Experience …
Drafted in the 11th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2000.
Played for Danville in the Appalachian League and the Braves’ rookie team in the Gulf Coast League, 2001
Hitting Coordinator, Diamond Nation, 2008-Present
Assistant varsity coach, North Hunterdon High School (N.J.), 2011
Head coach, Immaculata High School (Somerville, N.J.), 2013-Present
Education …
Kean University, B.A. History, 2012
Immaculata High School, 2000
Expertise …
Hitting, first base and outfield
Did you know? …
Kevin was named First Team All-State by The Star-Ledger in 1999 and 2000. He hit 33 home runs in his high school career, which set a state record. His 16 home runs in 2000 also set a state record. Those records have since been broken. Hillsborough’s Tim Fedroff broke the state record with 34 home runs in a career that ended in 2006. Former Super 17 player Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) broke the state’s single season record when he hit 18 home runs in 2009 for Millville. Cust’s Immaculata teams never lost a Somerset County Tournament game during his four-year varsity career. Kevin loves basketball, plays in a heavy metal band and speaks Spanish fluently.
Experience …
Coach, instructor, Diamond Nation, Flemington, 2010-Present
Head Coach, Diamond Jacks 10U and 11U teams, 2012-‘13
Head coach, Hunterdon Central summer team 2010 – 2013
Varsity assistant coach, Hunterdon Central High School, 2009-’10
Head coach, Hunterdon Central Junior American Legion 2007-‘10
Elementary School Teacher, New Brunswick – 2010-Present
Education …
Felician College (NJ), 2009
Hunterdon Central High School, 2005.
Expertise …
Fielding, infield and outfield, and hitting
Did you know? …
Mike broke the single season hits and doubles records and career doubles record at Hunterdon Central High School his senior year in 2005. Mike was assistant varsity coach at Hunterdon Central in 2009. That Red Devils team won the NJSIAA Group 4 championship and finished No. 1 in the state.
Experience …
Assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator, Bloomfield (NJ) College, 2005-’07.
Physical Education teacher and head varsity coach, Wardlaw Hartridge (NJ), 2007-’09.
Edison American Legion assistant coach, 2008. State Champions in 2007. We were a regional finalistin '07, '08.
Associate scout for the Atlanta Braves, 2010-2012
Director of Garden State Underclass Games – 2013-Present
Assistant varsity baseball coach, Somerville High School (NJ), 2015-Present
Education …
California University (Pa), 2008
Upsala College, 1995
Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, 1993
Expertise …
Infield and hitting, all ages; College recruiting.
Steve has guided more than 60 Division 1 players through the recruiting process
Did you know? …
In addition to playing baseball at Scotch Plains High School, Steve ran winter track. He competed in the, 60, 200 and 400-meter runs and 800-meter relay. He earned All-Conference and was the team’s MVP.” Steve was graduated from the Union County Fire Academy. He has coached six infielders in the past seven years who’ve committed or played for teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Experience …
Drafted in the 25th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2001. “Tyrone Brooks is the scout who drafted me.”
Reached High-A ball with the Braves.
Played seven years in the Atlantic League for Camden Riversharks and Somerset Patriots.
Hitting coach and third base coach for Somerset Patriots, 2010-‘12.
Diamond Nation – Providing lessons and coaching teams, 2006-present.
Education …
University Nebraska, 2001
Shasta Jr. College, California, 1999-‘00 – AA Criminal Justice
Burney Jr./Sr. High School, 1998
Expertise …
Catching and hitting, all ages.
Did you know? …
Travis’ senior class at Burney High had just 42 students. “Actor Craig T. Nelson (Poltergeist) taught at my high school in 1969.” Travis was the leadoff hitter his freshman year at Shasta Junior College. He played high school football and was named Second Team All Northern Section of California as a defensive back. He holds two football records at his high school; he intercepted 14 passes in one season and kicked a 47-yard field goal, the longest in school history. “I almost went to college as a kicker.”
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Experience …
Pitched in 2011 for the Washington Nationals.
He was drafted out of Centenary College in 2006 by the Washington Nationals.
He’s provided lessons at Jack Cust Baseball Academy and Diamond Nation since 2007.
Clinician at Hackettstown High School.
Education …
Centenary College, 2006
Hackettstown High School, 2003.
Expertise …
All facets of pitching.
Coaching philosophy …
Work hard and have fun.
Coach Cole looks up to …
“My dad. He coached me from Little League and until seventh grade.”
