- May 17, 2024
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Brock McClelland pitches to Parker Degrom, the catcher. Photos by Lurvin Fernandez
Brock McClelland pitches to Collin Strickland and Parker Degrom catches.
Collin Strickland runs to home base during practice.
Jayden Lombardi bats during baseball practice.
Collin Strickland steps up to bat during practice.
Coach Steve Strickland gives Parker Degrom some points on catching.
Courtesy photo
The boys on the Lightning Baseball team kept their eye on the prize and won it.
Coach Steve Strickland said as a 9u team last year, the team compiled an overall tournament record of 61-15, winning numerous championships.
As a 10u team, they are 19-1 in United States Specialty Sports Association. Through the first three tournaments, they outscored opponents 159-36.
They are currently ranked No. 1 in Florida and No. 1 in the Nation in the USSSA 10uAAA classification.
"It's awesome," Strickland said. "It's cool for the kids, and it's good for the group."
The team practices more than it plays, Strickland said. Players meet three times each week to practice, more than other youth baseball teams, and they work harder and harder each time to implement the positive feedback they receive.
Working on hitting has made a big difference, Strickland said.
The team follows a structured weighted bat training program that uses the player's normal game bat and 2 heavy bats that weigh 20% more than their game bat. This helps the players become stronger and trains them to use their body when swinging instead of relying on just their arms and hands.
Using technology such as bat sensors, also has helped coaches track bat speed, attack angles, on-plane percentage and more for every swing each player makes. A launch monitor also helps monitor velocity, launch angle and spin rate.
The numbers give coaches insight, but it motivates the players to achieve their goals by seeing their changes in the numbers, he said.
All the while, they have fun and reap the rewards.
"They're getting successes, they're excited and it's a big deal to them," Strickland said. "They're having fun and becoming better young men."
Chad Richardson said his son has played on the team since he was 8 years old. All the players have played together for more than two years years since the team was formed in July 2016.
He said they've traveled throughout Florida to play in tournaments, and parents see first-hand how hard the players work for their reward. More so, they're proud to represent their city.
"They put in the hard work to deserve it," Richardson said. "And they're all Port Orange kids. For a small population to put out a team like this is amazing."
