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BASEBALL INSTITUTE
  • Home
  • About
  • Staff Directory
  • Services
  • Camps
    • Long Toss Program
    • Dynamic Core & Speed
    • Bat Speed Camp
    • Infield Skills Camp
    • Holiday Skills Camp
  • Forms & Paperwork
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Spirt Wear

Meet the Staff

Chris Pack, Pitching Instructor

Mike Kornacker - Pitching Coordinator 

  • 4-year varsity letter winner at St. Laurence HS
    • Area Player of the Year in 2013
    • Catholic League Player of the Year in 2014
  • Played Collegiate Baseball at Purdue University ('14-'18) and Valparaiso University ('19)
    • Earned a bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University in 2018 and masters degree in Sports Administration from Valparaiso in 2019. 
  • From Lemont, Illinois
Email: mike@baseball-institute.com
Get to know Mike: mike_kornacker_bio__.pdf

    Erik Lis - Hitting Coordinator

  • Founder of Baseball Institute. 
  • Played collegiate baseball at University of Evansville. 
  • Played professionally in the Twins Organization.
    • Spent seven years with the Twins.
    • Peaked at Triple-A. 
  • From Oak Lawn, Illinois. 
Get to know Erik: erik_lis_bio_.pdf

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Chris Pack - Pitching Instructor 
  • 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

Connor Powers - Hitting Instructor

  • Played collegiate baseball at Mississippi State University. 
  • Drafted in 2010 by the Padres.
  • Played three seasons with the Padres. 
  • Founder and operator of Dead Red Hitting
  • From Naperville, Illinois.
Email: connor@baseball-institute.com
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Josh Altmann - Hitting Instructor

  • 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

Ron Biga - Utility Instructor 

  • 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
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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. ​

Jake Bartels  - Pitching Instructor 

  • 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
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Kevin Kaczmarski - Utility Instructor

  • 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​

Kyle Wood - Utility Instructor

  • Played 1B and P at Purdue University 2012-2016
  • 3rd Team All-Big Ten his Senior Year
  • Played in 2016 and 2017 for the Windy City Thunderbolts
  • From Orland Park, IL
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Kevin Johnson - Pitching Instructor 

  • Four year starter at the University of Illinois.
    • All-Big Ten his Freshman year.
    • Team Captain his Jr. and Sr. years.
    • Top 10 in career strikeouts, appearances, Big Ten innings pitched, and wins.
  • Drafted by the NY Yankees and Oakland Athletics.
  • Played 2015 season and part of 2016 season with the Class A affiliate for the A’s.
  • From Midlothian, Illinois.
  • Get to know Kevin: Full Length Bio

Brad Bass - Pitching Instructor  

  • Pitched for the University of Notre Dame 
  • Drafted 2 times in his career to the MLB
    • Drafted in 2014 in the 33rd round to the Cubs out of HS (Lincoln-Way Central)
    • Drafted in 2017 in the 7th round to the Detroit Tigers
  • Currently Pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization
  • From New Lenox, IL
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Kevin Mampe - Utility Instructor

  • Current Graduate Assistant Coach at University of St. Francis
  • Four Year starter and 3 time all-CCAC pick for the USF Saints between 2015-18
  • Drafted with the 22nd pick in the 2019 Frontier League Draft by the Joliet Slammers
  • From New Lenox, IL
to know Steve: Full Length Bio

Jake Suchor - Pitching Instructor  

  • 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 
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Carson Bartels - Hitting/fielding Instructor

  • Currently playing college baseball as a 5th year senior at St. John's University
    • 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. 

Scott Popiwchak - Utility Instructor

  • 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 
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Bryan Roberts  - Pitching Instructor

  • Played collegiate baseball at the University of Illinois. 
  • Pitched 125 career innings for the Illini.
    • Posted 17 career saves and 113 strikeouts. 
  • From Lisle, Illinois

Steve Heilenbach - Utility Instructor

  • 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
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Colin Cruz - Pitching Instructor

  • Played Collegiate Baseball at Robert Morris University (Chicago) 
  • Graduated with a bachelors degree in Sports & Exercise Science in 2017
  • Graduated with a masters degree in Human Performance in 2018
  • Previously assistant pitching coach at RMU 
  • From Homer Glen, Illinois 

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We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


Email

BaseballInstitute@gmail.com

Telephone

(331) 213.2356                                                                                    
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  • Home
  • About
  • Staff Directory
  • Services
  • Camps
    • Long Toss Program
    • Dynamic Core & Speed
    • Bat Speed Camp
    • Infield Skills Camp
    • Holiday Skills Camp
  • Forms & Paperwork
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Spirt Wear