FirststrikeBB.com
"Liam and the First Strike staff are not only at the highest level of their profession but great friends as well! I strongly recommend any ballplayer that is serious about improving their skills and learning the nuances of the game, become active at First Strike Baseball. They are second to none in the world of Professional Baseball analysis and instruction, Period!
"Liam and the First Strike staff are not only at the highest level of their profession but great friends as well! I strongly recommend any ballplayer that is serious about improving their skills and learning the nuances of the game, become active at First Strike Baseball. They are second to none in the world of Professional Baseball analysis and instruction, Period!
OF Minnesota Twins
" I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND FIRST STRIKE BASEBALL TO ANY PARENT CONSIDERING A BASEBALL TRAINING FACILITY FOR THEIR KIDS. WITH A STAFF FULL OF EXPERIENCED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE INSTRUCTORS, AND OUTSTANDING FACILITIES SO THAT YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF LEARNING THE VERY BEST TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS TO ENABLE THEM TO GROW AND PROGRESS AS BASEBALL PLAYERS. "Chris Finwood
Head Coach
Western Kentucky University
" I would love to take some time and thank the entire staff of First Strike. I can not say enough about each and every member. We have been coming here for years with limited expectations but knew my son Dustin would enjoy the one on one lessons. This academy has by far surpassed all of our goals. When we first Joined Al did an assessment of my son Dustin and was very honest with his recommendations and where his strengths and weaknesses were. We knew from that point where their focus would be for them and slowly and steadily worked towards the common goal. In doing so Al continued to work with his pitching while Brian worked with his batting. We knew the importance of being there as much as possible for the routine and muscle memory. I made every attempt to be there once a week at minimum schedules permitting.
Sterling has always gone above and beyond to help make these appointments happen and be convenient for all. We set small mile stones of achievement. If he could only make All-stars, if he could only make travel, if he could only make high-school. He has done all of these to date! Dustin went from a player who was more concerned about yelling " Hi Mom" from the outfield to a focused and goal oriented athlete. I attribute all of this to the discipline he has learned from everyone at First Strike. There is more to baseball then the game. The confidence and respect you learn to have for instructors, coaches and a team are lessons to take with you throughout your adult life.
Sincerely,It has been a smooth transition with the new ownership Liam is a customer service oriented business man and instructor himself. As long as they are there so will we! Thanks for all your continued support in my sons success. we are most grateful! "
Heidi Lennon
"There aren't enough good things that we can say about the staff at First Strike! Everyone there is pleasant and professional. Thames ("T" age 13) had tried a few other hitting instructors in the area, but Jeff Guy seems to teach the magic that T was looking for. I can't remember exactly when T started weekly lessons with Coach Guy (Septemberish 2010), but it was clear after about a month that his batting average was improving very quickly. When the fall 2010 season ended, T made a commitment to himself to continue his weekly lessons with Coach Guy and it was a beautiful thing as a parent to see my son's confidence soar over the winter.
His regular baseball coach started to notice how much T's swing had improved and the biggest compliment came back in March when T was moved into the 3 spot in our lineup which Coach Nourie usually reserves for his "best" hitter. He has truly started DRIVING the baseball which is what every hitter wants/needs to do on the "big" field. I believe Coach Guy refers to those hits as "shopping in the GAP"!
It's exciting to see him do so well and help his team win ballgames. We routinely hear him encouraging and coaching up his team mates by saying the very same things that Coach Guy says to him!"
T absolutely looks forward to and loves to see everybody at First Strike each and every week. Our team (NiTRO Baseball) is truly appreciative of the team cage time we've spent there as well and we all look forward to continuing our relationship with you and your staff in the months/years to come! Keep up the good work!
