DK Staff

Instructors

The Diamond Kings Staff of professional instructors are all current or former collegiate baseball and softball coaches and have played professionally in the United States or overseas. We know the importance of athletes learning from every coach who enters their lives.

Our staff's benchmark of knowledge ensures you will have a first class learning experience every time an athlete steps in our facility, no matter who the instructor. More importantly, every DK Academy instructor shares in the belief that an exceptional work ethic, positive attitude combined with the highest level of professional instruction will facilitate self confidence in every player's on-field and off-field abilities.

Mike Church
Founder of Diamond Kings Baseball and Softball Academy
New England Director for USA Baseball's NTIS Program
Spent 7 years as professional player
5 years of college coaching
5 years as minor league Director of Baseball Operations
4 years as field manager
1 year as hitting coach
5 years as Director of Player Procurement
Director of Player Procurement and Baseball Operations, Bridgeport Bluefish
Manager and Dir. of Baseball Operations, New Haven County Cutters, Can Am League of Professional Baseball
Selected as Manager for 2006 Can-Am/American Assoc All Star Game in El Paso, TX
Northern League All Star Catcher, 2001, Two-time Northern League Champion w/Adirondack Lumberjacks, 2000 and New Jersey Jackals, 2001
New Jersey Jackals 5th Anniv. All-Star Team, 2002, Played from 1995-2002
Asst Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Central Connecticut State Univ, 1995-1999
All-ECAC Catcher at Central Connecticut State University with B.A. English, CCSU 1996
Catcher, NECBL's Inaugural All-Star Game at Muzzy Field, Bristol, CT and NECBL 10th Player Award Winner and all Star Game, Inaugural Season 1994
Appeared in 2006 ESPN Miniseries, "The Bronx is Burning"

Jimmy Deschaine
Chicago Cubs 10th-round selection in 1999 Amateur Draft
Spent 7 seasons in the Cubs and Phillies minor league organization
Played as high as the AAA level for the Blue Jays
2005 Member, Torrington Twisters Hall of Fame
Florida State League All Star, Home Run Derby Champion and FSL leader in HR and RBI in 2001
NECBL All Star and 10th player award recipient
NE Player of the Year, 1999, All New England Selection, 1998, 99 ,First Team All American, SS, 1999
Runner-up, Gatorade State of Connecticut HS Baseball Player of Year, 1995

Gene Gentile
Originally drafted out of Taylor-Allderice H.S (Pittsburgh, PA) in the 32nd Round, 677th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates-1976 amateur draft.
His professional career spanned a decade as he played with Boston, Pittsburgh, and Oakland from1977 to 1987.
Gene coached in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for 3 seasons after his playing days.
Patrolled the outfield for the Bristol Red Sox during the 1980 and 1981 seasons and for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1982 and 1983.
Resides in Bristol, CT. with his wife and daughters

Pat Holden
Head Coach. ST Paul High School, 2007-present
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, CCSU, 2005-2006
Bristol American Legion- P/Shortstop -4 years
Central Connecticut State University- Infielder/DH 4 years. 2 year captain. 3 conference championships.
3 NCAA Baseball World Series Regional appearances in Texas, Arizona State, Oklahoma
NECL- Riverpoint Royals- West Warwick, RI - middle infield
St. Margaret's McTernan High School) - (P/SS) 4 year all conference, 2 year All-New England

Devin Murphy
Signed professionally with Sioux City Explorers, American Association 2009
Signed Professionally with Washington Wild Things, Frontier League 2010
3 year starter at Assumption College in Worcester, MA
Played SS, 2b, 1B and 3B during his college career
290 career hitter in all wood bat league NE-10 Conference
All NVL and All City at Holy Cross HS in Waterbury, CT
Varsity basketball and NVL champs in 2001, 2002 and lost in state finals 2000 and 2004
Won Lt. John Cullenen Award, City of Waterbury, 2004
BS, Organizational Communication, Assumption College, 2008

Adam Piechowski
Pitched professionally for 3 years in the Can Am league as a member of three different organizations.
Compiled a 16-4 record, 2.71 ERA with 47 walks and 159 strikeouts in 139.1 innings
Signed professionally in 2007 as a middle releiver, Runner Up Rookie of the Year in 2007, CanAm League
A Winsted, CT, native, Piechowski is a graduate of CCSU where he played for three years
In 2006, he made 16 appearances and pitched 67.0 innings. He held an ERA of 4.16 with a winning record of 5-1, and also collected 53 strikeouts
Piechowski played his freshmen year, 2004, at Philadelphia University where he held a 4-4 record and a 4.50 ERA in 62.0 innings pitched. He also posted 54 strikeouts.

Jon Plefka
A journeyman reliever, Jon pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2009, St Paul Saints in 2010, and Winnipeg, El Paso, and Sioux City in 2011
Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2006 First Year Player draft
Has participated in the Arizona Instructional League in 2007 and 2008
Graduated from Texas Tech University in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Human development and Family Studies
Was a starting forward for the Texas Tech Men's Basketball team under legendary coach Bob Knight, and reached the NCAA Tournament in his senior season
Native of New Britain, CT and attended New Britain High School where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football.

Jeff Rustico
Plays professionally in the German Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012 with the Dohren Wild Farmers in northern Germany. Led all catchers in all defensive categories in 2011
Signed professionally With Worcester Tornados in Can Am League in 2010
4 year starter at American International College and Northeast 10 All-conference selection in 2006 and 2007
Led AIC n batting 2 of his 4 years and Served as AIC baseball's team captain in 2007 and 2008
Played in the NECBL in the summer of 2007 for the Pittsfield Dukes
Signed professionally to play in Israeli Baseball League out of college

Jarrett Stawarz
Pitching Coach, ST Paul HS
Pitcher, New Haven County Cutters, Nashua Pride, CAN-AM League of Professional Baseball
Selected by Managers and Media as 2006 CAN-AM League Rookie of the year
Career Strikeout Record Holder, U of Hartford and4 year starting pitcher at the University of Hartford
Currently ranks second in career strikeouts with M.A. Communication, U of Hartford, 2004
Played 2000 summer season for the NECBL Manchester Silkworms and led in wins
Won the 1997 state and regional championship with Bristol American Legion
Participated in 1997 Legion World Series in Rapid City SD. finished 3rd nationally
Voted Most Valuable Player 1999 Bristol Legion and All State selection in 1998 and 1999 at St. Paul HS

Lance Stevens--Bio Coming Soon

John Varrone-- Bio Coming Soon