Coaches

Head Coach: Bob Wease

Congratulations to Coach  Bob Wease for celebrating 23 years with the Harrisonburg Turks this season! Wease has been the President and General Manager of the Turks since February 1990. The 2013th season will be his 12th year as Head Coach of the Turks with a record of 304-189 and a winning percentage of .616.  The 2012 Turks won the Valley Baseball League Championship with a 34-18 record which ranked them 14th among all summer leagues across the nation. In 2011 team was the pennant winner and ranked 4th the country.

Coach Wease is excited about the 2013 Turks. He has added east coast flair to the team this year with the assistance of some Turks Alumni that are now college coaches and also former Turks coaches.  Wake Forest Coach Tom Walters, Georgia State Coach Edwin Thompson, and UNC Greensboro Coach Link Jarrett all played for the Turks during their college years.  Wingate Coach Jeff Gregory had coaching seasons with the Turks and Duke Coach Chris Pollard played for the Winchester Royals.  Coach Wease depends on these men and their familiarity of the Valley Baseball League and their baseball experience to help him put together a strong roster for the Turks.

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, the local Rockingham County League and played 10 years in the Valley Baseball League.

Wease has been selected for induction into the Rockingham County Baseball League Hall of Fame, Class of 2013.  Official ceremonies will be Saturday, June 29, 2013.  As the youngest player ever in the RCBL, Wease played for the Linville Patriots as a 14-year-old in 1959 until he was 16.  Wease began playing in the VBL for the next 10 years from 1960-1970.  He then returned back to the RCBL and played from 1971-1995 for numerous teams; Twin County, Grottoes, Linville, and Harrisonburg.  He also managed the Linville Patriots and the Harrisonburg Chics, winning several championships.  For family, friends, and fans that would like to attend the RCBL Hall of Fame dinner tickets can be purchased online at www.rcblonline.com

Coach Wease, his wife, Teresa and their son Matt invite everyone to James Madison University’s 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 hot dogs and a delicious “Huddle burger with fried onions”.

Let’s pack the stands during the 2013 season and cheer our Turks on to another 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, and on our Face Book at Harrisonburg Turks Baseball page.

 

Pitching Coach:  Ryan Chapman

Ryan Chapman returns for his fourth season with the Turks, his second as a coach.  After working with pitching coach John Radosevich last summer Chapman now inherits the position himself for the upcoming season.

His college career, Chapman played baseball for the Ohio University of Rio Grande Red Storm.  While at Rio Grande, he volunteered as a coach for the American Legion and assisted high school players on the weekends.  In high school, Chapman led his team to the conference championships, as well as successfully making it to Regionals three out of four years.  Chapman threw back to back no hitters in his senior year of high school, along with earning second team all conference his freshman year in college.

Chapman graduated in May ’13 with a Bachelor of Science as an Intervention Specialist.   His goal is to work with special needs youth in junior or senior high.  Chapman lives in Syracue, Ohio.

Assistant Coach: Luke Yost

Luke Yost is returning for his second season with the Turks after helping coach them to a 34-18 record and the 2012 Valley Baseball League Championship.  Prior to coaching, Yost attended and played for Clarendon Junior College and Central Oklahoma University.  As a freshman at Clarendon Junior College, Yost earned All-Conference honors, producing a batting average of .365 and driving in 65 runs.  At Central Oklahoma, Yost led the Bronchos twice in RBIs and hit over .350 twice.  As a player, Yost’s most impressive asset was his versatility, playing all nine positions on the field, including a game behind the plate when a teammate feel ill before a game.  One of his more memorable games came against Texas A&M Kingsville, where he had an offensive explosion hitting 2 home runs with 8 RBIs.

Yost earned a Physical Education/Health degree.  He currently teaches a Fit-4-Life and Adaptive P.E. at Edmond Summit Middle School and at Edmond Santa Fe High School.