TANTLINGER TUTORS FOR AV HURLERS.Byline: Gerry Ger·ry , Elbridge 1744-1814. American politician. A signer of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and a delegate to the Continental Congress (1787), he served as governor of Massachusetts (1810-1811) and as Vice President of the United States Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer You don't have to look far to see why the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley has so many dominating prep softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' pitchers. The reason is pitchman Kevin Tantlinger, personal coach to such stars as Quartz quartz, one of the commonest of all rock-forming minerals and one of the most important constituents of the earth's crust. Chemically, it is silicon dioxide, SiO2. Hill's Jodie Cox, Paraclete's Amanda Wachsmuch and Highland's Nichole Rawson. Tantlinger, 39, tutors 70 pitching hopefuls of all ages at $15 per hour. He is certainly not a can-teach, can't-do type. Tantlinger is a five-time ASA Asa (ā`sə), in the Bible, king of Judah, son and successor of Abijah. He was a good king, zealous in his extirpation of idols. When Baasha of Israel took Ramah (a few miles N of Jerusalem), Asa bought the help of Benhadad of Damascus and All-American pitcher whose fastball has been clocked 83 mph. He pitches for the Lakewood Jets, who vie for the Masters national championship starting Aug. 26 in Saginaw, Mich. ``It's all upper-body strength,'' said Tantlinger, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. ``You have to have strong abdominals, back and legs to get you started. I end up 12-18 inches out of the circle after the pitch.'' Tantlinger, a general contractor A general contractor is an organization or individual that contracts with another organization or individual (the owner) for the construction of a building, road or any other execution of work or facility. , has seen 12 of his students earn full softball scholarships. But that's a small part of why he gets so much satisfaction working with youngsters. ``It makes everything worth it when you see the look on their face when they come back to me after pitching a one-hitter,'' Tantlinger said. ``Plus I feel like I'm doing some good, because I'm keeping girls focused on something other than peer pressure.'' Tantlinger helped Rawson pitch Park View Senior Little League to the 1997 national championship before dominating as a varsity freshman at Highland High. ``He's great and he did a great job with both me and my sister (Natalie),'' said Rawson, who was 6-2 with a 1.17 ERA and just eight walks in 60 innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. for Highland. ``Kevin really taught me a lot about fundamentals. It was nice going to him because he's a pitcher too, so he knows what he's talking about.'' Rawson said she respected Tantlinger for going above and beyond in helping her travel team the Rage this summer. ``He came out and pitched to us and helped us when he didn't have to do that,'' she said. ``He did it because he's a nice guy. That was awesome.'' Tantlinger said his best up-and-comer is unheralded Amanda Ricker, who pitched for Quartz Hill High's junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. last year but must wait in line behind Jodie Cox this season. ``Amanda is probably my top prospect,'' Tantlinger said. ``She is going to be one of the best control pitchers A control pitcher is a pitcher who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as oppose to a power pitcher who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of bases on balls he exhibits good control of his pitches. around, and she's a great kid.'' Ricker saw results immediately after just a few sessions with Tantlinger. ``I was pitching balls all over the place before I started working with him,'' Ricker said. ``In just two weeks I was throwing a lot more strikes and I picked up five miles per hour.'' Ricker said Tantlinger touches on all angles. ``We worked on specific mechanics and also a lot on mental focus,'' Ricker said. ``The best thing about Kevin is he's such a blast to be around. He's always happy and always has something good to say.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Kevin Tantlinger pitches for the Lakewood Jets when he's not teaching AV-area girls. Special to the Daily News |
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