Chuck Jasak thinks too much western Massachusetts baseball talent is slipping through the cracks when it comes to recruiting and scouting.

The Belchertown coach has a solution. He's starting a college development program called the WMass Rebellion with the goal of helping area players improve their games and then get those players in front of college coaches and professional scouts.

"I just happened to notice from coaching for Belchertown this (spring) and working with the Bay State Games that there was some great talent in the western Mass. area that unfortunately gets missed because of the process of college and pro recruiting," said Jasak, who said there are similar programs in eastern Mass., Connecticut and Rhode Island. "You are at the point where you need to go to them, to showcase tournaments and events."

Those events usually have at least 50 teams, giving those looking for baseball talent an easy way to see a lot of players. But that also keeps many from looking at high school teams, especially ones from smaller schools.

The Rebellion will hold free tryouts at Northampton High School on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tryouts continue the following weekend on Sept. 24, at 10:30 and the 25th at 1 p.m. Players must attend two of the tryouts.

The program is open to sophomores, juniors and uncommitted seniors.

The team will be selected by mid-October and begin offseason training until the beginning of the high school baseball season.

"It's very exciting. There's been a lot of feedback from all around the area so far and I am really looking forward to see the players who show up for the tryouts," said Jasak, who played at Springfield Technical Community College. "I can't wait to get started working with the kids and helping them out."

Jasak said the program has already landed its first sponsor, Akadema, which is setting the team up with its equipment and "really helping our program get going."

The offseason program will include hitting and pitching sessions at Powerhouse Training in East Longmeadow, where Jasak is employed, and players will be given programs to follow based on the time of year.

After the high school season is complete, the Rebellion will play in showcase tournaments, independent games and competitive tournaments beginning in June until the first week of August.

"This allows players to play for a team so that you aren't only being seen (at showcases), you are also getting the experience of playing at a certain level and being coached at a high level."

Players can preregister by emailing Jasak at cmj9876@yahoo.com and more information can be found at www.wmrebellion.com.

PENALTY STROKES - It didn't take long for South Hadley field hockey's Juliette Chenier to show off some serious poise in her senior season.

The Tigers drew two penalty strokes in their opening four games and Chenier buried both of them.

"Juliette is a very strong girl," coach Tara Cole said of her penalty stroke goal against Northampton and standout goalie Mary Greco in Tuesday's 5-3 loss. "She knew where to put it. She knew the keeper was good, but she put it where she needed to."

Chenier said there's a lot that goes into making a penalty shot.

"I'm really looking for placement and definitely watching the goalie - where they are strong at - and going toward their weak spots," she said. I want to be "spot-on, give a follow-through, be strong and put it on net."

Chenier's conversions are most impressive because the team hasn't had much time to practice them early in the season.

"Now and again in practice we focus on them, but it's usually for five minutes or so," she said. "It's rare to have so many strokes so soon. That doesn't usually happen."

UNANIMOUS NO. 1 - Longmeadow earned all 11 first-place votes in the Western Mass. Media Football Poll this week after defeating Chicopee Comp in its season opener. The Lancers were the top ranked team in the poll heading into the season, but had seven of the 10 No. 1 votes. Central took the other three, but lost to Putnam in its season opener. The Beavers are now the No. 2 team, while Central dropped to No. 5.

GAME OF THE WEEK - Ludlow at Amherst Regional boys soccer, Monday, 6 p.m.

The Lions and Hurricanes have become a terrific rivalry in recent years and have battled over both the Smith League and Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament titles. Last year, Ludlow defeated Amherst on penalty kicks for the sectional championship and went on to win the state title. This is the first meeting since.

ETC. - Sean MacDonald's Frontier Regional girls volleyball team defeated Greenfield on Wednesday. MacDonald is now 179-13 (.932) in eight-plus seasons with the Red Hawks. ... The Smith Academy girls soccer team has enjoyed its move up to the Franklin League so far. The Falcons, who petitioned to move up after hammering the Tri-County in recent seasons, are 3-0 both in the league and overall after Tuesday's 7-0 win at Turners Falls. In the win over the Indians, sophomore forward Cassidy Snyder scored four goals, including the 50th of her career.

Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.