Hornets Baseball Federation

Michigan Travel Baseball Designed to Teach Kids Proper Mechanics and Positive Hitting Psychology

Are you looking for a place to play 14U Spring/Summer of 2023?

Please sign up now!

https://form.jotform.com/211654888856170

Hornets will be holding tryouts at the following locations:

1. Tuesday, July 26 6PM at Bicentennial Dia. #5

2. Thursday, July 28 6PM at Bicentennial Dia. #5

Bicentennial is located at:

36000 W Seven Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152

Diamond 5 is located in the back past the main fields.

Visit our facebook page and like it to stay updated!

https://www.facebook.com/HornetsBaseballFederation

We will be holding private tryouts after the dates listed above. Please contact us at HornetsBaseballStaff@gmail.com for private tryouts.

Plans for 14U 2023 (We may play 1 or 2 tournaments in August of 2022 if possible):

We will have one 14U Competitive Tournament Team. We will not carry any other age groups at this time.

As a 3rd year team, we have been successful in disrupting some of the branded organization names. We are competing well with some of the well-known names in today's travel baseball at the tournament level. At this time, we have made (3) semi-finals in USSSA AA, (1) final in USSSA AA, and another final in American Legion. We are a competitive, good hitting team. With the right additions, we should be fairly close to where we need to be as a team. We are looking for serious, committed players that want to play about 10 tournaments and a variety of scrimmages.

We need more pitching and some extra pop at the plate. All positions welcome to tryout. The core of our team will be going into 8th grade. We are looking for a handful of 8th grade pickups so we can start playing ball in April.

We will be looking to build a tournament only team for the 2023 season. Our tournament team goals will be to play USSSA at whatever level fits our team as well as other organizations. We are seeking to build the most competitive tournament team we possibly can.

Practices will be optional for those that play on other league teams, but held during the week allowing us to work on improving areas we need to for tournament play. However, practices will be extremely beneficial. We will scrimmage other teams during the week rather than play league ball.

Total cost per player will be around 1200. Our sponsor, ProDryers.com provides about 5-6K in uniform expenses.

Visit our facebook page and like it to stay updated!

https://www.facebook.com/HornetsBaseballFederation

The Hornets Baseball Federation is welcoming players from all over Southeastern Michigan. The following cities are just some of the cities we welcome to tryouts:

Allen Park * Ann Arbor * Beverly Hills * Bingham Farms * Birmingham * Bloomfield Hills * Bloomfield Township * Canton * Clinton Township * Dearborn * Dearborn Heights * Detroit * Farmington * Farmington Hills * Ferndale * Garden City * Highland * Highland Park * Inkster * Livonia * Macomb * Madison Heights * Milford * Monroe * Mount Clemens * Northville * Novi * Orchard Lake * Pinckney * Plymouth * Redford * Riverview * Rochester * Rochester Hills * Romulus * Royal Oak * Salem * Saline * South Lyon * Southfield * Southgate * Taylor * Trenton * Troy * Walled Lake * Warren * Wayne * West Bloomfield * Westland * White Lake * Whitmore Lake * Wixom * Woodhaven * Wyandotte * Ypsilanti

The head coaches take on today's travel baseball:

First, there are many good coaches out there. Coaches that played the game and understand mechanics, strategy, and the impact they have on children. We as coaches have the chance to make an impact on and given child's life that may extend well beyond youth baseball. On the other hand, I have witnessed many terrible coaches. Coaches that treat their kids bad, on a level hard to tolerate. I have also seen many coaches that are a disservice to the game. They don't belong on a ball diamond and have zero to offer the kids. Coaches that just did't play the game.

Having played the game against and with many players that got drafted and played all the way up to the MLB, I can honestly say the game of baseball has changed. It is nice to see baseball has progressed to that level. On the other hand, I believe youth sports has been professionalized. I believe that is where the Hornets Baseball Federation can help make a difference.

