"I am more confident than
I have ever been in the batters box because of Rip City. There is no doubt in my mind
that I am more confident this year because of your
instruction. I owe it all to you. Before I was off balance,
I wasn't keeping my weight back, and I wasn't seeing the
ball. Now I am doing all of those things and my hitting is
actually something that I can be proud of. I just
wanted to write this letter to tell you how much I
appreciate your help.
~Brandon Lucas -
Christiansburg, Va.
"After playing the game at
all levels and coaching most age groups, I didn't think
there was much left I could learn about teaching the game of
baseball. Dave Christianson and Rip City proved me wrong. If we had not chosen to send our two
sons, Chad and Collin, for the 8 week program on hitting and
pitching, it would have been a lost opportunity to help them
become better players. Dave and his staff are knowledgeable,
friendly and current in their teaching strategies. We would
not hesitate to enroll them again for any of the training
sessions and know that it would be money well spent. In
addition to speeding up the child's learning curve,
instruction occurs in a way parents can comprehend it and
take those skills home for children to use in practice
sessions in the basement or backyard. In my opinion, Rip
City is a must for any aspiring young baseball player who
truly wants to speed up improvement. Thanks again.
~Mr. Sandy Hill -
Bonsack, Va.
"My son Eric has been
involved in Rip City Camps and Individual Training with Dave
Christianson for the past 4 years. Because of this training,
his mechanics are excellent in both hitting and pitching! He
is now 12 and has already hit a home run over a 275 foot
fence! Due to his training and a lot of hard work, he plays
very competitively on an AAU and USSSA traveling team. He
often receives compliments on his pitching mechanics as
well. I cannot say enough about Dave's baseball knowledge
and his ability to relay this to the kids. Dave instills
into the children the importance of hard work and to do the
best you can, not just in baseball, but in all endeavors you
pursue in life. This has helped Eric develop a very good
work ethic and to strive to be his best."
~Terri Austin - Salem,
Va.
"My son Alan(17) has
always loved baseball. I taught him everything I could and
when he was in 8th grade and he expressed interest in trying
out for the JV baseball team, I realized I needed to get him
a higher level of instruction. His first major goal was to
make and start for the JV baseball team as an 8th grader. He
felt his hitting would be a major factor so we enrolled him
in the Rip City Off Season Hitting Camp. For the past 5
years now he has attended the Rip City Hitting Camps and has
improved his hitting significantly every year as he
continues to study the art of hitting. That 8th grade season
he not only made the team but started and hit .454 as an 8th
grader! He has been a top performer on his high school
baseball team hitting over .400 4 out of the last 5 seasons
and led his high school team to the stat championship in
2004! Through your instruction, he has gained great
confidence in himself as a player and as a person! He is now
in the midst of the college recruiting process and his goal
is to play college baseball. Thank you again for all you
have done to teach and encourage Alan! He highly respects
you guys!"
~Paul Moore - Roanoke,
Va.
"Our son, Robert, is the
competitive baseball player he is today due to the personal
instruction he received over the past few years from Dave
Christianson at Rip City! He has been taught the correct
techniques in both hitting and pitching which have made all
the difference in the world to his success! We hope he will
continue to love the game as he develops his skills learning
from the best!"
~Brenda Patten -
Troutville, Va.
"Our son Cody was only 7
when he attended his first Rip City Camp. He learned the
correct positions to maximize his balance and power, how to
hit inside pitches, outside pitches, as well as high speed
pitches. Also the baseball strength and conditioning program
really helped him with his power! Since that Camp, Cody was
the only 7 year old that moved up to the Minor League. He
batted .420 and was picked to play on the All Star Team made
up of mostly 10 year olds! We heard several comments from
coaches that could no believe Cody had such a powerful swing
at such a young age. Thank you again Rip City! We look
forward to Cody training with you again this year."
~Niles and Teresa
Dooley - Vinton, Va.
"Our 2 sons, Andrew(17)
and Luke(13) have played alot of baseball in the Roanoke
Valley. They both participate in Rip City Camps and
Instructional Programs and we think very highly of Dave
Christianson's knowledge of the game as well as his ability
to impart that knowledge through instructing and coaching.
When our older son transferred from one high school to
another, he had the choice to also transfer to another
American Legion Baseball Team from the Team Dave manages and
there was no question we would do whatever we could to keep
him on Dave's Team! You would be hard pressed to find a a
finer coach and person not only in the our valley, but
anywhere."
~Karen and John
Feldenzer - Roanoke, Va.
"My son Isaac has attended
Rip City Camps for the past 4 years and his game and
confidence grows every year! I am always eager to enroll him
in these camps. I credit Rip City with developing his
talents and his love for the game of baseball."
