When Jake McNamara steps onto the field for Palm Beach Atlantic University, he’s not just another name in the lineup. Last season, the junior led his team in stolen bases, games started, and games played. He ranked top three in batting average, hits, runs, triples, and at-bats — establishing himself as one of the Sailfish’s most reliable players.

But Jake’s consistency, durability, and edge didn’t come by accident. They were and continue to be built inside the walls of PowerStrength Training Systems, where he has trained since middle school.

“I’ve been coming to PowerStrength since probably 7th grade — almost 10 years,” Jake said. “Every level up I feel like I’ve been prepared for the next level because of it. Middle school going into high school, I made JV as a freshman. All of high school training to get to college. Then in college, every time I came back in the summers and winters, I felt a step ahead of everyone else.”

STAYING INJURY-FREE

Jake’s introduction to training began with PowerStrength’s “Little Beast” youth program, which is designed for athletes in grades 4 through 8 to ignite a passion for fitness & performance, while instilling discipline. It set a foundation of proper technique and fun competition for Jake.

“They pushed us so hard even though we were young,” Jake recalled. “But it was so beneficial. It made me learn the techniques and the forms so young, and they didn’t have to reteach me how to lift properly. I’ve never been injured — and I think that’s because of PowerStrength and how they taught me.”

That injury-free record stands out in a sport where hamstring pulls, shoulder strains, and oblique issues are common. Jake credits PowerStrength’s emphasis on strengthening the muscles baseball players need most — not just for performance, but for longevity.

“With baseball, you have to focus a lot on your deceleration muscles — your back, your hammies, your rotation power to stop,” Jake explained. “That’s huge with injury prevention. I see it all the time with my teammates who get hurt because they’re just training like a bodybuilder. “We do a lot of sport specific training at PowerStrength.”

SPORTS-SPECIFIC TRAINING

As a smaller, late-blooming athlete in high school, Jake leaned on PowerStrength to maximize his strengths.

“I was still pretty small at 16 — like 5’3”, 130 pounds,” he said. “I was on varsity, and I was still leading the team in doubles. We do a lot of rotational work, single-legstrength — because we’re never really on both our feet in baseball. When I started coming to PowerStrength, I started gaining speed, a big part of my game is speed.”

Today, that edge continues to show. Jake’s ability to wreak havoc on the bases and cover ground in the infield are direct results of years of speed and strength training tailored to him.

STAYING AHEAD OF THE PACK

When Jake returns home from Palm Beach Atlantic, PowerStrength’s Summer College Training Program is his go-to. Surrounded by other college athletes across many sports, the atmosphere fuels competition and accountability.

“I really like the college group,” Jake said. “It’s pretty diverse with sports — we’re all kind of doing our specific lifts, but it’s fun to be able to work out next to these guys and just seeing them move weight. It gives you some energy. “

And when he gets back to campus in the fall? The difference is obvious.

“The first few weeks, I feel way ahead of my teammates,” Jake said. “We’ll do base running drills and they’ll be dead, and I’m fine because that’s what I’ve been doing all summer. A lot of guys get injured in the fall because they’re not ready, but PowerStrength keeps me prepared and keeps me injury-free.”

A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

Jake has advice for young baseball players with big goals.

“PowerStrength trains every part of your body. You level up on speed. If you’re faster, you’re going to be able to play, they’ll find a way to get you in there. And confidence, knowing that you can push more weight and just carry more weight than all your other buddies.”

From middle school to college baseball, Jake’s journey shows the power of starting early, training smart, and sticking with it.

“PowerStrength helps you build speed, strength, and confidence.”

GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH

4th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can also sign up at PowerStrength at any time while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, and Holland. And a new Byron Center location Opening later this Fall!

Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact/ to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.