When I attended the Doyle baseball school in the 80’s and 90’s, since closed, they warned of this happening. They believed many kids had the potential at a young age to develop and potentially pass up some of the stronger youth players. They warned that many of the kids that could be developed would be left behind. I didn’t give it much thought then, but they were 100% correct.

As a player, I have seen it play out many times. Bigger, stronger kids at age 11-13 would dominate the game. Some would continue on. Some would lose their edge soon after 13. Some of the smaller kids would eventually grow taller, stronger, fill out, and pass them by. Baseball instincts will soon have a tighter gap than it does with some at a young age. Those with the talent can and will blossom given the opportunity.

Visit our tryouts page for more information on dates and times.

The Hornets are based out of Livonia MI, but the entire Wayne County (and more) is welcome to tryout. We are not limited to any jurisdictions or city or county lines. The following cities are just a few that we welcome as we try to build the most competitive teams possible:

Learn More About Tryouts!

Coaches Backgrounds

Anthony DiCicco, Head Coach (12U 2021 Hornets Team)

Decades of experience as both a player and coach. From 11-18, played AABC travel baseball on the highest of caliber teams out of Michigan. AABC was the program back then, USSSA was only softball. Teams such as Stitt Post 232, Westland Federation, and NFWB to name a few. Competing on a National level and receiving multiple offers from D2 and D3 colleges. Offered to play in junior Olympics in Japan. Trained for 3 consecutive years at the Doyle Baseball School. The Doyle school was used by many college coaches to recruit talent. Some college scholarship offers were based on Doyle grading scales alone. Coaches trusted the school so much, some picked their entire teams right from the Doyle database. Doyle techniques will be taught to all players with added adjustments acknowledging new methodologies. We will break down the swing into 3 stages, and hitters will be taught proper mechanics in several practices. The Doyle brothers were the most important baseball people that ever touched Anthony's life.

After being burned out from baseball, competitive softball with USSSA was discovered. Spending 15 years competing on the national level with teams such as JD's Rage, Detroit Phillies, Pro Glass, Budha's Closet just to name a few. Finished top 10 at world tournaments with more than 200 teams in each from all over the united states more than 5 times, top 20 about 10 times. In 2001, played for JD's Rage which was ranked in the top 20 in the entire country. This team and many he played on, were built from hard ball players transitioning to competitive USSSA Softball.

Anthony spent most of his life on the diamond. Many of his teammates played at various college and pro levels. Even in softball, he had the privilege of playing with former AAA players and even one that made it to the MLB.

He has a lot to teach fundamentally. More importantly, Anthony understands the line between too serious and keeping it fun. Teaching positive psychology is the most important goal. An example of that is hitters have hit zones, pitchers have strike zones. We don't get upset with hitters for swinging at pitches well out of the strike zone. We do try to tell them to let their bodies hold up the swing if it is not in their hit zone. This leads to more aggressive hitters long-term. They will learn in time to hold off on the bad pitches. However, they will be trained to think hit, hold off if needed rather than looking for a pitch to hit. Again, all Doyle psychology leading to more aggressive and confident hitters.

Some of our assistant coaches are probably even more qualified. The coaching staff will work as a unit, not an individual. Relying on each of their backgrounds.

Drew Malisewski, Assistant Coach (12U 2021 Team)

Drew has played several years of competitive baseball, softball and hockey for various organizations. Drew played an integral part in winning several tournament, league, and state championships. Drew has 10 years of head coaching experience in youth baseball, Fast-pitch softball, and youth Hockey. Coach Drew’s philosophy is to teach fundamental skills. You can’t expect a player to execute your strategy, if you haven’t taught them the skills that are required to do so.

Playing Career –

8 years of youth baseball for various teams in Dearborn Heights.

4 years High school baseball for St Francis Cabrini

Legion Ball 2 years for Dearborn

20 years of Men’s softball for various USSSA tournament teams; Club House, Scoreboard, Sabre Steel, JD Rage

7 years of Tier 1 Hockey for various teams, Little Caesars, Michigan Nationals etc..

