2019 High School Trip

Trip Overview:

• Travel dates: June 27-July 8, 2019.

• Countries visited: Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany.

• Cities visited: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Trebic and Prague (Czechia) and Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin (Germany)

• Opponents: Slovakia Men's National Team, Czech 18U National Team, and German 18U National Team.

• Record: 9 wins, 0 losses.

• Group size: 19 players, 5 staff members.

Basic Trip Itinerary:

• • June 27 - Group flight from JFK to Vienna.

  • June 28-June 30 - Games vs Slovakia Men's National Team in Bratislava; sightseeing in Vienna and Bratislava.

  • July 1-2 - Games vs Czech 18U National Team in Trebic and Prague; sightseeing in both locations.

  • July 3 - Sightsteeeing in Dresden

  • July 4-5 - Sightseeing and games vs German 18U National Team in Hamburg.

  • July 6-9 - Sightseeing and games vs German 18U National Team in Berlin.

  • July 8 - Group flight from Berlin to JFK.

Trip Staff:

• • Tom Gillespie - Tour Leader

• Stephan Rapaglia - Tour Leader and Pitching Coach

  • 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.swarthmoreathletics.com/sports/bsb/coaches/index) (Head Coach, Swarthmore College) - Assistant Coach

  • Alan Dean - Trainer/Strength and Conditioning Coach (former Strength and Conditioning Coach for Great Britain National Baseball Programme)

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: $5,795 (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

  • Parents and other family members of HS trip participants were welcome to participate in this trip at their own expense, and several family members did accompany the team in various locations.