Bill Shields - Extra Innings Instructor
Bill Shields, a native of Winchester, played for Dowling College on Long Island as the starting first basemen and designated hitter from 1996 to 2000. He helped lead Dowling to three consecutive post season appearances. In 1998, Shields helped Dowling to the ECAC Championship, NYCAC championship game and a 26-11 overall record, the second best finish in school history. Coach Shields was a assistant coach at Frostburg State University (2005-2008). Coach Shields was responsible for the hitters and the position players, and head of recruiting duties for the bobcats. Shields developed a off-season conditioning program, which includes weight lifting, running, throwing, and stretching. With a Masters in education, coach Shields is highly qualified to assess each student-athlete’s strengths and weaknesses and guide them in the right direction for physical success on the baseball field. His final coaching season, Frostburg finished 31-15 overall with a 13-5 conference record. The team captured the AMCC title and advanced on to the NCAA tournament for the second time in as many years. As the Frostburg hitting and fielding coach Shields has seen drastic improvement in the team’s success. Shields helped raise the team’s batting average (.022) and finished 34th in the country in batting average. The Bobcats teams Fielding % in 2006 was .948 with 76 errors, with a lot of hard work in the off-season the players improved to a fielding % of .967 and 53 errors. With the improvements in the teams fielding the team finished 10th overall in the country in fielding percentage. During his time at Frostburg coach Shields has created a hitting-pitching and fielding program that focuses on developing the proper mechanics for young players ranging from 5-18 offering guidance to youth baseball players in the area. Coach Shields was head coach of the Haymarket Senators in the Valley Baseball League in the Summer of 2008. Shields took over a team that finished last in the valley league in 2007 with a record of 11-39. The Haymarket Senators finished the 2008 season with a 19-28 record and a trip to the playoffs. “Bill was a welcome addition to the Haymarket Senators family and we were excited to have him on board. His experience, baseball knowledge and personality was a great asset to the team and we are confident that these strengths are what lead the Haymarket Senators to a successful 2008 summer season,” says Bernie Schaffler, Owner of the Haymarket Senators. The Valley Baseball League is funded in part by a grant from Major League Baseball and is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, a national affiliation of summer leagues. The league has produced well over 1,000 professional baseball players, including a record 79 former players drafted in the most recent Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June, 2008.
Our Instructors
All instructors at Extra Innings Woburn come with an extensive baseball or softball background. Whether they are former or current professional players, college all-stars, or high school or college coaches, Extra Innings Woburn offers serious professional instruction!
Visit our Lessons Page to see Player Testimonials!
Donna Mills - Head Softball Instructor
Donna began her athletic career in the early 80's playing baseball in the Pine Hill Little League. Donna played 3 years in the majors and was one of the first females to be selected to the League All-Star team. Donna picked up a softball for the first time in 1988, having made the Varsity Softball team at Lynn Tech as a catcher/shortstop. She was a 4 year varsity letter winner, a 4 year starter, and an All-Star all 4 years. She was selected as the Commonwealth Conference MVP her junior and senior years. Donna attended the University of Massachusetts at Lowell on a softball scholarship. She was a varsity letter winner from 1992-1996, as a starting shortstop. Donna was selected to the N.E.C.C. All-Stars in 1995 and 1996. She was a New England Collegiate Conference 1st Team All-Conference, N.E.I.S.C.A selection, and winner of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell Student/Athlete award in 1996. Donna holds several school offensive records and was listed among the ‘Top 10' Division II, hitters in the country d
Alyssa Bryan - Extra Innings Instructor
Alyssa has been playing softball for 11 years at various levels. Her career began as a softball player, switching to baseball for 2 years until she got into high school where she switched back to softball making the Varsity team as a freshman pitcher. Alyssa was a four-year Varsity starter as a pitcher, first baseman, and shortstop. Through her leadership and work ethic, Alyssa earned the distinction of Captain in her junior and senior year and was also named Middlesex League All-Star in 2008 and 2009. In her 2007 season her high school team made it to the Division II North State Tournament Finals. She was the Team MVP of the tournament, pitching a no-hitter against Tewksbury in the Semi-finals to advance to the finals. In 2008, her team returned to the Division II North Semi-finals for a second time. In her senior year of high school her ERA was 0.67 putting her in second place in a very tough Middlesex League. In 2009 she was also named Boston Herald All-Scholastic. Alyssa is proud to be part of the elite Worth Firecracker Red Hots summer travel team based out of Central Massachusetts. She is currently attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell on a softball scholarship. Alyssa will be entering her sophomore year majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology. In her freshman year at UML she compiled a .302 batting average and 30 RBI, tallying 39 hits including 17 extra bases, and collected 77 total bases on the year. Blasting 7 homeruns on the year put her second best on the squad. She finished the year with a .597 slugging percentage. On the mound, she amassed a 3.94 ERA and 11-10 record. She held opponents to a .275 batting average and threw six complete games. Alyssa has assisted players of all ages in clinics and camps and has instructed private pitching and hitting lessons. Alyssa has been coached by some of the best coaches in the area and loves to teach as much as she loves to play the game!
