Mike Epstein Hitting
Rising Stars
2008
Hunter Owen Breaks School Home Run Record
In the conference tournament won by
Millsaps, junior outfielder Hunter Owen tied a SCAC tournament record
with 12 hits. He finished with a .600 batting average with two doubles,
three home runs, seven RBIs and 11 runs scored. His three home runs gave
him 16 for the season –a new Millsaps single-season record (third-most
in SCAC history).
McMurray Slugger Belts Home Runs in 7 Consecutive Games
Although Derek David is not of our students, it is interesting to note how rotational hitting is taking over in all levels of baseball. The remarkable successes being chalked up by these hitters is truly amazing.
We wish Derek continued success; he already has the technique needed to "climb the ladder."
Lubanski - 2007
April 24, 2008
Chris Lubanski is challenging the outer reaches of Rosenblatt Stadium's right field corner
The park might not hold him much longer.
The Omaha Royals right fielder launched a homer into the second tier of the right field bleachers Thursday night - his third such high drive already this season - and the two-run blast capped a second big comeback in a wild 12-11 victory over Nashville before 1,745."I worked in the offseason to get my legs involved more in my swing [with Epstein], and that helps me stay back more, and then you make your every day adjustments," said Lubanski, who has four homers after 17 games after hitting six in 49 games with Omaha last season. "I'm just happy I'm driving the ball right now."
(When you look at the difference between the top and bottom photos of Chris, it should be obvious why he is having the success he is now. -Mike)
Lubanski - 2008
Kevin Sandberg, 6-for-10 with four extra base hits in the two games versus Air Force
April 20, 2008
Kevin Sandberg sets school record with 10 RBI
April 15, 2008Sandberg had a day for the ages
Junior Kevin Sandberg tallied a school record 10 RBI in the contest on a school record eight at bats. He also tied the record for hits in a game with six. He ties Joe Bonacquista (1964) and Zach Brockman (2003) for hits in a contest, while several different people had tallied seven at bats with the most recent being Shane Roberts (2004). Sandberg's 10 RBI in the game breaks the old record of eight from Scott Vatter (1993) and Joe Bacarella (1990). He needed only a triple for the cycle as Sandberg notched a single, two doubles and two home runs in the game.
Senior Quinn Salmon launched a walk-off, grand slam over the 20-foot right field wall as the Millsaps College rallied for a 13-10 come-from-behind win on Tuesday night.
Nick Sullivan, a junior left fielder from Pomona HS (Arvada, CO), hit a three-run home run in No. 9 Nebraska's 5-2 victory over visiting Texas Tech.
In his last 10 games, Sullivan is hitting .395 and has driven in 17 runs. Nebraska improved to 23-4-1 overall and 9-1-1 in the Big 12. (National wire services 4/5/08.)
University of Louisiana - Lafayette
As of 4/26/08:
| .459 BA | 68-148 | 8 2B | 18 HR | 3 3B | .919 SLG | 63 RBI |
Holly learned the rotational technique back in 2004 at one of my hitting clinics in Beaumont, TX. Since then, under good rotational hitting tutelage from her college program, she has stayed in the "envelope" and has become one of the most feared hitters in college softball.
Jake: Just wanted to let you know that Taylor had a fabulous weekend at her high school softball tourney. She hit a couple of doubles, a triple, and a homerun. She had 7 or 8 RBI'S. She has been working very hard and has gone from the #7 hitter to the #2 hitter! We are so pleased and thought you might be pleased as well. We praise you every chance we get! We are looking forward to a great softball season! Thanks again, Jake. - Jerry, Sue, and Taylor Williams
(Taylor, 15, went to our hitting camp in Newberry Park, CA last winter.)
March 24
Andrew Bennett (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) has been named the MIAC hitter of the week, the conference office announced today. This is the first week of the honor for baseball this year and includes all games played so far this season.
March 22, 2008 - BOONE, N.C.
David Towarnicky’s two home runs weren’t enough to overcome UNC Greensboro’s three four-run innings in Appalachian State University baseball’s 12-8 loss to UNCG on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Towarnicky’s first-career two homer game came courtesy of a two-run bomb that cleared the visitor’s bullpen in right field in the fourth inning and a solo shot to right that led off the sixth.
Arapahoe HS - Littleton, Colorado
2-3, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs versus Chaparral High School (3-19-08).
Arapahoe HS - Littleton, Colorado (3-13-08)
HR against Monarch High School to right field (a curve ball).
Hi from Sweden!
