Mike Bricker - Director of Baseball

Mike was a former MLB scout with the Cubs and White Sox.

He was also a former college player and coach at University of South Carolina.

He is a major force in the College Showcase, Fall Leagues and Scouting in the Greater Cincinnati Area.

 

 

 

 

Bob attended Bowling Green State University. He was a second year Mid-American Conference All League selection. His senior year, he was named District IV Midwest 1^st Team All American.

Bob was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 1996 Amateur baseball draft. He pitched 6 years in the minor leagues as a starter, middle reliever and closer.

In 1996, he led the Appalachian League in walks per 9 innings.

In 1997 he was second in the South Atlantic League in walks per 9 innings (1.08).

He also pitched in the Northern League with New Jersey and Quebec City.

Bob has been a professional pitching instructor since 2002.

 

 

Rocky Curnayn - Director of Hitting and Catching

 

Rocky was a 1998 graduate of Moeller High School.

In 1998, he was ALL GCL and ALL CITY catcher.

He played Junior College baseball at Volunteer State and in 2000 was ALL TJCAA and ALL REGION.

In 2001, he played for USC in Aiken, SC.

Rocky played in 2003 with the Florence Freedom. From 2004-2006.

Rocky was hitting instructor for Moeller High School they were State Champions in 2004.

His extensive instructional skills have seen over 50 local high school players go on to play college baseball.

 

Todd Montgomery - Marketing/Tournament Director

Todd will begin his second season as Director of Baseball Operations for the Cincinnati Stix 15U-18U teams and his first year as manager of the Cincinnati Stix 16U Elite.

Todd began his coaching career at Cincinnati Midland with Larry Redwine, one of the most respected coaches in amateur baseball.

During his 10 summers as an assistant at Midland, their record was 510-90 with 8 Mickey Mantle World Series appearances, one Mickey Mantle National Runner-up in 1993 and 4 Super Series appearances.

 

Andrea Costa - Director of Softball

Coached at Ohio University from 2000-2004. Costa was the hitting coach and in 2003 and 2004 the team was considered one of the fiercest hitting teams in the MAC conference.

In 1999, Costa was the head coach at University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport Connecticut. She took over a team that was 4-15 in 1998-99 to a 15-17 team record in 99-2000.

Back in 1992-1995 Costa coached at Fairfield University as assistant in 1992, the team won the MAAC Conference Championship. Becoming the head coach in 1994, Costa brought the team in 1994 and 95 to the MAAC Conference Championship game.

Costa is a graduate from Eastern Connecticut State University, where she was a member of the 1985-86 National Championship teams. She was nominated to the All-National Tournament Team 3 out of her 4 years of play. Costa is the only Two Sport All-American in school history in softball and volleyball. In 2000, Costa was inducted into ECSU’s Athletic Hall Of Fame.

In 2006 she was one of the Top 10 players to be honored as the NCAA Division III 25th All Anniversary Team.

 

 Latashia Lewis - Fastpitch - Pitching Instructor
 
Latashia Lewis is a 2008 graduate of Midway College. Tashia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business, Bachelor of Science in Equine Science and Minor in Horsemanship. She played 4 years of NAIA Fast-pitch Softball for Midway with academic and athletic scholarships.

Her pitching was perfected by Todd Short, a professional men’s fast-pitch softball pitcher. Tashia received the Coach’s award 2 years in a row and was elected 2nd team all conference pitcher of the year during the 2006-2007 season. She was a utility player: pitching, hitting and playing infield positions.

Prior to Midway, Tashia attended Oak Hills High School where she was a 4 year varsity pitcher. Latashia is an off-speed, and movement specialist. Her pitches include fastball, knuckle change, peel drop, rise, curve, slider and screwball. She has been pitching for 10 years and enjoys instructing and helping others find that little something extra inside themselves that makes them better.

 

Stephen Larkin

Stephen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Moeller High School.

After graduating, he went to the University of  Texas where he participated in the 1992 & 1993 College World Series.

Stephen was drafted in the 10^th round of the 1994 Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers.

In 1998, he was called up from the minors, then playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts, to the Cincinnati Reds.

 

 Jeff Keith – Director of Baseball Champions Eastside

Played at University of Florida receiving All-SEC honors, drafted by the Phillies and played with their A and AA clubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seasonal instructors:

 Mark Knose 

 

Former 1st round draft pick of the Montreal Expos. Has 25 years of coaching experience and currently the pitching coach and assistant coach at Ross High School. Now pitching coach for the college team at Champions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay Johnson 

Jay Johnson joined the Florence Freedom when he signed with the team on May 6, 2009. The outfielder brings 4 years of professional baseball experience to the team as an outfielder.

2008... Johnson spent 2008 with the Portland Sea Dogs where he hit .256 with 10 RBI's in 12 games with the team. He walked 7 times compared to only 3 strikeouts and had an on-base percentage of .340.

Career... Johnson was selected in the 13th round of the 2005 draft by the Boston Red Sox. He played for the Greenville, Wilmington, Lancaster, and Portland affiliates of the team. For his career, Johnson is a .273 hitter with 27 HR's, 18 of which came in 2006 with 3 different teams. He also has 202 RBI's and has played in 324 career games.

See Jay play with the Freedom. http://www.florencefreedom.com/schedule.php

 

 Lee May Jr.  

1st round draft pick of the New York Mets. Coached on the USA National Team. Current hitting coach in the Cleveland Indians organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Wagner

 

Played with the San Diego Padres organization in 1999. Played at Michigan State University. Played professionally both as a pitcher and hitter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Matt Klinker 

 

Currently one of the top pitching prospects in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He was named Furman University's 2007 Most Outstanding Athletic Leader. He was the Reds Minor League Pitcher of the month in July 2008. He is projected to be in Double A this Season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin Roberts – Played collegiately at Butler University and Northern Kentucky University. Played one year with the Florence Freedom in 2004. Coaches in the Stix Organization and in the Cincinnati Fall Baseball League.

Mike Morgalis 

  Pitched at Notre Dame and Harvard University. Graduated from Harvard and currently at UC Law School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Kruzel – Currently the hitting and catching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. Coached with the Reds in the Minors and was a college coach at Miami of University and University of Toledo. 

Scott Williamson

 Former major leaguer for the Reds. Was Rookie of the Year for them in 1999. Won a World Series Ring with the Boston Red Sox. He was an eight year major leaguer. 

 

 

 

 

Vince Berry – Formerly with the Detroit Tigers organization. Played at Triton Junior College before being drafted by the Tigers in the 22^nd round.

 

 Greg Gunderson - Greg attended the University of Cincinnati were he was an All Metro Conference and team MVP in 1987. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies organization and was named pitcher of the month in July 1990. He coached collegiality as a pitching coaching and recruiting coordinator at the Division I level for 8 years. He has had 32 players that he has coached and/or recruited drafted an/or signed by professional baseball organizations. Three of his pitchers reached the major leaugue level, George Glinastsis, Andy VanHekken and most notably 2003 and 2004 AL All-Star Mark Mulder. 

 

 

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Board of Directors

Bell Family (Buddy, David, Mike, Ricky)
Joe Bick
Dr. Robert Burger
Ron Hinners
Dr. Timothy Kremchek
Barry Larkin
Chris Welsh
Mike Bricker
Beacon Orthopaedics