Bill Shields - Extra Innings Instructor
Bill Shields, a native of Winchester, played for Dowling College on Long Island as the starting first basemen and designated hitter from 1996 to 2000. He helped lead Dowling to three consecutive post season appearances. In 1998, Shields helped Dowling to the ECAC Championship, NYCAC championship game and a 26-11 overall record, the second best finish in school history. Coach Shields was a assistant coach at Frostburg State University (2005-2008). Coach Shields was responsible for the hitters and the position players, and head of recruiting duties for the bobcats. Shields developed a off-season conditioning program, which includes weight lifting, running, throwing, and stretching. With a Masters in education, coach Shields is highly qualified to assess each student-athlete’s strengths and weaknesses and guide them in the right direction for physical success on the baseball field. His final coaching season, Frostburg finished 31-15 overall with a 13-5 conference record. The team captured the AMCC title and advanced on to the NCAA tournament for the second time in as many years. As the Frostburg hitting and fielding coach Shields has seen drastic improvement in the team’s success. Shields helped raise the team’s batting average (.022) and finished 34th in the country in batting average. The Bobcats teams Fielding % in 2006 was .948 with 76 errors, with a lot of hard work in the off-season the players improved to a fielding % of .967 and 53 errors. With the improvements in the teams fielding the team finished 10th overall in the country in fielding percentage. During his time at Frostburg coach Shields has created a hitting-pitching and fielding program that focuses on developing the proper mechanics for young players ranging from 5-18 offering guidance to youth baseball players in the area. Coach Shields was head coach of the Haymarket Senators in the Valley Baseball League in the Summer of 2008. Shields took over a team that finished last in the valley league in 2007 with a record of 11-39. The Haymarket Senators finished the 2008 season with a 19-28 record and a trip to the playoffs. “Bill was a welcome addition to the Haymarket Senators family and we were excited to have him on board. His experience, baseball knowledge and personality was a great asset to the team and we are confident that these strengths are what lead the Haymarket Senators to a successful 2008 summer season,” says Bernie Schaffler, Owner of the Haymarket Senators. The Valley Baseball League is funded in part by a grant from Major League Baseball and is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, a national affiliation of summer leagues. The league has produced well over 1,000 professional baseball players, including a record 79 former players drafted in the most recent Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June, 2008.
John "Smokey" Moore - Extra Innings Instructor
Coach John “Smokey” Moore grew up in Somerville, Ma where his playing experience has taken him from Somerville Little League, Somerville Babe Ruth, Somerville High School, and Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington, Ma and also Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. John Moore has also played in some of the Boston area’s top amateur leagues for many years such as the Intercity League with the former Augustine A’s (Now Gately A’s), Elm Supply (Now Cassell Club) and also of the Boston Park League with Mass Envelope while he was still in high school. He currently still plays and pitches competitively within the Boston Men’s Baseball League’s MSBL – North Shore Black Sox. Coach John “Smokey” Moore is among the All Time league leaders in MSBL for hitting (.432 career average) and also for pitching (2.37 ERA lifetime). His coaching resume is extensive. He has been coaching baseball for nearly a quarter of a century now beginning in 1984 within the Somerville Little League system and currently coaches at St. Mary’s Cal Ripken in Revere, Ma where he has resided with his wife and 2 children for nearly 20 years. Also, Coach John is a coach within the AAU Super Division - Boston Jr. Rams AAU 11U -16U.
Missy Swymer - Extra Innings Instructor
Missy is Assistant Varsity Coach at Winchester High School. Missy was a four year varsity starter for WHS, a captain, and a four year Middlesex League all-star pitcher. Missy's senior year she was named the teams most valuable player .She was runner up for league MVP, and she was also named Gatorade player of the year. Missy also pitched for two Babe Ruth Massachusetts State Title teams and played tournament softball with the Woburn Panthers, The Middlesex Crush, and the Black Ice. She continued her softball career at Endicott College, graduating in 2008. Missy was formerly an assistant coach and pitching coach at Lexington High School. Missy teaches windmill pitching and stresses basic fundamentals and proper mechanics. In addition, Missy assists pitchers with the mental aspects of pitching including developing appropriate mound demeanor, maintaining confidence, keeping a positive attitude, and surviving stressful game situations.
Steve Swymer - Extra Innings Instructor
Steve is the Winchester High School Varsity Coach. Coach Swymer has more than twenty years of experience coaching fast-pitch softball, both at the high school and tournament team level. He has coached tournament ball throughout New England as well as in Carolina, Florida, and Montreal. In 2010 Coach Swymer completed his thirteenth season coaching softball in the Middlesex League. Prior to joining WHS as Varsity Coach, Steve was the Assistant Varsity Coach at Lexington High School where his teams won three Middlesex League championships and back to back Division 1 Massachusetts softball titles. Coach Swymer focuses on teaching softball fundamentals. For pitching instruction with younger players, Steve concentrates on basic windmill mechanics. With more experienced pitchers, Coach Swymer emphasizes pitch velocity, location, mastering the changeup, and developing advanced pitches like the curveball, riseball, drop, and screw ball. For hitting, Coach Swymer instructs both beginners and advanced hitters. Throughout, he stresses proper swing mechanics, increasing power, and successfully hitting different kinds of pitches. Specialized instruction in various bunt techniques and slap-hitting is also available from Coach Swymer.