PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE BASEBALL / MODESTO, CA

A home for families who love baseball.

Since 2007, we’ve been teaching kids baseball, building teams, and making plenty of memories along the way.

This is PA.

We started PA in Modesto because we wanted kids to have a place to learn baseball the right way. Good coaching, solid fundamentals, teammates who pull for each other, and families who get to know each other at the ballpark. That’s still what we’re about.

Our job is to help players get ready for high school baseball. Over the years, hundreds of PA kids have made high school teams, and dozens have played in college. We love seeing that. We also love seeing the quieter stuff: a kid finally makes that play he’s been working on, a teammate picks somebody up after an error, or a player leaves practice asking when he gets to come back.

PA teammates together at the ballpark — PA players on the field

More than just games on the schedule.

Ask any PA family and they’ll tell you: a lot happens between the first pitch and the last out. There are early mornings, long weekends, big hits, tough losses, dugout laughs, and friendships that stick. We expect our kids to work hard and respect the game. We also want them to enjoy being out there.

PA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. That matters to us. We are here to support youth baseball, invest in our players, and build something that lasts for Central Valley families.

Get to know Coach Kevin →

Our Approach

Practice matters.

We spend time on the things that show up in every game: making a good throw, getting in front of a ground ball, taking a smart at-bat, running the bases, and knowing what to do before the ball is hit. The basics matter at every age, so we keep working on them.

Fundamentals

We teach it, we practice it, and we do it again until it becomes second nature.

Baseball IQ

Know the situation. Know where the play is. Be ready to back up your teammate.

Character

Hustle, listen, own your mistakes, and be somebody your teammates can count on.

PA teammates together — Performance Advantage players learning and competing

And yes, baseball should be fun.

We expect our kids to compete. We also want to hear them cheering in the dugout, see them celebrating a teammate’s big play, and know they’re excited to come back next week. They’re kids playing a game they love. We never want to lose sight of that.

Our goal is to prepare players for high school baseball while helping them grow into confident, respectful young people.

Coach Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy archival baseball photograph, displayed in full

Founder · Owner / Operator · Head Coach

Kevin grew up in Modesto and graduated from Beyer High School, where he played baseball and soccer. He went on to play at Delta College, Modesto Junior College, and Stanislaus State. At Stanislaus, he earned All-Conference and All-West Region recognition and set a school stolen-base record.

He played professionally with the Chico Outlaws and worked in player development with the Modesto Nuts, including time as an assistant coach in 2011. He also has a background in physical education and community service.

Kevin helped start PA in 2007 because he wanted local players to have quality coaching and a real opportunity to improve. Nearly two decades later, the point is still the same: teach the fundamentals, hold kids accountable, and give them a good place to play.

“We don't chase rings. We build players.”

Our coaches

PA coaches are expected to teach, communicate, and set a good example. Current team-specific coaching assignments will be posted once the new season is confirmed. We won't put names on teams before those assignments are final.