While supplies last, select Akadema baseball gloves are marked at half price. Each purchase will also include a free gift from us, an Ion Necklace.

Akadema released its first glove in 1998, which makes them a baby in baseball equipment company years, but their innovative glove designs — including the revolutionary Stress Wedge technology in catcher’s mitts — have moved them into a class with the big boys.

They’re the glove of choice for players like Bryce Harper, Derek Holland, Cameron Maybin and Shane Victorino.

The half-price baseball gloves are listed below.

Akadema USA Series 12 3/4″ Baseball Glove ($99.98)

Made with pride in the USA, the Patriot series of gloves offer kip leather with a lighter feel and higher tensile strength, all while being 20% lighter than steerhide. Built to last. ($99.98)

Akadema Torino Series 11 3/4″ Baseball Glove ($99.98)

Also features kip leather, which makes the glove 20% lighter but just as durable as steerhide. The light tan palm and chocolate brown shell are constructed to break in quickly and remain durable. ($99.98)

Akadema Torino Series 11 1/2″ Baseball Glove ($99.98)

A quarter-inch shorter than the previous glove, which is ideal for middle infielders who prefer easy access for relay throws. Features kip leather, which makes the glove 20% lighter but just as durable as steerhide. ($99.98)

Akadema Torino Series 11 1/4″ Baseball Glove ($99.98)

Even shorter than the first three gloves, for the quickest possible access to the pocket. Features kip leather, which makes the glove 20% lighter but just as durable as steerhide. ($99.98)

Akadema Torino Series 12 3/4″ Baseball Glove ($99.98)

The Torino series model made for outfielders. Features kip leather, which makes the glove 20% lighter but just as durable as steerhide. ($99.98)

Related: Browse our entire selection of baseball gloves.

Depending on where you are in the country, your baseball season is bound to start sometime within the next 2-4 months.

That makes it prime time to work on an offseason conditioning program. Ideally, if you worked on a strength program during the fall, that would set you up perfectly for a short conditioning period to lead into baseball practice.

We’re talking sprints, ladders and such — the stuff that will give you what it takes to play every inning at your best without getting too fatigued.

But in January, that’s easier said than done. It’s cold out and it gets dark early, which makes it a lot easier to hibernate through the winter.

It’s not impossible, though, to get out and train. Follow these three simple tips, and you’ll be ready to go by baseball season.

1. Dress the part.

Wear layers, so you can peel off or add on clothing depending on how you feel. An easy way to do this is to wear a warm-up jacket while you warm up, which you can take off when you get to the hard part of your workout.

The goal here is to keep yourself from getting chilled or wet. Getting cold or wet is an unnecessary stress on your body, which of course can bring on a cold, which will hamper your training.

Preferably, your base layer should be made with moisture-wicking materials. This keeps your gear from getting soaked with sweat while you train, which can chill you off when you’re done.

This makes Under Armour’s Coldgear a great choice for outdoor training in the winter.

Coldgear is designed for temperatures under 55° F and features a double-sided fabric that wicks moisture away and circulates body heat.

2. Hydrate.

Just because you’re not out there sweating in the summer sun doesn’t mean you’re not losing fluids. You lose it through evaporating sweat, your breath and the metabolic effects of being in the cold.

Add to that the fact that cold weather can actually depress feelings of thirst, and it’s easy to get dehydrated when it’s cold out.

Depending on how much you weigh and how much you sweat, your mileage may vary, but an easy rule of thumb is to drink 5 oz. of water or sports drink every 10-15 minutes. That will keep your performance level high and your immune system from getting depressed.

3. Warm up and cool down.

Don’t jump right into things, and don’t stop abruptly. Your muscles and connective tissues need time to reach their ideal warmth, otherwise your performance will be less-than-ideal and you’ll be at risk for injury.

A good warmup should last about five minutes, and it should involve some light calisthenics — jogging, jumping jacks, etc.

Once you’re done with your workout, finish things off with some light jogging and then begin stretching. That’ll improve your recovery, reduce your risk of injury and help you feel ready to go the next time.

Related: Train in style. Browse our entire selection of baseball performance apparel.

Well, that’s about to change.

“Hi, I’m the new guy.”

Late last year, Wilson introduced two styles of baseball gloves made with yak hide. There’s the Pro Soft Yak Series and the Exclusive Yak Series, which is exclusive to Team Express.

Why yak hide? Yak hide is three times stronger than cowhide. That allows the glove designers to construct a baseball glove with the same toughness and feel as cowhide leather, but using far less material.

That means your glove is slimmer, lighter and easier to use.

And unlike other “soft touch” gloves, Wilson’s yak gloves are extremely durable and will hold up to anything hit its way.

The Pro Soft pitcher’s glove was designed with help from Giants pitcher Brian Wilson, and the infielder’s glove was designed by Mets third baseman David Wright. The outfielder’s glove is the yak version of Wilson’s popular KP92, which features a T-web and a large deep pocket. For middle infielders, the legendary 1786 design has a shallow pocket for quick relay throws.

