National Sport Academy Baseball
Miki Kawahara, BHK, SCS, NCCP Level 3
Miki graduated with his degree in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia. While in college he was an academic all-Canadian playing for the Douglas College Royals (NWAACC) and the UBC Thunderbirds (NAIA). After finishing his playing career, Miki remained in British Columbia until 2007. During that time he helped coach the Coquitlam Red Legs to back-to-back regional championships in the BC Junior Premier Baseball League. Miki has coached at Provincial Camps, the Canada Cup (Team Alberta 17U), and the Prospects Series.
Since moving to Calgary in 2007 Miki has developed Diamondawgs, a baseball/softball education company committed to providing players with the highest level of on-field instruction and personal development. Diamondawgs has worked with local programs such as Baseball Calgary, South Bow River Softball, and Kaizen Softball. Diamondawgs continues to work with Babe Ruth Calgary as well as operating the National Sport Academy Baseball Program. His international experience includes playing in Japan and Australia as well as coaching in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. A level 3 baseball coach with the NCCP, Miki is a certified Sport Conditioning Specialist (TCI).
Geoff Freeborn
Geoff Freeborn has bounced around the baseball globe. He was a member of the 1999 Canadian Junior National team before moving on to North Idaho College and Northern Kentucky University. While attending US college, the Canadian native became involved in Britain’s baseball program and pitched nearly 30 innings in four different European Championships (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007).
In 2005, Freeborn pitched in France’s Division Elite and then began his minor league baseball career in 2006 with the Calgary Vipers. Over three years with the Vipers (2006-2008) Geoff compiled an 11-3 record and also notched 4 saves. In 2007 he was named to the Northern League All-Star team.
Geoff has also played winter ball in Australia (2006) and Colombia with the Monteria Cardinals (2007). Proving that he can also hit, Freeborn joined the Mannheim Tornados in Germany (a 6th country) for the 2008 season, going 1-3 on the mound but carrying a .421 batting average at the plate with a double, a walk, 8 runs and 5 RBI.
In 2012, Geoff played in the Hong Kong Invitational with the Calgary Diamondbacks, the team representing Canada. That was the final stop for him, as he now could boast of having played on all six continents!
As a coach, Geoff has considerable experience working with players at many levels. An excellent communicator, Coach Freeborn has the ability to blend his knowledge of baseball skill development with his extensive and eclectic playing career to motivate his players. His students have great respect for the high demands he places on his players and his ability to help them reach their goals through attention to detail and calm demeanor.
Geoff has started a pitching development company dedicated to the development of sidearm/submarine pitchers: www.sidearmnation.com
Thomas Scarr, B.Kin, CSCS-candidate
Thomas Scarr grew up in Gibsons, B.C., where he played a multitude of sports throughout his childhood. Over time Thomas’ passion for sport and particularly baseball grew immensely. Scarr went on to play in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (BCPBL) for the North Shore Twins. After, Thomas played four years for the University of Calgary Dinos and then on in Europe with the Vienna Emporers.
After Thomas’ baseball career finished, he turned to research and coaching. Recently, Scarr worked for the Sport Injury Prevention and Research centre as a research assistant on multiple projects and as a part time coach with the National Sport Academy. Thomas recently graduated from the U of C with a Bachelors of Kinesiology and currently is a strength and conditioning coach for Crash Conditioning and the National Sport Academy.
While his coaching career is fairly young, Thomas’ philosophy is an athlete-centred aproach, tailored to the needs of each athlete to better protect and develop them. His mission is to empower each athlete to strive to reach their personal sport-specific and life goals.