Conversations with College Coaches: Pomona-Pitzer
Baseball Factory is privileged to work with programs from every level of college baseball. We strive to educate and guide our players when it comes to choosing the right school. The more information a player knows about a school, coach and program, the better. Recently, Woody Wingfield went one-on-one with Frank Pericolosi the head coach at Pomona-Pitzer. Pomona-Pitzer is a Division III program in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
1. How long have you been coaching? How long at Pomona-Pitzer?
I have been coaching baseball for 14 years and just finished my 9th year at Pomona-Pitzer.
2. Who are some of your mentors or coaches that you look up to?
The first coach who had a major impact on me was Chris Corkum, who runs summer baseball camps in Connecticut. He has a true passion for baseball and always made the game fun. My American Legion coach Tom Vincent was a perhaps the most competitive person I have been around and always focused on team baseball. Dick Farley was my college football coach at Williams and he taught me the importance of preparation and accountability.
3. So, Pomona College and Pitzer College are two separate schools, but they share the same athletics department. How does that affect recruiting for the baseball program?
During the recruiting process we have to explain the differences between the two schools and let the students know that they can take classes at any of the five Claremont Colleges after they enroll. Depending on the student and their academic interests, one school may be a better fit for them.
4. What is the first thing about your schools and program that you want recruits to know about?
From an academic standpoint, I want recruits to know that they are going to get a top notch education that will open doors for them later in life. From a baseball standpoint, we want them to know that our team goal is to win a national championship and as an individual their goal is to do everything possible to reach their potential as a baseball player.
5. What do you look for in a prospective recruit on the field? Off the field?
We look for talent and potential. Guys that are willing to put the team before the individual. We want our players to be competitive, to work hard and to be accountable. Academics come first in our program so fulfilling all academic commitments is the priority for the student-athletes.
6. Given their competitive academic settings, do you have any advice for a prospective baseball player looking to attend schools like Pomona or Pitzer?
I would advise them to take the most challenging course load that their high school offers and take the standardized tests more than once. We encourage all recruits to visit campus and interview with the admissions department as well.
7. Can you break down your fall practice schedule? What do you all try to accomplish?
We typically practice four weeks during the fall and hope to evaluate our incoming freshman and see what our returning players have done over the summer to get better. We work on skill development and often play several inter-squad games.
8. Do you have a strength and conditioning coach?
Our head athletic trainer handles strength and conditioning for our athletic department and there are strength and conditioning classes offered on campus.
9. What can you tell us about your facilities?
Our baseball field is located right in the middle of Pomona College’s campus and our athletic facility is right next to the field. Our athletic facilities include a weight room, cardio room, 4 basketball courts, racquetball courts, tennis courts, a track and two outdoor pools.
10. What part of the 2012 schedule/year are you looking forward to the most?
I look forward to our conference schedule because every game is so important and an eventual birth to the NCAA tournament is on the line. Our conference is very balanced and competitive so each game has a playoff feel to it.
11. Is there anything you would like to add about your assistant coaches, recruits, parents, or program that we have not asked you about?
We do our best to attract great assistant coaches to our program. Our pitching coach, Jeff Verplancke, played in the San Francisco Giants organization and does a great job with our pitchers. Nick Sussman is entering his third year on the staff working with infielders and hitters and Gabriel Chandler just finished his first year on the staff as our outfielders coach.
