MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding

Noah was a graduate of South Burlington High School in 2017. Noah played four years of Varsity Baseball, serving predominantly as a Middle Infielder. During his senior year, Noah was elected a team captain and was selected to the Twin State Classic in 2017. After high school, Noah continued his baseball career at NVU-Lyndon. Noah currently plays Third Base for the Hornets.

PLAYER ACHIEVEMENTS

• Vermont All-State Recognition ‘16
• Team Captain ‘17
• Twin State Classic Selection ‘17
• NAC All-Tournament Team ‘19

Marketing Director

Baseball

Fielding/Pitching/Hitting

 Sam was a graduate of Northfield High School right here in Vermont after transferring from Randolph his Freshman year . Sam earned 4 varsity letters (1 at Randolph) while playing under National high School Hall of Fame coach Frank Pecora. Sam was selected to 2nd Team All State his sophomore year, and 1st Team All State his junior and senior year while setting the school's homerun record in a 16 game schedule (7).
After making the Twin State Senior Game, and being voted most likely to be drafted out of the state of Vermont by the Bleacher Report in 2011, Sam had brief stints at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and Fisher College where he studied Business Marketing.
After perfecting his marketing craft, Sam moved back to Vermont where he currently resides in Essex Junction with his girlfriend Shanna, and two dogs Rezz, and Bodie. Sam has completed his national coaching certifications and is thrilled to be able combine his knowledge of marketing, with his love for the game. 

PLAYER ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2009 VT Babe Ruth Tournament champ
• All State Honorable Mention Freshman
• 2nd Team All State Sophomore
• 1st Team All State Junior & Senior
• Runner up 2011 Times Argus POTY
• Twin-State Senior All Star Classic selection
• 2011 Bleacher Report Draft selection (Vermont)
• 2011 Baseball Factory National Tournament Team 

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding

 Leland was a Randolph Union High School graduate, playing four years at the varsity level, including two as Team Captain. He was also invited to play in the New England Showcase League his Senior year, and selected to the All-Star team. 

He then attended Norwich University, playing 4 years of varsity baseball. He graduated with a bachelors in Health Sciences, focusing on Athletic Performance, with a minor in Coaching. While in college, he also spent two years as an assistant coach at Randolph Union High School, and with the local Post 9 Legion Baseball team. 

After college, Leland spent two years at Norwich University helping the program as their Assistant Hitting, Pitching, and Catching Coach. 

Player Achievements:

-2nd Team All State Sophomore 

-1st Team All State Junior & Senior

-Team Captain ‘14 and ‘15

-New England Showcase League All-Star ‘14

-Twin State Classic Selection ‘15”

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding

 Garrett played baseball at Randolph Union High School in Vermont, graduating in 2016 before playing four years of Division III college baseball. He pitched for two seasons at Wells College in upstate New York and two seasons at Pine Manor College in Boston, MA. Playing collegiate summerball all over North America have been some of his favorite baseball experiences. Garrett also calls radio play by play and has done so for various organizations in New York, Maine, Washington, and New Mexico. He loves coaching ballplayers of all ages and is happiest when around the game of baseball.   

PLAYER ACHIEVEMENTS

• RUHS Vermont DIII VPA State Champions 2013
• RUHS Vermont DIII VPA State Runner Up 2016
• NEAC Scholar Athlete 2017
• Pine Manor Athletic Sportsmanship Award 2019 

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding

George was a graduate of Mount Mansfield Union High School. George played 4 years of varsity baseball (2 years at Lamoille before transferring to Mount Mansfield as a junior.) During his playing career, George served his time as a pitcher/infielder. After high school, George went on to play D3 ball at St. Joseph’s College before his time there was cut short by an untimely shoulder injury. As a coach, George recently led his Post 91 team to the 2021 American legion Northeast Regional tournament.

 Achievements:

2019 Varsity team Captain

2019 VPA Division 1 State Runner Up

2018 American Legion State champion

1st team All league

2nd team All league x2

Honorable mention team

2018 American legion all tournament team

2019 American legion all league team

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding

  Jason has spent the better part of four decades on baseball fields after having developed a singular passion for the game at the age of 5 (it all started with a baseball card!) His playing time on the diamond stretches more than 40 years and includes stints in Tee-ball, Little League, Babe Ruth, JV and Varsity High School, College and Men’s Adult Baseball Leagues. Jason has also been coaching youth baseball for more than a decade across several levels and has helped develop and advise more than 100 players aged 3 to 18. Throughout those years on the diamond Jason has developed a keen eye for proper (and improper) technique and a familiarity with the intricacies and “language” of the game that only a dedicated romance with the sport and a burning desire to see it played to perfection can provide. 

