Peter M. Caliendo, Former USA Baseball National Team Coach and Skills Development Coach.

Pete brings unmatched experience and expertise to the development of baseball skills to players and coaches. His vast knowledge and worldwide presence has earned Pete immeasurable respect within the baseball community. His devotion to the game of baseball is greatly admired by those who have crossed his path.

Pete started his baseball career at the World Famous Mickey Owen Baseball School where he started as a student, then became a counselor and at the young age of 17 began his coaching career with the 12 u program. During this time he met, who would become his great friend and mentor Dick Birmingham. Dick was instrumental in Pete’s start in baseball as a coach/instructor and continual development as a coach. Later Pete because the Director of Baseball instruction for the 12 U Baseball program along with coaching the high school age teams. Along with his student/counselor/coach responsibilities Pete studied at the Mickey Owen Umpire School under minor league umpire, Carl Lewton and he umpired over 100 games each summer. After 10 years at Mickey Owen Pete started a satellite program in the Chicago land area called Baseball Schools USA, a division of Mickey Own Baseball School. He set up over 25 schools throughout the Chicago land area which averaged over 60 players a camp. In the next expansion program Pete headed up two other states for Baseball Schools USA. These schools were standardized with special technology, standardized wording, drills, fundamentals and lots of fun games to keep the consistency of the program.

Pete is currently the President of Caliendo Sports International, a worldwide baseball company that trains individuals, teams, coaches, parents and deals in professional baseball operations worldwide. Pete's company takes teams, coaches, players and parents all over the world to experience international and cultural experience. Training volunteer coaches has been a specialty of Caliendo Sports International for over 35 years. Pete is a large proponent of a national certification program for volunteer coaches for the purpose of long term development of players. His 35 plus years of training coaches around the world continues by being a volunteer as Vice president of the International Sports Group a non profit organization which host coaches training programs around the world for over 25 years.

As a skills development coach, Pete has provided hundreds of youth coaches training programs throughout the world. To support this knowledge base, he has produced 5 baseball instructional tapes (“Coaching Made Easy”) used as a benchmark resource by coaches across the country. Along with his partner in Canada he has developed an on line coaches certification program. Pete presented twice at the National High School Coaches Clinic as well as 14 additional high school Association Clinics in the USA and has presented in 20 separate countries.

For over 7 years Pete taught a one week coaches certification class in Mexico for the Mexican Baseball Federation in Mexico City. He currently ran a one week certification class in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Baseball Association.

As of 2009, Pete is heading up the Great Lakes Region for (NTIS) USA Baseballs National Team Identification Program for possible national team players. The Great Lakes Region consists of 5 states, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Tryouts for potential national team players are held in each state at the ages of 17u, 16 u, 14 u, 13u and 11 under. Pete administers workouts throughout the states to identify possible national team players.

As Director of Baseball Operations and Coach for the Schaumburg Flyers, a professional independent team based in Illinois, Pete had over 26 players sign with major league organizations. The Flyers made it to the play offs in their opening season. As Player procurement Director for the North Shore Spirit, Pete put together the full roster of 22 players that went on to the Northeast World Series.

Internationally renowned, Pete served as the Director and Coach of The Pan Am Baseball Association, a pilot program started by the former CEO of USA Baseball Dick Case. This organization won 3 gold and 3 silver medals for the USA in the Pan Am Games, including the Gold over Cuba. From the six year program of 16 year old players it had produced over 22 players in the major leagues. After the six years USA baseball made the program an official USA Baseball 16 u national team program. His experience also includes coaching the Belgium Baseball Federation National Team and the 1999 Team USA, a team with professionals that competed in Australia's Intercontinental Cup the year before the Olympics in Australia. Pete also served as Director for USA Athletes International's Baseball Operations. While living in Europe, Pete became an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays for International Scout for the Blue Jays Wayne Morgan.

In January 2011 Pete received the American Baseball Coaches Association Meritorious award. The ABCA is the largest baseball organization of college and high school coaches in the U.S.He attributes his success in life to his parent’s upbringing of him and his brother Paul. “My parents made the ultimate sacrifice coming to the USA at a very young age from Italy, not knowing anyone so that my brother and I would have a better life”. His continual support comes from his parents Sam and Vivian, Brother Paul and beautiful wife Beverley who is always there to encourage him and assist him in any way. Jordan his step daughter has been a big part of his life in watching her grow up to be a bright young beautiful women. He continues to receive encouragement from his aunt in Italy and says without family no man can accomplish anything.

Pete is currently the President of Caliendo Sports International, a worldwide baseball company that trains individuals, teams, coaches, parents and deals in professional baseball operations worldwide. Pete's company takes teams, coaches, players and parents all over the world to experience international and cultural experience. Training volunteer coaches has been a specialty of Caliendo Sports International for over 35 years. Pete is a large proponent of a national certification program for volunteer coaches for the purpose of long term development of players. His 35 plus years of training coaches around the world continues by being a volunteer as Vice president of the International Sports Group a non profit organization which host coaches training programs around the world for over 25 years.

Mike Piha is the  CEO and resident coach of HitCheck. Drawing on more than 20 years' experience as a successful entrepreneur and multi-million dollar business owner in Silicon Valley, Mike is an idea shaper, play caller and team motivator.

One of Mike's true life passions is coaching youth football. For more than 30 years, he's volunteered his time to coaching and inspiring young athletes, many of which have gone on to play college and professional football. As co-founder of the NorCal Youth Football league, he has brought the game to more than 7,000 youth and in 2010, Mike was inducted into the American Youth Football Hall of Fame.

When Mike's not building companies or volunteering on the field, you can find him racking up miles on his road bike, golfing with his two sons, enjoying the San Francisco city life or taking in a Giants game with his wife, Cheryl.

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Michael Thau

Investigative Columnist

Jessica Sagastume is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Bilingual and Immigration Counselor who has made it her mission to support and help Hispanics and Immigrants to help them to “trust the process” as they embark upon their therapeutic journey of healing and self-discovery. Jessica integrates various treatment interventions to develop the most appropriate holistic treatment plan to meet each of her clients’ needs. Most importantly, Jessica's hope is to create a safe space where clients can explore distressing issues, and begin the healing process. On the show, Jessica will discuss her thoughts and views on how to navigate through relationships within Immigrant families.