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.

PlayBallAcademy.com does not necessarily always agree with the various opinions brought forth, but it is our intention to let you be the judge as to what drills and lessons are best for you and/or your team.

This list will always be growing as we continue to include more lessons with different coaching styles each week.

Coach Steve Rau Coach Rau has been an instructor at baseball camps and clinics for over 20 years, and has ten years of high school and college baseball coaching experience. He has worked with a number of current and past professional baseball players over the years helping them improve their skills and mental approach to the game. He primarily handles the Play Ball pitching lessons, but has also spent many hours studying hitters and their swings. Coach Rau is a former pitcher for the University of Pittsburgh and is one of the co-founders of Play Ball Training Academy. He has helped hundreds of players over the past several years through his teachings at the various Play Ball Training Academy baseball camps and clinics.
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.