Mincey’s life with baseball

“Baseball is a game – but there is so much more that goes with it.”

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By CINDY CROSBY

Cindyc4@yahoo.com

“Baseball has been my whole life – it has brought me lifelong friends and taught me many valuable things like sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility and motivation.” – Coach Cody Mincey

If you drive by 33 Tuskegee Airman Drive, at the intersection of Highway 15 and Academy Road, and you see the doors up on the metal building sitting just off the road, it is very likely you will hear the sweet pop of the bat hitting the ball in the cages. And, if he is not giving instruction, you will also likely get a wave from Coach Cody Mincey as you drive by. That is what, we in the South, would call a “two-‘fer.”

Alpha Sports Performance is an elite indoor training facility specializing in baseball and softball instruction. But for owner and instructor Mincey, the new facility is about much more than the game of baseball.

“I hope I am not just helping them with baseball here at Alpha Sports Performance — I hope I am serving as a mentor and motivator while building their confidence,” said Mincey. “I want our local kids to love the game of baseball and appreciate and participate in sports — whether it is baseball, softball, basketball, football, soccer or any sport.”

As a pitcher himself, Mincey considers helping young pitchers his specialty; however, he stays just as busy giving hitting instruction.

“As a pitcher, you have to be able to pick apart hitters, so I can see what the hitter is doing,” he said. “I use a pitcher’s prospective to look for their weaknesses and then work to correct those things. I have played with guys in the big leagues and they are always willing to lend a hand, so I will often send them a video and ask what we can do to help the hitter. Peter Moylan, who played with the Atlanta Braves for 10 years, recently did Facetime with one of my students.”

What is the best age to begin training? “If they can pick up a baseball bat, I will start working with them,” said Mincey. “I’m not saying a four-year-old should be here, but I do offer fundamental group training that targets younger kids. I love working with youth because they are excited to be here. The way we get kids in the community to continue to play the game as they head into high school is to have a coach who cares about them not only as a player, but as a person. I am not here for the parents — I am here for the kids.

“When I accepted the position as the head baseball coach at CPA, I knew God sent me here for a reason,” said Mincey. “I believe there is a purpose for me being here and it is not to just coach, but to serve as a mentor and to be there for my players. Yes, I will hold players accountable in games, and tell them when they are wrong and expect them to not make excuses – but more importantly, I want to be there for them when they need me.

“My dad died when I was a young kid, so I did not have someone to throw with in the backyard,” said Mincey. “Financially, I could not afford to come to a training facility like this one. I wore the same pair of cleats from my sophomore year to my senior year and they had tape all around them holding them together. I used the same glove all four years of high school. So, yes, I want kids in this community to believe they can play at the collegiate level. I want to serve as inspiration from the standpoint of if Coach Mincey is 5’9” and 175-pounds and still playing at 28 years old … so why can’t I?”

In addition to the training aspect of the facility, Mincey recently added his own line of customized gear and special design baseball gloves.

A native of Hartsville, Mincey had a stellar high school pitching career before graduating in 2011 with a host of accolades including All-State, All-Region, Pitcher of the Year, Captain and All-Tournament Team for the Southeastern Baseball Classic. He attended Spartanburg Methodist College where he graduated in 2013.

As a Pioneer, he helped lead SMC to a 2013 JUCO World Series and a 2012 NJCAA Region X Championship. As a sophomore at SMC in 2013, he went 4-2 with five saves in 28.0 innings pitched and as a freshman in 2012, went 5-2 with two saves in 42.2 innings pitched.

Following his JUCO career, Mincey was recruited by the University of South Carolina. In his junior year, he made a team-high 29 relief appearances, 5-0 with a 1.04 ERA and a save, allowed just four runs on 20 hits in 34.2 innings with 17 walks and 44 strikeouts and opponents hit .171 against him. As a senior, he made 18 relief appearances, went 2-3 with a save and a 6.75 ERA in 28.0 innings, and allowed 21 runs on 24 hits with 22 walks and 27 strikeouts.

After graduating from USC, Mincey played professionally in Chicago for the With Windy City Thunderbolts and in St. Louis with the River City Rascals. In the 2019-20 season, he played in the Mexican Pacific Winter League with the Charros de Jalisco (39-28).

Currently, Mincey is relying heavily on word of mouth from trainees and their families along with social media to spread the word about Alpha Sports Performance. To find out more or schedule an appointment, contact Mincey at 843-442-8074 or via email at alphasp33@gmail.com.