The Hitting Zone

Proudly Introduces an All-Star Line Up

of Professional Softball Instructors

 

Mike Mook – Softball Pitching & Hitting Private or Group Instruction

Coach Mook is currently an Assistant Coach at The University of Illinois-Chicago after being recruited by former Olympic Softball Gold Medalist and current Head Coach, Michelle Venturella.  Coach Mook brings a wealth of experience as a fastpitch softball pitcher and outstanding hitting instructor to his sessions and employs a unique video program to help break down a player's swing or pitching delivery to more quickly identify area for improvement.  Having directed a number of high school softball programs in his home state of Minnesota, Mike looks forward to assisting area players develop better fundamentals using his video tools to create a personal lesson plan approach that targets improved mechanics and delivering better results for each player.

Ashley Condon – Softball Pitching Private Instruction

Coach Condon was a four-year starter at Glenbard South High School. As a standout Pitcher, Condon earned All-Conference honors along with numerous Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune "Player of the Week" awards. She was also selected team captain and earned team MVP honors her senior season. Coach Condon continued her stellar pitching career as a four-year starter at Division I Eastern Illinois University. She completed her schooling with a degree in Education which has allowed her to become a successful instructor for players of all ages.

Chuck Abate – Softball and Baseball Hitting & Fielding Private or Group Instruction

Coach Abate was a four-year baseball starter at Stevenson High School in Vernon Hills.  He then starred in the exclusive Marylander semi-pro softball league in Baltimore, Md.  Holding two coaching certifications (IHSA and NFCA-National Fastpitch Coaches Association), he is uniquely qualified to teach and coach all aspects of Baseball and Softball.  Coach Abate holds a patent and has a trademark registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office for STRIDE THEN DECIDE- “a method for teaching the hitting of pitched baseballs and softballs.”  He has made a lifetime bringing innovative and effective teaching and coaching methods to players from 10 yrs old to college players.  Coach Abate successfully bridges the gap between fundamental skills training theory and actual game performance.  He has been known to get out to his students’ games to monitor their performance and adjust their training regime.  Coach Abate’s practices are legendary- he has conducted seminars and coaching clinics and is available to train teams and instruct coaches on practice organization with specific practice plans and drills.  He is a current softball coach at St Charles East High School, a St Charles Knights Travel Baseball coach, and a board member of the St Charles Park District Softball program.

Abby Young – Softball Catching & Hitting Private Instruction

Coach Young attended Hampshire High School where she was a four year Varsity starter.  In each year she led the team in hitting, fielding percentage, and recorded the fewest number of strike outs of any starter.  Coach Young earned All-Conference and All-Area honors in four straight years and finished her high school career as an All-State catcher.  Coach Young has been a three-year started at Aurora University, and is entering her fourth-year as the starting catcher.   She was All-Conference three years, All-Region in 2007, and All-NCAA in 2006.  She led the Spartans in batting average and RBI’s in 2006.  Coach Young continues to excel with outstanding defense holding the highest fielding percentage of any returning starter and consistently ranks at the top regionally in throwing out potential base stealer in each of the past three seasons.

Rebekah Ruettiger - Softball Hitting Private Instruction

Coach Ruettiger was a 3-year Varsity starter at St. Charles East.  She earned numerous honors including multiple All-Conference selections in addition to being named area Offensive MVP and to the Daily Herald All-Area Team.  Ruettiger set the school single season and career record for home runs on her way to being named to the Chicagoland Bandits All-Stars Senior team at Benedictine University.  She has started 85 of 90 games over the past two seasons at 2nd Base for St. Xavier University and has been named to the CCAC All-Conference Tournament Team the past two seasons.  Hit two home runs in the CCAC Tournament Championship game helping her team to the Conference Championship.  Coach Ruettiger has been providing instruction to various travel fastpitch players over the past few years and is a well regarded results-oriented instructor.

Sandy Short – Softball Hitting and Catching Private Instruction

Coach Short broke six single season hitting records (home runs, doubles, RBI, total bases, batting average and slugging percentage) her freshman year at Eastern Illinois University.  She continued her outstanding play an earned Midwest All-Region honors in 2004.  She ended her career at EIU as the programs’ all-time leading home run hitter and held career records for RBI and total bases while also finishing ranked among the all-time leaders in doubles.  As a standout Catcher, she earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in 2005 and 2006.  Her dedication to the fundamentals and a strong work ethic has served her well.  Coach Short recently relocated to the Chicagoland area from her home state where she successfully trained students of all ages from the American Softball School in Sacramento, CA.