Did you know? …
Cole played in parts of six minor league seasons before the Washington Nationals called him up to the major leagues in 2011. He had pitched 13.2 scoreless innings for Triple-A Syracuse to start the season. Cole continued to stay locked in when called up to the Nationals. He allowed just three runs in 14 innings over 12 games to produce a 1.93 ERA. He suffered a shoulder injury after a month in the major leagues and has been working his way back since. He was signed as a free agent by the Yankees last February and pitched this past summer for the Double-A Trenton Thunder.
Experience …
Diamond Nation coach/instructor, 1998-present
Played for Somerset Patriots, 2003-'06
Drafted by Chicago Cubs, 16th round in 1999
Played two years of Class A ball with the Cubs, 1999-'00
Old Dominion University, 1995-'99. Old Dominion Sports Hall of Fame, 2007
Cape Cod League, 1997
Education …
Old Dominion University, '01, Sports Management
Immaculata High School, 1995. Immaculata Sports Hall of Fame, 2011
Expertise …
Infield/Outfield/Hitting, all ages. Tony provides lessons in each area.
Did you know? …
Tony hit 37 home runs at Old Dominion, which is tied for school's all-time career record.
Tony was named to New Jersey's All-State team in both baseball and football at Immaculata.
Tony collects vintage football game-used items. He grew up on Duke Farms in Hillsborough, N.J.
Education …
South Williamsport High School (PA)
Lake Sumter CC
Experience …
Played professionally for Amarillo Thunderheads, Lake Erie Crushers, Raton Osos, Santa Se Fuego, White Sands Pup Fish and Somerset Patriots.
Diamond Jacks coach 2012-to-Present
Played collegiately for Keystone College 2008-2012
Current Paraprofessional and Assistant Baseball Coach at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Flemington, N.J.
Education …
Phillipsburg High School, 2004-2008
Northampton CC, 2008-2009
Keystone College, Sports and Recreation Management, 2009-2012
Expertise …
Pitching, Outfield, Hitting
Did you know? …
In 2008 Brian was named First Team Skyland Conference, First Team West Jersey and First Team All-Area as an outfielder/pitcher for Phillipsburg High School. He also pitched his team to the Hunterdon/Warren championship that same year. At Northampton CC Brian was named First Team All Conference in 2009. At Keystone College Brian was Second Team All CSAC Conference when his team won the CSAC Conference championship in 2010. In 2011 his team won the CSAC Conference Championship, New York Regional Championship, and played in the Division III NCAA College World Series, finishing 3rd in the nation. His senior year, Keystone won the CSAC Conference champion and Brian was named Honorable Mention All CSAC Conference. He was also selected to the All-Tournament team in the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Regional.
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Experience …
He played collegiately in 2009-2013 at Northampton Community College and Centenary College. At Northampton, he played third base and pitched. He played third base and left field at Centenary.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at Diamond Nation, Solimani coached the Junior Varsity baseball team at Phillipsburg High School in 2011-’12 under the tutelage of the program’s head coach Mike Rossetti.
Education …
He was graduated from Centenary in 2013 with a degree in Education, specializing in English and Special Education.
Expertise …
“I like to think my strength is in managing a game and in-game strategy. I was a two-way player, so I have strengths in all areas of the game. Coaching hitting and outfield defense is definitely a strength, but I’m confident in coaching all areas.”
Did you know? …
Shane was the MVP of the 2008 Hunterdon-Warren championship game for Phillipsburg. He was an All-Conference outfielder/pitcher in 2008. The righthander pitched and played left field for the Stateliners. Shane is very family oriented. He enjoys fishing on the Outer Banks and reading sports memoirs.
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Experience …
Ridge High School Varsity Softball, 2017-present
Director of Softball Operations (2011) and Assistant Coach, DePaul University Softball
Graduate Assistant, DePaul Softball, three years.
Four-year playing career at Depaul University, fourth all-time in RBI and second all-time in HRs.
Four-time (2001-'04) All-State catcher/shortstop at Ridge High School, Basking Ridge, N.J.
Education …
Master's Degree in Educational Leadership, DePaul University, 2012
B.A. Communications, DePaul University, 2009
Expertise …
Catching, infield/outfield defense, hitting
Molding young athletes
Did you know? …
Jackie was the only player from New Jersey to compete in the 2007 Women's College World Series. That DePaul team went 20-0 in Big East Conference play and beat top-ranked Oklahoma in the NCAA Super Regional to reach the WCWS. She was inducted into the Ridge High School Hall of Fame in 2016. Jackie's first season coaching at Ridge last spring produced the team's first .500 season since 2002. She was a four-time All-Big East Conference selection at DePaul University and an All-Region honoree in 2007 and '09.
