Our Staff
Director of Academy Bubba Griffith MONDAY NIGHT 6:30-8:30 SOFTBALL HITTING INSTRUCTIONS
asst. T.J. Waggoner
asst. Jonathan Thornton
Softball Instructors:
Hitting:
Charity Butler
Pitching:
Donnie Nicholson
Baseball Instructors
Pitching:
Rodney Story
Brad Salmon
Hitting & Fielding:
Owen Davis
Phillip Bell
Logan Hundley
Mickey Kropf
Catching:
Logan Hundley
Charity Butler
Charity Butler as a high school softball player was inducted into the Tate High School Hall of fame in 2002. She also received the High School Heisman award that year. Charity went on to start four years at Southern Miss from 2003- 2006 and collected many awards at USM the four years she played. Among these awards: ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American and the 2006 Southern Miss Female Athlete of the Year Award. Playing for the Michigan Ice Women’s Professional Fastpitch team in 2006 - 2007, Charity led the team in batting average and in several other offensive categories. Charity has recently returned from playing International Fastpitch for the Saints where she led the saints to the SM- Guld (Swedish National Championship). She led the League in total hits, total RBI and total Homeruns. Charity also participated in the 2009 European Cup A Pool (most elite softball tournament in Europe). She finished with one of the top two Batting Averages in the tournament (.444), while also leading the tournament in triples. Her Swedish season ended with Charity holding a .610 batting average and a slugging percentage of .987. As an instructor, Charity has accumulated many hours of small group and team instruction. Over the last five years, she has also directed the Annual Champ Camp Softball Clinic raising over $10k for local non-profit organizations.
Donnie Nicholson
Donnie is a well known expert in fastpitch softball. Donnie has over 20 years experience in fastpitch softball.He has spent 12 of those twenty years on a travel team. He has coached teams that have won State Championships in Florida and Alabama. Donnie has also helped Professional Softball player Charity Butler coach her annual Champ Camp Softball Clinic.
Baseball Instructors
Donnie is a well known expert in fastpitch softball. Donnie has over 20 years experience in fastpitch softball.He has spent 12 of those twenty years on a travel team. He has coached teams that have won State Championships in Florida and Alabama. Donnie has also helped Professional Softball player Charity Butler coach her annual Champ Camp Softball Clinic.
Baseball Instructors
Rodney Story
Rodney is a pitching and hitting instructor at the Pelicans Training Academy.Currently Rodney is the Tate High School pitching coach. He played baseball two years at Gulf Coast Community College before tansfering to Southern Louisiana University. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2002. Before all this, Rodney lettered three years at Tate High School. His Junior and Senior year at Tate his team made it to the Final Four state playoffs.In 2001 he was named Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year.
Rodney is a pitching and hitting instructor at the Pelicans Training Academy.Currently Rodney is the Tate High School pitching coach. He played baseball two years at Gulf Coast Community College before tansfering to Southern Louisiana University. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2002. Before all this, Rodney lettered three years at Tate High School. His Junior and Senior year at Tate his team made it to the Final Four state playoffs.In 2001 he was named Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year.
Brad Salmon
Brad played baseball at Tate High School from 1994-1998. He was a member of the 1998 State Championship team. After high school, Brad was drafter by the Cincinnati Reds in 1998. Brad attended Jefferson Davis Community College in 1999 where he pitched, played center field, and was a DH. In 1999 while at JeffDavis, Brad was named to the 1st team All-Conference. After the 1999 season Brad signed with the Cincinnati Reds.In 2000 Brad was name the Minor Leagues most valuable pitcher. From 1999 to 2006 he played with many Minor League Baseball teams including: the Mudville Nine of the California League and the Louisville Batts of the International League. In 2003 Brad was named to Midwest League All-Star team. Also Brad was twice named Midwest League pitcher of the week. In 2007 he was named Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week. Brad made his MLB debut on May 1, 2007 with Cincinnati as a close going 3 up and 3 down. Brad signed with the L.A. Angels in 2009.
Brad played baseball at Tate High School from 1994-1998. He was a member of the 1998 State Championship team. After high school, Brad was drafter by the Cincinnati Reds in 1998. Brad attended Jefferson Davis Community College in 1999 where he pitched, played center field, and was a DH. In 1999 while at JeffDavis, Brad was named to the 1st team All-Conference. After the 1999 season Brad signed with the Cincinnati Reds.In 2000 Brad was name the Minor Leagues most valuable pitcher. From 1999 to 2006 he played with many Minor League Baseball teams including: the Mudville Nine of the California League and the Louisville Batts of the International League. In 2003 Brad was named to Midwest League All-Star team. Also Brad was twice named Midwest League pitcher of the week. In 2007 he was named Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week. Brad made his MLB debut on May 1, 2007 with Cincinnati as a close going 3 up and 3 down. Brad signed with the L.A. Angels in 2009.
