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"The guys at AE are as passionate about hitting as I am.
Hitting a baseball can be awfully tough. These are good guys--good teachers." --Tony Gwynn, 16-time All-Star and 8-time NL Batting Champion
"Phil isn't as good looking as he thinks
he is, but he knows all about hitting the baseball. He understands how to keep it simple and use what the player has
to work with. His guys get a lot better and have a good time. What more do you want to do?" --Bill Madlock, 4-time Major League Batting Champion, Instructor
"The measure
of a great lesson is the amount of knowledge transferred. The measure of a great coach is his ability to take a complicated
action such as hitting a golf ball or baseball, and break it down into the 200 components that comprise the action. Last
Saturday, I watched Coach Apostle adjust Willy's hips, lead leg, lead knee, upper torso, hands, wrists, head,
shoulders, elbow, and bat. Some of the adjustments were in two or three planes. Coach did this repeatedly
for an entire 30 minutes until one-by-one, the various parts fell into place. This was coaching at the highest level." --Charles Moore Youth Basketball and Baseball
Coach November 22, 2008
"Phil can flat out teach hitting.
He knows how to relate the game and swing essentials to his kids and keeps guys loose. I've coached hitting in the big
leagues for 9 seasons and I learn something every time we speak. I recommend his teaching." Clarence Jones, MLB Hitting Insrtuctor
"We have known Phil Apostle
for nearly ten years. Phil’s true strength is mentoring kids, youth to teenager.
His extraordinary skill as a baseball coach and trainer is defined by a keen depth and breadth of knowledge of both
the mental and physical game, on and off the field. Phil knows baseball and he knows kids.
He can break down a swing and affect small adjustments to find success and build confidence in each individual student.
Phil appreciates what each player brings to the game and works with him to maximize opportunity and broaden skill sets.
He inspires the best out of each and every player. His goal is to take each athlete beyond his potential
to be certain that he achieve his personal best. Phil is tireless, intuitive and supportive; loyal and
honest. Phil’s passion for baseball and for what he does is infectious and energizes all who are
around him." --Nina Schroeder, Glencoe, Mother of NTHS catcher Johnny Schroeder
A wonderful letter from summer 2008: Hey Phil!
I wanted to drop you a line, as well as a heart felt thank you, for
all the
help, guidance, and support you gave me throughout my baseball
career. My senior season was all I could have hoped
for in college.
I wanted to share with you just a few of the highlights. First and
foremost, this year was
an excellent test in leadership and community
on our team - we went to our coach at the end of last season and told
him we as seniors and captains were going to change the culture on our
team, and return to winning ways. If baseball
in college has been
anything, it's been a test of friendships, a crash course in how to
lead, and a great experience
with friends. We succeeded in our pledge
to our coach, and set a school wins record with 27, and made it to the
conference championship. We lost there to Johns Hopkins, the eventual
runner up in D-III. It wasn't for lack of opportunity, just lack of
pitching. We were tied 1-1 in the ninth, and my buddy hit a two run
home run to go up 3-1, and then in what would
be my final college AB,
i homered to left field. In the bottom of the ninth, however, they
rallied to win.
We had beaten them the weekend before at their place
in the first end of a double header, and we lost the second game
in
the last innings after putting them on the ropes.
On more personal notes, I was named second
team all conference, the
first all conference honors I've ever earned. I ended up hitting .294
for the year,
.305 for the career, with 6 home runs this year. I was
co-MVP of the team, and I think I'm walking away from the
playing days
of my career knowing I've left it all out there, which is nice to know.
I also think that I've lived
up to what you once told me was the
greatest complement a baseball player could get, and that's that I was
a good
teammate.
I wanted to thank you for all your enthusiasm, hitting guidance, life
guidance, and friendship
over the years. As I transition into my
coaching career, you will be in the forefront of my mind as the type
of baseball guy I want to be. Thanks again for all your help, and let
me know when I can come buy you a beer.
--Will Stafford, ETHS Captain & Haverford
University MVP "Will
Stafford is the reason coaches like myself do what we do. He is why we wake up at 3am wondering how our kids
will mentally bounce back from adversity and why we get nervous every weekend knowing they're out driving around. Coaching
baseball isn't hard. It's when you fall in love with the kids you coach that you truly experience the joys and depth
of emotion competing can bring. I can no longer play effectively, but knowing and being priviledged to coach kids like
Will Stafford surpasses any success I could have hoped for as a player." --Phil Apostle, AE Baseball
ELITE
HALL OF FAMERS
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| Mark Mazzone, IF, Amherst 2007 |
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| Ross Donnan C-IF, ETHS, Monmouth College, 2008 |
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| Derek Anderson, LHP, Trinity College 2010 |
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| James Hall, OF, New Trier-Denison University 2007 |
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| Will Stafford, Catcher, Haverford, 2008 |
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| Danny Pritz, OF, Denison University 2011 |
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| Jimmy Heinz, IF, Cornell University 2008 |
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| Austin Turban, OF, Bucknell university 2008 |
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| Aiden Lucas, C-P, Denison University 2010 |
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| Sam Franklin, OF, Harvard University 2011 |
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| Matt Fritz, IF, Bradley University 2010 |
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| Tim Sullivan, RHP, Johns Hopkins University 2010 |
HONOR
ROLL...
Thunder, Jacks, AE on the Diamond & In the Classroom!
Jonathan Fixler-Houston Astros (Indiana University), Zach Martin-Miami OH, Rob Russell-Rollins, Brad Shapiro-Indiana, Michael
Wertheimer-Maryland, Matt Haman-Belmont, Mike Murtaugh-Coe College, Ben Gardner-Depauw , Miles Clauss-Texas,
Dan Soltman- Yale, Brad Altbeck-Bradley, Andy Vogler-William & Mary, Adam Rosales-Cincinnati
Reds, Ted Skalla-Gettysbug, Mac Murphy-Miami, Spencer Mains-Claremont Mckenna, Luke Sundheim-Northwestern, Rob
Anderson-Amherst, Chris Lashmet-Northwestern, Trey Frahler-Bucknell, Walker McKinven-Binghamton, Matt Pfister-Cornell,
TJ O'Donnell-Augustana
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