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he baseball/softball crowd. OK for their kids to play fferies says. “I am a huge sport coincides with other ids develop as athletes. ound,� he adds, “but there of training.� oaches, basketball players, ed athletes and moms with ir kids are getting coached rk out, or just hang out, at es off the list of amenities s stats. rooms filled with $70,000 nes, a cardio room, a video ble pitching mounds with ation 60 feet 6 inches from h and conditioning classes, ds of speed and agility trainr live hitting and seven tee
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Gregg Jefferies shares 13 years of major league experience with Pleasanton athletes
viewing, and a wiffle ball stadium, inspired by the one behind left field at the Giant’s AT&T Park. It may be called the Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy, but Jefferies stresses it is the skills of its assembled team that make the academy a valuable asset to the community. “We have been lucky to bring together an incredibly talented group of people who understand sports at a very high level,� he explains, citing the expansive resumes of the rest of the staff which complement and support different aspects of the sports training experience. Nicholson, who also coaches with Foothill’s varsity staff, played college ball at Chico State and spent 12 years scouting for the Pirates. Head pitching coach Eddie Delzer played with the Angels and currently works with the Oakland A’s. Andrew Hamel is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who also coaches Amador Valley High’s football team. Even the general manager, Taryn Alexander, has a sports background, having played basketball through college, worked for the Giants and kept Stanford University’s summer sports programs running smoothly. “We wanted to bring in the right people,� Jefferies asserts. “We knew it was important that we all share the same philosophy, and we do. We have a great time together.�
Jefferies’ philosophy as a hitting coach is all about breaking baseball down to the fundamentals. “There are all these strange techniques out there,� he says, shaking his head. “Everyone wants to put a spin on how to hit or how to pitch so they can put their name on it and market it as a brand. That’s not what we teach here. This is not the Gregg Jefferies way to play baseball. This is what they’re using in the big leagues. “The key to being a good instructor,� he continues, “is getting the player to understand the mechanics. It’s not about hitting the ball, it’s about being able to stand there and break down the swing and know what you need to fix when things aren’t feeling right.� It’s Wednesday night and Jefferies is working with the academy’s inaugural hitting class, mostly high school age. Jefferies’ enthusiasm is clearly visible as he moves from station to station, calling out instructions, with wisecracks flying across the room. Once class is over and all equipment has been put back in place, Jefferies calls the boys together. “I know the session is 10 classes long and next week should be our last class,� he says, “but I’ve decided this class doesn’t count. So tell your parents you still have two classes left, and I will see you next week.� And that is how Gregg Jefferies plays ball. N
Clockwise from far left: A strength and conditioning class at the Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy is led by instructor/trainer Andrew Hamel in the center; Gregg Jefferies demonstrates a bat swing to Conor Caspersen; Jefferies when he played BASEBALL FOR THE 3T Louis Cardinals in 1993-1994; academy partner Darren Nicholson works with Calvin +NOP THE WIFFLE BALL stadium at the academy was inspired by the one behind left field at !4 4 0ARK
Gregg Jefferies MLB statistics â– High School: Junipero Serra High School, San Mateo, class of ’85 â– All-WCAL defensive back, All-NorCal inďŹ elder â– Drafted by New York Mets in 1985, First round, 20 overall â– Minor League Player of the Year, 1986 and 1987 â– National League All-Star Team, 1983 and 1984 â– Teams: s .EW 9ORK -ETS s +ANSAS #ITY 2OYALS s 3T ,OUIS #ARDINALS s 0HILADELPHIA 0HILLIES s !NAHEIM !NGELS s $ETROIT 4IGERS â– Batted: Switch â– 4HREW 2IGHT â– Career Statistics s "ATTING !VERAGE s (OME RUNS s 2UNS BATTED IN â– -," $EBUT ˆ 3EPT FOR .EW 9ORK -ETS â– Last MLB Appearance — May 29, 2000, for Detroit Tigers Pleasanton WeeklyĂŠUĂŠJanuary 25, 2013ĂŠU Page 11