Coaches
Manager Bob Wease
Congratulations to Bob Wease for celebrating 20 years with the Harrisonburg Turks this season! Wease has been the owner and general manager of the Turks since February 1990. The 2010 season will be his 9th year as Head Coach of the Turks with a record of 213-136 with a winning percentage of
.610
Coach Wease is excited about the 2010 Turks. He has a nucleus of strong players from the ’09 team returning; Thomas Nichols (GA Tech) currently batting over .400 for the Yellow Jackets, Bobby Brown (AZ) is hitting .333 and Shaun Cooper (Pima C.C.) has a BA of .370. Returning pitchers are Drew Granier (Louisiana Monroe), Aaron Luchterhand (Redlands C.C.), and Gabe Grinder (Southeastern U.). Talented additions to the team should make a big impact. Infielders Adam Bryant (Troy) should bring a strong bat to the Turks, batting over .350 with 18 homeruns for the Trojans, Joe Huber (St. Joe’s) has a .350 BA with 16 stolen bases, Josh Band (Rollins) .244 with 8 SB, Conner Winn (GA Tech) .294 with 2 homeruns and J.J. Loker (USC Aiken) .248, 2 homeruns and 4 SB will be a force. Our outfielders; Reuben Sosan (W. Ok St), Terrence Jackson (Ok City U) and Mac Williamson (Wake Forest) should bring a lot of speed to the team combining for a total of 62 stolen bases at their schools. Catching should be strong with Scott Dalrymple (Ok City U), Tyler Carpenter (U. Texas San Antonio), and Brett Armour (Young Harris) behind the plate. The pitching staff looks impressive with Kurt Wunderlich (Michigan St) 7-1, Stephen Styck (St. Joe’s) 5-2, Nick Cunningham (AZ) 2-1 and Jared Foresteri (AZ), Brian Holmes (Young Harris) 4-2, Emilo Pagan (Gardner Webb) 1-2, Ryan Sorce (Pensacola C.C.), and a pair of hurlers from James Madison U. James Weiner and Evan Scott.
Wease played collegiate baseball and football at Shenandoah University and then transferred to James Madison University where he played baseball under the legendary Coach Brad Babcock. His baseball career also included playing in the U.S. Army, in the Valley Baseball League, and the Rockingham County League.
Coach Wease, his wife, Teresa and their son Matt invite everyone to the brand new James Madison University Veterans Memorial Park. Come out and meet the future baseball stars of tomorrow and get those priceless autographs. Get your Turks gear and enjoy one of those great ballpark hotdogs. Let’s pack the stands during the 2010 season and cheer our Turks on to a Valley Baseball League Championship. You can contact Coach Wease by phone at his work number (540) 434-5919 or by e-mail at turksbaseball@hotmail.com. We encourage you to check out and follow the Turks at www.harrisonburgturks.com
Assistant Coach Larry Mitchell
The Turks welcome Larry Mitchell to the coaching staff for the 2010 season. Mitchell, a Charlottesville native, increased his baseball background when he was drafted in the 42nd round by the Seattle Mariners in 1989. Instead, Mitchell chose to attend James Madison University where he landed the No. 37 best college pitching prospect by Baseball America Magazine in 1991.
Also in 1991, Mitchell was selected to try out for team USA's Olympic baseball and was selected to play for the Shenandoah Valley League All-Star team with the Harrisonburg Turks. In 1992, Mitchell was selected in the 5th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 1995, Mitchell was rated as the No. 10 prospect in the Phillies organization, ultimately making his Major League debut in 1996. From years 1997-1999, Mitchell also pitched for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox organizations and the Oaxaca Guerreros of the Mexican Professional Baseball League.
After ending his professional baseball career in 2000, Mitchell returned to his Alma Mater, Charlottesville High School, where he was the varsity head baseball coach. In 2006, Mitchell served as the pitching coach on the varsity baseball staff at St. Anne's-Belfield school.
Currently, Mitchell lives in Waynesboro, Va. with his wife and three children while participating in JMU's adult degree program. The Turks welcome former JMU Duke and Turk alumni, Assistant Coach Larry Mitchell back to Harrisonburg for an exciting summer of Valley League Baseball.
Assistant Coach Brett Cook
Brett Cook will join the 2010 Harrisonburg Turks coaching staff. Cook, currently a graduate assistant coach for NAIA Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX has served as head coach of the junior varsity program.
Brett Cook, Wayland Baptist University’s all-time hitting leader, finished his three-year Pioneer career with a career batting average of .426. The 2009 NAIA 1st team All-American at second base holds eight Pioneer batting records and is a two-time All-Sooner Athletic Conference honoree.
Cook, the 2009 SAC Gold Glove winner at second base, holds the WBU career marks for runs scored (209), hits (269), and doubles (50), as well as the record for highest career batting average (.426) and slugging percentage (.731).
A native of Kearny, Arizona, who transferred to Wayland from Lamar Community College, Cook established new season marks for his (107) and runs scored (88) in 2009. He is also the school single-game record holder for hits (5), doubles (3), and home runs (3).
Cook will graduate in December 2010 with a degree in Exercise & Sports Science. He married his wife, the former Brandi French in June 2009. Welcome to Harrisonburg and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Coach Cook.
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