BASES instructors contract directly through BASES and lessons with these individuals may be scheduled through our Pro Shop. All instructors work within the BASES commission guidelines so a lesson with any BASES instructor is provided at the same rate to the customer. As such, lesson packages may be purchased at a discounted rate and may be used to obtain lessons administered by any BASES instructor and lesson packages may be shared between family members. In addition, BASES instructors are granted access to the Right View Pro video analysis software and its vast associated libraries of pro models and instructional tutorials. The extent to which video analysis is utilized during lessons with BASES instructors is at the sole discretion of the individual instructor.
(BASES Instructors photos and biographies are provided below)
BASES approved INDEPENDENT Instructors
BASES approved Independent instructors are those individuals that routinely use the BASES facility to perform lessons. These instructors set their own rates and develop their own schedules. Each of these instructors has an agreement with BASES management for rental of cage space to perform their lessons. Normally, you will pay all lesson fees to the Independent instructor at your agreed upon rate with them and that instructor will, in turn, reimburse BASES for the cage rental portion of the lesson. Although BASES does not manage the lessons of the Independent instructors or set their lesson rates, we always like feedback from their customers. If an Independent instructor is not providing quality instruction, BASES management reserves the right to discontinue special cage rental rates agreements we have with those instructors. In this way, you can rest assured that any instructor performing lessons as a BASES approved Independent instructor is doing so with, at least, an above average level of customer satisfaction and professionalism.
(BASES approved Independent Instructors are listed at the bottom of this page. Their contact information may be listed.)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS
Other individuals may use the BASES facility to perform lessons with their clients. Customers may rent cage space at our regular rates and have their own contracted instructor provide lessons during that time. No special cage rates will be given during these occurences AND customers may not use other instructors under the provisions of a monthly pass or other facility discount without paying the surcharge(s) outlined in their pass contract.
(scroll down to see photographs and biographies)
BASES Owner: Bob Lubaszewski
BASES Instructors
Baseball:
Rory Costello
Joel Kenney
Jon Leathers
Matt Lubaszewski
Harley Millar
and
Ron Baker (when in town)
Softball: Kaitlyn Giberson
Carey Jacobson
Christina 'Nina' Yeatman
Bob Lubaszewski - Owner
Bob, a life-long baseball enthusiast, has been involved in baseball as long as he can remember. It started with neighborhood Wiffelball in the back yard, continued with organized little league baseball, more pick-up games at the local sandlot and eventually high school baseball. He has been coaching youth baseball since (1980) his days in college at the University of Maryland at College Park. It was then that he answered an ad in his apartment complex's newsletter for a little league coach (he recalls that experience in the column to the left). Over the past 42 years Bob has been a manager and coach of various teams throughout the area including his son's youth baseball teams through the Linthicum-Ferndale Athletic Association (LFYAA). Most recently Bob has been involved as the Bench Coach/Scorekeeper/Statistician for the Baltimore Blue Crabs. He has also coached at the high school level.
A local product of the Baltimore area, Bob grew up in Dundalk (and yes, that means he is an avid bowler) where he attended Patapsco Senior High School and played JV Baseball, Varsity Football, and was a member of the Varsity Track team as a shot-putter. He later graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He has been employed in the nuclear power industry for the past 38 years, the most recent 32 years at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. He formed ENFUCO Enterprises, LLC (fka The Anne Arundel Sandlot Academies, LLC) in January 2007 and left his full-time career in nuclear energy in June 2007 (so he thought) to concentrate on the business of baseball at BASES (fka The Sandlot). Bob still acts as a part-time consultant to his former employer in the area of hazardous (radioactive) waste shipping.
He has been married to his wife, Pam, for 35 years (1985) and has lived in the same house in Linthicum, MD during that entire time. He has two sons, Bob Jr., who is a graduate of UMBC and works there now as an Assistant Director in Professional Studies and is a social media consultant for adventureweb.com, and Matt, who is a graduate of Penn-Foster High School, BASES Lead Instructor, founder of the Baltimore Blue Crabs, and a certified EMT. Bob is also a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Linthicum.
