CONNECTICUT

Bethel
Fairfield
Milford
Old Lyme
Orange
Westport
windsor

Gary Burnham

• 12 year professional career
  
• 1993 South Windsor High School All American
  
• 1993 Gatorade CT State Player of the Year
  
• 1995 3rd Team All American (Clemson University)
  
• 1995 Participant College World Series
  
• 1996 Participant College World Series
  
• 1997 Clemson University Team MVP
  
• 1997 22nd Round Draft Choice Philadelphia Phillies
  
• 2002 AAA Toronto Blue Jays MVP
  
• 2002 AAA All Star Game Starting 1B
  
• 2005 Atlantic League All Star OF
  
• 2006 AA Philadelphia Phillies All Time HR Leader (56)
  
• 2006 Won Triple Crown amongst all Phillies Minor Leaguers (.348 BA, 16 HR, 68 RBI)
  
• 2007 AAA Philadelphia Phillies Team MVP
  
• 2008 All Time Hitting Streak For a Foreign Player in Taiwan (23 games)
  
• 2009 Signed Major League Contract in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines
  

Location: Windsor, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or




Sean Fesh

• 17 year professional career
  
• Played for 6 Major League organizations Astros, Padres, Mets, Braves, Marlins, Rockies and Bridgeport Bluefish
  
• 1995 was included in the largest baseball trade ever, 12 players involved
  
• Two-time All-Star
  
• Pitching instructor for 10+ years
  
• Assistant Coach at Division I university
  
• Associate Scout for the Atlanta Braves

Location: Bethel, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or




Willie Upshaw
34 year professional playing and coaching career

Professional Playing Experience:

• 1975-1977 New York Yankees
  
• 1977-1988 Toronto Blue Jays
  
• 1989 Cleveland Indians
  
• 1990-1991 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
  

Professional Coaching Experience:

• 1992 Toronto Blue Jays - Minor League Coach
  
• 1993 Texas Rangers - Roving Minor League Hitting Coach
  
• 1994 Texas Rangers - Major League Hitting Coach
  
• 1995 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Roving Hitting Instructor
  
• 1996-1997 Toronto Blue Jays - Major League Hitting Coach
  
• 1997-2000 Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball Club Field Manager
  
• 2000-2002 Cleveland Indians - Minor League Hitting Coordinator
  
• 2003 San Francisco Giants - Minor League Hitting Coach
  
• 2004-2005 San Francisco Giants Minor League Hitting Coordinator and Special Assistant to Major League Hitting Coach
  
• 2006-2007 San Francisco Giants Major League First Base Coach, Major League Hitting Instructor and Major League Outfield Instructor
  
• 2008 Pursued the development of the, self invented, baseball hitting instructional device
  
• Developed, ran and participated in hitting clinics for area youth
  
• Provided baseball instruction to colleges, schools, and individual students
  
• 2009-Present Bridgeport Bluefish Field Manager
  

Location: Fairfield, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or

Steve Hine

• 9 Year professional playing career
  
• 1992 Set city record for a single season with a .518 batting average
  
• 1993 Junior College Player of the Year
  
• 1995 Selected 2nd team All-American at University of New Haven
  
• 1996 signed 1st free agent MLB contract with the Red Sox organization
  
• 1998 batted 335 to finish 5th in league in hitting and assist team's ability to win Northern League Championship
  
• 1999 Led Team USA with .333 batting average
  
• 2000 signed 2nd free agent MLB contract with Rangers organization
  
• 2001 Led team in 7 different hitting categories
  
• Personal career highlight: Hit back-to-back home runs with Jose Canseco at first home game of the season with Atlantic League
  
• 2002 Selected as All-Star and league MVP
  
• 2007 Retired to focus on private instruction
  
• 8 years as private hitting instructor
  

Location: Orange, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or stevehinebaseball.com or

He's got great work ethic and comes to the park ready to play everyday.

Paul Carey
Manager, Savannah Sand Gnats, Texas Rangers Affiliate

Mike Porzio

• 15 year professional playing career
  
• Signed as non-drafted free agent by the Chicago Cubs in 1993
  
• Made Major League debut July 9, 1999 with the Rockies (vs. the Angels)
  
• Rewarded Rockies by giving up no earned runs in first 5 Major League outings
  
• Signed free-agent contract with White Sox and made 2001 opening day roster
  
• Signed free-agent contract with Cleveland Indians in 2004 (injured during Spring Training)
  
• Three-time All-Star
  
• Finished runner-up for ERA title with A-Braves franchise
  
• Began recording fastballs up to 95 mph during the 1997 season
  
• Broke record for most strike-outs in AAA-Charlotte franchise
  
• Only opening day no-hitter in AA-Birmingham franchise history
• Tied Venezuelan Winter League record for most wins (7) by an import LHP
  
• Led the Atlantic League in strike-outs and finished runner-up for Pitcher-of-the-Year in 2006
  
• Retired in 2007
  
• Pitching instructor for 13+ years
  
• Had the honor to work closely with several respected Major League pitching coaches and MLB alumni: Raphael Chavez, Don Cooper, Guy Hanson, Tom House and Tommy John
  

Location: Westport, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or



After 11 years of professional experience Mike had me seeing things I had never seen before,  including mechanics in a pitchers delivery and the mental approach to getting hitters out.  He has a wealth of knowledge that can benefit players of any level.

