BASEBALL INSTRUCTORS
Baseball Instructor - Hitting & Fielding
Grant LaFollette
LaFollette has coached travel and high school baseball for 10 years. He trained under current and veteran MLB players such as Wes Helms and Tim Hudson, and is the Co founder of the Wes Helms Baseball Camp. LaFollete is currently on staff with TPL which is one of the premier organizations in the Southeast.
Baseball Instructor - Pitching
Tristan Widra
Tristan is a former NCAA Division I pitcher at Samford University. During his four year tenure, Tristan held the role of starter, middle reliever and closer. He holds wins against in-state rivals Alabama, Auburn & UAB and helped the Bulldogs to the 2018 SoCon Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
At Spain Park High School, Tristan led his team to an AHSAA 6A state championship. He posted a 1.92 season earned run average. Allowed just three hits in the championship game win over Sparkman High School.
Tristan was selected to the 2014 Perfect Game Southeast All-Region Second Team and was a 2013 Perfect Game Third Team Preseason All-American. He was also a 2013 Alabama High School Athletics Association North/South All-Star Selection, 2013 Alabama Athletics Association All-Star Team Selection, 2012 U.S. National Team Regional Selection Team, and a 2012 Alabama Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Team Selection. Tristan was invited to the 2013 Perfect Game National Showcase and rated 9.0 on 10.0 scale as a pro-prospect.
Along with his baseball accolades, Tristan is a devout Christian. He lives his life in everything he does through his favorite verse Philippians 4:13 “For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” and tries to install that same belief into the kids he works with that with faith and hard work they can accomplish anything they want to.
Baseball Instructor - Catching & Hitting
D.J. HESS
Originally from Tampa, Florida, D.J. came to Alabama to be a catcher for the University of Montevallo. At UM, he was on the Peach Belt Conference all-academic team in consecutive years.
D.J. has many years of coaching experience of all age groups including private lessons and coaching travel teams. He has worked with Diamond Club in Birmingham and with the Birmingham Braves organization. He also has worked with many travel and high school teams in his hometown of Tampa. D.J. has assisted in the development of multiple pitchers that went on to sign professional baseball contracts.