican University from 1999-Present
Has coached statewide with 6 colleges and Universities
Over 46 years fast-pitch experience
Has instructed over 4,000 students in 6 states for over 23 years

With all due respect to mr Ron, Punchout, this post is somewhat disingenuous. Mr Marstiller did not pitch for the US National team as you have indicated. playing/pitching on the US team (Pan Am games, World championships, etc.) is a whole other level. this is not a put down of him, it's just a correction of facts. In yesteryear there was teams that would go overseas and wear USA on their shirts but they were not the national team, it's an important distinction. and keepign in mind that there are multiple levels and associations to claim as 'national' or 'state' champions. Just as in girls softball it's not uncommon for someone to be a 'state champion' come to find out it's XYZ assocation state title that is not the top caliber, not ASA, NSA or other top levels. it doesn't take much to check into that alumni of the US national team that represents at world events. Pete Spoerl of the Cincy area is the only Ohio guy I know of who was on the US natioanl team (1993 according to my records), he now does hitting lessons in the Cincy area.
 
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Kirk Kadel - Newton High School and Extra Innings in Troy

Ohio High School Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame.
10 All state pitching selections at Newton alone.
Has worked with many other all state selections from other schools.
Had many students go on to successful careers at various college levels with several all american selections.
Focus is on proper mechanics and learning how to correct your own mistakes.
Also does a great job in teaching the kids how to strategically pitch the game and how to be mentally fucused before and during the game.
 
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Ya had to know this would eventually turn into a "my Ford is better than your Chevy" kind of thing.... :lmao:

At the end of the day, effectiveness is proven by measurable results.
 
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Ya had to know this would eventually turn into a "my Ford is better than your Chevy" kind of thing.... :lmao:

At the end of the day, effectiveness is proven by measurable results.

So true

here is a tip for the dads to see if they are getting real results for thier $$$$$$

most will already know this, but tape the ball with black electricians tape so the direction of the tape will spin the direction you want the ball to go with your grip.
if you do not see the tape spin smoothly and it wobbles or worse yet you don't see it at all there is no way the pitcher can (truly) throw the rise or drop.

another great tool is the video camera tape the release and the ball close up for spin.

Also from back and side to see the pitchers posture and movement off the ball.

play this back in slow motion frame advance.

with this info the proof will be undisputable on what your DD can throw and if the instruction she has been given works
 
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With all due respect to mr Ron, Punchout, this post is somewhat disingenuous. Mr Marstiller did not pitch for the US National team as you have indicated. playing/pitching on the US team (Pan Am games, World championships, etc.) is a whole other level. this is not a put down of him, it's just a correction of facts. In yesteryear there was teams that would go overseas and wear USA on their shirts but they were not the national team, it's an important distinction. and keepign in mind that there are multiple levels and associations to claim as 'national' or 'state' champions. Just as in girls softball it's not uncommon for someone to be a 'state champion' come to find out it's XYZ assocation state title that is not the top caliber, not ASA, NSA or other top levels. it doesn't take much to check into that alumni of the US national team that represents at world events. Pete Spoerl of the Cincy area is the only Ohio guy I know of who was on the US natioanl team (1993 according to my records), he now does hitting lessons in the Cincy area.
I got the info off of the GrandSlam website. You may want to check your sources again. Bill Hill House has US National team experience also..



http://www.houseofpitching.com/biography.html
 
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I will also agree that Ron M. in this catagory. He instructed my dd from the age of 8 years old through high school,she was 3 time all-state and now pitching in college in Tenn. at a D 1 school,he help shape her into what she was and is now,-I say that because when dd got to college Pitching coach there changed everything about her motion to the point she was so screwed up she couldn't throw a strike anymore. Ron let her play on mens team all summer and worked on getting her back to what she was before, without taking a dime from us. Thank you Ron ! shows what kind of guy he, is caring about students of his after high school - She is back on track now and thank God they got rid of the worthless coaches.
 