Jason’s mission at The Strike Zone is to unlock each student’s potential through a balanced application of physical work and mental discipline while accentuating a passion for the game and an appreciation for the important life lessons that the pursuit of excellence and the game itself will teach. Hall-of-Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda once said, “There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” Jason’s goal is nothing short of developing player’s who are ready to “Make It Happen”, both on the ball field and throughout their lives.

Positions Played - Shortstop, Center Field, Third Base, Starting Pitcher

AGGREGATE PLAYER STATS (as of Spring 2021)

.401 Batting Average

.498 On-Base Percentage

.522 Slugging Percentage

3.12 Earned Run Average

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding

Rob played high school baseball for AuSable Valley Central School, and

Plattsburgh Babe Ruth from 1981 – 1984. Positions played; first base, second base and situation pitching. Rob has been coaching baseball for over the last 14 years in high school and summer ball as a head coach. He has been a fully certified baseball coach through New York State, mainly to coach high school baseball. Personally he turned around two programs in the last three years to help produce winning programs. Most importantly, all of his players improved their skills over the course of the season. 

Rob also coached summer ball and coached the Plattsburgh City Fire team for six years. His most memorable year was at Lebanon Middle School, where he coached an undefeated season. Rob was also the head coach for Lebanon Babe Ruth, where they finished 8-4 and made the finals.

Most currently, he returned to AuSable Valley Central School as their Modified baseball Head Coach. With a strong love for baseball and love working with the players. 

BASEBALL

Pitching, Catching, Hitting, Fielding

Mike is a baseball guy. He loves the tradition and has been watching and playing for a long time. He started playing Sandlot ball in the late 60's and played whenever and wherever he could. 

     He played the outfield in the South Troy Little League in 1973, same position and catching in American Legion ball in 1976, for a brief period of time, until his family moved. After finishing High School, Mike joined the USAF and served from 1981-1986 and was Honorably Discharged. After starting a career in radio in 1987, he moved to Vermont in 1989 and has lived and worked here ever since. 

     Most recently, he coached pitchers and catchers for Milton Highschool and found his calling, which has lead him to The Strike Zone Academy, where he hopes to remain until he retires and beyond!

Mike is always up for talking Baseball and loves to play catch, too.

Softball 

Pitching, Catching, Hitting, Fielding  

Meghan graduated from Towson High School in Towson, Maryland. She also started 4 years in a row with the Cockeysville Sting travel club team in Maryland.  Her college softball career was cut short by knee injuries but instead pivoted to getting certified as a coach.  She played first base and was a starting catcher. She started three years on varsity softball for the Townson Generals. After graduating Bates College with degrees in Environmental Studies and Education, she served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. She loves coaching softball athletes of all ages. She has coached all over the East Coast, from Maryland to Maine and now Vermont. She now lives in West Addison with her boyfriend, Matt, and their two dogs, Franklin and Paige.
Positions Played: First Base, Catcher

Achievements: 

 2006 and 7 Varsity Captain

2007 Most Valuable Player

2006 and 7 State Runner-Up 

Scholar Athlete 2005,6,7

Sportsmanship Award 2005, 6, 7

ASA East Coast Fastpitch National Championship Club Runner Up 2006

ASA Fastpitch National Club 14U, 16U, 18U Runner Up

Baseball

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding  

Kyle is the true definition of a sports fanatic with a wealth of knowledge from his playing, coaching, and education. After graduating from South Burlington High School in 1996 he moved to Arizona for 9 years. He attended Arizona State University for Professional Golf Management

which included coaching classes, and with the degree led to a lot of one on one teaching moments. He coached 7-8th Grade Baseball and Basketball at Fees Intermediate School in Tempe Arizona for 6 years, some students became Division 1-3 NCAA players and a few drafted after high school into the MLB. He umpired all levels of baseball and softball in Arizona and Vermont and loves making a positive difference in kids lives. Kyle’s Golf Professional days provided many great connections and contacts. He can name drop with the best of them and tell you stories about all the MLB player interactions he had during spring training. He’s played with and gave lessons to more MLB players than he has time to write in this bio. He’s happy to share stories but his most memorable baseball meeting was having lunch and spending an afternoon

with Willie Mays. “He left a spiritual impression, I am lucky to have mutual acquaintances. He signed a few baseballs but it was the least important part of the visit, he treated me like a son and it was definitely a magical feeling I will never take for granted.” In Kyle’s baseball prime he played every position except catcher and only because he’s 6’6”. He plays catcher as needed now with his students, so now officially plays every position. He is described as a gentle giant but takes sports and teaching very seriously. He believes in fun, disciplined and respectful relationships with his players and their families. At 43 he has a lot of life experience along with coaching so he thrives in making his players not just the best they can be ON the field but also OFF. Says Kyle from the heart, 

“I look forward to seeing you at The Strike Zone!”