Owen Davis
Owen Davis played baseball at Daphne High School.He played three years of Varsity Baseball and had a cumulative batting average of .350. Owen's High School team won back-to-back 6A State Championships.Owen was selected the team captain his junior and senior year. He was also selected 2nd Team All State his senior year. Owen went off to play college ball for the University of West Florida. While playing college ball he was selected 2nd Team All Conference his junior year. He was team captain his junior and senior year at U.W.F. and played every game for four years while attending college. Owen accumulated a .280 batting average over four years of college ball. Owen is currently coaching at the University of West Florida and has had multiple players named in the All Conference Players, one Gold Glove Winner, and his players have set the Gulf South Conference record for fielding percentage in 2009.
Owen Davis played baseball at Daphne High School.He played three years of Varsity Baseball and had a cumulative batting average of .350. Owen's High School team won back-to-back 6A State Championships.Owen was selected the team captain his junior and senior year. He was also selected 2nd Team All State his senior year. Owen went off to play college ball for the University of West Florida. While playing college ball he was selected 2nd Team All Conference his junior year. He was team captain his junior and senior year at U.W.F. and played every game for four years while attending college. Owen accumulated a .280 batting average over four years of college ball. Owen is currently coaching at the University of West Florida and has had multiple players named in the All Conference Players, one Gold Glove Winner, and his players have set the Gulf South Conference record for fielding percentage in 2009.
Phillip Bell
Phillip Bell is a 2008 graduate from The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). He was a four year starter at UAB where he played 195 games. Over four years, Phillip compiled a batting average of .313, 15 home runs, 9 triples, 34 doubles, 124 R.B.I.'s and 38 stolen bases. He played a summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He also played for the Hyannis Mets. While he played for the Mets he had a batting average of .271, 1 home run, 2 doubles, and 8 stolen bases.
Phillip Bell is a 2008 graduate from The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). He was a four year starter at UAB where he played 195 games. Over four years, Phillip compiled a batting average of .313, 15 home runs, 9 triples, 34 doubles, 124 R.B.I.'s and 38 stolen bases. He played a summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He also played for the Hyannis Mets. While he played for the Mets he had a batting average of .271, 1 home run, 2 doubles, and 8 stolen bases.
Logan Hundley
In High School at Gulf Breeze, Logan earned the Gold Glove Award his senior season for most valuable defensive player. In his junior year he was awarded the coaches award for hustle and leadership qualities. In Logan’s sophomore year at Jefferson Davis Community College, Logan was apart of a team that won the division for the first time in 5 years. Logan has been at the University of West Florida since he began playing there in 2005 after he transferred from Jefferson Davis Community College. Hundley played for two years as a catcher for the Argonauts, helping the Argos with their first ever GSC Championship in 2007. In his senior year he posted a .269 batting average, starting in 23 games, and produced 8 doubles and 11 runs batted in. In 2006 his junior year, Hundley appeared in 32 games with 13 starts, and batted .444 (8-18) in 11 conference games. He hit .500 (6-12) against left-handed pitchers Logan Hundley has been a graduate assistant baseball coach for The University of West Florida since 2007. He currently coaches the catchers and assists the hitting coach with hitters. He also assists with outfielders.
In High School at Gulf Breeze, Logan earned the Gold Glove Award his senior season for most valuable defensive player. In his junior year he was awarded the coaches award for hustle and leadership qualities. In Logan’s sophomore year at Jefferson Davis Community College, Logan was apart of a team that won the division for the first time in 5 years. Logan has been at the University of West Florida since he began playing there in 2005 after he transferred from Jefferson Davis Community College. Hundley played for two years as a catcher for the Argonauts, helping the Argos with their first ever GSC Championship in 2007. In his senior year he posted a .269 batting average, starting in 23 games, and produced 8 doubles and 11 runs batted in. In 2006 his junior year, Hundley appeared in 32 games with 13 starts, and batted .444 (8-18) in 11 conference games. He hit .500 (6-12) against left-handed pitchers Logan Hundley has been a graduate assistant baseball coach for The University of West Florida since 2007. He currently coaches the catchers and assists the hitting coach with hitters. He also assists with outfielders.
Mickey Kropf
Mickey is a former catcher and switch hitter from the Detroit Tigers organization and a former college starter at Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Embry-Riddle. He volunteers his time with the Pensacola Pelicans in the summertime
as an extra batting practice arm. Mickey is a former coachof the East Cobb baseball program in Atlanta, his hometown. Mickey is a graduate of Harvard College who nowresides in Pensacola, FL. He is available for individual and group lessons in batting and catching
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Mickey is a former catcher and switch hitter from the Detroit Tigers organization and a former college starter at Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Embry-Riddle. He volunteers his time with the Pensacola Pelicans in the summertime
as an extra batting practice arm. Mickey is a former coachof the East Cobb baseball program in Atlanta, his hometown. Mickey is a graduate of Harvard College who nowresides in Pensacola, FL. He is available for individual and group lessons in batting and catching
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