- Nick Bierbrodt
Retired MLB Pitcher

My son Tucker started taking lessons from Mike at age eleven. At the time he was a little leaguer who loved baseball and wanted to "be good". Having gone to the local batting cage for instruction Tucker showed little improvement as well as a sense of confusion about the game he was more of a number. Mike is very passionate about the game his instruction is more of a process than an isolated stance or wind up. He has the ability to introduce players to skills at appropriate times therefore allowing them to develop physical and intellectual maturity of the game while keeping it fun.

Tucker at 13 has developed into one of the better players in the area he led the league in home runs and batted 650 his first year on the full size field. He could play any position he wants to. He continues to improve as the competition gets tougher.
- John Rizzi, Father


Mike is an amazing pitching coach!!  He teaches you how to gain velocity, improve control and learn the correct mechanics to stay away from injuries.
- Jake Gepfert


Dennis Sweeney

• Selected by the Twins in the 23rd round of the 1991 MLB draft.
  
• 5 year professional playing career
  
• Division I Juco All American - led nation with a .510 batting average
  
• Received the coveted Adirondack Big Stick Award for Eastern Region
  
• Tied the school record with a 22 game hitting streak
  
• Went on to Seton Hall on scholarship playing RF/1B/LHP
  
• 2 year collegiate level Assistant Coach
  
• 7 year Head Coach for Jonathan Law
  
• Won league title (in first year) and division title 4 times in 7 years
  
• In 2008 captured the city’s first baseball CIAC Class L State Championship
  
• Compiled an overall record of 96-62 .608%.
  
• Fortunate enough to learn from great baseball minds such as: Tom Lasorda, Jim Lemon, Tony Oliva, Willie Randolph and Buck Showalter
  
• 20 year coaching and instructing experience
  
• Frequent guest speaker and clinician
  
• Resides with his wife, Eileen and 3 children. Twin daughters, Kathleen, Megan, (17) and Dennis (9)
  

Location: Milford, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or




My son has played for Coach Sweeney for the past 2 years. His development over this time has been twofold. On the player development side Coach Sweeney doesn't use cookie cutter techniques. He takes what a player is and works with it. Coach Sweeney's biggest asset is his ability to see the little things that make a big difference in performance and show the player what he could do better to improve his performance. He doesn't force feed or have a my way or the highway type of teaching style. He shares with you what he sees and it is your choice whether you want to use it or not. He is open enough to allow results to speak for themselves. He had a player come to his program that for years people had tried to get to throw over the top as opposed to his unique submarine style. He didn't try to change this kid but instead allowed him to be himself and just worked with him on other aspects to get the best out of him. Besides becoming an All-State player he led his team to the state championship.

Coach Sweeney will do anything for a player to help them succeed as long as they give the effort. Of all the strengths that he brings to the table it is his commitment to excellence. Not only as a player but as a person your son or you the player will find yourself working harder and enjoying it more. Coach Sweeney's ability to communicate with young men is outstanding and through this he finds a way to bring the best out in each individual. Not every player loves Coach every minute of everyday but they do respect him. He will match the level of passion that you bring to the field each day and will work as hard and long as your are willing. He disciplines appropriately and rewards hard work at all times. Talent is nice but heart and character goes a long way with Coach Sweeney.

I can only speak for what I have seen in my son but his growth under Coach Sweeney has been remarkable. I feel fortunate that my son has somebody like Coach Sweeney to help him through this phase of his life.
- Brett Doran, Parent

If you get a chance to take baseball advice from Dennis Sweeney or listen to him talk about baseball, then take it.

He has a rare combination of innate wisdom and compassion mixed with a desire to share and educate others about the game of baseball.
- Ken Navara, assistant coach

Pete Walker

• 18 years of professional experience (six at the Major League level) via the Mets, Padres, Red Sox, Rockies, Blue Jays, the Yokohama Baystars in the Japanese Professional League, and the Yankees.
  
• Earning All-State honors at East Lyme High School
  
• Played at UConn Avery Point and The University of Connecticut, earning All-Big East honors and team MVP awards, as well as guiding team to the Big East Championship, and ultimately a berth in the NCAA tournament.
  
• Selected in the 7th round of the MLB draft by the Mets in 1990
  
• Made Major League debut in 1995 earning a win against the World Series Champion, Atlanta Braves
  
• In 2002, claimed off of waivers by the Blue Jays and compiled a 10-5 record, 2nd most in wins on the Blue Jay staff
  
• 10+ years of experience in private instruction and clinics
  

Location: Old Lyme, CT
Contact: instructors@fundamentalsplus.com or americasgame.com or