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
"I showed up at this meeting of the local litlle league organization. They were in need of a coach for one of the five teams in their organization. Two of us, both college students at the U of M, responded to the ad for coaching help. It amazed me that no parent answered the call. Rather than choosing one of us to be in charge of the team, they made us co-managers and I was on my way to one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The first thing we learned is that we inherited a team of 9-12 year olds from the previous season. This team, The Bombers, had not won a game that prior year. Furthermore, they were the victim of riducle from the other kids in the league. Our goal was to build thier confidence while teaching them the skills necessary to play the game properly. In the process we had hoped to win a few games too. That season far exceeded our wildest expectations. We helped those kids develop a new confidence in thier abilities. They finished in second place and were suddenly respected both on and off the field. This respect was not only because of their won-loss record but by the way they played each game. Manager of the Year honors was icing on the cake. The most memorable player from that team was a kid named Joe Hawkins. Joe was a big strong kid who was never taught how to properly hit a baseball. Once Joe learned how to swing the bat properly and he started to make contact, he was unstoppable. The look on his face when he made solid contact in our opening game and the ball sailed over the left-centerfield fence was priceless. He was never the same after that. To this day I always wonder what became of Joe Hawkins, Milton Rashid, Frank Campbell, Al Urso, Doug Northcutt, and all the other kids (yes, I remember all their names 27 years later) that made that season so special"
Coach Ron Baker
Ron Baker - Baseball / Softball Instructor
NOTE: Coach Ron is no longer a regular instructor at BASES since he moved to Myrttle Beach to teach golf. He does return periodically and is available for lessons when he returns to the area. As such, he is occasionally available for tune-ups or single sessions.
Coach Baker is another of the original 4 instructors at our facility. He now 'does it all' covering all aspects of baseball and softball with the exception of windmill pitching. When it comes to the mechanics of the swing, defense, or baseball pitching, Coach Ron is the guru.
Ron Baker is an All-Star player and power hitter. He played and coached little league for over 15yrs. After his 4 years on the baseball team in Cardinal Gibbons High School, he joined the Marine Corp in 1975 and pitched on the All American Baseball Team. After sustaining a severe foot injury in college, he joined the Coast Guard. He stayed in coaching his son (Ryan who is a former BASES pitching instructor) who has played with the Braves A and Florida Marlins AAA minor organizations.
Coach Ron took over the head coaching job of the JV Girls fastpitch team at North County High School in 2010. Although losing many of his top pitchers to the varsity team throughout the year, the team went 18-5 under his direction. He continued in that position during the 2011 season before taking on a position as assistant fastpitch softball hitting coach at Anne Arundel Community College. There he helped the team to the national finals where they lost 1-0 in the title game.
Today, he still plays the game of slow pitch softball winning batting titles and recently won a national title and voted most valuable player on the all tournament team. In addition, Coach Ron's Over 50 Men's Slowpitch Softball Team won the 2010 Winter Nationals in Fort Myers, FL, in November 2010.
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
"I would have to say my most memorable experience was when I was coaching my son’s little league team. It was all fun and just a game in those days; and to an extent it still is. However, as you start to dream it as a career, the business factor is seriously introduced.My son Ryan always took the game too serious when playing little league; because he was the all star on the team and that made him very competitive.He constantly got upset when other teammates could not perform up to his level. If you’ve ever coached, I’m sure a RYAN has been on your team that needed the trait of “coachability”.