Sending you a picture of my son Petter, 15 at the time this picture was taken, hitting one of his 4 home runs in a tournament last fall. This one was a Grand Slam! Petter has been a member of the Swedish National Cadet Team three years, and is a junior now. We have studied your DVD's and practiced the steps outlined and have gotten fantastic results, and not just with Petter! The whole team benefits from your methods, and I look forward to seeing them take the field this year as soon as the snow has gone for good.
Thanks for all your help!
Jim Gage
Västerås Baseboll
Västerås, Sweden
Sandberg hits his fourth home run of year
March 14, 2008 Junior first baseman had three RBI with his fourth home run of the year in the top of the first inning....
Kevin is an excellent example of "style versus technique." Although his rear elbow is up as he strides (pre-swing movement), when he begins his swing, his rear elbow slots in close to his body to ensure staying "inside the ball." We are often asked if a hitter should have the back elbow up in the stance and there is no finite answer to this question. ALL hitters have different personal styles (pre-swing movements) which then conform to a universal technique when the swing launches. If the rear elbow doesn't tuck down and in when the swing launches, the back arm will pre-extend outward, resulting in a "casting" motion.
This
is a basic physics principle in action. Translating it into correct
hitting technique, when the rear elbow tucks "down and in," the lead
elbow must work "up and away." Rotational hitting adheres to the
principles of physics - for every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction - the ONLY technique that does.Houston Astros organization
Jon played in his first game this spring and hit a home run. He said "he got it all."
Arapahoe HS - Littleton, Colorado
Mike and Jake,
Just a quick update on a pretty auspicious start...in the first game of the spring, in his first 5 at bats against Ralston Valley HS, Justin went 4 for 5 with 3 consecutive home runs. He hit one to right center, one to center and a huge one to left center. Nothing like getting his Junior year off to a fast, confidence-building start, huh? It never would have happened without your patient and outstanding instruction.
Thanks, Rick
Showtime Fastpitch
Mansfield, TX
Jake -
Kevin Sandberg
Hit two home runs in one game versus No. 20 Texas A & M
Texas A&M Rallies To Take
Game Four Of Series
In the last game of a rare four-game
series, No. 20 Texas A&M rallied back to defeat the University of
Northern Colorado baseball team 5-2 for a split in the season opening
series.
From the University of Northern Colorado website (2/24/08):
“In the top of the fifth, Kevin Sandberg led off with a home run that hit the left field light standard about 50 feet high to knot the score at 2-2. Sandberg again hit a solo shot, this time to center field on the first pitch of the inning to give the Bears a 3-2 lead.”
SCAC
Conference
Baseball
Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Hunter was the SCAC Conference Player-of-the-Year in 2007.
He went through our 7-Day Hitting Program in 2006.
HUNTER OWEN OF
MILLSAPS COLLEGE, a 6-3, 210-pound junior
outfielder from Jackson, Miss., has been named the SCAC Offensive
Baseball Player-of-the-Week
for games played Monday, February 11 through Sunday, February 17.
Owen
paced
the Millsaps offense in a 2-1 week on the diamond - which included a
victory over No. 5 Emory University - hitting .444 from the plate
(4-for-9) with nine total bases, three walks, two runs scored, three
RBIs, two doubles and a solo home run.
In a 10-0 win over Mississippi College on Thursday, Owen went
2-for-4 from the plate with three RBIs, his third double of the year and
third home run, sending a towering shot over the left centerfield wall.
He also carried a 1.000 slugging percentage on the weekend, while
posting a .583 on-base percentage.
SCAC
Conference
Baseball
Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Quinn went through our
7-Day Hitting Program
in 2007.
QUINN SALMON OF MILLSAPS COLLEGE, a 6-2,
200-pound senior first baseman from Lafayette, La., has been named the
SCAC Offensive Baseball Player-of-the-Week
for games played Saturday, February 2 through Sunday, February 10.
After backing up
Luke Morrow at first base the previous three seasons and getting his
first chance as a regular starter for the Majors in 2008, Salmon
had a breakout weekend, going a combined 7-for-10 at the plate with 12
RBIs, eight runs scored, three home runs (grand slam) and two doubles to
help lead Millsaps to a three-game weekend sweep at the Wilson/DeMarini
Classic in Jackson.
Salmon picked up his first career home run on Friday in an 18-9
win over LaGrange in odd fashion, chugging around the bases after the
ball stayed in the park to record the rare inside-the-park home run. An
inning later, he added to a monster day with a grand slam over the left
centerfield wall, followed by a pair of RBI-singles to finish the day
4-for-5 from the plate with a total of nine RBIs.