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Virginia Baseball Club, Inc.: VBC Instructors

The VBC Professional Teaching Staff

The most important quality of any academy is the teaching staff. We have the best coaches/teachers in the region - PLEASE COMPARE our staff to any in the area. Our coaches have the experience of playing at a high level, years of coaching and an education background. The VBC is managed by certified VA public school educators and experienced coaches. We have teaching professionals for each level of the game - coaches who understand levels of development and how to connect with players. This year we are pleased to announce our partnership with MVP Baseball School, led by Mark Gjormand (Madison HS Head Baseball Coach) and Scott Rowland (Oakton HS Head Baseball Coach). Learn more about MVP instructors at http://www.mvpbaseballschool.com/ HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH STAFF Doug Grove (W-L HS), Adam Amerine (GMHS), Joe McDonald (Marshall HS), Kevin Healy (Langley HS), Ronnie Abrigo (Annandale HS), Chris Warren (WT Woodson HS), Justin Janis (Oakton HS), Mark Gjormand (Madison HS), Billy Emerson (PVI HS), Randy Lightle (J.E.B. Stuart HS), Jody Rutherford (Lake Braddock HS), Morgan Spencer (Centreville HS), Kevin Simonds (Fairfax HS), Galvin Morris (South Lakes HS), and Rick Freeman (Flint Hill HS).

PETE SCHOUREK, Pitching Instructor

Pete pitched 10 years in the Majors. He was the 1995 Cy Young runner-up to Greg Maddux. Drafted out of Marshall HS (two state final appearances) in the second-round of the 1987 draft, Pete went on to play for the Mets, Reds, Astros, and Red Sox. Pete will be providing private and semi-private pitching lessons at both the VBC Merrifield and VBC Occoquan Indoor Training Centers. Email questions@goVBC.com or call (703) 698-5599 to arrange instruction.

MARK HARRIS, Kansas City Royals Infield Instr.

Mark Harris is the lead instructor for the VBC Advanced Infield Instructional Programs during the winter months. Mark is in his fourth year as the minor league infield co -ordinator for the Kansas City Royals. A former first round pick, the Manassas resident is nationally known for his expertise in all areas of infield instruction. Over 250 of his former students have gone on to play either in college or professional baseball.

TOM WEST, Pitching Instructor

Coach West Tommy was a local standout pitcher at Edison HS before going on to play at Old Dominion University. Once he earned his degree in Civil Engineering, he went on to play pro ball in the Rangers organization.    MVP of the Clark Griffith League 1982. Played summer ball for the Winchester Royals in the Shenandoah Valley League and made the all-star team. Also played summer ball for Orleans in the Cape Cod League. 15-2 senior season at ODU with a 15 game win streak. Made All Sun Belt Conference Team junior and senior year. Team MVP and Virginia Collegiate Player of the Year 1985. 31-7 collegiate record and made the Old Dominion Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.   Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round and played four seasons in the minor leagues. Made the Florida State League All-Star Team single A playing for the Daytona Beach Islanders. Also played for the Double AA Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League. Inducted into the Sandlot Hall of Fame. Tommy has been coaching with the VBC since 2000 and is currently coaching youth baseball in Stafford County.

DAN RALEY, Hitting Instructor

Coach Raley is a welcome addition to the VBC staff. Coach Raley helped lead nearby Potomac (Va.) High School to a state championship in 1983 before going on to earn All-American honors and play in the College World Series while at Wichita State University. He later played in the Detroit Tigers' organization before serving as a Minor League hitting instructor for four years. Dan is a coach with the Vienna Senators of the Clark C. Griffith Collegiate Baseball League (CGL) and has helped lead the team to seven championships. He is also an assistant varsity baseball coach at O'Connell High School in Arlington.

JEREMY CLEVELAND, Hitting Instructor

Jeremy is a welcome addition to the VBC coaching staff. His resume includes 3 years of college baseball at UNC Chapel Hill, 5 years of professional baseball with the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, and the Kansas City Royals, 9 years of baseball lesson experience. Hitting coach at Valley Vista HS in Arizona. Baseball Instructor at UNC Chapel Hill showcase camps. Numerous awards including: HS Gatorade player of the year in VA, 2003 Division I College All-American, Topps minor league player of the month July 2004, Mid-Season all-star 2005 & 2008. Jeremy played high school baseball at Hayfield HS for Coach Ron Sims.

