Blog
A Partnership That Keeps Raising the Bar
As Fall training wraps up, one theme has become unmistakably clear: the PowerStrength–Sluggers partnership is stronger than ever.
For years, both organizations have shared the same mission—develop complete baseball and softball athletes built for long-term success. This Fall reaffirmed that commitment, as more Sluggers athletes improved their speed, strength, confidence, and on-field performance through structured training.
With Winter training approaching, this is the moment for Sluggers families to fully leverage that momentum.
ELEVATING THE STANDARD OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT IN WEST MICHIGAN
Sluggers Co-Owner and Lead Instructor Rob Hamly has seen the talent level in West Michigan continue to climb. The game is more competitive, players have more training options, and expectations are higher than ever. That reality makes structured strength and athletic development a non-negotiable.
“The competition is definitely going up,” he said. “When you amplify and enhance it with strength training through PowerStrength, especially with our younger group, you’re building athleticism. They’re able to do more of the movements we do with our training—pitching, hitting, fielding, catching, the whole spread.”
This is exactly why the partnership exists.
Sluggers teaches the technical craft.
PowerStrength builds the athletic foundation—speed, balance, strength, coordination, durability—so athletes can capitalize on their skill work.
A CLEAR DIFFERENCE IN THE ATHLETES WHO SEPARATE THEMSELVES
Rob has coached baseball at the high school, travel, and college levels. He’s seen firsthand what differentiates the Freshmen, JV, and Varsity contributors—and the athletes who eventually earn genuine recruiting attention.
“Talent gets noticed. But the separator is passion, desire, and work ethic. When you hear an athlete is doing their Off-Season workouts and lifting weights, it makes them holistically such a better athlete.”
College coaches look for more than a swing, a fastball, or a glove. They look for commitment. Strength training is proof of that commitment, which is why it has become a key recruiting edge.
“You meet the eye test,” Rob said. “You look and feel bigger, faster, and stronger… When a coach hears what an athlete is doing in the Off-Season, it shows character and drive. Those are the athletes you can trust.”
BUILDING COMPLETE, DURABLE, MULTI-SPORT ATHLETES
Sluggers and PowerStrength share the same developmental philosophy: build complete athletes who can perform, adapt, and stay healthy.
Rob sees parents underestimate one factor more than anything—how much commitment the modern game requires. Strength & athletic development training not only increases performance, but also supports the demanding travel schedules, high-volume tournaments, and year-round practices that baseball and softball now require.
“When you’re training outside of what we do here at Sluggers, PowerStrength is going to help the athlete recover. You’ll have better endurance. Your performance inside the chalk lines is only going to get better.”
ATHLETES FEEL THE DIFFERENCE—ON THE FIELD AND IN THEIR CONFIDENCE
Two current Sluggers athletes, Case VanderMeulen (18U, Unity Christian 2026) and Landon Lameris (15U, Hudsonville 2029), are perfect examples of what happens when athletes commit to PowerStrength.
Case joined Sluggers this year and stepped into PowerStrength eager—but nervous. That changed immediately.
“I was a little nervous my first session… then the first time I came, I fell in love with it. The coaches are so encouraging, and you’re not judged for the weight you lift. It’s about you getting better.”
In just a couple of months, he already feels faster, more agile, and more prepared for game situations. He has even started noticing differences in his swing and exit velocity.
Landon, a catcher and shortstop, knew he needed to get quicker and more explosive.
“I’ve always been one of the slower kids on the team, and I knew this would help. In 3 months, I’ve gotten a lot better off my jumps. My strides are longer and quicker. I’ve gained a lot of strength.”
He can feel the difference in how he moves—and his confidence shows it.
“Honestly, it feels good… last year, I wasn’t allowed to steal much. This year, I’m hoping I get to steal more.”
Both athletes emphasized the same message to other Sluggers players: come to PowerStrength if you want to develop into a stronger, faster, more durable player—and a better teammate.
SHARED STANDARDS. SHARED VALUES. SHARED RESULTS.
One reason this partnership continues to grow is the alignment in how both organizations coach, teach, and mentor young athletes.
“We go hand in hand with each other’s ethos,” Rob said. “What we say here and what they say at PowerStrength is being echoed. Our athletes need to hear it from both sides.”
Parents feel that alignment as well. Sluggers families who begin training at PowerStrength frequently become advocates, encouraging others to take advantage of what the program offers.
“We trust PowerStrength fully and completely. PowerStrength fills a blind spot and a void that we have. It gets me fired up for where we’re going with this. We want more of our families to hear about it.”
WINTER TRAINING: THE NEXT STEP FOR SLUGGERS FAMILIES
The Fall group set the tone. Athletes made measurable improvements, bought into the process, and strengthened the Sluggers culture of intentional development.
Now the Winter session is the prime opportunity for more Sluggers athletes—both baseball and softball—to begin building momentum before Spring.
If your athlete wants to:
- get stronger and more explosive
- improve speed, agility, and durability
- gain confidence heading into evaluations and tryouts
- prepare to play Freshman, JV, or Varsity baseball or softball
- standout at Winter showcases
- show college coaches they are committed to their development
Then this Winter is the time to start.
Sluggers and PowerStrength are aligned, committed, and excited for what’s next. The partnership continues to grow because the results continue to grow—and the athletes feel it every time they step on the field.
Spots for the Winter session will be limited.
If you want your athlete to train with PowerStrength this Winter, reach out now to secure a position in the program.
WANT TO SEE BIG RESULTS?
PowerStrength offers specific partnerships and team training options in all sports to get faster, stronger, and more confident.
4th-12th grade athletes of all sports and ability levels can sign-up at PowerStrength at any time throughout the year while spots remain. Multiple sessions are offered after school and into the evening, specific times are varied by location.
PowerStrength has 6 locations in West Michigan – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, Holland, and a new location in Byron Center.
Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact/ to learn more or click below to Get Started.