MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

BASEBALL

Pitching, Catching, 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

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

Catching, Hitting, Fielding

Ryder is currently a senior at Northern Vermont University, where he plays Catcher for the Lyndon Hornets. Ryder accrued a career .305 batting average at Lyndon, while also being selected to 2nd Team All-Conference in 2018.. Graduating from Essex High school in 2017,  Ryder lead his high school team to the Championship game, but ultimately came up just short. Most recently he was an assistant coach for the 15U Vermont Striker Travel team, and previously was the head coach for Essex Prep Baseball during the summer of 2019.

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. 

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/SOFTBALL

Pitching, Catching, Hitting, Fielding

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

Plattsburgh Babe Ruth from 1981 – 1984. Positions played; catching, 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 and the 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

SOFTBALL

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

Catching, Hitting, Fielding  

Cole is a student at South Burlington High School, currently in his Junior year. He has been playing baseball since Little league where he played in St. Albans  He specializes as a catcher and has played for the 16U Vermont Jays, 16U Post 33 Yetis and currently playing for the 19U Post 33 Yetis.  Some stats for Cole: 61 at bats, 34 Stolen bases, 27 hits, 6 strikeouts and a batting average of .435. He has a great understanding of the game and is able to translate his knowledge into informative lessons.  

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding  

Logan was a player all through High School at Harwood High. He comes to The Strike Zone with over 12 years of team coaching experience from Little League to Legion. He has coached private lessons for a full range of students from 8-21. Logan has been the Head coach for Montpelier Varsity since 2020 stepping up after 5 years as the Assistant coach. Other coaching positions include Montpelier Post 3 Legion and as a High school Basketball coach for Stowe. All of this experience gives him the ability to provide a high quality lesson for students of all ages. Logan was a part of the coaching staff for The Strikers 11U Inaugural Fall Season of 2021. 

SOFTBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding  

Taylor played all of her High school years on Varsity Softball at BFA Fairfax. She was VPA Division 3 State Runner up

1st Team All League Pitcher twice

2nd Team All League Pitcher prior to her 2 First Place wins

Graduated in 2021 then headed to Guilford College in NC playing D3.

Taylor brings a great approach to coaching her students having gain some experience with Fairfax minor league softball as a coach. Outside of High school she played for the Vermont Rockets and East Coast Impact out of Albany NY. Taylor is one of our seasonal coaches and we always look forward to having her at The Strike Zone when she is home from college!

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding  

Nate Ovalle was a first-team CVAC All-Star pitcher/shortstop and team captain for Saranac, capturing a Section VII title and advancing to the New York State quarterfinals as a junior, when he was the only one to notch an-RBI single facing a pitcher drafted by the Atlanta Braves. 

After high school, he spent several years in the Champlain Valley Baseball League. Ovalle is Cal Ripken Jr. Babe Ruth certified, and has been a Plattsburgh Baseball Club board member and coach for the last 8 years, including a league title and 2 postseason finals appearances in his 4 years as head coach. His first love was baseball. 

Ovalle started playing organized ball when he was 6 years old; his first job was as a baseball/softball umpire at age 15.  *First-team CVAC All-Star pitcher/shortstop *NYS scholar athlete award *Section VII titles, NYS quarterfinals appearances in baseball, basketball, soccer *team captain for baseball, basketball, soccer *CVAC Outstanding Senior All-Star Game for baseball and basketball *Champlain Valley Baseball League veteran *Cal Ripken Jr. Babe Ruth certified coach *Plattsburgh Baseball Club board member, coach *team captain for JV championship  

Fun facts: Ovalle spent 20 years in journalism, including 17 as an editor and sports editor. He was awarded numerous local, NY state, national and international writing, editing, design and headline awards. He is also a curling champion. 

BASEBALL

Hitting, Fielding  

Clayton played for Chicopee High school baseball from 2007-2010. After High School Clayton went onto Holyoke Community College baseball from 2010-2012. The then moved onto Fitchburg State University where he played the 2013-2014 seasons. Rounding out his playing experience at Santa Fe Fuego in 2015.  Clayton's primary position was as an Infielder   His coaching expertise specializes in Hitting and Fielding. We are very fortunate to have his knowledge on our coaching staff.

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding  

A Maryland Native who has recently moved to Vermont. Dylan was First team all state in high school and then went on to pitch and play outfield at Division 1 University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After a string of unfortunate elbow surgeries he transferred to Division 3 Stevenson University where he finished his collegiate career and earned his degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management. Dylan brings a ton of energy and passion for the game that translates into his lessons each and every time already receiving Perfect 10 reviews!!!

BASEBALL

Hitting, Fielding  

Cooper is currently a Senior outfielder at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. Cooper has a career batting average of .331 during his 3 year college career. O’Brien finished second in the conference in Home runs during the 2022 season. He was selected to the GNAC all conference team this year, along with earning Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week. Cooper has been helping to coach the Vergennes High School team for the past two years. Now completing an Internship at The Strike Zone

BASEBALL

Hitting  

Brian played high school baseball at Lyndon Institute 88-91.He attended  college at Lyndon State College and studied Sports Medicine. Brian was the Athletic trainer for the LSC baseball team for 2 years. Working now as an athletic trainer in the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics, at Bio-Medic Appliances, in Essex  Brian has Coached Fairfax Fletcher Westford Little League  for the past 7 years.   He Lives in Westford with his Wife and 2 children, a softball player and a baseball player ironically. He is an immediate fit for our students!!

BASEBALL

Pitching, Hitting, Fielding  

Tobey just completed his Sophomore year of High School. During his years of play he has earned many accolades. In 2017 he and his team won the VT State Championship for Little League Regionals.    

2018 VT District 3 Champions. 2022 VT Varsity State Champions!! 

As a Sophomore Tobey received the Vermont Metro Honorable mention 3B 2021-2022. He has been a solid contributor to The Strikers Travel program for the 14U, 15U and 16U teams. During his time at The Strike Zone as a player and student he has learned the importance of putting in the work to improve as a player and is now ready to start sharing his knowledge with other athletes. He is poised for success as an Instructor of the game he loves!