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DAN FRENCH
Owner of The Strike Zone
BASEBALL
Pitching, Hitting, Fielding
Hometown: Richmond VT
High School: Mount Mansfield Union High School (2010)
College: Southern Maine Community College
Southern New Hampshire University
Dan is a Vermont native who grew up in Richmond. He played two years of varsity baseball at MMU serving primarily as a pitcher/outfielder. After graduation, Dan attended Southern Maine Community College. He spent three years at SMCC while playing varsity baseball and achieving his degree in Sport Management. Dan also took courses on the side to become a certified coach through the University of Maine.
PLAYER ACHIEVEMENTS
- Southern Maine Community College Varsity Captain ‘13
- Yankee Small College Conference Champion ‘13
- Yankee Small College Conference Most Valuable Player ‘13
- Yankee Small College Conference Player of the Week ‘13
- United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Player of the Week ‘11
- Second All-Time in Wins SMCC (12)
- Second All-Time in Strikeouts SMCC (156)
- First All-Time in Innings Pitched SMCC (157)
George Goldsworthy
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
Ryder Thornton
BASEBALL
Catching, Hitting, Fielding
Ryder is a recent graduate of Northern Vermont University, where he played 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. Last year 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. He is currently the Head Coach for Strikers 16U Travel team.
Jason Andreasson
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
Emily Harvey
SOFTBALL
Hitting, Fielding, Pitching
Emily is a recent graduate from St. Lawrence University. She brings experience as a player and as a coach, having spent 4 seasons coaching 14U travel ball while also competing as a college athlete. During High school, Emily started as a shortstop and pitcher for 4 years, claiming two varsity state titles. She also played for a competitive travel team out of Northern VT, traveling across New England to compete. After high school, she took off to Castleton University, serving as a relief pitcher for one season before transferring to SLU in 2020. While studying for a degree in Psychology, Emily served as a utility infielder for the Saints in her final two seasons as a player. In her free time, Emily enjoys live music and making art!
Meghan Fahey
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
Mikayla Stolar
SOFTBALL
Pitching, Hitting, Fielding
Mikayla played for a competitive travel softball team based in Connecticut for over a decade and grew up playing every position. Her team competed in several PONY National tournaments where Mikayla pitched numerous no-hitters and perfect games! During high school, she attended a boarding school in Plymouth, New Hampshire where she was an integral part of the team, pitching almost every game. She was varsity softball captain for two years, received Coaches Award all four years and was named a NEPSAC League All-Star. Mikayla will graduate from UVM with a neuroscience degree in the spring of 2023. While at UVM, she served as a catcher and third baseman for the Club Softball team, playing just for fun and love for the sport! In 2022, she was named Most Valuable Player of all club sport athletes at UVM. When not in class or on the field, she is a volunteer EMT for Richmond Rescue!
Cole Riskin
BASEBALL
Pitching, Hitting, Fielding
Cole is a rare “two-way” player in Division 3 baseball entering his junior season at Clarkson University in the NCAA Liberty League. He is a front line starting pitcher for the Golden Knights and also a strong-gloved shortstop and second baseman between starts. With a religious commitment to strength training and proper arm care, Cole is focused on achieving a high-level of performance and builds on years of hard work, focus and development towards reaching the pinnacle in his baseball career. He lives in Warren and plays in the Green Mountain Baseball League in the summers between his collegiate seasons.
Sam Steinman
BASEBALL
Hitting, Fielding
Sam grew up playing on competitive travel teams in Westchester NY. Sam played a year of varsity at Horace Greeley High School, but the season was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19. The following year he moved to Peru, Vermont and attended Burr and Burton Academy for his senior year. In high school, Sam was named all-Southern Vermont League (SVL) and was named as a starter for the Vermont North vs South all-star game. In two years of Vermont Legion, Sam was twice named all-state finishing his legion career with a .448 career batting average and .547 on base average and .638 slugging percentage. Sam currently plays at Castleton University and majors in Business Management and Marketing.
Logan Cooke
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.
Nate Ovalle
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.
Dylan Bell
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!!!
Jack Main
BASEBALL
Pitching, Hitting, Fielding
Jack joined The Strike Zone family in September 2022 after graduating Quinnipiac University with his degree in journalism. He is a native of South Burlington and played baseball for the Rebels until 2017. He was a member of the 2018 state championship team as a team manager while he ran track, but picked up playing again during the pandemic for the South Burlington Expos of the Green Mountain Mens League.
If you turn on your TV, you can catch Jack anchoring sports on MyNBC5 covering all things Vermont sports. A diehard Sox fan, Jack is excited to be home and staying involved in the baseball community!
Storm Rushford
BASEBALL
Pitching, Hitting, Fielding
Storm was a high school player at CVU during their state championship run in 2019 and a pitcher for D3 Union College in 2021. He was a member of the S.D Ireland American Legion team from when he was 14 in 2016 until they won a state championship in 2020. During that season he threw one of the only perfect games ever recorded in Vermont baseball history. He currently attends UVM and plays for their club team.
Achievements:
2015 Babe Ruth State Champion
2019 1st Team All Metro
2019 VPA State Champion
2019 Ladoucer Leadership Award Winner
2019 American Legion All Tournament Team
2019 American Legion All League Team
2020 Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist
2020 American Legion All League Team
Brian Miller
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!!
Mike Wilhide
BASEBALL
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
Casey Brown
BASEBALL
Hitting, Fielding, Catching
Casey has had baseball in his blood since he was born. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT and played through High School, he’s been all about coaching since then. Coaching recreation and travel ball teams and watching his player succeed has been a great joy. He’s also been a league president and instructor throughout the years that has allowed him to gain a wealth of knowledge he is eager to continue to pass along to anyone that wants to learn.
Cory Pike
BASEBALL
Pitching, Hitting, Fielding
Cory was born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. He grew up a three sport athlete in Hockey, Volleyball and Baseball. By high school, Cory was fortunate enough to spend time playing baseball for
Ontario and Canada and was proud to be part of the Canadian team that won the World Youth Legion. Classic in Binghamton, NY and then went on to play at the World Youth Legion games at LSU. He spent time in high school playing for his home town, Oakville and for the Astro Falcons in Youngstown, OH. He was named athlete of the year in his senior year at Thomas A. Blakelock high school. Cory accepted a division 1 scholarship to Niagara University as a right handed pitcher in 1995. After a very successful freshman year in the starting rotation for the Purple Eagles of Niagara, Cory suffered an untimely shoulder injury to start his sophomore year campaign. Cory worked his way back into the lineup as a designated hitter and earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all conference
designated hitter award in his sophomore year. He went on to play right field and designated hitter in his final two years with the Purple Eagles. He was team Captain in his final year at Niagara. In his senior year, Cory was named Niagara University's student athlete of the year. Cory also spent several years playing for the Hamilton Cardinals of the Canadian Intercounty Baseball League. Since moving to Vermont, Cory has spent time playing for the Burlington Brewers and the South Burlington Blacksox. He was an assistant coach at Winooski High School from 2003-2005 and was president of the Green Mountain Baseball League for three years. Cory turned his passion for playing into coaching over the past 6 years. In his time with Essex Town Little League, Cory has coached three
teams to district titles, won two state championships and coached the 2021 All Stars into Regionals in Bristol, CT – the first time Essex Town had made an appearance at regionals in 23 years. He is a Chiropractor in Essex Junction and resides in Essex Town with his wife Keri, their 3 kids; Taylor, Grayson and Samantha and their Bernedoodle, Willow.
2024 VT Fury Softball Tryouts Sunday September 3rd