our 2024 Baseball teams

Coaching or relevant baseball experience:  I currently have the privilege of serving as the President of the Westerville Naturals organization and have lead Naturals teams for the past 8 years. Previously I coached 3 years in the WYBSL organization and am USA baseball certified. I come from a baseball family where me and my siblings have played at the next level and have myself played college baseball at Hiram College in North East Ohio. 

  Why parents should join the Naturals:   

Consider our organization if you want to get your child off on the right foot when it comes to travel baseball.  We coach the entire player and have a reputation of doing things the right way. Your player will be taught the fundamentals of baseball and what it takes to compete and to be held accountable to high standards on and off the field. Do not consider our organization if you are focused on your own goals and not your players passions. Read the Matheny Manifesto attached to our website and if you are onboard with this approach then this might be a good fit for you and your player.

 What I look for in a player:   GRIT. Character isn’t built when you are up, it's built when you are down. I look for tough ball players that find a way to win. Who are you when no one is looking? Do you spend time working deliberately to improve on the things you love? How do you act during pre games or when you are not in the game. These things tell me all I need to know before bringing someone onto our team. We’ll teach you how to hit and throw. If you want to get better and I mean really want it…you will. 

Why do you Coach:   I have a great story about my first home run when I was 13. The thing I remember most was how mad my Dad got on me after the game for not signing the ball correctly. I printed my name instead of a signature was all. As great of a day as it was for me, I remember nothing more vividly than the negative impact my Dad had on me that day. I learned the impact a coach or parent can have on a player and it moved me to want to make sure that if a player is all in, I’d be all in as their coach. I coach to make sure that when my players are with us, I want that time to be the best time of their day. If you start each practice or game with that mindset, I have found that you will create lasting memories and players who want to work hard for you and for each other.    

Coaching or relevant baseball experience: I have coached baseball at Johnstown-Monroe and Jonathan Alder, where I was the Junior Varsity coach. I also have been a physical education teacher for the last 14 years. The last 8 years i have been an adapted physical education teacher with Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools.

Why parents should join the Naturals: The Naturals organization prides itself on preparing their players for success on and off the field.  Developing consistent fundamentals of baseball with an emphasis on a positive approach to teaching by their coaches.  The organization brings a balance between being competitive and having fun through the game of baseball.
 

What I look for in a player: I am looking for players who bring a positive energy to the ball field everyday. Players who will listen, attempt to make adjustments, and want to play baseball. Players who hustle on and off the field regardless of the outcome on the field. Players who want to have fun while learning the great game of baseball.  

Coaching or relevant baseball experience:  Started coaching travel baseball in 2020 (and loving it!). Played baseball at Westerville North HS and Ohio Dominican University. Coached WYBSL, i9 Sports, and WASA for 10 years. 

Why parents should join the Naturals:  The Naturals organization focuses on the long-term development of the player on and off the field. We balance having fun and being a competitive team in the current season while never losing focus of the bigger picture.

What I look for in a player:  I'm looking for players who love competition and ask questions because they want to learn more about the game. Players that love to hit and try to hit the ball hard, and who want the ball hit to them on defense so they can make plays.

Why do you coach:  Sports have always been a big part of my life and have provided many great memories. I have played many different sports (baseball, football, basketball, soccer, track and field, tennis) and baseball is the one I played at the highest level and know the most about. I believe that participating in organized team sports at a high level teaches young athletes commitment and dedication, how to work well with others, respect for authorities, and that you have to work hard to achieve results. I want to have a positive impact on young lives through teaching our great national pastime.

 Coaching or relevant baseball experience:  I am a graduate of St. Francis DeSales High School and played baseball collegiately at John Carroll University in University Heights, OH.  I assisted the program with recruiting and pitcher development and eventually became a graduate assistant baseball coach at John Carroll.  I have over 10 years of youth athletics coaching experience to go with 14+ years of playing baseball.

Why parents should join the Naturals:  Our program focuses on player development and character.  We spend significant time teaching the fundamentals of the game with throwing, fielding, and hitting drill work in addition to baseball situations.  We want our players to embrace competition and enjoy it.  Sports in general—and baseball in specific—teach incredible life lessons: courage, determination, resilience, communication, dealing with success and failure, being part of a team, etc.  We will spend time highlighting these things throughout your son’s time with the club, as these character-building moments will remain with the young men much longer than the ability to play the game.

