GSG Sports Academy - 501(c)3 non-profit Corporation

In youth baseball, growth is the exciting, sometimes messy process of young players discovering their potential. It’s the 10-year-old swinging at curveballs for the first time, missing often but learning to track the spin with each at-bat. It’s the shy kid in the outfield gaining confidence to call for a fly ball or the pitcher who starts with wild throws but gradually finds the strike zone through practice and encouragement. Growth happens in moments like mastering a bunt or turning a double play after weeks of drills. For example, a young player might start the season afraid of the ball but end it diving for grounders, mirroring the journey of pros like Mookie Betts, who honed his versatility as a kid. Beyond skills, growth is emotional—learning to cheer a teammate after striking out or shaking off a bad inning. For teams, it’s the squad that begins the season dropping pop-ups but gels into a unit by playoffs. For parents and coaches, it’s watching kids learn life lessons like perseverance and teamwork, knowing every error is a step toward becoming a better player and person.

Strength in youth baseball goes beyond physical ability—it’s the grit, heart, and camaraderie that young players develop. Physically, it’s the kid who builds enough arm strength to throw from shortstop to first or the batter who finally connects for a line drive after hours at the batting cage. But more than that, it’s the mental toughness to step back into the box after being hit by a pitch or to keep pitching with runners on base. Think of a young catcher, like a pint-sized version of Yadier Molina, learning to stay calm while directing teammates during a tense inning. Strength is also in the team huddles, where players rally each other after a tough loss, building bonds that last beyond the season. It’s the courage of a bench player who cheers louder than anyone, ready for their moment, or the coach who teaches kids to lose gracefully and keep working. In youth baseball, strength is the collective spirit of a team that picks each other up, like when a whole dugout chants for a teammate facing a full count, turning a nervous moment into a shared triumph.

Greatness in youth baseball isn’t about Hall of Fame stats—it’s about the magical moments that spark lifelong love for the game. It’s the 12-year-old hitting their first home run, the ball barely clearing the fence, and the dugout erupting like it’s a World Series walk-off. It’s the pitcher throwing a no-hitter in a local tournament, feeling like Max Scherzer for a day, or the team that rallies from a 5-0 deficit to win in extra innings, learning they can achieve the impossible. Greatness is the kid who makes a diving catch in center field, grinning ear to ear, or the player who gives up their spot to let a teammate play, showing leadership beyond the scoreboard. It’s also in the community—parents cheering wildly, coaches teaching sportsmanship, and kids dreaming of being like Jackie Robinson or Shohei Ohtani. For a youth team, greatness might be winning the league championship or simply finishing the season with heads held high, knowing they gave their all. These moments, big or small, plant seeds of confidence and joy, inspiring kids to chase their own version of greatness, on and off the field.

Michiel van Kampen, Director, Baseball Operations. Michiel begins his third season as the pitching and strength coach of the Boise Hawks. Prior to the Hawks, Michiel was on the coaching staff at Boise State University. Michiel's was recruited to pitch at Treasure Valley Community College. The Haarlem, Netherlands native finished his college career at the College of Idaho were he earned his bachelor's degree in international business and business administration.

Michiel returned home to start his professional career in the Dutch Professional League from 1998-2010. During that time, he was a member of the Netherlands National Team, was part of six European Cups, four World Cups, three Intercontinental Cups, two World Baseball Classics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Michiel and his wife, Renae, who he met at Treasure Valley Community College, moved to Boise in 2010. 

Coach Aaron Kowal brings a wealth of baseball experience to his coaching career, rooted in his extensive playing background across high school, travel ball, and collegiate levels in the Chicagoland area. A graduate of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Kowal competed in baseball and golf for all four years. He continued his baseball career at Saint Xavier University for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he redshirted and later stepped away due to medical circumstances. Kowal ultimately earned his bachelor’s degree from Boise State University in 2016.

In recent years, Coach Kowal has built an impressive coaching resume. He served as head coach for MYB for three years, followed by two years as an assistant coach at the Boise Baseball Academy (BBA). He then took on the role of head coach at BBA for one year and spent an additional year as an assistant coach with the Idaho Raptors, showcasing his dedication to developing young athletes.