Today we’re sitting down with Monmouth University Pitching Coach Mike Russo. This conversation covers a lot of bases. Topics Include:

• Body, Ball, Performance
• Has the path to college ball changed? If so, how?
• Staying “present” on the mound

Coach Russo joined the Monmouth Baseball program in August 2022. He came to Monmouth after six seasons at Princeton University working with the pitching staff.

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

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I’m flying solo today and discussing a topic that doesn’t get addressed nearly enough. I’m talking about the importance of ankle strength and stability and how I’ve seen it to be a game changer in training athletes to get them to be more explosive. Topics Include:

• Why is it important
• How to test for it
• How to train it

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

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• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
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Today, I am having Sam Sharf, RPP’s Director of Recruiting, sit in for me as the Guest Host with Winthrop Baseball’s Assistant Coach Mike Napolitano.

Topics Include:

• Difference between D1 and D3 programs
• Balancing baseball and academics
• Most important characteristics when recruiting hitters

Coach Napolitano came to Winthrop after three seasons as an assistant coach for the Babson College baseball program in 2023-24. Prior to his time at Babson, he served as a graduate assistant baseball coach at Misericordia University for two seasons.

He graduated from Springfield College with a B.S. in movement and sport science in 2019 and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Misericordia in sport management in 2021.

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
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• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...

Today, we're with Coach Johnston Hobbs, Head Coach at Ft. Lauderdale High School, the Flying L’s.  He has coached and played at every level of the game and we're going to focus on some of the challenges of coaching today’s high school athletes. Topics Include:

• The difference between coaching in the Northeast vs. the South
• Training catchers
• Mechanics... When to address / when to leave it alone

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
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• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
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Today we’re sitting down with Garrett deMarrais, Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator of Division III powerhouse Misericordia Baseball. The Cougars have reached the NCAA Division III World Series in back-to-back seasons, including a National Championship last year.  Topics Include:

• The key to a winning culture
• The power of thinking “outside the box” offensively
• Key traits when recruiting new players

Coach deMarrais is entering his third season with the Misericordia baseball team. He currently serves as the Recruiting Coordinator for the program and specializes in infield hitting and base running instruction. Previously, he held the title of Graduate Assistant from 2022-2024 when the Cougars reached the NCAA Division III World Series in back to back seasons.

He is a native of Oradell, NJ, and graduated from Stockton University with a degree in political science and government and was a member of the Osprey's baseball team for four years.

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
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• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...

Today we’re sitting down with RPP Strength and Conditioning Coach Bill Walsh. Bill brings with him 20 years of experience in both the S&C and AT fields.

Topics Include:

• The biggest challenges when coaching the high school population
• The 3 pillars of athleticism
• Ankle mobility / strength and its relationship to mechanics and speed

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...

Today, I’m sitting down with Sam Sharf, RPP's new Director of Recruiting and Sales. Sam brings with him over 12 years of baseball coaching and recruiting experience.

Topics Include:

• When is a good time to look into hiring a recruiter?
• What’s involved in an initial recruiting eval?
• Top focal points when preparing to choose as recruiter

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...

This week we're sitting down with Florida State Strength and Conditioning Coach Jamie Burleson to talk about training strength with the elite college population. Topics Include:

• Incoming Recruits, What to Expect on Day 1
• The Importance of a Great Baseline Assessment
• The Lack of Dedicated High School Strength Coaches in the Northeast

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...

Today we’re talking about creating a more efficient lead leg block through lower half activation with PT Greg LaMendola. 

Topics Include:

• Removing blocks in the kinetic chain
• The Soleus and Piriformis muscles and their association with lead leg stability
• More efficient transfer of power from lower to upper half

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...

Today I’m flying solo addressing how to identify and train Scapular Stability. This is such an important topic with many athletes ramping up into hard throwing.
Topics Include:

• How to identify Scapular Instability
• The key muscles responsible (and to focus on)
• How to train to create a more stable shoulder

Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes the guesswork out of player development.

• Twitter https://twitter.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RPP_Baseball/
• Call us at 201-308-3363
• Email us at [email protected]
• Website ...