Susan Hudlow
“ Every off-season I leave my home in Jacksonville for two weeks and work with the guys at First Strike. They are great teachers, and always help me get my swing right.”Mat Gamel
INF Milwaukee Brewers
"We wanted to thank you and your instructors Al Goetz and Brian Bridges for the wonderful instruction they have given our son Griffin. He plays for the Collins Hill Eagles 12U Black Travel Ball team and he recently got his first homerun out at Buford City Park. It not only cleared the fence but almost hit the batting cages behind the field. We estimated it to be about a 250 ft. shot! When we began taking Griffin to First Strike Brian evaluated him by looking at his righty and lefty swings (Griff is a right handed switch hitter) and noticed right away that his natural swing was actually his lefty swing. So he worked on getting him to mimic his lefty swing when batting righty. He has been hitting much harder ever since.
Griffin also pitches. Al let us know Griffin had good mechanics but he did have a hitch where he would lean back and it was throwing him off balance. So he tweaked him and the kid has become one of the top pitchers on the team. We are very thankful for all that you guys have done."
"God bless you and keep up the good work!"
Rick and Kathy Maxwell
Lawrenceville, GA
"I love the people at First Strike Baseball. That’s where I went before I was drafted, Al and Liam helped me become a top ten pick. I go there every off-season to train.”
Zach Wheeler
RHP San Fransisco Giants
"This is a note of appreciation and testimony re: your training techniques and programs.
Our son, Fureous, has been a client of yours since April 2009. When he first came to you, he was a small, skinny kid who liked baseball and his mother and I equated that with ”well maybe he should be a pitcher”.
When my wife first called and spoke to you guys, she questioned why the prices were higher than all the other places around town. The explanation she heard was, “you get what you pay for and many of the trainers at the other places were trained by us”. That was truly significant to me because we wanted our son to have the BEST!
I was not a baseball guy in high school or college, but within a couple sessions, I knew we had made a remarkably smart decision. We have been very impressed with the knowledge and technique and advice you guys provide.
Liam Shanahan and Al Goetz, we are committed to never stop having him train under your direction. You guys have helped Fureous’ grips, his accuracy and technique significantly. You then created a program to increase his strength. Concurrently you have worked on his variety of pitches, his speed and his mental approach to the job of pitching. All his skills have been developed and or improved because of you guys.
Your contacts within the baseball business are proven and significant as well. You have earned my trust. You have periodically switched the trainer he works with a variety of MLB players/scouts who provide additional insight and perspective for my son. We have found this to be extremely smart and valuable to parents who want their son to have every chance to be his BEST.
Thanks to you, Fureous made the freshman high school baseball at a very competitive, well scouted school here in Gwinnett county. My entire family thanks you for what you have done and what we believe you will continue to do for Fureous."
Sincerely,
Gradey and LaSaundra Caldwell
My 13 year old son Austin has been working with Coach Guy for years on hitting and I credit much of his hitting success to excellent instruction, particularly the strong basics that Coach Guy emphasizes. Not only is the Coach top notch when it comes to instruction, he makes learning fun. Austin looks forward to hitting with him and hearing his corny jokes.
After years of hitting instruction I felt that maybe we were overlooking Austin's fielding skills a bit so decided to have Coach Liam work with him. I knew after the first lesson it was a great idea. At the end of our block of lessons with Coach Liam I was amazed at how my son's fielding and throwing skills had improved and he by far has had his best season at 2B. Like Coach Guy, Coach Liam made it fun for Austin and it's obvious he loves what he does.
We look forward to improving Austin's skills all through high school at First Strike.
John Stanley
I can't say enough to explain the experience that Jackson has had at First Strike. You and your team have been absolutely amazing with Jackson in the last year. Jackson came to First Strike after starting to have a pretty bad fall season and where he clearly was not having "fun" anymore playing baseball. He needed some outside coaching away from his regular coach and also from Dad. When we first walked into the facilities Jackson noticed that he was clearly the "smallest" and "youngest" (his words) player there and I could see the concern on his face. He was at a point where he was not hitting well and his confidence in himself was broken. As we walked through the front door Sterling made the first impression on Jackson with a welcoming hello that eased Jackson's angst. From there our experience has been nothing short of impressive. First Strike has welcomed him in and treated him as if he was one of the "big guys" at the facility. You have truly made an impression on him and for that I am very thankful. I am more thankful that you have welcomed him in and treat him with as much respect and care than what you have done for his game. One of the things he likes best at First Strike is his time on the couch with Al, Kyle, Sterling, Anthony, and you on Sundays and chatting about life, baseball and general goofing off. Things as small as Al showing him "Fat Booth" have made him feel welcome and as if he was one of the guys there. I thought last year when I sent that email that we would come in for a few lessons and be done with it. Now First Strike has become part of our regular schedule and Jackson misses the days that he is not able to attend his regular scheduled Sunday lessons.