The team I was coaching was very inept and lost every game in the 1stround of the season. Even though the kids were getting discouraged, I kept them focused on the purpose of practice and drills. As a result of lots of hard work, we finished first in the 2nd round and made the playoffs. In the Championship game we were losing by 1 and I had my best player, Ryan, pitching.He was overthrowing and the catcher was having difficulty catching his pitches. Ryan was blaming the catcher and started to cop an attitude. I wanted to win the game for the kids but I knew this was my opportunity to teach Ryan and his teammates a valuable lesson about having a good attitude and honor. So I sat him on the bench and put in one of our less experienced pitchers, Johnny Bishoff.In short, John didn’t strike anybody out but he put a great deal of his heart into this pressured situation and threw strikes. He got the opponent out until we could win the game in extra innings. That day, the entire team, Ryan and parents came to learn that sports is all about having fun and building the characteristics to be a better human being. It makes me so proud to hear from others players that have come in contact with Ryan.His teammates in the minors state how much of a gentlemen he is.Until this day I know my son was taught valuable lessons in little league." “That day when my Father pulled me out of the game, changed my whole attitude. It taught me how to appreciate the efforts of those around you and (it taught me) that goals are achieved by a group working together. This works not only in team sports but in life as well." - Ryan Baker(Former Professional Baseball Player of six years with the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins Organizations) -
Coach Matt
Matt Lubaszewski - Baseball Instructor
Matt is 30 years old, a graduate of Penn-Foster High School, and was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a home-schooled High School player in three varsity sports: Football for the Central Md. Christian Crusaders; Basketball for the CHEN Chargers; and Baseball for the CHEN Chargers. Matt was most recently the head coach of the freshman team at Good Counsel High School and had spent the four years as the head baseball coach for the CHEN Chargers High School Varsity Baseball Team. He is also the founder of the Baltimore Blue Crabs baseball travel organization. He most recently served as the head coach of the 16U Tournament Showcase team. He has previously served as head coach to the 13U Sandlot Saints, the 13U & 14U Kingson Royals, hitting coach for the 14U Catonsville Cubs, and hitting coach for the 15U Spring Grove baseball team.
Although his sports participation is varied, his love lies with baseball. He has been playing on organized baseball teams since the age of 4. Eight years ago he completed his final year playing first base for the CHEN Chargers Varsity Baseball Team. As a home-schooled student, being able to participate in organized athletics at the High School level was a blessing. Matt aspires to continue being a part of baseball. He enjoys teaching and instructing younger players in what he has learned over the past 20 years in the sport.
Matt is a certified Emergency Medical Technician. He is currently works at Med-Care in Towson and is a member at the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department where he has served as 2nd Lieutenant and 1st Lieutenant of the EMS Division at that station.
Matt works closely with the other instructors and assists with Clinics, Camps, and Lessons. He has run the BASES Summer Camp program for the past several years (his 12th consecutive year with BASES Summer Camps). He has been giving private and semi-private lessons over the past twelve years.
Matt has also served as an Associate Scout with the Baltimore Orioles Baseball Club from 2015 through 2018.
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
"Coming Soon!"
Coach Nina
Christina 'Nina' Yeatman - Softball Instructor
Nina was born in Annapolis, MD and grew up on the Braodneck Peninsula. Playing ball since she was 6 years old, she became a 4-year starter at Broadneck High School (BHS) between 2001 and 2005 while playing middle infield. During her years at BHS, she served as a conselor at the school's summer softball camp, assisting campers with hitting and fielding.
After graduation, Nina attended UNC at Greensboro for a year then transferred to the University of Delaware where she remained until graduating in January 2010 with aBS in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Coaching Science. Throughout college Nina was involved in intramural athletics, playing and officiating games. She started her softball coaching career while in college. Nina coached recreational softball for high schoolers during 2008 and was Freshmen Head Coach at Newark High School in the spring of 2009.
In 2010, Nina went north to spend the summer in the Berkshire Mountain region of Hinsdale, MA to serve as a specialty counselor for Baseball/Softball at Camp Tacaonic, a residential summer camp. While there, she acted as a lead for softball, helping to develop daily plans/activities for campers. Nina also acted as a coach for the intercamp softball team, hosting tryouts and working with other counselors to develop the skills of those on the team.
A week after returning home from camp, Nina accepted a position as a Health and Physical Education teacher at Caroline Middle School in Milford, VA for the 2010-2011 school year. While teaching in Virginia, Nina took the position as JV Head Coach at Caroline High School. Following the end of the school year, she returned home where she plans to coach and teach in the Anne Arundel County School system.
