Sharks Baseball

Welcome To The Official Twitter of the Virginia Sharks Baseball Program

[Michael Sylvester @michael3693]

@VASharks your son will also have the opportunity to show his skills at college style combines and showcases. This coaching staff has a vast network of contacts and are more than willing to help players get in front of collegiate coaches.

[Michael Sylvester @michael3693]

@VASharks If your son is considering playing baseball at the next level and hasn’t gotten the attention he thinks he deserves, the VA Sharks is a great way to increase the eyeballs on him. He’ll play tough local tournaments in front of D1, D2, D3 and JUCO coaches.

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

ATTENTION 2027’s and 2028’s
Join The Virginia Sharks This Summer!
@FlatgroundBats @FlatgroundApp
#DMV #Tradition #BeSeen

[Randy Sullivan MPT, CSCS @RandySullivanPT]

My middle son, Ryan, was a skinny 9th grader with a weak arm and virtually no bat

62 mph pulldown

His best swings barely cleared the infield

And he was deceptively slow

He tried out the for the JV team at our high school as a second baseman

His older brother had starred at the same school and was now playing in college

To my knowledge, no one had ever been cut from the JV team

Ryan was cut from the JV team

That night we watched Rudy

My idea

I expected a pity party

Instead, he looks at me and says:

“Dad… we screwed up the position. You know how to train pitchers. Next year I’m not trying out for JV. I’m MAKING VARSITY… as a pitcher.”

I did a double take

Swallowed hard

“Sure, Ry. But that means you work. Every. Single. Day.”

I figured it would last a week

It lasted a year

He lived at The ARMory

Every night

Like a man possessed

He gained 20 pounds (up to 145)

Fastball to 75

Added a changeup

And showed a crazy, unanticipated knack for living in the strike zone

He tried out for Varsity as a pitcher

He made the team

And never played

All season: clean pants, empty stat line

Last game of the year, bases loaded, 2 outs

He finally gets in… to pinch run at first

One pitch

Routine ground ball

Force out at second

Season over

Next year, his velo is up to 82

The staff is loaded

Three weeks left in the season… still hasn’t thrown a pitch

Then comes the promise

Soft opponent on the schedule

Coach says, “Ryan’s starting.”

I clear my calendar

4 pm, my phone rings

“Hey bud, you ready? You nervous?”

“I’m excited… but I’m not nervous.”

Pause

“Because I’m not pitching. Rex is pitching.”

My heart sinks

Rex?

We don’t have a Rex

I’m running through the roster in my head

“Who the heck is Rex?”

“Dad, you’re gonna love him.
Rex is 6’8” and throws 96.”

Ryan is 5’9” and tops at 82

Suddenly, Rex sounds like a better option

I get to the field right as the anthem ends

There’s no 6’8” dude

Just my 5’9” son, grinning

Ryan had invented an alter ego

That night, Rex took the ball

Same 82 mph fastball

Completely different presence

Rex walked like an ace

Breathed like an ace

Stared in like an ace

Attacked the zone like an ace

He refused to throw a ball

Groundout. Pop up. Groundout. Weak fly.
Over and over.

By the 5th inning it was 12–0

He had given up 1 hit

He punches out the last hitter

Game over on a mercy rule

The team dog piles him on the mound

Ryan (a.k.a. Rex) had just thrown a one-hit shutout

Same body

Same arm

Same 82 mph

Different identity

Everyone wants a new pitch, a new drill, a new program

Sometimes the unlock is simpler:

You don’t need a new body

You need a new alter ego

In baseball or in life

Name the version of you who attacks the zone

Then let him (or her) take the ball

Find your Rex

[Patrick Jones @pjonesbaseball]

I had a conversation with a Power 4 college coach who’s been doing this for 25+ years.

We were talking about the mentality of high school players during the recruiting process.

Here’s what he told me:

“What these kids don’t realize is…

I don’t care how many followers you have.
I don’t care how many home runs you hit in travel ball.
I don’t care how many offers you have.
I don’t care about your ranking.
I don’t care how hard you can hit a ball.
I don’t care about your metrics.

The only thing I care about is this:

Are you going to produce in between those white lines when we play this season?”

Then he said something else that hit:

“They’ve been so protected that the first time they fail, they quit… or they transfer.”

And here’s the part that matters.

The biggest development mistake I see?

Players don’t plan for failure.

They plan for success.
They visualize success.
They expect success.