Jackson has ended his spring season playing up a league with 100% kid pitching hitting 19 for 26 at the plate. His confidence and "swagger" as he approaches the plate has exceeded our expectations and it is truly a joy to watch him step onto the field. His pitching has improved to the point that he is one of the "go to" pitchers on the team. He has gotten back into enjoying the game of baseball. He has also been invited to play on two different travel teams this summer. You and your team have transformed him back into a confident ball player and quite frankly a kid that will forever love the game of baseball. At 7 years old I can only hope that he continues to play baseball and has a chance to play at higher levels and that you and your staff at First Strike will continue to be a regular influence for him both on and off the field.
I wish I had more to say about the coaching/training Jackson has received from you but that is truly the smallest part of his experience at First Strike. His stats speak for themselves and I attribute that to the coaching you have and hopefully will continue giving him. But as a dad it is the other things he has received from his time at First Strike that have made an impression me and those are priceless.
Regards,
Robert Gaspard
After years of hitting instruction I felt that maybe we were overlooking Austin's fielding skills a bit so decided to have Coach Liam work with him. I knew after the first lesson it was a great idea. At the end of our block of lessons with Coach Liam I was amazed at how my son's fielding and throwing skills had improved and he by far has had his best season at 2B. Like Coach Guy, Coach Liam made it fun for Austin and it's obvious he loves what he does.
We look forward to improving Austin's skills all through high school at First Strike.
John Stanley
I can't say enough to explain the experience that Jackson has had at First Strike. You and your team have been absolutely amazing with Jackson in the last year. Jackson came to First Strike after starting to have a pretty bad fall season and where he clearly was not having "fun" anymore playing baseball. He needed some outside coaching away from his regular coach and also from Dad. When we first walked into the facilities Jackson noticed that he was clearly the "smallest" and "youngest" (his words) player there and I could see the concern on his face. He was at a point where he was not hitting well and his confidence in himself was broken. As we walked through the front door Sterling made the first impression on Jackson with a welcoming hello that eased Jackson's angst. From there our experience has been nothing short of impressive. First Strike has welcomed him in and treated him as if he was one of the "big guys" at the facility. You have truly made an impression on him and for that I am very thankful. I am more thankful that you have welcomed him in and treat him with as much respect and care than what you have done for his game. One of the things he likes best at First Strike is his time on the couch with Al, Kyle, Sterling, Anthony, and you on Sundays and chatting about life, baseball and general goofing off. Things as small as Al showing him "Fat Booth" have made him feel welcome and as if he was one of the guys there. I thought last year when I sent that email that we would come in for a few lessons and be done with it. Now First Strike has become part of our regular schedule and Jackson misses the days that he is not able to attend his regular scheduled Sunday lessons.
Jackson has ended his spring season playing up a league with 100% kid pitching hitting 19 for 26 at the plate. His confidence and "swagger" as he approaches the plate has exceeded our expectations and it is truly a joy to watch him step onto the field. His pitching has improved to the point that he is one of the "go to" pitchers on the team. He has gotten back into enjoying the game of baseball. He has also been invited to play on two different travel teams this summer. You and your team have transformed him back into a confident ball player and quite frankly a kid that will forever love the game of baseball. At 7 years old I can only hope that he continues to play baseball and has a chance to play at higher levels and that you and your staff at First Strike will continue to be a regular influence for him both on and off the field.
I wish I had more to say about the coaching/training Jackson has received from you but that is truly the smallest part of his experience at First Strike. His stats speak for themselves and I attribute that to the coaching you have and hopefully will continue giving him. But as a dad it is the other things he has received from his time at First Strike that have made an impression me and those are priceless.
Regards,
Robert Gaspard
