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Strike Zone Testimonials
Many of my students at Jesuit Middle have never been exposed to baseball instruction. When they arrived for their fieldtrip to the Strike Zone, Joe immediately welcomed them and assured them of a great and fun learning experience. With the encouragement and expertise of Coach Siwa and his staff, our young men were not only making contact but hitting line drives. Already several have asked me if a return trip to the Strike Zone can be a part of the year end field day.
Tony Connelly
Principal |
 Coach Siwa,
Thank you again for sponsoring and hosting another successful Fall Ball Season. Our boys improved noticeably in both their individual and team skills. Your Tuesday night hitting clinics and your preseason weekend camps worked well with school schedules and kept their heads in the game for a couple of more months. We know that keeping their skills tuned during the off season is so important with baseball, especially at this age when their bodies are changing and growing so much. How they move to field a ball, how they use their throwing mechanics, or even how they swing a bat can change dramatically on any given growth-spurt. Having Fall Ball was a big plus for our kids, keeping their skills polished while having fun doing it. Strike Zone is a great asset to our community!
Ed Vilak |
Joe,
Tim and I enjoyed being a part of fall ball with our sons and had a really great time. It has been busy, but well worth it.
Thanks!
Doug Lindner
Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
 Dear Joe,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Strike Zone for their assistance in the continuation of Scott's baseball experience. Scott was fortunate to have been able to play on the Strike Zone Elite baseball team for the past two years. The experience has been very valuable in Scott's ultimate decision in attending and playing baseball for Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Strike Zone Elite baseball team allowed Scott a first hand opportunity to play against college baseball teams and observe the campus facilities. The experience also allowed college coaches to observe Scott’s play in a competitive environment which allowed him to receive scholarship opportunities. The friendships Scott made with his teammates continued through the fall and into his high school season, Legion season and well into his college career. I would encourage the Strike Zone Elite baseball team to anyone interested in playing college baseball.
Dan Doggett |
 Dear Strike Zone,
We have been members of the Strike Zone for several years, and we still are but I wanted to let you know about a recent experience we had elsewhere in another fall baseball league. I am almost ashamed to tell you that my son didn’t play fall ball at the Strike Zone this year, he played fall baseball at one of the “other” places so that he could be on a team with a friend. Unfortunately, the experience was horrible. My son was ready to quit playing baseball-it was so bad, and his friend was right along with him. When playing at the Strike Zone, my son always had fun, learned, and improved. The coaches know their stuff and have always been positive, and one of the things that kept my son in baseball was the promise that we would go back to Strike Zone next fall.
Keep doing it the way you always have. We are coming back!
Earley Smith |
Hi, at my son's last game with the fall competitive season, we were
given some papers and among them was a note suggesting that we log
onto Strike Zone to rate our kids' coaches for this season. I wanted to email you because we happened to have one of the best coaches my son has ever had. My son is Mike Moyers -- 15/16 Gold team. He has learned more from John McCord and his son Colby McCord in this season alone than he has learned the whole time he has played baseball (since he was 5)! They are both two of the best coaches, I just cannot say enough good things about them. They take the time to show kids how to play their positions correctly, they explain to them when they are doing something wrong and why it is wrong, and they talk to them in ways
that they can understand. They instilled in my son a sense of confidence and a need to be better. For that I am very thankful. I feel like it was money well spent. I am VERY hopeful that you will have them both back coaching the 16+ competitive fall season next year, because I
definitely want my son on their team again. Please make sure that they come back to coach next year. |
Dale Novacek- regarding College
Recruiting
Joe: I just wanted to thank you for hosting the "College
Recruiting" discussion last night.
My son walked away very impressed with the presentations and the
"matter of fact" stories about playing college ball,
and I was vindicated last night.
I've always told him that a coach always likes a player who has
heart, who hustles, who is a team player, and who is very
coachable. To me stats never were a determining factor when I
used to recruit select players. I always looked for attitude! I
think my son finally agrees with me, after all my years of
coaching! You see son, dad really does know what he is talking
about!
If you ever decide to schedule this event again, I will
definitely help spread the word. |
Coach Mckay,
I just wanted to send you a note saying thank you for all of your
work last winter with Cole. He definitely benefited from your
classes and he had his best season playing baseball yet. He hit
the ball every game and it was just nice to see him get in the
batters box with confidence. He even made the all-star team in
his league and had a great experience with that as well. We hope
to be able to take a class or two from you again this winter.