4 years of Junior Hockey; Wayne Chiefs,Lakeland Jets, Michigan Nationals

10 years of senior Hockey various teams

Coaching Career –

Head Coach 4 years of youth baseball various ages in Livonia

Head Coach 6 years Livonia Wild Fastpitch Softball (Current Coaching 14U Wild Black)

Assistant coach 2 years youth Baseball Livonia

Assistant coach 1 year Livonia Wild

Head Coach 10 years Youth Hockey Teir I&II; Livonia, Compuware, Little Caesars

(Currently 16U Little Caesars Tier 2 Girls)

John DiCicco, Assistant Coach (12U, 2021 Team)

Player History:

•1968 Cooley High School, All City Short Stop, Class A, Captain of the team

•1969 Cooley High School, All City 2nd Baseman, Class A, Captain of the team

•Played 7 years of Travel Baseball, NABF

•Played for the 5th Army Post Team in Fort Carson, CO

•Played in Alaska Fort Wain Right Army Post– Fairbanks, Alaska

•1988 /MVP of State Championship at Liberty Park

•4 Time State Champion

1987 Canton Softball Center, Men’s D
1988 Liberty Park, Men’s D
1995 Rotunda Fields, Men’s 35 & Over
1996 Rotunda Fields, Men’s 35 & Over

•2000 State Championship Runner Up, 40 & Over

•2003 Inducted into the USSSA Softball Hall of Fame

•Too many tournament wins to put on record, over 30 years in the USSSA-ASA-NSA

•Men’s 35 & Over World Tournament, Dayton Beach, 3rd Place

•2005 World Series Champions, Men’s 55 & Over – SSUSA

•2005 World Series Runner Up, Men’s 50 & Over – SSUSA

•Was Top 4, 5 times in Men’s 40 & Over World Tournament (Lexington, South Carolina. Hutchison, KS. Kettering, MD. Panama City Beach, FL. Cocoa Beach, FL.)

Hardball Manager History:

•Started a Travel Team in 1987, Coached teams until 1993. Many players went on to play college baseball.

•1989 NABF State Champions

•1989 NABF World Series Runner Up

•1990 AABC Mayor’s Invitational Champions, Battle Creek (Crestwood Big Bill’s)

•1990 AABC District Champions (Crestwood Big Bill’s)

•1990 AABC Memorial Day Sandy Koufax Tournament Champions, Sterling Heights (Crestwood Big Bill’s)

•1991 AABC Butler, PA Champions (Stitt Post 232)

•1991 AAU 15 & Under National Tournament Runner Up - Blaine, MN (Stitt Post 232)

•1991 AABC District Champions, Mickey Mantle (Stitt Post 232)

•1991 AABC 3rd Place State Championship – Cold Water, MI (Stitt Post 232)

•1991 AABC Mayor’s Invitational Runner Up – Battle Creek, MI (Stitt Post 232)

•1992 AABC Westland Baseball Federation, 3rd Place, Jefferson City, TN

Softball Manager History:

•Started Coaching Softball. After their baseball days, some players followed John to USSSA Tournament Softball.

•Too many tournament wins to put on record. Top 10 several times in Men’s D World Tournament with over 250 teams competing.

•2001 National Invitation Tournament Champions – Sylvania, OH

•2002 State Champions, USSSA

•2002 USSSA World Championship 4th place, Over 225 Teams

•Team was winner of over 25 USSSA Tournaments in Michigan and out of State

*** We have since added a few other coaches to head up our Hornets Yellow team. They have done a great job with the kids.

The worst thing a little league coach can tell a hitter is to "keep that back elbow up"! This is 100% incorrect.

Contact Us

Hornets Baseball Federation

Livonia, MI, USA

HornetsBaseballStaff@gmail.com