Metamora Flames

2020 14U USA State Champs /2021 14U USA Sate Runner Up/ 2023 16U USSSA National Champions

[Metamora Flames @MetamoraFlames]

Never Satisfied! Stay Hungry!

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

A parent asked me:

“My son crushes higher velocity…
but against slower pitching he keeps hitting balls off the end of the bat.”

One adjustment I learned as a player that I now teach my hitters:

A lot of hitters hit balls off the end of the bat against slower pitching…

because their trigger starts too early for the pitcher’s tempo.

Your trigger = when you begin getting ready to hit off the pitcher.

One thing Dusty Baker used to tell me was:

“When the pitcher shows his back pocket… you show yours.”

Against average velocity…
that worked great for me.

But against slower pitchers…

I learned to delay my trigger until later in the delivery... sometimes around hand separation.

Against higher velocity…

I might start getting ready as the pitcher lifts his leg.

The point is:

you can’t use the SAME trigger for every pitcher speed.

That’s why some hitters:
-pull off
-get out front
-hit balls off the end
-struggle staying through the baseball
against slower pitching.

So here’s something players can work on TONIGHT:

During batting practice:
-mix in different pitching tempos
-consciously delay your trigger against slower speeds
-focus on letting the baseball travel deeper

One thing I also use with this is the Barry Bonds drill I talked about earlier:

-catching the baseball with the top hand
-tracking the ball deeper
-training adjustability

Because great hitters don’t just have good swings…

they learn how to match timing to different tempos.

Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis

P.S. - my goal is to help players play in high school, college, and pro...just like I did.

P.S.S. - if you found this helpful and enjoyed it, please share it. That tells me you want more content like this.

[QU Women's Basketball @QUHawksWBB]

Part 2. Close combat #brickbybrick🧱

[QU Women's Basketball @QUHawksWBB]

You don’t have to, you get to!! 🦅🦅 #1percentbetter

[QU Women's Basketball @QUHawksWBB]

We would like to thank @mayawong23 for teaching us about what it means to be mentally tough. #1percentbetter

[Jordan Bohannon @JordanBo_3]

Just watched this guy come out into the Iowa section and take a picture with every fan that came up to him. That says a lot!!Making history in the Elite 8. Iowa kid to his core. How can you not root for a kid like that!!! @Jrkoch8 COOOOP!!!

[Justin Dehm @JustinDehm]

It would be so easy to just ask @NestoHoops to do them!

If @IHSA_IL asked coaches throughout the state, I guarantee they would prefer his system over MaxPreps’ flawed AI rankings.

After we won the state championship, MaxPreps still had us ranked below the team we beat!

[Metamora Boys Basketball @MetamoraBBB]

Congratulations to our own @CooperKoch_8 and his Iowa Hawkeyes for advancing to the SWEET 16! Big game from Coop!

[QU Women's Basketball @QUHawksWBB]

🦅🦅🔥

[Fryedaddy/Frito @shegone03]

THIS IS THE BEST EXPLANATION OF HOW THE SWING SHOULD WORK I HAVE SEEN ON THIS PLATFORM!

“Barrel depth” is a newer term that the #gurus love to use and I laugh every time I hear it because people who understand hitting know that every thing you do with your barrel behind you creates a longer swing!

Great job Wil Pujols!

Video courtesy of @gmaloney125

#shegone
@notgaetti @BobFile @twuench @billdubs @SliderDominate @slider_sinker @iamrags @CRAIG_LAPINER @hittingguru7 @artofhitting @ROXSystem @BLocsports @TheRealJHair @DMEASrecruiting @GDBJr5 @mikepiazza31 @RealCJ10

[Matt Antonelli @MattAAntonelli]

I watched every 3-2 take by Bryce Harper in 2025. Here’s what it revealed:

1️⃣ Yes, Yes, No Approach - he is swinging until the ball tells him “no”. His barrel starts to turn on almost 100% of his takes. You will see these type of “active takes” with pretty much every high level hitter

2️⃣ He Can Stop Late - because his barrel turns rearward and creates depth, it allows him shut down or abort his swing as late as possible. This gives him a longer time to identify pitch speed, shape, and location

[Justin Dehm @JustinDehm]

Our boys showed a ton of resilience fighting back from down 8 at half after an abysmal 3-18 from 3. Took a 6 point lead into the 4th. Went 8-20 in 2nd half and withstood a great buzzer beater pull-up 3 to send it to OT. Stayed together and found a way. GBW 1-3-1 is very tough.

[Metamora Boys Basketball @MetamoraBBB]

Celebratory team dinner at Buca di Beppo after the round 1 win in the @JackToshHC!!

[Justin Dehm @JustinDehm]

Metamora 56
Nazareth 46

Birds with good balance today. Play tomorrow at 6:00 against the winner of Glenbard West and Yorkville.

Jones 12
Bucy 12
Morrison 10

[Justin Dehm @JustinDehm]

Birds protect home court tonight with a 62-61 win over Peoria High.

Now in sole possession of the 6th longest home win streak in Illinois HS basketball history.

Bucy 18
Koch 14
Vasquez 9
Jones 9
Geier 8

[Justin Dehm @JustinDehm]

Metamora 66
IVC 40

Birds improve to 2-2 on the season.
We travel to the Quad Cities to take on United Township tonight at 4:30.

Geier 17
Koch 11
Jones 7
Taylor 7

[Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes]

Zohran Mamdani becoming New York City Mayor is Charlie Kirk’s words coming true

2 days before he was assassinated, he said the Left will use Islam to bring down America

“The spiritual battle is coming to the West and the enemies are woke-ism or Marxism combining with Islamism to go after what we call the American way of life”

“The American way of life is very simple. I want to be able to get married, buy a home, have kids, allow them to ride their bike till the sun goes down, send them to a good school, have a low crime neighborhood, not to have my kid be taught the lesbian, gay, transgender garbage in their school. While also, not having them have to hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. That's important.”

“These two threats are combining forces to come after us.”

[Justin Dehm @JustinDehm]

“Skill is not a possession acquired by an individual, nor a fixed property of the performer, but rather a dynamically varying relationship captured by the constraints imposed by the environment and the resources of the performer.”
-Arujo & Davids

[Heartland Hoops @HeartlandHoop]

🔍 from today’s open gym @MetamoraBBB: Notably no seniors for the Redbirds but a talented young group.

‘28 6’5” F @Brady_Jones28 brings great versatility with his frame & skillset, ready to take another step forward after a strong freshman campaign starting varsity.

‘28 6’3” W @_Sam_Koch will be a breakout star in the Mid-Illini. Projectable length, scoring feel & still growing. Recently took an unofficial visit to Drake.

‘28 6’0” PG @Collin108339292 is a smooth operator running the show with great poise & ability to score in variety of ways.

‘28 6’5” F @Cam_Beek is a plus athlete with strong physical tools & arrow pointing up.

‘27 6’0” G Logan Vasquez another guard capable of making an impact on & off ball.

‘29 6’5” F Eamon Lynch also a long term prospect to track.

[Metamora Boys Basketball @MetamoraBBB]

2028 Collin Morrison is back to work this fall after a strong summer. The 5’11.5” (5’11” wingspan) 176 lbs PG continues to improve as a lead guard while still bringing toughness and winning qualities. He tested at a 33” max vert and a 225 lb bench press. Keep working Collin!

[QU Women's Basketball @QUHawksWBB]

Community service 🫡🫡