Baseball Staff

Brian McGee

Director of Baseball

  • Played Collegiately at Tiffin University
  • Former Head Coach Wittenberg University (2017-2024)
    • NCAC conference coach of the Year in 2023
    • Won programs first ever NCAC conference championship in 2024
    • Ranked nationally in in major offensive categories in 2023 and 2024
  • Former Head Coach Lake Erie College (2008-2016)
    • All time winningest coach in Lake Erie College history
    • Recruited and coached two major league players; Ryan Rua – Texas Rangers (2014-2018) and current big leaguer Luke Raley who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners.
  • Former assistant coaching stints with the University of Toledo and Greensboro College
  • Experience coaching collegiate summer baseball in the Coastal Plain League and Great Lakes League

Brady Emerson

Assistant Baseball Director

Hitting & Outfield

  • Former collegiate outfielder with 5 years of playing experience at Ohio State and Belmont Abbey (D2)
  • Earned All-Ohio honors all four years in high school
  • Grew up in a baseball family — brother plays professionally in the Seattle Mariners organization
  • Known for a strong understanding of the game, outfield fundamentals, and player development
  • Passionate about helping athletes grow both on and off the field through discipline, work ethic, and leadership

Clay Strausbaugh

BJES Program Coordinator

Hitting & Catching

  • Current High School coach at Bishop Watterson High School
  • Current 18U BJE Coach
  • Played collegiately at Northwood University
  • Played high school baseball at Hilliard Darby where he was a 3 time All-OCC player

Zarley Zalewski

Hitting and Infield

  • Drafted in the 40th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Played collegiately at Kent State University 2013-2016
  • Four-year Varsity Baseball Letterman
  • 3-time All-Mid-American Conference First-Team
  • 2-time All-Region First-Team
  • Played professionally with the Joliet Slammers
  • Current 15U BJE Coach

Brian Thacker

Player Development & Advanced Training Coordinator

  • Played collegiately at Bowling Green State University (1998-2001)
  • Assistant coach at Pickerington/Pick North High school
  • Head Coach at Bloom Carroll High school for 11 years where he was the district COY 4 times and Regional COY in 2014.
  • 2013 State Runner up and 2014 State Champion at Bloom Carroll High school
  • Has coached summer travel baseball teams for 8 years
  • Current 16U BJE Coach

Ronnie Dawson

Hitting

  • Played collegiately at Ohio State University
  • Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros
  • 8-year professional baseball career
  • Played professionally for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds and internationally (South Korea)

Pete Whitmer

Hitting

TBD

Tim Brown

Pitching

  • 20 years as a collegiate pitching coach (Ohio University, Eastern Illinois University, USC Upstate, Lincoln Memorial University, George Washington University, Mount St. Mary’s, Coppin State University, Siena College)
  • 16 years as a recruiting coordinator
  • Has coached 27 drafted or signed professional baseball players
  • 3 former players have made their MLB debut
  • Assistant coach on 3 conference championship teams

Mike Sokol

Pitching

  • 3 year letterman New Albany High School Baseball
  • Successfully played at 4 College’s in 4 years (OSU – JUCO – Bellarmine U)
  • Led Bellarmine in ERA – 2025
  • Currently playing professional baseball

Stephan Hernon

Catching & Hitting

  • Played collegiately at Otterbein University 2014-2017
  • 2x OAC Champion (2016, 2017)
  • First Team All-OAC, 2017
  • OAC All-Tournament Team, 2017
  • OAC Record holder for RBI’s in a game (10)
  • Current 16U BJE Coach

Zach Dezenzo

Hitting & Infield

  • 12th round draft pick Houston Astros 2022
  • 2nd team All-Big 10 2022
  • 2x Big 10 player of the week
  • Tied single season HR record 2022 (19)
  • Freshman All-American 2019
  • Made his big league debut for the Houston Astros in 2024

Evan Hall

Pitching (R)

– Pitched Collegiately at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.  

– Led team in innings pitched and strikeouts as a Freshman (2018)

– Missed 2019 and 2020 due to a Torn Labrum. Spent 2 years rehabbing and gained a lot of experience in arm care. 

– 2nd on team in innings pitched and strikeouts Senior Year (2021)

– HCAC champion in 2021

Jake Norris

Pitching

  • Played collegiately at Muskingum University (2018-2022) before transferring to Slippery Rock University in 2023
  • Played 2 years with the Chillicothe Paints in the Prospect League
  • Played in the MLB Draft league for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2023
  • All-Star Selection in the Pecos League for the Garden City Wind
  • Played on the inaugural Cangelosi Blacksox team in 2017 and 2018

Chris Follina

Hitting & Outfield

  • Played collegiately at West Liberty University
  • Attended High School at Holy Name in Parma Heights, Ohio
  • Named Second-Team All-Ohio Division-II as an Outfielder in High school
  • Current 17U BJE Coach

Genesis Hillard

Hitting & Outfield

  • Played collegiately at Ohio Dominican University
  • GMAC First Team All-Conference, 2019
  • 2-Time GMAC Player of the Week

Zach Sterry

Hitting

  • Played collegiately at Oakland University
  • Was the 2016 Valley League MVP
  • Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 8th round of the 2017 MLB Draft

Roger Danison

Hitting & Outfield

  • Played collegiately at Xavier University & Ohio Dominican University
  • Four-time BIG EAST All-Academic selection with Xavier University
  • Played high school locally at Bloom Carroll, where he was a part of the 2014 Division II State Championship team
  • 2015 Eagle-Gazette Player of the Year
  • First Team All-Mid-State League-Buckeye Division, First Team All-District & First Team All-Ohio during his time at Bloom Carroll
  • Current 16U Assistant BJE Coach

Gianni Passarelli

Hitting & Infield

  • Former collegiate infielder at The Ohio State University and Ohio Dominican University (D2)
  • 4-time Varsity Letterman (HS)
  • 2022 Prospect League Champion with the Chillicothe Paints
  • 2025 GMAC Player of the week
  • Top 9 GMAC conference rbis
  • Top 6 GMAC conference HR
  • Top 9 GMAC conference BB
  • 2 time PBR Preseason All-State (HS)

Brantley Curnutte

Pitching

TBA

Justin McConnell

Hitting & Infield

  • Played Collegiately at Wright State University
  • Played SS, 3B & 2B
  • Named to the 2021 Horizon League All-Tournament Team
  • Career .953 fielding percentage

Brandon Riley

Catching & Hitting

  • Played 3 years at Defiance College as a catcher
  • Catching and hitting instructor for the Midwest Prospects prior to becoming an instructor and coach with Bo Jackson Elite

Taylor Hutchison

Hitting & Infield

  • Played collegiately at Otterbein University
  • Named honorable mention All-OAC as a sophomore in 2014
  • Garnered first team all-league honors three times as Whitehall-Yearling High School

DJ Neff

Hitting/Infield

  • Hit .350 his senior year at Grove City leading his team to a regional semi-final appearance
  • 5 Year Starter at Ohio Wesleyan University where he had 166 career hits for the Bishops
  • 2x 3rd Team All-Conference (NCAC) in 2023 & 2024
  • 9th all time leader in Home runs at Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Current 15U BJE Coach