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Experience …
Notre Dame High School, Ewing, NJ - 1997-2010
Non-Public A state champions, 2006 & ‘07, Three Mercer County championships, Eleven conference division championships.
North Hunterdon, Annandale, NJ - 2014-Present
Group 4 champions, 2014, Conference division champs 2015, Sectional champs and Group 4 runner-up, 2017.
Finch’s Aces 14U Head Coach, August 2017-Present
Education …
Rider University, 2005
Notre Dame High School, 1993
Expertise …
Infield, hitting, game strategy.
Did you know? …
Anthony’s 2007 Notre Dame team finished the season ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and made the USA Today Top 25. Rotondo was named the Lehigh Valley Live Softball Coach of the Year in both 2014 and 2017. He was also the Courier News Softball Coach of the Year in 2017.
Title: Head Coach Finch’s Aces 16U
High School: Morris Hills
College: The College of New Jersey
Experience …
Coach, instructor, Diamond Nation, Flemington, since Aug., 2017
Freshman Head Coach, Wayne Valley High School, 2017
Freshman Head Coach, Morris Hill High School, 2016
Varsity assistant Coach, Wayne Valley High School, 2015
High School Health and Physical Education teacher, Wayne NJ, 2015-Present
Education …
The College of New Jersey, 2015
Morris Hills High School, 2011
Expertise …
Catching, Hitting and Infield
Did you know? …
Lauren is from a large family of five siblings and 33 first cousins. She was a three-sport athlete all four years of high school. Lauren was a two-time Second Team All-Conference recipient at Morris Hills. At TCNJ, Lauren was a recipient of the athletic academic scholarship three out of four years. Her TCNJ teams qualified twice for the NCAA regional tournament.
Experience …
Finch’s Aces Director of Softball Operations, 2008-’17.
Wagner College - Holds record for doubles in a single season. Top five all-time at Wagner in games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, RBI and total bases, 2004-’08.
Hunterdon Central High School - First Team All-State pitcher, 2003 & ’04. All-Hunterdon/
Warren, 2002, ‘03 & ‘’04. Player of the Year, 2004.
Education …
B.S. Business Marketing, Wagner College 2004-’08
Hunterdon Central Regional High School ‘00- ‘04
Expertise …
Pitching, fielding & hitting, all ages
Did you know? …
Ami is very artsy. “My favorite thing outside of softball is doing homemade projects and graphic design. Oh, and I still live my softball dreams through competitive slowpitch! Can’t hang the cleats up yet!” Ami started all four years at Division 1 Wagner, playing in 201 games. She set the career doubles record in 2008. She was an All-Northeast Conference selection and an NEC All-Tournament team honoree. Iwicki creates all the marketing materials we see in all of our daily programs. At Hunterdon Central, Ami’s teams won two sectional championships and posted a 73-11-1 record in 2002-’04. She owns the Hunterdon Central record for strikeouts in a game (20) and is second with 195.1 innings pitched in a season.
Katya is a very energetic, and well-rounded coach. As a 2015 Phillipsburg High School graduate at Phillipsburg High School, she was a shortstop and an outfielder as well as played travel ball all through high school. Currently, Katya is working on her degree in Exercise Science. She has helped with the Phillipsburg High School feeder program since 2015 by way of coaching 10u and 12u Liners, as well as working the Liner Summer Camps. Currently, Katya is giving lessons for the youth and high school kids at Diamond Nation and specializes in infield, outfield, bunting, slapping, speed, and agility
Sara was a four year starter at Mount Saint Mary Academy and continued her playing career at RVCC before having a career ending injury. Sara has been coaching 10u-14u at the Skylands Pride since 2016. Sara is currently giving lessons at Diamond Nation in pitching, hitting and fielding!
Amanda is a Senior at Montclair State University studying Justice Studies. She has been playing softball since the age of ten. Started playing local recreational softball in Edison and then moved to NJ Intensity. Amanda was a 4- year starter at third base for JP Stevens in Edison and walked on to the Montclair State Softball team as a freshman and started 14 games at third base. Played only two seasons at MSU, as ankle injury forced me to hang up my cleats for good. She has been a softball instructor at North Edison Baseball and Softball, Winter workouts at the Metuchen Sportsplex and at Basic and Beyonds Softball Clinic at Montclair State University. She has also been Assistant coach for NJ Flames (Anderson 10u).
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