Our specialty instructors will work with every player on the individual skills needed for their unique position. Our annual Catcher's Clinic is just one of the many examples of our specialized player position training.

In our Speed and Strength classes, run by Coach Keener, athletes learn to improve their speed and agility, while also learning valuable core and shoulder strengthening exercises. In addition they are run through drills designed to improve their overall coordination. Proper footwork and agility can greatly impact the success at any position in the field.

Josh Altmann-Fielding

• Played collegiate baseball at Olivet-Nazarene University. 
• Drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2015 in the 22nd round. 
• Currently in high-A. 
• From Lockport, Illinois.

Get to know Josh: josh_altmann_bio__.pdf

​Carson Bartels - Fielding

• Played collegiate baseball at St. John's University and Heartland Community College
• Earned first team All-Big East Conference Honors in 2021 as starting 2nd baseman in 36 of 37 appearances, batting .279 with 26 RBI's, 9 doubles and 2 home runs.
• Currently In his first season with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.
• Previously a three year varsity standout for Nazareth Academy. 
• Carson had the second best average of .282 during league play and hit .319 over his last 39 games, with 16 multi-hit games. 

​Jake Bartels  - Fielding

• Played collegiate baseball at Western Michigan University.
  • Served as Closer for all four seasons
  • 7th All-time in single season saves and appearances 
• Currently attends The John Marshall Law School
• From Westchester, Illinois
• Get to know Jake: jake_bartels_bio_.pdf

Ron Biga - Catching

• Played collegiate baseball at Triton Community College and St.
  Xavier University. 
• Managed professionally for the Sioux City Explorers and
  Southern Illinois Miners. 
• Retired Field Manager and Dir. of Baseball Operations for the Windy City Thunderbolts.
• From Chicago, Illinois.

Get to know Ron: ron_biga_bio_.pdf

Ryan Haff  - Fielding

• Played collegiate baseball at the University of Illinois. 
  • Member of the 2015 Super Regional Team 
  • Big Ten Regular Season Champions 
• Holds a Finance Degree and MBA from the University of Illinois 
• Hinsdale Central Graduate 
  • Holds the record for triples hit and runs scored 

​Steve Heilenbach - Fielding

• ​Played 4 seasons at Illinois State University
• Played Independently with the Windy City Thunderbolts
• Was a 1st Round Pick of the Frontier League Draft
• Named 2nd Team All-Missouri Valley
• From Western Springs, IL

Kevin Kaczmarski-Speed & Strength

• Played collegiate baseball at the University of Evansville. 
• Drafted in 2015 in the 9th round by the New York Mets
  •  Made Major League Debut in June of 2018 with the NY Mets
  • Ended the 2018 season in AAA.
• From Cary, Illinois.
• Get to know Kevin: Full Length Bio

Jim Falzone-Catching

• Grew up in Melrose Park and attended Fenwick High School
• Attended Triton College where he became 1st team All-American 
  • Posted a school record .495 batting average and 110 RBIs in a single season
• Attended Cumberland University where he was drafted in the 18th round by the Brewers
• Reached High A in the Florida State League
• Coached Willowbrook High School for three years as well as returned to coach catchers and hitters at Triton college for several years

Shon Keener-Speed & Strength

• Played 4 years at Augustana College in Rock Island.  Started at 3rd base his sophomore through senior years.
• CCIW first team all-conference sophomore through senior years: 1993-1996
• Led the team in RBI and batting average his junior year
• Oswego High School Baseball Coach
  • Head Freshman Coach 2001-2013.  
  • Varsity Assistant Coach  2014-2017.
  • Built and ran speed/strength/conditioning program where first team in program progressed from below .500 batting average as sophomores to winning conference, with a record of 25-6 as seniors.
• Head Coach with Minooka Rivercats from 2017-2020.
• Current Head Coach for IL Premier 14U Team. In 2020-2021, at 13U, his team won 7 of 10 tournaments and finished with a 57-5-2 record.

Jordan Mikolajewski-Bunting & Base Running

• 2015 graduate of Mount Carmel HS, played all 4 years for the Caravan
  • 2015 IHSA Class 4A State-Runner Up Team
• Played collegiately at Iowa Wesleyan (2016), Oakton Community College (2017-18) and Roosevelt University (2019-21)
  • ​2018 NJCAA DIII World Series Championship (Oakton CC)
  •  logged over 86 innings as a starter for Roosevelt Lakers
• Holds a Bachelors in Business Administration/Management from Roosevelt University.
• Believes that mental control and the ability to adjust as a pitcher are keys to making yourself "invaluable" to a team.
• Get to know Coach Miko  Full Length Bio

Lee Milano - Fielding

• 22 Years as Nazareth Head Baseball Coach 
• 28 Years of Coaching Experience 
• Approaching 500 Career wins at the High School Level
• Coached over 130 players that have went on to play Collegiate Baseball
• 6 former players have went on to play Professional Baseball 
• 2018 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Member Inductee

​Anthony Ortiz - Consulting Analyst

• Previously worked within the Seattle Mariners High Performance Department. 
• Analyzed Performance Metrics, Projects and Department Direction for the Mariners 
• Played Collegiate Baseball at Lawrence University
• 2-Time All-Academic Award Winner in College
• Currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Rochester. ​

Chris Pack - Bunting and Base Running

• Co-Founder of Baseball Institute
• Played collegiate baseball at Villanova University and the University of Illinois. 
• Played professionally in the Arizona Diamondbacks Organization and Independently in the Frontier League. 
• From Darien, Illinois.

Email: baseballinstitute@gmail.com
Get to know Chris: chris_pack_bio_.pdf

​Scott Popiwchak - Fielding

• Played Collegiate Baseball at Illinois State
• Played in the Independent Northern Great Lakes League 
• Coached at Romeoville High School  
• 20+ years of Coaching Experience 
• Graduated from Weber High School out of the Chicago Catholic League 

​Jake Suchor - Fielding  

• Pitched for the University of Saint Francis (Joliet) 
  • Graduating with a bachelors degree in Business Management (Spring of 2021)
• Played at Joliet Junior College
  • Hit .410 and pitched 52 innings his Sophomore Year
• Graduated from Lockport Township High School in 2017 
• Favorite Hobby: Disc Golf 

Joey Frederickson-Strength and Conditioning

• Graduated from Lincoln Way North in 2014
• Attended and played at Blackhawk Junior College in Moline Illinois
• Transferred to University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Helped take the Flames to 2 Horizon League Championships and to College World Series Regional appearances
• Graduated with a BS Exercise Science
• Owner of Kinetic Strength & Conditioning 
• Head Strength & Performance Baseball Coach at Lincoln Way Central High School