But they don’t prepare for 0-4.
They don’t prepare for getting booed.
They don’t prepare for sitting the bench.
They don’t prepare for struggling for 3 weeks.

So when it happens — and it will — they panic.

Instead of executing a pre-made plan, they try to create one while emotional.

That never works.

Failure is coming.

The question is:
Did you already decide how you’re going to handle it?

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

True Story
I was scouting the state of Georgia and went to a high school game to see a kid that was supposedly a really good prospect.
He was sitting in the dugout while his teammates stretched and threw.
I asked the coach if he was hurt, and he said no, he just doesn't do those things with his teammates.
I said how is his makeup, and his coach said it's awful.
I watched a few innings and left.
The kid was a 1st round talent.
He ended sliding to the 3rd or 4th round and of course didn't sign.
He went to a juco and ended up getting drafted in the first round (big miss by the team that drafted him).
One problem after another in the minor leagues, but they gave him a shot in the big leagues, and he failed miserably, then quit.
A lot of these kids will let you know who they are before the game even starts.
Makeup matters.

[Gavin Sylvester @GavinSylvester0]

I’m blessed and excited to announce my commitment to Misericordia University to continue my academic and athletic journey! Grateful for my family, coaches, and Coach Egbert and Coach Horne for this opportunity. #GoCougars
@Misericordia_BB @BWBaseball1 @VASharks @d1graphicsco

[Trent Mongero @CoachMongero]

Great share…. Pressure is real. Big league superstars feel it too. Listen to Mookie talk about how he was battling his nerves at the end of the game. Big take away with the self talk and then refers to all the work put in on the back fields before the season paying off for his elite defense. Love it!

@DirtBroUSA
@CoachTaberM

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

Players
You need to be around the people that expect your best and are willing to hold you accountable.

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

@DezBryant You lose the team and your culture. Best players play. If it’s even you play the kid who is invested in the TEAM and has put the work in with his teammates. TEAM FIRST always!!!!! There is No Entitlement!!!

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

2026 Sharks Catcher Lucas Sandino blasts a Solo HR over the left center field fence and hits a 2-RBI Double to help secure a 7-0 victory on Sunday vs the Royal Blues at EMU. @Sandino2026 @PB_Uncommitted @BUncommitted @FlatgroundBats @FlatgroundApp

[Gavin Sylvester @GavinSylvester0]

Had a great time at #DBNOVAClassic this weekend. Batted .500 | 5 H (3 1B, 2 3B) | 3 SB

@VASharks @BWBaseball1 @DynamicBaseball
@BUncommitted @BaseballCf @UncommittedUsa @UncommittedEAST #uncommitted2026

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

@CoachSwit Should absolutely not be posting offers. Bad etiquette and haven’t met one college coach that is a fan of it.

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

2026 Catcher with a strong arm and powerful bat! Keep up working hard Lucas!

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

College Coaches, this young man can flat out anchor your outfield! Can fly, and has a great bat and arm! Prototype Leadoff Hitter with speed to burn!!! High Character with big upside!

[Gavin Sylvester @GavinSylvester0]

Wrapped up a great summer on the field with @VASharks huge thanks to Coach Hayes!
13 GP |.432 AVG | .512 OBP | 12 RBIs | 12 SB | 1.025 OPS
⬇️Throw from CF up the line @Sandino2026 for the out at the plate.

@BUncommitted #Uncommitted2026 @UncommittedStud @FlatgroundBats

[Gavin Sylvester @GavinSylvester0]

Wrapped up a great summer on the field with @VASharks huge thanks to Coach Hayes!
13 GP |.432 AVG | .512 OBP | 12 RBIs | 12 SB | 1.025 OPS
⬇️Throw from CF up the line @Sandino2026 for the out at the plate.

@BUncommitted #Uncommitted2026 @UncommittedStud @FlatgroundBats

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

Character Wins……….It’s that simple. If you have a group of High Character people on your roster, you have a chance to do something special together.

Build around Character, with a Passion for the Game, and Talent…..and watch what happens.

[Prospect Select Scout @PSBaseballScout]

Nick Rock ('26,VA) 🎓 • #Uncommitted

#PSCoverage | @C5Telitesports | @nickrock_24

👤https://t.co/CNw2YKAnGI

[Sharks Baseball @VASharks]

@RealCJ10 Chipper, you and the rest of the old school guys know that swing and miss doesn’t win championships…..Hopefully the trend of power only focus begins to dwindle so the youth can learn how to become all-around hitters again!