The Exclusive series comes in a variety of styles, including a catcher’s mitt.

You can get a yak glove and try it out for yourself for $149.99 at Team Express.

Related: Shop our entire selection of Wilson baseball gloves.

With the holiday season going on, it has been a while since we’ve featured any new cleats on Footwear Friday. So, we’re going to get things rolling again with some of the most unique metal baseball cleats out there.

By now, you might be familiar with Reebok’s ZigTech technology. It’s a revolutionary new technology that increases the surface area in the “zigs” of the shoe, which gives more area for the shock to disperse. The result is a springy, comfortable ride.

Reebok’s Men’s Zig Pro Cooperstown Low Metal Baseball Cleats utilize this technology in one of the most interesting cleat designs we’ve seen lately.

The Zig Pro Cooperstown Metal Cleats feature a set of metal spikes underneath the EVA zig outsole, which provides lightweight cushioning and flexibility for muscle efficiency. The cleat’s reinforced toe area makes this a great set of cleats for pitchers.

For comfort: The upper is soft synthetic leather with mesh, and the PlatDry collar lining keeps your foot cool and comfortable. The anti-microbial footbed keeps your cleats nice and funk-free.

Get a pair of Zig Pro Cooperstown Low Metal Baseball Cleats for $114.99 at Team Express.

Related: Shop our entire selection of baseball cleats.

Looking for the perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for sports nut on your list?

Give them a Team Express Gift Card.

It’s ideal for hardcore athletes, recreational players, casual fans and everyone in between. Recipients can choose from our selection of 5,000 top-quality products from brands like Adidas, Easton, Nike, Rawlings, Reebok, Mizuno, Louisville Slugger, Under Armour and Wilson.

Use it on any of our eight brands: Baseball Express, Softball Sales, Football America, Cheerleading America, Basketball Express, Volleyball America, Team Express or Soccer Team Express.

Gift cards will be mailed and can be redeemed either online or over the phone.

Get them in a variety of denominations — from $10 to $500 — at Team Express.

Related: Need a stocking stuffer? Take a look at our top gifts under $10.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith stopped by the offices here at Team Express HQ, and she chatted briefly with us about her upcoming Holiday Gold Softball Camp.

The three-day camp — scheduled for Dec. 28-30 in Clearwater, Fla. — is geared toward young softball players of all skill levels. The itinerary is loaded with activities, including hands-on skill work with coaches that have played on the national level.

Camp will be at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex, not far from the camp’s official accommodations, the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort. With cabanas, water trykes, kayaks, paddleboats and tennis courts, TradeWinds has a laundry list of activities for parents, siblings and other folks traveling with their campers.

You can take a look at the brochure here.

To register for camp, visit www.michelesmith.com or call 1-727-363-1615.

You can save up to 72% off the retail price on select fastpitch softball bats. You can browse the entire list of discounted bats below.

Easton 2010 Stealth Speed -10 Fastpitch Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $249.98.

Rip-It 2011 Elite Light -12 Fastpitch Softball Bat
Was: $179.99. NOW: $109.98.

Easton 2010 Stealth CV12 -10 Fastpitch Bat
Was: $199.99. NOW: $69.98

Easton 2011 Stealth Speed -9 Fastpitch Softball Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $249.98.

Rip-It 2010 Reaper 3 -10 Fastpitch Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $249.98.

Rip-It 2011 Kristie Fox -11 & -12 Fastpitch Softball Bat
Was: $119.99. NOW: $79.98

Easton 2009 SV12 -11.5 Fastpitch Bat
Was: $199.99. NOW: $54.98

Easton 2011 Synergy Speed -9 Fastpitch Softball Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $249.98

Rip-It 2011 Force5 -10 Fastpitch Softball Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $249.98

Related: Take 10% off your order of $125 or more, thru Tuesday! Use the promo code JFSGSBM6.

Through December 23, you can save up to 50% off the retail price on select BBCOR certified baseball bats. You can browse the entire list of discounted bats below.

Louisville 2012 Omaha -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $219.99. NOW: $149.99

DeMarini 2011 Voodoo -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: 299.99. NOW: $199.98

Easton 2011 Omen -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $399.99. NOW: $199.98

DeMarini 2011 Vexxum -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $149.99

Easton 2012 Surge X-Stiff -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $299.99. NOW: $149.98

Easton 2011 Reflex -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $99.99. NOW: $69.98

Easton 2011 Rival -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $199.99. NOW: $149.98

Worth 2011 Lithium Prodigy -3 Adult Baseball Bat
Was: $199.99. NOW: $179.98

Related: Take an extra 10% off your order of $99 or more, thru Tuesday! Use the promo code JFSGTXM6 at checkout.

These offers continue through Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and they expire December 23.

(Click for more info)

Related: Shop our entire selection of closeout sports gear.

These offers expire December 23.

(Click for more info)

Related: Shop our entire selection of closeout sports gear.