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I got the info off of the GrandSlam website. You may want to check your sources again. Bill Hill House has US National team experience also..



http://www.houseofpitching.com/biography.html

Sammy, I agree. Whenever anyone gives a pitching coach (or hitting coach) praise, it can easily seem as though they are putting everyone else down. I would like to think that wasn't the intent of the original poster and to be honest, this could've been a whole lot worse in the category of "who's better than who". Thankfully people were civil.

Punchout, I got my info from the ASA National site, Google searches, ASA historian Bill Plummer, and others. Again this was not a put down of Ron, only a correction of facts you presented. And it may not matter much at all to anyone. But this is like saying the teams from Ohio that go play in the "Indoor cup" over in Europe are US National teams. They are not.

As someone pointed out, it's very sad when a good pitching coach works a long time with a student, helping them achieve college softball only to have the college coach "re-do" everything, which is like starting over. What is the point in recruiting someone if you're going to re do things?
 
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While I understand the purpose of this thread is to help folks find the "best" instruction for their DD, I think it's a tough call "branding" an instructor as "the best". Even if you could, by what standards are they judged? Is it where the coach played during their own career? Is it their perceived knowledge of pitching? Is it how "nice" they are? Their teaching ability?

At some point, one could qualify their favorite instructor with any of the above. But the truth is, it all come back to who is best at teaching YOUR DAUGHTER, and what type of learner your daughter is. Just because your DD is a student of a certain instructor isn't a guaranteed ticket to the college ranks.

All the instructors named in this thread obviously are making (or have made) an impact on their DD's pitching. Isn't that what's really important? It all comes back to measurable results. As a parent, REGARDLESS of the instructor, you have to educate yourself enough to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff, and tell if your DD is "getting better". Because if she stalls, you as a parent, must make a logical decision to find someone else to teach your DD how to pitch.

On another note: My take on college coaches changing a pitcher. Every college coach has in their mind what type of pitcher is effective FOR THEIR TEAM. With the exception of the top PAC-10, SEC, etc. pitchers, few coaches know every single detail - both mechanics and mental approach - of a pitcher they have signed onto their roster. Heck, the same goes in travel ball. So, if a pitcher is not performing up to the expectations of the coach, I think the coach has every right to request changes. Actually, at the college level, it's the pitcher's responsibility to seek out help to bring their pitching into line with what the coach expects. Because if they don't, the coach is going to do it for them. IMO, that's WHY you teach your DD how to do self corrections - AND when that doesn't work, to GET OUTSIDE THE BOX and find help.
 
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Sammy:

Your first paragraph makes a very good point. I'm pretty sure Triple isn't actually trying to narrow things down to one "best" on these threads, but he can answer that question himself. As just a practical matter, the geography of Ohio would mean that even if one "best" could be determined, many parents would for financial reasons want to know about quality coaches closer to home.
 
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While I understand the purpose of this thread is to help folks find the "best" instruction for their DD, I think it's a tough call "branding" an instructor as "the best". Even if you could, by what standards are they judged? Is it where the coach played during their own career? Is it their perceived knowledge of pitching? Is it how "nice" they are? Their teaching ability?

At some point, one could qualify their favorite instructor with any of the above. But the truth is, it all come back to who is best at teaching YOUR DAUGHTER, and what type of learner your daughter is. Just because your DD is a student of a certain instructor isn't a guaranteed ticket to the college ranks.

All the instructors named in this thread obviously are making (or have made) an impact on their DD's pitching. Isn't that what's really important? It all comes back to measurable results. As a parent, REGARDLESS of the instructor, you have to educate yourself enough to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff, and tell if your DD is "getting better". Because if she stalls, you as a parent, must make a logical decision to find someone else to teach your DD how to pitch.

