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: Rob Amaro
Ron Baker
Matt Lubaszewski Joe Pfistner
Zach Snyder
Softball: Ron Baker
Heather Brown
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 20 years Bob has been a manager and coach of 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 Kingson Royals and the CHEN Chargers High School Baseball team for home schooled students and assistant coach of The Sandlot and BASES in-house travel teams.
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 31 years, the most recent 27 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 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 29 years (1985) and has lived in the same house in Linthicum, MD during that entire time. He has two sons, Bob Jr., who recently graduated from UMBC and is a social media consultant for adventureweb.com, and Matt, who is a graduate of Penn-Foster High School, a baseball instructor, and most recently, 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
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 25 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 is currently the head coach of the freshman team at Good Counsel High School and had spent the past three years as the head baseball coach for the CHEN Chargers High School Varsity Baseball Team. He also serves as the head coach of the 14U Kingson Royals and is the current vice-president of the Kingson Royals Youth Athletic Ministry (KRYAM). He has also served as head coach to the Sandlot Saints, 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. Seven 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 playing 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 a member at the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department. Matt aspires to pursue a career as a paramedic.
Matt works closely with the other instructors and assists with Clinics, Camps, and Lessons. He will be running the BASES Summer Camp in August, 2014. He has been giving private and semi-private lessons over the past six years.
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.
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 46 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.
Coach Zach
Zach Snyder - Baseball Instructor
Zach is the Head Club baseball coach at Stevenson University which runs as a developmental team for players to refine their game and move onto the varsity level when ready while also being the Head Varsity baseball coach at The Key School in Annapolis, MD, a position which he has maintained over the past four years. Prior to his current coaching positions at Stevenson and Key, Zach coached a travel fall ball team for the Reisterstown Recreation Council. Zach also was a scout for local high school talent for Widener University from September 2011- June 2013.
As a player, Zach played all over the infield primarily at pitcher and catcher for Beth Tfiloh High School in Pikesville, MD and went on to play college baseball at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the 18U Maryland Metro team, Baltimore Waves, who made history by winning back to back state championships and advancing to the Dizzy Dean World Series in South Haven, Mississippi. Zach currently plays in the Mid Maryland Semi Professional Baseball League for the Baltimore Bobcats (2011 MMSPBL champions) as a catcher and pitcher on occasion.
Snyder’s day job is as government contractor for SAIC in Columbia, MD, which he has done ever since he graduated from college in May 2010.
Coach Zach has taken a small private high school at The Key School who had very little baseball history and has made it into a favorite for the conference championship for the upcoming baseball season of 2014. After winning the championship in 2009 and losing 5 senior starters who were the foundation of the team, they restarted the program and have built a serious contender for the conference championship once again returning 3 all conference members.
Zach has preached one quote in particular his entire coaching career; the quote came from a fellow peer he attended high school with who has suffered from over 20 surgeries, a tracheotomy, blood transfusions, spending a summer in a hip spica cast and learning how to walk again. After going through all of this, that friend recently went through the passing of his mother from a stage IV brain tumor. After experiencing all these hardships his friend puts life in perspective with a quote that Zach preaches and will continue to preach for the rest of his coaching career.
Click quote above for full letter from Matthew Jeffers
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
"I would have to say my most memorable coaching moment to date came during the spring 2013 season in the first round of the playoffs. It had been 2 years since we had made a playoff appearance at The Key School and the previous two years had been rough in terms of wins and losses. We finally made it back and reached the playoffs when we were down to our last out in the top of the 7th inning down 4-2. We had our number 8 and 9 hitters up both of who were down in the 0-2 and they both fought back with tremendous at bats to each work a walk leaving us with men on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs down by two when our leadoff hitter an extremely gifted athlete who had never played baseball before in his life came up to the plate and stroked a triple into the gap platting both runs and tying the game at 4. He would later score the go ahead run on a single by the next hitter sending us to the semi finals where we hadn’t been in 3 years. I will never forget that moment as loud and excited everyone on the team and all the fans in the stands were."
Coach Rob
Rob Amaro - Baseball Instructor
Rob is 24 years old and a graduate of the University of Virginia. He moved to Baltimore in September, 2014, as a result of his job with Under Armour. Rob hails from the Philadelphia area, playing baseball, basketball, and football during his youth.
Rob played college baseball at the University of Virginia from 2010 through 2013. In 2011 his team reached the college world series in Omaha. Rob played his last season in 2014 at Temple University as a graduate student. He has had the experience of playing with and against some of the most talented young players in professional baseball today and is very focused on baseball year-round. Rob strives to assist the area youth in achieveing "greatness" in baseball. During his high school years he devoted his time in summer to baseball camps for the Richie Ashburn Foundation, which offers free camps to underpriveledged youth in the Philadelphia area. Rob believes strongly in the term' student-athlete'; baseball is a way for kids to earn college scholarships and achieve a greater education.
In his spare time, Rob enjoys watching sports - especially his home town, Philadelphia, teams. He is currently developing his future with his fiancee, Rachel, as the two look to establishing Charm City as their permanent home. Rob also comes from a welll established baseball family. His grandfather, Rueben Amaro, played for the New York Yankees back in the 1960's and 1970's while his uncle, Rueben Amaro, Jr. is the General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
My Most Memorable Coaching Experience
COMING SOON!
Coach Joe
Joe Pfistner - Baseball / Instructor Joe has been an assistant varsity baseball coach at North County High School, a position which he has maintained over the past eight years. In that position he worked primarily as a hitting instructor. Prior to his coaching position at North County High School, Joe coached at General McLane High School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Joe runs the BASES Saturday morning Winter Hitting Camps (January & February). Recently, he has also given private lessons at the Harford Sandlot Academy in Forrest Hills, Maryland and ran the Sandlot Summer Baseball Camps at that location.
As a player, Joe played middle infield at Palisades High School in eastern Pennsylvania and went on to play college baseball at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
Joe's day job (when he's not having fun with baseball) is in sales in the publishing industry. He recently left his position as science/math teacher at North County High School. Before that he taught 6th grade science at Old Mill Middle School and 5th grade and kindergarten at North Glen Elementary school.
Joe's passion for the game is evidenced by his reputation. He has worked with players of all ages and his coaching philosophy is based on breaking down each aspect of the game and understanding why it is important to do the small things right. Joe believes it is essential to work from the ground up. His hitting philosophy is best summarized by the spelling of his last name:
P - Patience F - Focus I - Inside (keep hands inside of ball) S - Stance T - Timing N - Never take eyes off of ball E - Explode R - Repetition
Coach Joe has recently launched the "On Deck with Coach Pfistner" section of our web-site to help players, parents, and coaches with drills, coaching philosophy, and advanced strategy.
