BASEBALL INSTRUCTORS
Mark Michael
Pitching Instructor
Biography
- Played professional baseball for 10 years.
- Professional pitching instruction for over 15 years.
- 1999 Kentucky High School State Champion and Finals MVP.
- Posted a 14-0 win/loss record his senior season setting the state record for most consecutive wins.
- Named USA TODAY 1999 Kentucky Player of the Year.
- Freshman All-American at the University of Kentucky.
- All-Conference at the University of Central Florida as a junior and starting pitcher against #1 nationally ranked Florida State University in the NCAA Regioinal Semi Finals.
- Starting pitcher for the Cape Cod Summer Collegiate league champions, Wareham Gatemen in 2001.
- 3 years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization followed by 7 years in Independent Baseball at Fargo, Winnipeg, Sussex, Calgary, El Paso, and Sioux City.
- Was Northern League All-Star and MVP of the 2006 League Championship Series.
- Coached 3 years at Southeastern C.C. in Burlington, Iowa leading them to their first trip to the Junior College World Series in school history in 2014.
- Mark’s pitching staff lead the nation in strikeouts in 2014 and had the lowest ERA in the conference all 3 years during his tenure.
- He also produced the conference pitcher of the year all 3 years while at Southeastern C.C.
Joey Wilson
Hitting, Fielding, & Base Running Instructor
Biography
- Attended Lexington Catholic High School, Chipola Junior College, Stetson University
- Won 1999 State Championship With Lexington Catholic
- 2001-2003 Back To Back Conference Champions – Chipola Junior College (Marianna, Fl)
- 2005 Atlantic Sun Conference Champions - Super Regional Appearance - Stetson University (Deland, Fl)
- League Champions – World Series Appearance - Anchorage Bucs (Alaska)
- 1 Year Assistant Coach - Anchorage Bucs – Hitting And Infielders/catchers
- 3 Years Assistant Coach - Translyvania University – Hitting And Position Players
- Assistant Coach – Lexington Catholic – Hitting And Position Players
- Assistant Coach – Dunbar University – Hitting And Position Players
- Maintained Above .300 Career Batting Average
- Invited to USA Team Tryouts
- All City And State Teams In Lexington Kentucky
- Played In China Against National Team
- Played Every Position Besides Pitcher In Division 1 Baseball
Aaron McGlone
Hitting, Fielding, & Base Running Instructor
Biography
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1996 Kentucky Mr. Baseball
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1998 Played in Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League
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4 year starter at the University of Kentucky
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Ranks near the top of most career offensive categories at the University of Kentucky
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1st RBI's
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1st Total bases
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1st Walks
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2nd Total hits
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3rd Runs Scored
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JaVon Shelby
Hitting, Fielding, & Base Running Instructor
Biography
- JaVon Shelby is a Lexington native. Graduated from Tates Creek High School in 2013 where he took his team to the State Tournament for the first time in 23 years.
- JaVon decided to attend the University of Kentucky where he received a baseball scholarship. Becoming an everyday starter at second base as a freshman, JaVon was named to the ALL-SEC Freshman Team.
- After another successful year his sophomore season, he added another accolade by receiving ALL-SEC First team in 2015.
- Selected by the Oakland A's in the 5th round after his junior year at UK, JaVon pursued his professional baseball carreer.
- After two years with the A's, JaVon was picked up as a free agent by the Colorado Rockies in 2019.
- After completing his professional baseball carreer, JaVon returned to UK and finished his degree.
- JaVon has been around the game of baseball his entire life and loves to share his knowledge about the game.
Mike Taylor
Hitting Instructor
Biography
- Played high school baseball @ Tates Creek High School, were I started all 3 years as an “outfielder”, playing in 3 high school state tournaments.
- Played on the South Lexington Connie Mack team starting in centerfield that won the Connie Mack World Series.
- After graduating high school I walked on @ Columbia St. Community College. Through endless hard work, during my first year there, I was able to improve my skills in every aspect, batting .435 and help lead the team to the JUCO World Series. That hard work that first year also enabled me to be drafted in the 3rd round by the Cleveland Indians as an Centerfielder.
- While playing within the Indians farm system, for (5) years, I was able to climb the ranks of their minor league system, making it to the AAA level.
- After my professional baseball career ended I had a desire to share all of the baseball knowledge that I had obtained thru my many years of playing high school, college, and professional baseball. I wanted to coach and teach young ball players the proper way to play the game of baseball, as I experienced it, in all aspects of the game.
- I became a coach in the Southeastern Babe Ruth League, in Lexington, Ky, were I coached the same team for over 30 years, teaching all aspects of the game. The joy I received from teaching, instructing, and watching young players grow and develop into outstanding players, on the field, as well as outstanding individuals “off” the field, made me study even harder on finding ways of how to be a better coach, teacher, instructor.
- After 30 years of coaching I was inducted into the Babe Ruth League Hall of Fame as an Coach and Mentor. I have coached many young players on my teams who have gone on to play high school, college, and professional baseball. One of those players was able, for a few years, to become the manager of the San Diego Padres, (Andy Green).
Melisa Nelson
Softball Pitching Instructor
Biography
- Graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in 2020, where she pitched varsity for 6 years
- Lexington Player of the Year, 2019
- Played in the East/West All Star games in 2019
- Played for the Bluegrass Force travel team for 8 years
- Is currently completing her undergraduate degree at UK in Kinesiology on a Pre-Physical Therapy Track
- Melisa has been around softball her entire life and loves to teach the upcoming generation every aspect of pitching