Starting the summer of 2011, Nina went back to Broadneck High School to coach their softball camp. During the spring 2012 season she joined the BHS staff as JV assistant coach, also working with varsity during the playoffs. She obtained the position as Varsity Softball Head Coach this past year and is preparing for her first season in that role.
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
"I don't have ONE memorable coaching moment as each season brings something special or memorable. But most recently, last season at BHS, when we started the season we had a player whose skill level was below the rest of the team's and who would not see much playing time. Being upfront with her from the beginning, we told her this which she gladly accepted as she just wanted to learn more about the game and hone her skills. With her positive personality, heart, dedication, and hard work she quickly improved, becoming our starting center fielder within a few short weeks. Among the coaches she was referred to as "Money" as she constantly caught fly balls we didn't think any outfielder could reach. Any fly ball she caught, great play she made, or ball she hit, I cheered the loudest. I don't know who was more proud or her biggest fan, her parents or me. She surpassed all expectations we had of her during the season and truly proved how far hard work can take you. I eagerly await upcoming seasons to see how each player has improved and how much closer they are to reaching their potential."
Coach Carey
Carey Jacobson - Softball / Pitching Instructor
Former Old Mill High School assistant varsity softball coach, Carey has played men's fastpitch or coached girls 12 and under up to women's unlimited teams for nearly 50 years. His teams have won several A.S.A. state and regional championships, and have qualified for and participated in 14 and under A.S.A. national (1989) and women's unlimited A.S.A. nationals.
The past 20 plus years coach Jacobson has devoted his time to teaching the proper fundamentals of fastpitch to both beginners and advanced high school and college pitchers. He has conducted clinics at middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Carey has, and continues to instruct several collegiate pitchers. He enjoys spending most of his summer observing pitchers at various tournaments.
Coach jacobson is retired from Northrup Grumman. He has lived in Glen Burnie with his wife for 45 years. He has two daughters, 3 granddaughters (all play softball) and one grandson.
He is looking forward to meeting and working with the girls at BASES.
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
In 1989 Maryland girl's fastpitch had only two sanctioning bodies, ASA and Pony. ASA was, by far, the biggest and most competitive. To qualify for the ASA National Championship Tournament teams had to advance from a Regional Tournament by finishing first or second. Each state could only send its first and second place teams to the ASA Regionals. At that time all tournaments were double elimination. Only 54 teams from the entire county qualified for the 14U ASA National Championship.
That year, I was coaching my daughter, Karen's 14U team under Greater Glen Burnie (GGB) Travel. Our by-laws resticted ourroster to only girls that played on GGB's intramural teams (no recruited players were allowed as on most travel teams). This team worked hard and practiced often. As runner-up in the State Tournament, this team qualified for the ASA Regionals at Virginia Beach. They were the first GGB softball team to travel out of state to a regional tournament. At that time, the Maryland Gazette covered youth travel softball more extensively than they do today, even sending a reporter to the VA Regionals. The paper published a lengthy story about the "other" state qualified from the Pasadena area, but only mentioned that GGB would be participating.
After losing our first game in the regionals, Karen pitched a no-hitter against the Virginia Bullets, advancing our team to Sunday. That day Karen pitched through intermittent showers and won three consecutive games. With each game I could see not only the player's resolve to win but also heard the increasing enthusiasm of their parents cheering them on. In our final game ofthe day, fate would have us playing and defeating the all-star laden team from Pasadena. We had qualified for the ASA Nationals! As I watched Karen and several other players from our team being inetrviewed by the Gazette reporter, I could not have been prouder of every single one of them. Not only did we attend the Nationals in Chattanooga, TN, we are still the only team from Glen Burnie to have recorded a win in ASA Nationals' history.
There have been so many memorable moments in my forty plus years of softball. My favorite was watching my daughter sign her letter of intent to pitch for NCAA Division I, UMBC.
