The South Bend SilverHawks had a total of 11 players that were named to the Midwest League All Star game, and not surprisingly, the team has secured their spot in the playoffs by winning the first half pennant in the league's Eastern Division.
“You tell these guys to do something, they do it,” South Bend strength and conditioning coach Rick Spenner, said.
Spenner, who spent a few seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, said he felt this particular team was special.
“Don’t get me wrong, the Brewers organization was great,” Spenner said. “(The Diamondbacks) put such an emphasis on doing everything possible to prepare you when you are on the field.”
Jeremy Milons, who went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs, and a stolen base on his way to winning the Midwest League All-Star Game MVP, talked about the type of chemistry South Bend has displayed this season.
“It’s basically the same team as last year,” Milons said. “We’ve really developed a chemistry in our offense.”
In addition to chemistry, Milons said he felt the preparation that was put in by the coaches helped as well.
“It all starts with the coaches making sure they are getting us ready and we have to really look over the reports that we get before the games.”
Pitcher A.J. Shappi, who was one of the 11 selected, felt the adjustments have been a key factor in their success.
“It has been special to be on a team of such high quality,” Shappi said. “Hitters one through nine are making adjustments.”
South Bend manager Mark Haley said he felt the year has been exceptional.
“We have had a great first half,” Haley said in a post-game interview. “We’ve been very fortunate thus far. We just have a great group of kids that just work very hard.”
“A lot of these kids have never played a full season of baseball,” Spenner said. “Some of them are tired by the time we hit August because they are either injured or burned out. The structure, approach and coaching style here has been very different to what I’ve experienced in the past.”
--Jason Blasco is a freelance writer for Beckett Football and Beckett Baseball Magazine. He is a contributor to the Peoria Times Observer, and is based out of Peoria, Ill.
