FAQ'S
FAQS
ABOUT KS BOMBERS
When done right, travel baseball and softball provide serious players with the tools needed to improve their skills via professional instruction, develop a deeper understanding of the game, compete against some of the best competition in the country, prepare for high school and college athletics, and, perhaps most most importantly, to form lifelong friendships and meaningful relationships that go beyond the game. While we support rec ball and encourage our athletes to participate, the fact is the level and amount of coaching, training, and competition will be at a higher level in a good travel ball organization.
We understand that the world of travel baseball and softball can be confusing. With no barrier to entry the sheer number of teams/organizations makes it difficult for families to know which program makes the most sense for them. We believe the combination of our knowledgeable and professional coaches, unparalleled player development program, year round training at Keystone State Sports, an in-house recruiting director, and our recent acceptance into the prestigious Diamond Allegiance are just a few of the reasons why the Bombers were recently ranked as the #1 team in the mid-atlantic and #23 team in the nation by Perfect Game, and why we are considered one of the premier travel organizations in the country.
Our coaching staff is composed of current or former collegiate & professional players, coaches, and scouts, all of whom strive to teach athletes how to train for & play at a highly-competitive level with a specific focus on player & skill development.
While some travel organizations simply recruit the most talented athletes, the Bombers take great pride in our ability to develop home-grown players. All of our instruction follows a program wide philosophy which ensures athletes at all age levels are receiving similar messaging. Practices include both team wide and position specific workouts. In the fall (September & October), teams typically practice 1-2 times per week. In the winter, (January-February) athletes will have the opportunity to practice with their team and with their specific position groups (IF, OF, P/C) once per week. The ability to practice and train indoors with professional coaches throughout the fall and winter provides our athletes with the player development required to take their game to the next level!
The Bombers make their home at the 42,000 square foot Keystone State Sports Facility in Manheim, PA. Keystone State Sports has a fully turfed infield with LED lighting, 13 batting cages, 2 pitching lanes, HitTrax, Rapsodo units, pitching machines, radar guns, and a variety of other tools, all of which provide unlimited opportunities for our athletes to train and develop year round.
If your long term goal is to play college baseball, the Bombers are the organization for you! We have our very own in-house recruiting coordinator who helps families navigate the confusing and often frustrating world of college recruiting. First, families have the opportunity to participate in large group seminars which cover the basics of the college recruiting landscape. Following the large group seminars families participate in small group meetings which dive deeper into topics such as how to communicate with coaches, the do's and don'ts of social media, understanding where each athlete fits in level wise, how to research college programs, etc. Finally, we work with each family and athlete individually to create a custom and individualized plan to your specific recruiting needs, covering the myriad factors that go into making an informed decision about the schools you will target. While having a plan is of the utmost importance, it's only half of the equation. In addition to helping families navigate the recruiting landscape, the Bombers have also developed and fostered meaningful relationships with hundreds of college coaches around the country. College coaches trust us and communicate with us regularly, allowing us to consistently share information about our athletes with them. Simply put, this system works! Don't just take our word for it though, go visit our alumni page to see where the 175+ former Bombers have gone on to play at the collegiate level!
The Diamond Allegiance is a national association of elite-level player development organizations committed to advancing the travel ball ecosystem by creating better value for players and parents. The Bombers are one of just two organiuzations in the northeast region in the Diamond Allegiance. The Allegiance is currently led by Tracy Smith (current Head Coach at the University of Michigan), Erik Bakitch (current Head Coach at Clemson University), Kevin O'Sullivan (current Head Coach at the University of Florida), and Pat Casey (former Head Coach at Oregon State). Through the Diamond Allegiance Bomber athletes will have acess to our own Bombers app with the following features:
- The Curve Section, which is an individualized and targeted player development platform featuring AI testing with player specific correctives and baseball specific drill work and videos designed by Erik Bakitch
- A Media Content Section consisting of curated smart lessons, interactive creative content, and a drill video library from trusted resources including members of the Diamond Allegiance staff and Bombers coaches.
- The Workload Management Section provides our pitchers the ability to track their own workload and recovery, develop individualized throwing routines, and make informed decisions about how much and when you should perform.
- A Team and Organization Communication Section which puts all important information right at your fingertips in one location.
- A Parent Savings Section which includes exclusive discount programs for hotels, equipment, and travel, helping parents ease costs.
- Player Profiles with up to date metrics
Teams can expect to participate in 3-4 tournaments during the fall season (September & October), 6-8 tournaments during the spring season (March - May), and 6-8 tournaments in the summer season (June - August). All age groups have the opportunity to participate in the fall season, 10U-14U teams can compete in the spring and summer, and our high school aged athletes take the spring off to focus on their high school seasons before regrouping in the summer for a challenging schedule against some of the best competition in the country. In addition to gameplay, the schedule will also include team and position specific practices as detailed in the player development section.
The cost for each team varies based on the number of tournaments the team will be participating in and the cost of those tournaments, the age of the team, the amount of travel, and several other factors. Having said that, we make it a point to remain competitive with other regional travel organizations when it comes to cost, and we do our best to ensure finances never prevent an athlete from a potentially life changing opportunity.
