According to Bertram Ray Burris, a baseball pitcher dominates the game with pitches and getting the ball in the catcher's glove.

During a two-day pitching clinic at Lehighton's Pyramid Sports Performance Center on Ochre Street, the former Chicago Cub turned Philadelphia Phillies pitching coach gave pointers and practical advice to 16 young men looking to improve their skills.Burris' baseball career spans 15 years, from 1973 to 1987. He pitched for the New York Mets, Yankees to Milwaukee Brewers of the American League until moving to Pennsylvania to work with pitchers of both major and minor league teams.It was while conducting a similar program in Stroudsburg that Burris meet Carbon County's Mrs. Domestic business owner Colleen Dykas. Dykas had been transporting her son Zachary to the pitching workshops with the coach when they "hit it off," she said."I would talk to Ray and the other pro players and they asked if I'd talk to other places and I said yes. I called Randy Hydro (Pyramid's Baseball program director) and he knew a lot about Ray. He talked to the owners and they brought him in," she said."We were talking one day and I said, 'You know, I'd like to do some camps.' Colleen said to go to the Pyramid and it grew from there," he said."I love it because I would've loved to have this as a kid. To have a professional come and teach you what the game is all about."The former pro thrower said he sees the same mistake in pitchers over and over."You see so many people throw a ball incorrect when you work as a rehab pitching coach," he said.Burris' remedy is to use fingers when throwing a ball."They have to learn to use the meat part of the index and middle finger," he said.He included the importance of balance and body alignment as well."So many throw with their biceps, elbow and shoulder. But it's in your fingers. When you brush your teeth you do it with your hand. It's a big misconception," he said."So much emphasis is on velocity, but we forget to throw correctly. Learning how to control body while going down a slope and fighting gravity," he said, referring to the pitcher's mound.Reflecting on his own start in the game, Burris said, "Rome wasn't built in a day. I struggled with the same thing, especially balance."Jesse Waksmunski is a pitcher for the Franklin Township White team but works on the game year-round."I brought him to improve his skills," said his father, Eric. "This program fits right in and means a lot for a 9-year-old to hear things from a pro versus just your dad."Northern Lehigh Bulldog pitcher Brendan Hill-Geake has been throwing the baseball for four years. The 10-year-old's father, Matt, said he brought his son back for the second day because of Burris' experience in the sports field."He's been the pitcher for years, and being able to work with someone with this much experience is worth the money," he said.Brett Kosciolek, 19, signed up for one of the workshop spots to polish his technique.The college student said he learned more about the mechanics of pitching during his time with the former pro ballplayer."Using your lower half instead of using all arm was one thing. He teaches how to throw harder with less strain. If you throw it correctly, it's a lot easier," he said."I'm excited because you can see the progress even in one lesson," Dykas said."He really loves the kids and draws the parents in. You know kids don't listen to their parents."Dykas said she would be able to help organize other workshops throughout the area."Hopefully it's the first of many. The beauty of it is the parents won't have to drive so far if we can start a program here. To have it in our area would be fantastic," she said.For more information, contact Dykas at

mrsdomesticservices@gmail.com.