Baseball Training
PRIVATE LESSONS
For players looking to work on their skills outside of team practices, East Ridge Baseball is extremely fortunate to have around our baseball community to help your athlete learn the fundamentals and sharpen their skills. Among these options are two seasoned coaches right here within ERAA Baseball - ERHS Varsity Head Coach Brian Sprout and ERAA Baseball Director Dave Hieb.
Both of these fantastic coaches provide individual sessions whether your athlete is brand new to the program or heading into high school baseball. Learn more below:
East Ridge Varsity Baseball Coach Brian Sprout
Coach Sprout provides hitting/pitching/catching lessons for ERAA players of all ages as an ongoing opportunity to develop. These lessons are a great opportunity to prepare for tryouts and, as we move through the fall and winter, next year's season.
Lessons are 30 minutes in length and focus on mechanical development of all aspects in hitting/pitching/catching.
These are great for getting younger players started with the proper basics and goes into great detail for advanced players ready to take their skills to a higher level.
Please contact coach Sprout to sign up for lessons at: bsprout12@gmail.com
About Varsity Head Coach Sprout
Coach Brian Sprout has served as the head of East Ridge High School Baseball since 2009. He played at the AA level with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was a two-time All-Star with the St. Paul Saints, was a 3-time MIAC conference player of the year, 2-time collegiate All-American, and is a member of the St. Olaf College Hall of Fame.
ERAA Baseball Director Dave Hieb
ERAA Baseball Director Dave Hieb provides lessons for all ages and phases of the game of baseball, primarily:
- Pitching, Catching and Hitting
- Arm care, arm safety and rehabilitation.
During the winter months, lessons are done at the University of Northwestern campus. When the fields are open and available, lessons are done in Woodbury.
Contact Coach Hieb at dave.hieb@eraamn.com to set up lesson schedule.
About Coach Hieb
Dave Hieb is currently in his 35th year at the University of Northwestern and recently retired after 34 years in the baseball program and the last 28 as the head baseball coach. He has coached numerous NAIA and NCCAA All-Americans at UNW and has recorded multiple 20 and 30 win seasons. Coach Hieb has led and has been a featured guest speaker at numerous youth camps and clinics throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin and has also worked with the Minnesota Twins Summer Instructional Program, Twinsfest Instructional Clinics and serves as the Director of the ERAA Baseball Board.
COACH SPROUT'S OFFSEASON THROWING ROUTINE
| TYPE | PROGRAM |
|---|---|
| Warmup | Bands |
| Throwing | How to Create a Weighted Ball |
| Throwing | Weighted Ball -- Throwbacks |
| Throwing | Weighted Ball -- Pivot Picks |
| Throwing | Weighted Ball -- Rockers |
| Throwing | Weighted Ball -- Roll-ins |
| Throwing | Baseball -- Throw off Mound |
| Throwing | Baseball -- Long Toss |
| Cool Down | X-bands, LAX Ball and Ball Flips |
You can click on the individual links above or watch the entire set of Coach Sprout’s throwing program videos below.
ERAA Baseball YouTube Channel
ERAA Baseball has recently launched a YouTube Channel where we will be able to post videos related to training, coaching, team celebrations, and more!
Click here to subscribe.
Looking for a place to play indoors this winter?
The city of Woodbury is fortunate to have an indoor space in which we can play sports year round. M Health Sports Center has open baseball and softball times available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 4:45 pm through mid-March.
For $8, players can bring their own equipment and take advantage of these times to work on hitting or fielding. They do have batting cages and L-screens available but players should bring bases, balls, bats, and gloves.
*Please note: This is not intended to be used for full-team practice times.
Fundamental Drills
Coach Sprout's Fundamental Drills:
5-5-5 Fundies: 5 Regular short hops, 5 Backhand short hops, 5 Forehand short hops