Austin Shenton’s 1-For-1 Training Offers New Training Option for Whatcom Baseball and Softball Players
When Bellingham graduate Austin Shenton dreamed of making an area coaching facility, he considered a spot that might each meet his requirements for low season coaching and welcome the younger athletes to our neighborhood. 1-for-1 coaching is now a actuality and a house for baseball and softball gamers.
Shenton was designed by the Seattle Mariners in 2019. “Once I was in first grade, I wrote on a bit of paper that I wished to play shortstop for the Mariners,” he says. He at the moment performs the third base for the group. He’ll report back to Mariners Spring Coaching in February and can probably play for Everett AquaSox once more this season.
Whereas dwelling out his childhood dream, Shenton additionally wished to contribute to the neighborhood wherein he grew up as a baseball participant. “I hope to have the ability to provide youngsters a spot the place they will have their second little house,” he says. Rising up in Whatcom County and ultimately Bellingham Excessive Faculty as a baseball participant, Shenton at all times discovered a baseball outlet – and needs different children to have it too.
Austin Shenton takes a number of cuts within the batting cage. Photograph credit score: Tony Moceri
Shenton understands the significance of getting a spot to train whereas being surrounded by individuals who know excessive ranges of baseball and health. As he thought in regards to the coaching facility he wished to create, he knew he wanted to encompass himself with individuals who had the identical ardour for offering baseball and softball classes to youngsters.
He began by turning the concept on its head from his childhood coach Nick Perigo, who’s now the director of Kendall Elementary. The thought blossomed shortly. “There was no hesitation for me,” says Perigo. “The chance to provide again to the neighborhood and construct a baseball neighborhood in Bellingham. I used to be thrilled to be part of it. “
With Perigo on board as co-owner and operations supervisor, Shenton then reached out to Mark Jacques, who had helped him with low season coaching. Jacques shared Perigo’s views and was fast to hitch the crew, wanting ahead to being a part of a brand new facility the place he might prepare the neighborhood.
The doorway from 1-For-1 exhibits you that that is one place that they get enthusiastic about creating ball gamers. Photograph credit score: Nick Perigo
As a bunch of householders, they discovered a spot at 436 West Bakerview, Suite 103, the place Shenton believed he might convey his imaginative and prescient to life. He started working shortly, shopping for tools and giving the house a makeover in order that it met the requirements of an expert like Shenton but in addition did a superb job of partaking the neighborhood. The house is prepared now, they usually’re excited for the enjoyable half: growing Whatcom County’s ballplayers.
Shenton sees 1-FOR-1 as a spot the place all ages can study the fundamentals of baseball in addition to the extra superior expertise that may take their recreation to the subsequent stage.
The batting cage of the 1-FOR-1 coaching permits year-round coaching. Photograph credit score: Nick Perigo
With the intention to proceed his skilled baseball profession and provide first-class coaching, Shenton has added two extra instructors to the crew. Zapper McGrath and AJ Mathews each have years of teaching and gaming expertise for Sehome Excessive Faculty, Washington State College and the Bellingham Bells.
Whereas Shenton teaches at 1-FOR-1 in his low season, he wished to ensure the ability had year-round coaching for the neighborhood. Assured within the crew he has put collectively, he can comfortably pursue his dream and is aware of that the younger individuals in his hometown are in good fingers for private coaching.
The 1-for-1 house owners additionally got here up with a approach for Shenton to communicate with members throughout its baseball season. He’ll provide teaching by telephone and video in the course of the season and provide the distinctive alternative to be tutored by an expert all 12 months spherical.
Austin Shenton works on the ability’s train tools. Photograph credit score: Tony Moceri
Shenton sees 1-FOR-1 as greater than only a place the place baseball is performed. He desires members to have a spot the place they will escape from regular life. “It was so vital to me,” he says, “to at all times have an outlet to hit and prepare and prepare.”
1-FOR-1 Coaching desires the house to be accessible to as many native ball gamers as potential and presents a variety of mortgage, membership and coaching companies. Households can discover a facility that’s greatest for them.
Shenton says his skilled profession shall be a hit by “dragging and leaving nothing on the desk, no regrets for not having labored”. It’s this mentality and mind-set that he wish to move on to the youth in our church. Shenton desires to make use of its success in baseball as a car to encourage children to work exhausting and chase their goals – and has developed 1-for-1 coaching as a spot to take action.
1-for-1 coaching
436 West Bakerview Street, Suite 103
Bellingham WA 98226
www.oneforonetraining.com
The 1-for-1 crew (left to proper): Mark Jacques, Austin Shenton, AJ Mathews, Nick Perigo and Zapper McGrath. Photograph credit score: Tony Moceri