~Dirk Padgett -
Roanoke, Va.
"My son Lincoln has been
involved in Rip City Camps since he was 7 years old. He is
now 11 and recently went to a college baseball camp at VCU.
We were told by the VCU coach that whoever taught him the
mechanics of his swing really did a good job! The coach then
used him to show his own college players and the other
students the correct techniques. The individual attention he
received from Dave and Kelly at the camps is priceless! They
have made a world of difference in the way my son plays ball
and his confidence in his abilities. I highly recommend
them!"
~Rebecca Evans -
Fincastle, Va.
"I want to tell you 3what
a difference you camps made for my son, Cameron, this past
season. His batting average went from .158 the previous
season to .466 this season and from batting 8th or 9th in
the lineup to batting 3rd, and that was just his hitting!
His pitching improved drastically over the last year, all as
a result of what he learned at you hitting and pitching
camps! We feel is was money well spent and we look forward
to seeing you again this year!"
~Roger Denny -
Christiansburg, Va.
"As a dad, a coach, and a
former college baseball players, I passed my baseball
knowledge on to my son and have helped him become a very
good high school baseball payer. Dave Christianson has
helped him become even better! In my opinion there is no
better instruction for a ball player then to be trained by
Coach Christianson!"
~Ken Sobelewski -
Vinton, Va.
"Rip City has given
players the advantage of learning first hand how the pros
train to be the best! Dave Christianson's training programs
for hitting, pitching, and baseball strength and
conditioning have had a very positive effect on my team!"
~Eddie Helms - Craig
Co., Va.
"My son wanted to try out
for his middle school baseball team. I told him he would
have to get better as a hitter because he had some trouble
hitting. After attending you hitting camp he not only made
the middle school team, but his coach told me the main
reason he was picked was because of his hitting! Thanks a
lot and we will see you again this spring!"
~Gary Miler - Roanoke,
Va.
"I wanted to thank
you again for all the coaching and mentoring you have done
for our son, Brett, over the years. The traveling teams he
played on and his high school play were greatly enhanced by
Rip City Training. The training he received from Rip City
was always on a Professional Grade and was Always Custom
Fitted for his Age Group and Skill Level. He always had fun
learning and could not wait for practice and games. He also
had a Deep Respect for Dave Christianson and all the Rip
/city Coaches. They took a genuine interest in Brett as an
individual and treated him as family. This was true for all
the guys and girls I saw at Rip City. Brett gained a
tremendous amount of Baseball knowledge and skills from Rip
city. But he gain something much bore. He gained a lifetime
respect for the game and a true sense of sportsmanship. The
lessons he has learned go far beyond the baseball field.
Thank you Dave Christianson and Rip City. The memories and
training you gave our son are priceless!"
~Neil and Rosemary
Stamper - Newcastle, Va.
"I just wanted to let you
know that my 12 year old son, Luke, has pitched only 1
inning before going to Rip City. Due to dedication and hard
work, Luke has excelled in pitching this year! He has good
mechanics, throws in the upper 50's and after 8 games has an
ERA of 2.5! Luke and I would like to say thank you to you
and your staff for being so helpful in Luke's success. Rip
City is the best! We will see you again after the season!"
~Howie Phillips -
Radford, Va.
"My son Jack(10) attended
one of your pitching camps this winter and also one of your
hitting camps this spring and I have to say that it has paid
off for both of us. Jack has pitched in 6 games so far and
has only walked 5 batters! In Botetourt the kids can only
pitch 3 innings per game. In 17 innings pitched he has 29
K's and % BB's. He's hitting better too. He's batting .400
and that includes a bit of a lump. I am coaching his team
and have applied your throwing techniques to all 14 players
was well as your hitting instruction and it has improved
performance across the board. We're off to a 7-0 start. Just
wanted to say thanks and brag just a little but too. We'll
be back to see you in your new home and also try to send
some new kids your way. Thanks for all you do."
~James Quarles -
Botetourt, Va.
"Dave Christianson was the
single most positive influence for both of my sons in their
baseball development. Through individual and group
instruction at Rip City and participation in his fall and
spring showcase traveling teams, Dave gave them a solid
foundation of technique, training, and knowledge drawing
from his professional career as a player. Beyond that, Dave
was an amazing role model and mentor as a coach to both
Jacob and Noah as they each played four seasons or more on
his American Legion Team. Jacob became a student of hitting
at Rip city. Jacob played at the University of Mary
Washington - a top 25 Division III team. Noah also had great
success with hitting and pitching instruction from Rip
City. He just finished his second year playing at Roanoke
College as a two year starter. Working with Dave and Rip
City is an investment that will bring a return in baseball
results on the field as well as character and confidence off
the field."
~Dan Davidson - Salem,
Va.