DAVE PREZIOSI, fmr. LA Dodger

Dave Preziosi went to Bergen Catholic High School and to Boston College. He pitched and manned first between 2003 and 2006 in the Big East and the ACC. He had an overall 2-0 record with an ERA of 3.16 as a reliever for the Eagles. He struck out 27 in 37 innings pitched, walking 13. He hit .299 (OBP .354/SLG .335) with 32 runs scored and 36 RBI in 54 games during his final year. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in the summer 2006. He appeared in 15 games for their affiliates in the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic Leagues. He had a 0-2 record with two saves and a 3.24 ERA on the Rookie level and an ERA of 11.25 in Low A Ball.

BERNIE DENNIS, Instructor

Bernie is currently an assistant baseball coach at Catholic University. He played professional baseball in the Frontier League for the Slippery Rock Sliders in the Milwaulkee Brewers organization. He is one of our instructors at the VBC Merrifield location. Bernie pitched and caught during his career at Catholic University. Bernie is an Arlington native and played for Coach Murray at O'Connell High School. He then went on to letter four years at Catholic University.

JJ HOLLENBECK, Instructor

JJ was the Virginia High School State Player of the Year in 2002 and is currently playing professional baseball for the Washington (PA) Wildthings. He attended VMI and became the first pitcher in VMI history to rank in the top five in career ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. During his junior campaign, Hollenbeck paced the Big South Champion Keydets in ERA (3.73), innings pitched (91.2) and strikeouts (67).

NICK PROSISE, Hitting/Catching Instructor

Nick was signed by the Seattle Mariners organization in 2005. He played high school baseball at Gonzaga HS where he was a first-team All Met selection. He went on to play at George Mason University. Nick is currently coaching with Coach Raley with the Bishop O'Connell Knights fall team.

MIKE MURRAY, VBC Owner and General Manager

Coach Murray has directed the Virginia Baseball Club since 1992. He has been coaching varsity level baseball since 1988. Since 2003 he has been the assistant varsity baseball coach at Yorktown High School. Mike spent four years as the associate head varsity baseball coach at O'Connell High School (WCAC Champs and #3 ranking in Washington Post in 2001), after spending the previous seven years as the head varsity baseball coach at Wakefield High School. Among the teams Mike has managed include the Arlington American Legion Post 139, Alexandria American Legion Post 129 (co-founder).    Mike teaches Sociology and Psychology at Yorktown HS. He was named in "Who's Who Among American Teachers" in 2006. He is a certified trainer for the Positive Coaching Alliance and has traveled around the country presenting PCA workshops. In February 2006, Coach Murray was recognized by the International Sport Institute (click on name above for more information) as one of nine coaches nationwide for his work in promoting a positive sports culture in his community. mike.murray33@verizon.net

MIKE BINNS, VBC Merrifield Youth Programs Director

Mike, a full-time employee at the VBC, is a graduate of O'Connell High School, where he played for Coach Murray. He was the starting third baseman for the 2001 WCAC Championship team (27-3), which finished the season ranked third in the Washington Post. Mike is very involved in youth baseball in Arlington. Coach Binns has been working baseball camps with the VBC and coaching youth baseball since 2001. In addition, Coach Binns has taught a "learning math and reading through baseball" class at elementary schools in Arlington. questions@goVBC.com

AARON TARR - Youth Programs Lead Instructor

Aaron has been a High School teacher in Arlington and Fairfax counties for the past five years, but is now joining the VBC full-time. Aaron began playing at Yorktown High School as a three year varsity starter where he won all-district honors as a utility player, second baseman, and pitcher. He was a coach’s award and MVP award winner, as well as the team captain as a senior. Aaron played outfield and pitcher for Hamilton College in up-state New York, setting single season records for walks (35) and on-base percentage (.582), while batting .322 as a freshman. However, torn labrums in both shoulders ended his playing days after two seasons. Aaron is currently the Junior Varsity Head Coach at Yorktown High School and the Assistant Coach of American Legion Post 139 in Arlington.

MIKE CASSIDY, VBC Occoquan Youth Programs Director

Coach Cassidy is a full time staff instructor with the VBC. He joined the VBC in 2005 after coaching at the college level at Averett College. Mike played baseball for four years at Averett. He played his high school baseball at Lake Braddock High School. In addition to providing instruction at the VBC Coach Cassidy leads several 13U to 15U baseball teams. mikecass13@aol.com

KEVIN HEALY, Instructor

Kevin is the Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Langley High School. He has been working as a VBC instructor since 2004. Kevin played at the College of William and Mary and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Sociology. At W&M he played varsity baseball for the Tribe for four years as a catcher. He was a memeber of the Monroe Scholarship program at W&M. Kevin played HS baseball for Coach Murray at O'Connell HS and was an all-WCAC conference selection his senior year. Kevin is a Vienna native and played in the Vienna Little League baseball program and played for American Legion Post 270 in the summers.