Thank You! |
Ed Vidlak - Son plays for WWAA
Coach Siwa - Been meaning to email you since the coaches clinic
March 18th and 25th. Just wanted to pass on to you how much I
appreciated and enjoyed the clinic. Everything was first class --
incredibly informative and relevant. You should know that our
team's kids (WWAA) and my own kids are being raised with skills
and philosophies handed down from you, Coach Mckay, and your
Strike Zone staff. We're very fortunate to have you guys right
here in Omaha.
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Jason Miller - University of Nebraska at Kearney
I recently graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney
where I played for two years. Being from western Nebraska, I did
not have the opportunity to play spring baseball. All of my
exposure came during the summer and at the Exposure/Combines.
Along with the opportunity to perform in front of scouts and
coaches, I was able to meet other baseball players from around
the nation. Players were selected during the camp to participate
in a scrimmage.
I would not have been able to play baseball as long as I did if
it were not for the Exposure/Combines like this one. Many players
heave been signed by colleges as a result of this camp. I would
not miss out on this opportunity to be seen and further your
baseball career.
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Dan Murphy - Father of Sam Murphy - Westside High School -
Committed to the University of Arkansas
My son, Sam Murphy, has been participating in--and benefiting
from Strike Zone-sponsored lessons, leagues, and activities since
he was 8 years old. Over the past 10 years, The Strike Zone has
provided Sam the opportunity to receive instruction from players
and coaches ranging from Hall-of-Famer Bob Gibson to Texas
Pitching Coach Tom Holliday and, most important, from members of
The Strike Zone Staff. Our Strike Zone membership has been one of
the best investments we’ve made in Sam’s baseball future.
For the past two fall seasons, Sam has participated in The Strike
Zone’s Elite Program, teaming up with some of the area’s best
high school players to face a variety of college teams, including
nationally ranked UNO and Iowa Western C.C. While the Elite
Program provided exceptional instruction, it also gave Sam the
opportunity to get to know and make friends with kids he’s played
against for years.
In terms of direct benefits, The Strike Zone Elite Program made
Sam more visable to college coaches and resulted in his
recruitment by the University of Arkansas, whose pitching coach,
Dave Jorn, drove to Highland Community College to watch Sam
throw. Creighton Coach Ed Servais took time out from his schedule
to watch Sam pitch against Iowa Western, an exceptional junior
college program. University of Kansas Coach Ritch Price made the
trip to see him throw against UNO, where he also was observed by
Coach Bobby Herold, who runs one of the best college programs
around. Of course, the point is not that these coaches saw Sam
play, but that The Strike Zone Elite Team draws interest from
some of the best college programs in the region, of not the
nation.
From a parents standpoint, other benefits of the Elite Program
are the equal playing time and individualized instruction that
every player receives. For a kid who’s really serious about
working year-round on his sport, the opportunities and
competitive advantages presented by The Strike Zone Elite Program
are too good to pass up.
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Greg Lillie - Pensacola, FL
Having recently moved to Florida, we are finding a whole new
attitude concerning baseball. What we have not found, however, is
a facility and staff that compares to yours. We have not had any
success finding a club or facility that has the talent and
programs comparable to yours.
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Ted Cleveland - Father of David Cleveland
I just returned from Central High School where my son David
signed today to play baseball for Creighton University next year.
I want to thank the Strike Zone staff for all that you guys did
for him and all the players on your Fall Elite Team. It was a
great experience for him (and me too) to get a chance for him to
work with you as well as to get the chance to get exposed to all
the college coaches you played against, and also the ones that
came to the games. If you ever have a parent that would like to
speak to someone who had a kid on your team, feel free to send
them my way. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you guys
and your program.
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Jeff Newman, son Bobby Newman - Westside High School
We have been members since The Strike Zone opened. Bobby has
grown up in the batting cages and tunnels. He has attended
countless clinics over the years, including Ultimate Hitting and
the Line Drive League, participated in the Fall Baseball League,
and received instruction from the majority of current and past
Strike Zone coaches. The coaching that he receives at The Strike
Zone is not only age appropriate, but facilitates the development
of advanced skills that make it possible for him to play the game
at its highest level for his age group. The Strike Zone is
absolutely the best baseball training facility in Omaha.
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