Dear STMA Youth Baseball Community,

You spoke, and we listened! STMA Youth Baseball is reimagining player development—led by High School and Youth Baseball Development staff, for STMA players, right here in our own backyard.

We’re thrilled to welcome multiple new instructors, many with college-level playing and coaching experience, ready to show our athletes what it truly means to be an STMA Baseball Player.

Join us at our upcoming clinics, experience the difference, and know this is only the beginning. Here’s to an incredible 2026 training season and the most successful summer in STMA Youth Baseball history!

This camp will teach your player introductory fundamentals of Pitching. No pitching experience is required. Each enrolled player must provide their own catcher—a parent, sibling or friend that can catch a pitcher is expected. The camp will focus on proper mechanics, developing the pitching motion and training for accuracy. Players will throw to live catchers in some sessions as there is a catching camp at the same time as this pitcher clinic.

Each player can choose either camp 1 or camp 2 but NOT both camps at initial enrollment.  After December 15, 2025, all camps will be open to any player. Your Players age for this camp is based upon their age as of 4/30/2026 and where they will play in the 2026 Summer season.

This clinic will be instructed by Jim Benson.  A former college and professional Pitcher himself, Jim has mastered teaching the fundamentals of Pitching over his 30+ years of experience.  In 2004, Jim founded his very own Baseball Academy and has worked since, instructing baseball and pitching in STMA and neighboring communities. In addition to Jim, Aaron Cook will be an instructor for this clinic.  Aaron is a former STMA High School Pitching Coach and current STMA Youth Coach.  Aaron has extensive history playing and teaching the game of baseball.  

This camp will teach your players to repeat proper fundamentals of pitching. Pitching experience in games is preferred to enroll in this camp. Ideally your player pitched in live games in the Summer of 2025. Each enrolled player must provide their own catcher—a parent, sibling or friend that can catch a pitcher is expected. The camp will focus on proper mechanics, repeating the pitching motion and throwing strikes. As the camp progresses, a non-fastball off-speed pitch such as a changeup or curveball could be incorporated depending upon age of player. 

Each player can ONLY choose either camp 1 or camp 2 but NOT both camps at initial enrollment. After December 15, 2025, all camps will open to any player.  Your Players age for this camp is based upon their age as of 4/30/2026 and where they will play in the 2026 Summer season.

This clinic will be taught by Derick Snell.  A former St Cloud State Alum, Derick has coached and developed players at STMA in both youth and High School baseball.  He currently develops college baseball players as an Assistant Coach at The University of St Thomas.  Derick has extensive experience teaching—both in terms of fundamentals and the mental side of Pitching.

In addition to Derek, Aaron Cook will be an instructor for this clinic.  Aaron is a former STMA High School Pitching Coach and current STMA Youth Coach.  Aaron has extensive history playing and teaching the game of baseball.  Finally, former STMA High School and Luther College Pitcher Nate Loch will be an instructor in this clinic.  Nate also has extensive experience in baseball and excels at teaching Pitching.  

This camp will teach your players the fundamentals of Catching. The camp will focus on proper catcher positioning, footwork and receiving. Each player will learn the techniques of throwing as a catcher. They will practice with and without catchers’ gear. If players have catchers’ gear, they should bring it to the camp. Baseball pants or sweatpants are required. Players will catch live pitchers in some sessions as there will be a pitching clinic at the same time as this catcher clinic.

This clinic will be led by Ridge Stevens.  Ridge is a former collegiate catcher and current STMA High School Baseball Coach.  Ridge enjoys teaching the fundamentals of Catching. In addition, current STMA Legion Head Coach and STMA Youth Baseball Coach Levi Fry will assist at this catcher clinic.   

This camp will teach your players to repeat the proper fundamentals of catching. Catching experience in games or a player expecting to catch this upcoming season is preferred to enroll in this camp. Ideally your player was a catcher in live games in the Summer of 2025. The camp will focus on advanced positioning, footwork and receiving. Each catcher will learn to repeat proper throwing mechanics to bases and learn blocking techniques. If players have catchers gear, they should bring it to the camp. Baseball pants or sweatpants are required. Players will catch live pitchers in some sessions as here will be a pitching clinic at the same time as this catcher clinic

This clinic will be led by Ridge Stevens.  Ridge is a former collegiate catcher and current STMA High School Baseball Coach. Ridge enjoys teaching the fundamentals of Catching. In addition, current STMA Legion Head Coach and STMA Youth Baseball Coach Levi Fry will assist at this catcher clinic.   

This camp will teach your players the fundamentals of Fielding. The camp will focus on proper infield and outfield footwork. It will focus on properly throwing and catching a baseball. Each player will learn how to field a groundball and catch a popup/flyball. The fielders will learn where to play at each position on the field.

Each player can choose either camp 1 or camp 2 but NOT both camps at initial enrollment.  After December 15, 2025, both camps will be open to any player.

This clinic will be led by Danny Salas, Reed Brown and Chad Korte.  Danny, Reed and Chad are all current STMA High School and/or STMA Legion Baseball Coaches.    Each coach has extensive baseball training and baseball playing experience--both at the HS and Youth levels.  They will teach our players what it means to be a STMA Baseball Fielder. 

The camp will teach your players the fundamentals of hitting.  We will teach proper hitting mechanics of the stance, stride, pivot and baseball swing.  Your players will be taught to recognize strikes and each player will learn a YES, YES, YES strike swinging attitude as a hitter.

Each player can choose either camp 1 or camp 2 but NOT both camps at initial enrollment.  After December 15, 2025, both camps will be open to any player.

This clinic will be taught by Boston Merila, Danny Salas and Chad Korte.  Boston Merila is a 2020 STMA High School graduate and former STMA youth baseball player.  After graduation, Boston played Division 1 baseball at the University of Minnesota.  Danny and Chad are both current STMA High School coaches, have extensive training experience and are past STMA youth baseball coaches.  They will teach our players what it means to be a STMA Baseball Hitter. 

This camp will teach our players the fundamentals of being an athlete. Each player will work on strength, speed and flexibility. They will learn proper running techniques and work to become more explosive and agile.

Each player can ONLY choose either camp 1 or camp 2 but NOT both camps at initial enrollment.  After December 15, 2025, all camps will open to any player.

This camp will be taught by EffectUs Athletics.  Located in St. Michael, EffectUs is a local gym and athlete training facility owned by Jackie and Joel Werner.  They focus on creating fitness programs for a happier, healthier YOU.  EffectUs will help our players become bigger, stronger, & faster athletes in a fun, motivating camp.  Trainers Joel Werner and Dustin Harth will bring 40 years of experience coaching and training athletes to these camps.  They have a reputation for creating a strong community culture and will focus on helping ALL our players become better athletes.