Below you can learn a little about our coaches and advisors who help contribute to the content of this site. All of these individuals are very experienced teachers of the game and are chosen because of their ability to transfer their knowledge to players of all ages. Our coaches all have played at a high level of baseball and combined have over 200 years of coaching experience under their belts.

The Play Ball Baseball Coaching and Teaching Philosophy

At Play Ball Academy we believe baseball is not just a game, rather it's a way of life. We teach the game much in the same way that we run our everyday lives; instilling values such as respect, honor, commitment, and class. Players come in all different shapes, sizes, and abilities, therefore, we do our best to teach baseball skills and techniques that are best suited for the individual and not force feed our own personal routines or opinions.

We don't think our teaching methods are better than others and don't claim to know everything there is to know about baseball. What we can guarantee is, decades of playing and coaching experience which we love to pass along to baseball coaches, players, and parents all over the world. What you'll find at PlayBallAcademy.com is an old school approach to the game with additional new and fresh techniques that are proven to be effective for the young baseball player.

Coach Steve Rau My name is Steve Rau and I'm the co-founder of PlayBallAcademy.com and a baseball phanatic. I can't tell you I was a major leaguer or coached professional baseball, but I can tell you that I started instructing at baseball camps back when I was 15 years old. Now, over 20 years later, I'm still helping players and coaches of all ages learn this great game of baseball. I've played several hundred baseball games from T-ball to college. Though I did play Division I college baseball at the University of Pittsburgh, several shoulder operations eliminated the chances of playing at the next level. Today with my former catcher, partner, and friend, Coach Blake Barthol(below), I help coaches and players from the United States to Australia learn the game; and I love every minute of it. I hold a bachelors degree in Business and also Information Systems, plus a Masters of Instructional Technology. This education coupled with a vast amount of IT experience enables me to provide our website visitors with ongoing baseball content effectively and efficiently. Baseball is a huge part of my life and I'd like to help make it a big part of yours. Take the time to learn from our teachings and philosophies and I guarantee you'll not only gain some valuable knowledge but also develop a love for the game that will be with you for the rest of your life.
Coach Blake Barthol Coach Barthol was a catcher for 9 years in professional baseball. While he was in the Rockies, Mariners, and Pirates organizations, he worked with some of the best coaches and players in the game today. He brings to our staff, not only catching philosophy and technique, but also pitching, defensive, hitting, and coaching knowledge. As one of the co-founders of Play Ball Training Academy, he has helped many players, from little league to professional, help improve their game.
Coach Andy Pitsilos Coach Pitsilos has been teaching at baseball camps and clinics for over a decade and currently coaches high school baseball at Liberty H.S. in Bethlehem, PA. His philosophy of solid defense and an aggressive offensive style has made his team a top baseball program in Eastern Pennsylvania. A former Lehigh University hitting coach, Andy has helped a number of college players move on to the next level as a result of his instructions.
Coach Andy Simock A two-time high school district championship coach, Coach Simock has over a decade of high school coaching experience and numerous wins to go with his 10+ years of coaching. A former member of the Penn State University baseball team, he has the ability to develop his players into the same type of well-rounded ballplayer that he was during his playing days. Coach Simock has been an instructor at dozens of baseball camps and clinics over the years, including working with little league coaches to make sure the game is being taught the way it should be. Coach Simock brings fielding, baserunning, and hitting expertise to the Play Ball community.
Coach Jeff Merlet Jeff has been playing organized baseball for about 30 years. He was a standout at Alvernia College in the early 90's, receiving NAIA All-American awards in 1991 and 1992. In his 1992 season, Jeff was honored with the player of the year award. He signed with the Vienna Wonders of the European Professional Baseball League in 1996. Much of what he learned as an infielder came from his father who played professionally in the Texas Rangers system. Coach Merlet brings to our staff a great deal of knowledge of the game with exceptional expertise at the middle infield positions.