DOUG GROVE, Hitting Instructor

Coach Grove has been the head varsity baseball coach at Washington-Lee High School since 1996. During his tenure the Generals have won five National District pennants. He was named the Arlington Better Sports Club Coach of the Year in 1998 and the National District Coach of the Year four times. Doug is an AP Psychology teacher at Washington-Lee.

JEFF HORWITT, VBC Express GM and Pitching Instructor

Jeff is a former standout pitcher at W-L High School ('96) and played college baseball at Northwestern University. He is a roving pitching instructor with the VBC and has over 10 years of instructional experience. Jeff also runs the Senators Baseball Club of the Industrial League and serves as a volunteer coach at W-L. He runs the W-L High School fall baseball program. jhorwitt@comcast.net

ETHAN LARE, Pitching/ Hitting Instructor

Played at Lake Braddock baseball had 2nd highest batting average in one season in school history (.474). senior year patriot district player of the year, region player of the year, 1st team all met, 1st team all state, honorable mention All American. Lake Braddock all time leader in runs scored. Played college baseball at Frederick Community College and was named 2nd team all american as a sophomore. Played in 5 World Series including Little League World Series. His Junior College team finished second in the JC World Series in 2001. He was an All-Tournament team selection.

MIKE GOLDSMITH, Instructor

Mike Goldsmith, the 2006 Home Plate Club 12U Coach of the Year, is a long-time coach in the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League. He has coached 7 FCKLL All-Star teams, including the 2006 District 4 champions. He has also run FCKLL's winter training program for several years. Mike has coached in the NVTBL and for American Legion Post 130, and is an assistant varsity baseball coach at Marshall High School.

REX THOMAS - VBC Occoquan Director

Coach Thomas played his High School Baseball at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington. He moved to Woodbridge in 1989 and has been on the Woodbridge Little League Board of Directors for the last eight years. Rex was a manager at Woodbridge Little League where he won Championships in three of his last four years and finished his Majors Division career with 25 consecutive wins. Rex was also named All Star Manager in 2003,2004,2005 & 2006. Coach Thomas is an Assistant Coach at Woodbridge Middle School and is an Assistant Coach for the Woodbridge High School Summer Team. He has coached the VBC Prince William Express Travel Team for the past 5 years and now coaches the newly formed VBC Express 14U Travel Team. Rex is a Wood Bat Specialist and Master Wood Bat Turner who owns the Bucktail Bat Company in Woodbridge, Virginia producing Custom Hand Turned Maple and Ash bats for a large number of area players. VBCwoodbridge@aol.com

SUZY WILLEMSSEN, Softball Instructor

Suzy grew up in Waterloo, Iowa where she was the first female to play in the boys baseball program. She was a 4 sport athlete in high school and was an all-state player in volleyball, basketball and softball. She played softball at the University of Iowa, where she also earned a B.S. in Physical Education. She is the head coach for the Glory Gold, an 18u ASA Gold level junior olympic team and also has high school coaching experience. For the past four years she was the Varsity Softball Head Coach at Chantilly HS and prior to the Chantilly position, she was the Assistant Varsity Softball Coach for West Springfield High School from 2003-2005. In 2004 Suzy was awarded the Patriot District Assistant Coach of the Year. She has directed or been an instructor for numerous youth, high school and college softball camps and clinics. Suzy is also a featured expert on monkeysee.com with her softball instructional videos.

RANDY LIGHTLE, Instructor & Asst. GM

Randy Lightle brings 50 years of baseball playing and coaching experience to the Virginia Baseball Club. He is the head varsity baseball coach at JEB Stuart High School. He has coached baseball from T-ball through high school levels.   He also manages and plays on 3 senior men's baseball teams. Since his retirement from the Federal Government in 2002 he has committed himself to coaching and developing baseball players of all ages. Randy leads our Tiny Tots and Beginner T-ball programs in Merrifield and works as an insturctor in our youth and high school programs.

VONDELL JOHNSON, Infield and Hitting Instructor

Vondell has been a VBC coach for the past four years. He played and coached at Averette College. Coach Johnson is an elementary school PE teacher for Arlington County Public Schools and a varsity assistant coach at Bishop Ireton High School. He is the head coach for Arlington American Legion Post 139. He will be working both youth and high school camps as a hitting and infield instructor.

JAY EARL, Loudoun Summer Director

Jay is former college player at Fairmont State. Currently he is an elementary school teacher and baseball coach in Jefferson County, WV. He has extensive baseball camp experience, working at the Fairmont State University and VBC camps. He is the assistant JV baseball and football coach at Jefferson High School, WV.