What I look for in a player:  We look for effort, attitude, and a desire to improve.  We require all of our players to play multiple positions and learn pitching mechanics.  The ability to play all over the field increases the players’ baseball I.Q., gives them multiple ways to make the high school team, and keeps the game fun.  We are NOT looking for the best U12 players in the city or the kids that only play baseball.  Rather, we want kids who can grow into the best 16, 17, and 18 year-old players by engaging in the process to improve themselves on and off the field.

Why do you Coach:  I had some tremendous coaches growing up and saw first-hand the impact they had on the lives they touched and the larger community we all share.  Being involved in youth sports is a great way for me to pay it forward and pass along the lessons I was lucky enough to learn. 

 Coaching or relevant baseball experience: I've coached baseball for 9 years, 4 with i9 Sports, 4 with WYBSL and this is my 1st year with the Naturals.  ABC Certification with USA Baseball.  i9 Sports FAC Chair.  Captain and Coach Award recipient of my High School baseball team.

Why parents should join the Naturals: To quote Mike Matheny, we are "all about the boys".  We want to make your son a better player, but we also want to make him a better person.  Hard work and practice will help him succeed on the field while leadership and community involvement will help him succeed off the field, both now and later in life.

What I look for in a player: I look for a player who wants to be coached.  A player who is always looking to go from good to great, and is willing to work for it.  A player who knows the name on the front of his jersey represents his teammates and the name on the back represents his family and it's his job to make both sides proud of his effort.

Why do you coach: I coach because, honestly, it's who I am.  Coaching has always been a way to help kids realize their love of sports and guide them in a constructive way on that journey. 

 Coaching or relevant baseball experience:  I played baseball for four years at Saint Francis DeSales, and have coached youth baseball for eight years.

 Why parents should join the Naturals: We focus on playing competitive baseball in a positive environment, to help kids

continue to learn about the game and develop their skills.  

 
What I look for in a player: I look for a player who has a positive attitude, is coachable, and is a good teammate.

At this age, most of our kids will focus on playing 2 or 3 key positions, so that they

can learn in depth about those positions. Our players also need to enjoy

competition, and have the work ethic to continue to improve over time.

Why do you Coach:  I coach because I enjoy working with the kids to help them learn and appreciate the

game of baseball. My goal is to create a positive environment while playing competitive baseball. I look back fondly on my days of playing, and want to help put our kids in a position to create similar memories for themselves.

Coaching or relevant baseball experience:  I currently have the privilege of serving as the President of the Westerville Naturals organization and have lead Naturals teams for the past 8 years. Previously I coached 3 years in the WYBSL organization and am USA baseball certified. I come from a baseball family where me and my siblings have played at the next level and have myself played college baseball at Hiram College in North East Ohio. 

  Why parents should join the Naturals:   

Consider our organization if you want to get your child off on the right foot when it comes to travel baseball.  We coach the entire player and have a reputation of doing things the right way. Your player will be taught the fundamentals of baseball and what it takes to compete and to be held accountable to high standards on and off the field. Do not consider our organization if you are focused on your own goals and not your players passions. Read the Matheny Manifesto attached to our website and if you are onboard with this approach then this might be a good fit for you and your player.

 What I look for in a player:   GRIT. Character isn’t built when you are up, it's built when you are down. I look for tough ball players that find a way to win. Who are you when no one is looking? Do you spend time working deliberately to improve on the things you love? How do you act during pre games or when you are not in the game. These things tell me all I need to know before bringing someone onto our team. We’ll teach you how to hit and throw. If you want to get better and I mean really want it…you will. 

Why do you Coach:   I have a great story about my first home run when I was 13. The thing I remember most was how mad my Dad got on me after the game for not signing the ball correctly. I printed my name instead of a signature was all. As great of a day as it was for me, I remember nothing more vividly than the negative impact my Dad had on me that day. I learned the impact a coach or parent can have on a player and it moved me to want to make sure that if a player is all in, I’d be all in as their coach. I coach to make sure that when my players are with us, I want that time to be the best time of their day. If you start each practice or game with that mindset, I have found that you will create lasting memories and players who want to work hard for you and for each other.