Hitting
Individualized hitting development supported by technology, coaching and consistent training.
The Berkshires · Since 2019
Build the complete athlete
Baseball development, strength, speed and performance training under one roof in the Berkshires.
Where do you fit?
Three ways into the building.
Rip City is not only for baseball players. Pick the path that sounds like you.
Athlete Development
Baseball, softball and sports performance training for youth, high school and college athletes.
ExploreAdult Strength & Fitness
H2K, small group training and Soul Sweat for adults and complete beginners.
ExploreCage Rentals
Book a cage by the hour, with a machine or with HitTrax. Our most popular service.
ExploreMore than a baseball facility.
Rip City Academy is a complete athlete development system. Baseball skill development, strength and conditioning, speed, mobility and performance technology all work together under one roof.
How we train
Three rooms. One plan.
Pitching
Throwing development built around arm health, movement quality, velocity and long-term durability.
Performance
Strength, speed, power, mobility and athletic development designed to transfer to the field.
One athlete. One development plan. One facility.
What we expect
The Rip City standard
Development
Long-term progress over short-term fixes.
Accountability
Athletes are expected to show up, work and take ownership of their development.
Competition
We create opportunities for athletes to compete and learn how to perform under pressure.
Technology
We use objective data to measure progress and guide training.
Coaching
Our coaches communicate and work together so the athlete isn't receiving disconnected training.
Community
Rip City should be a place athletes, families and coaches are proud to be part of.
Programs
Find your place in the building
Whatever you came in for, it connects to the same development system.
Baseball Development
Hitting, throwing, defensive work and complete baseball development.
Sports Performance
Strength, speed, power, mobility and durability training for athletes.
H2K | Hard To Kill
Strength, mobility, conditioning and accountability for adults and athletes who want to build better habits and become more capable.
Private Lessons
Individual hitting, pitching and baseball instruction.
Team Programs
Fall and summer baseball development and competition.
Cage Rentals
Individual and team cage rentals with training technology available.
Youth Development
Age-appropriate athletic and baseball development for younger athletes.
Athlete Development Memberships
Choose your level of development.
Different levels of support. The same Rip City standard.
Foundation
$349per month
- Seasonal hitting/fielding & strength training (Fall 3x/week, Winter 4x/week, Spring & Summer 2x/week)
- Fall + Winter Saturday Athletic Flow and Release Yoga at 10:30
- 1-hour Sunday cage rental
- Monthly guest speaker
- Monthly community event
- 25% off teams, camps & private lessons
Performance
Most popular$499per month
- Seasonal hitting/fielding & strength training (Fall 3x/week, Winter 4x/week, Spring & Summer 2x/week)
- Fall + Winter Saturday Athletic Flow and Release Yoga at 10:30
- 1-hour Sunday cage rental
- Monthly guest speaker
- Monthly community event
- Monthly movement & swing/pitching video analysis
- Quarterly athletic performance testing
- Personalized coaching feedback & progress tracking
- 30% off teams, camps & private lessons
Elite
$599per month
- Seasonal hitting/fielding & strength training (Fall 3x/week, Winter 4x/week, Spring & Summer 2x/week) + Seasonal Throwing Program
- Fall + Winter Saturday Athletic Flow and Release Yoga at 10:30
- 1-hour Sunday cage rental
- Monthly guest speaker
- Monthly community event
- Monthly movement & swing/pitching video analysis
- Quarterly athletic performance testing
- Individual goal-setting meetings
- Personalized performance planning
- Ongoing progress check-ins
- Highest level of coach communication & accountability
- 35% off teams, camps & private lessons
All memberships are 12-month commitments. Looking for adult fitness instead? See Strength & Fitness options.
Staff
Meet the team
One staff. One standard. Working together to develop better athletes and better people.
Jake McNeice
Head of Strength and Conditioning
Exercise Science degree from Springfield College with over 1,000 internship hours at Williston Prep and Quinnipiac University, working with more than 30 teams from high school to Division 1 and professional. State MVP in baseball and Western Mass MVP in football at Taconic High.
Alex Carusotto
Coach
Exercise and Health Science degree from UMass Boston, where he pitched four years on a team that reached a #1 national ranking, two LEC championships and a College World Series appearance. Former strength and conditioning intern at Livingstone Speed Academy and Division 1 University at Albany.
Greg Marchbanks
Coach - Throwing Program
More than 30 years in the game and the coach who runs our throwing program. Pitched at Fresno City College and the University of San Francisco, with West Coast Conference Honorable Mention in 1996 and 1997. Master's in Kinesiology and Sport Psychology from Fresno State.
Natalie Zema
Coach - Small Group Training
Natalie earned her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Applied Exercise Science from the University of Rhode Island in 2023. During her time at URI, she completed internships with the university's Division I Strength & Conditioning and Athletic Training & Sports Medicine departments. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and a Corrective Exercise Specialist through NASM. In addition to coaching, Natalie works at The Recovery Room in Pittsfield, where she provides integrated recovery treatments and designs exercise programs for rehabilitation and performance enhancement. Natalie competed in soccer and track and field at New Lebanon High School, danced for more than 15 years in the Berkshires and was a member of the club crew team at URI.
Kelly Sullivan
Coach - Soul Sweat
Kelly leads Soul Sweat, a welcoming fitness class for women who want to move their bodies, feel better and build momentum in their lives. She meets each person where they are, helping beginners, busy moms and anyone new to the gym work at an appropriate level while building strength, fitness, energy and confidence.
From our athletes
Built by results. Proven by our athletes.
“When training at Rip City, you train with the best trainers, players, and people around. Not only do you find yourself in a great baseball environment, you find yourself in a high energy situation where anyone can be comfortable. In my time at Rip City, I've noticed an increase in production in my swing and improvement in my all-around game.”
“Rip City is the top facility in all of Western Mass. The staff has helped me an immense amount transforming me into the player that I am today. The hours after dark, and continuous input is something that every kid in our area should experience. Rip City is starting to become more of a culture and people would be insane to not invest their time with them.”
“Rip City Academy has brought the cutting edge of baseball player development into our Berkshire County backyard. Utilizing state of the art baseball technology and in-depth knowledge of the game, the staff has built a competitive atmosphere where players can track their growth and follow an individualized plan tailored to their own needs. Never before have Berkshire County athletes had this type of access to professional-level training and development programs.”
Adult Strength & Fitness
You do not have to be an athlete.
Two of our most approachable programs, built for adults and complete beginners.
Small Group Training with Natalie Zema
Natalie Zema, CSCS, NASM-CES
Small group training designed to help adults build strength and fitness, learn functional movements and gain confidence in the gym. Every exercise can be adjusted to the individual, making this an approachable starting point for beginners while still providing meaningful progression for experienced members.
Soul Sweat with Kelly Sullivan
Kelly Sullivan
Soul Sweat is a welcoming fitness class for women who want to move their bodies, feel better and build momentum in their lives. It is designed especially for beginners, busy moms and anyone who may not feel comfortable walking into a traditional gym class.
Ready to get to work?
Whether you’re looking for baseball development, performance training, private instruction or a place to put in extra work, there’s a place for you at Rip City.