2017 High School Trip

Trip Overview:

• • Travel dates: July 5 - July 16, 2017.

  • Countries visited: Switzerland, Germany and Czech Republic.

  • Cities visited: Zurich (Switzerland), Konstanz, Neuschwanstein, Munich and Regensburg (Germany) and Prague and Kutna Hora (Czech Republic)

  • Opponents: Swiss Men's National Team, German Junior National Team and Czech 21U and Junior National Teams. 9 games played; 7 wins, 2 losses.

  • Group size: 20 players, 5 staff members.

Basic Trip Itinerary:

• • July 5 - Gather at JFK Airport / Group flight to Zurich.

• July 6 - July 8 - Games and sightseeing in Switzerland.

  • July 9 - 12 - Games and sightseeing in Germany.

  • July 12 - 16 - Games and sightseeing in Czech Republic.

  • July 16 - Group flight from Prague to JFK.

Trip Staff:

• • Tom Gillespie - Tour Leader (see Founder - Career Highlights page)

  • Stephan Rapaglia - Tour Leader and Pitching Coach (see Founder - Career Highlights page)

  • Justin Cronk (http://diamondcollegeadvisory.com/who-are-we.php) (Founder of Diamond College Advisory Team, LLC and former Head Coach at Shenandoah University) - Head Coach

  • Stan Exeter (http://www.ursinusathletics.com/sports/bsb/coaches/index) (Head Coach, Ursinus College) - Assistant Coach

  • Alan Dean - Trainer / Strength and Conditioning Coach (Trainer / Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Great Britain National Team program)

Each of the staff members listed above has had significant experience coaching and/or teaching HS and college student-athletes, 3 of the staff members have significant national team coaching experience, and 2 of the staff members have significant professional coaching experience.

Trip Cost: $5,395 (included all basic intra-European travel expenses [i.e., ground transport, lodging and meals] and all training and competition-related expenses, but excluded airfare to/from Europe and health insurance).

Important Notes:

• • Staff members were available via cellphone and email at all times during the trip to respond to emergencies.

  • Although the legal drinking age in most parts of Europe is 18 (or even less), OWB has a strict policy against alcohol consumption by HS trip participants. Violations of this policy or other rules of personal conduct would have resulted in the violator being sent home immediately (at his family's expense).

  • As OWB's trip participants serve as de facto ambassadors of US baseball, excellent sportsmanship was promoted and expected, and all OWB 2017 trip participants did a superb job in this regard.

  • Parents and other family members of HS trip participants were welcome to participate in this trip at their own expense. In 2017, several families traveled along with the OWB team.