On another note: My take on college coaches changing a pitcher. Every college coach has in their mind what type of pitcher is effective FOR THEIR TEAM. With the exception of the top PAC-10, SEC, etc. pitchers, few coaches know every single detail - both mechanics and mental approach - of a pitcher they have signed onto their roster. Heck, the same goes in travel ball. So, if a pitcher is not performing up to the expectations of the coach, I think the coach has every right to request changes. Actually, at the college level, it's the pitcher's responsibility to seek out help to bring their pitching into line with what the coach expects. Because if they don't, the coach is going to do it for them. IMO, that's WHY you teach your DD how to do self corrections - AND when that doesn't work, to GET OUTSIDE THE BOX and find help.
Sammy I agree with all you said. Some kids , even with the best instructor in the world, might not have the natural ability to be really good. If the instructors are well qualified, then it is the one who relates with your daughter the best, who she should have as an instructor. When DD first started she was not being taught the leap and drag. Her new instructor recognized her athletic ability and immediately started her leap and dragging. When her former instructors saw her new style they disagreed with it. That was 15 years ago (age 11). Now it seems the vast majority of kids leap and drag. So a change is not always a bad thing.

Since the arrival of Erica Beach at Ohio St (Former All American at AZ St.) as the pitching coach, the OSU pitchers have improved a lot. She not only increased the speed, but accuracy as well, of both Jamee Juarez and Kim Reeder.(late in both their careers) A Big Ten Championship and a Regional Championship were as a result of improved pitching from both young ladies. I have talked to both Kim and Jamee and they both give Ms. Beach all the credit for their improvement.
Now OSU has a real stud from California, and from the looks of things, Beach has her pitching very well. It will be interesting to see what she does with the new Ohio kid.
 
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I think it becomes very easy to give props to the pitching instructor your daughter sees, and think they are the best. However, sometimes the blinders need to be removed. Unfortunately when comments like "not just cashing your check each week" or to talk about all the all state pitchers they've produced, it makes you lose credibility. This thread is so funny.

There are quite a few very credible instructors that are in it for the girls and do it to help the girls. There are also ones that aren't in it for the right reason and do just "cash your check each week" It would be interested to hear turn over rate from some of these instructors? Obviously you have to find the right coach for your DD, but when you are expecting have a private lesson with a coach and you show up and there are two or three other girls there at the same time, that is not fair or conducive to the girls.

My hope is for each girl to find a coach they like, and to enjoy the journey. There is no guarantee that each girl will get a scholarship, but if the girl enjoys pitching and has a good time with the coach, and they are improving, isn't that what matters?
 
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Bashing or being negative on your first OFC post is the definition of lack of credibility here.

Welcome to OFC and may all your posts not be so gloomy in the future :p
 
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I think it becomes very easy to give props to the pitching instructor your daughter sees, and think they are the best. However, sometimes the blinders need to be removed. Unfortunately when comments like "not just cashing your check each week" or to talk about all the all state pitchers they've produced, it makes you lose credibility. This thread is so funny.

There are quite a few very credible instructors that are in it for the girls and do it to help the girls. There are also ones that aren't in it for the right reason and do just "cash your check each week" It would be interested to hear turn over rate from some of these instructors? Obviously you have to find the right coach for your DD, but when you are expecting have a private lesson with a coach and you show up and there are two or three other girls there at the same time, that is not fair or conducive to the girls.

My hope is for each girl to find a coach they like, and to enjoy the journey. There is no guarantee that each girl will get a scholarship, but if the girl enjoys pitching and has a good time with the coach, and they are improving, isn't that what matters?

since most of the comments you dont like came from me maybe you could stand up and let me know who you are.


this kind of thread has some good points but mostly it is a popularity contest
 
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The best pitching instructor is the one who helps and teaches your daughter to be a pitcher. To teach her the finer points of the game and some life lessons. What pitch should be thrown when. To help her take her game to the level she wants to achieve. The best pitching instructor is the one who makes her better.
 

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