DIAMOND TURF BASEBALL
AND SOFTBALL ACADEMY
About Us
Our Staff
Diamond Turf Baseball is committed to providing the best possible staff of instructors for the baseball players we train and develop. As we count down towards opening day we will highlight the people who will be training our stars of tomorrow. Check out their accomplishments!
Mike Koerner
Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to introduce Michael Koerner as our Director of Player Development. Mike is one of the most honored athletes in South Jersey sports history in both baseball and football. Below are just a few of his athletic accomplishments.
As a two sport athlete at Washington Township High School, Mike was a four year varsity starter in baseball from 1991-94 and named 1993 South Jersey Baseball Player of the Year. His high school baseball accomplishments also include: 1993 and 1994 New Jersey First Team All State; 1994 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year; 1994 Baseball All USA second team. Whew! And that’s just baseball! In football, Mike was All South Jersey in 1992 and 1993, South Jersey Football Player of the Year in 1993, and New Jersey First Team All State in 1993. All of this culminated in Mike being named 1994 New Jersey Male Athlete of the Year.
A highly recruited athlete for football and baseball, Mike decided to take his skills to Louisiana State University to play baseball. Mike was a starter at LSU from 1995-1997 and was second on the team in home runs in ’97 with 22 round trippers. He played on consecutive National Championship teams in ’96 and ’97 and was on the All College World Series team in 1997.
Mike was an 11th round pick of the Oakland A’s in 1997 and played professionally until he finished his carreer with the Dodgers in 2000.
Mike was inducted into the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame on November 24, 2007 by the Hotstover Baseball Club of South Jersey
Stacy Jones
– Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to announce that Stacy Jones will be a lead softball instructor. Stacy starred at Hofstra University from 1991-95 where she tallied many records and awards: most wins (96), most starts (122), most innings pitched (885), most strikeouts (638), and no-hitters (6). Stacy was selected a Regional All-American all 4 years. In 2009, Hofstra retired her number (19). Stacy finished her career playing professionally in Italy in 1995.Stacy has proved she is just as talented a coach as she was a player. Stacy is currently the Hammonton Head Softball Coach where she has guided her team to South Jersey titles in ‘04, ‘05, and ’07. She has been selected Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer in ’04 and ’05, by the Courier Post in ’08, and by the Atlantic City Press in ’04. She is also the Head Coach of the 18U Mystics Gold team where she has helped over 50 athletes into various colleges. Before Stacy coached at Hammonton HS, Stacy was the pitching coach for St. John’s U. (’96) and Briarcliffe College (’97-’02).
Fred Bianculli, Jr.
Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to announce that Fred Bianculli, Jr. will be a lead instructor specializing in hitting, catching and infield play.
Freddy is a 1983 graduate of Washington Township High School where he participated in baseball, wrestling and football - earning a total of six varsity letters. Freddy B., as he is known by most, was All Olympic Conference in baseball in 1982 and 1983. In his senior year he was first team All Group IV and All South Jersey. He was Captain and Most Valuable Player on the 1983 team. In addition to baseball, Freddy was captain of the 1982-83 wrestling squad and was All Conference in 1982. In 1983 Freddy was All Conference and All Group IV as a kicker on the football team.
Following high school, Freddy attended Glendale Community College in Arizona. He was honored by being selected to the baseball First Team-All Arizona in 1985, an All Conference selection and Most Valuable Player. Freddy then transferred back to Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) where he was All Conference and All District for two years and All State for one year. At Glassboro State, Fred was a First Team-All American and New Jersey College Player of the Year. Fred was the MVP on the NJAC Championship Team.
Freddy previously has been an instructor at the Bill Robinson Hitting Clinics for 5 years. In 2002, Freddy B. was inducted into the Washington Township High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Scott Russo
Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to announce that Scott Russo will be a lead pitching instructor.
Scott is a 1996 graduate of Washington Township High School where he was a 3 year starter, Team Captain, and Team MVP his senior year. As a senior in 1996, Russo was named First Team All-South Jersey and First Team All-State.
Scott attended Penn State University from 1997-2000 where he was utilized as a starter, reliever and closer. A left handed pitcher, Russo led the team in appearances and saves in 2000. Penn state was Northeast Region Champs in 2000, advancing to the Super Regionals (final 16) against the University of Texas Longhorns.
In 2000, Scott was drafted in the 26th round by the Montreal Expos. Scott played in the Expos organization from 2000-2003.
Nick Sbarra
Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to announce that Nick Sbarra will be a lead instructor specializing in hitting, baserunning and outfield play.
Nick graduated from Washington Township High School in 2003 after an outstanding senior season. Nick was selected 1st Team All-Olympic Conference, 1st team All-Area, 1st Team All-Group IV, and 2nd Team All-South Jersey. In addition, Nick was selected to play in the Carpenter Cup.
After high school, Sbarra continued his career at Ramapo College from 2005-2008. As a freshman, Nick was named Team Rookie of the Year. In 2007 Nick was named NJAC 1st Team All-Conference, ABCA 1st Team All-State, ABCA 2nd Team All-Region, and Mid-Atlantic Region 2nd Team. In 2008, Nick was named to the ECAC All-Tournament Team and was the NJAC Coaches MVP. Nick was the national Division III leader in triples (#4 nationally in all divisions).
Nick has signed with the Cincinnati Reds to play professional baseball in Italy.
Dennis Burlingame
Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to announce that Dennis Burlingame will be a lead pitching instructor.
Dennis graduated from Kingsway High School in 1987 where he excelled in baseball and football. Dennis was All-Tri County in football in 1987 and in baseball, Dennis was All-South Jersey in 1986 and 1987 and All-State in 1987.
In 1987, Burlingame was drafted in the 5th round by the Atlanta Braves and played six years in the Braves organization. Dennis once pitched a perfect game on opening day while with the Durham Bulls and last played for the AAA Richmond Braves in 1993.
Dennis was an Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at Delsea Regional High School from 2001-2006 and currently holds the same position at Kingsway High School.
Dennis was inducted into the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Josh Schwartz
Diamond Turf Baseball is proud to announce that Josh Schwartz will be a lead pitching instructor.
Josh is a 2000 graduate of Gateway High School where he led the team to the 1999 State finals and was an All-State pitcher in 2000.
Schwartz continued his career at Rowan University where he had an astonishing streak of 37 consecutive wins which is a NCAA All Divisions’ record. During 2003-2005, Josh was a 3 time NJAC 1st Team selection, 3 time NJAC Pitcher of the Year, 3 time Mid-Atlantic 1st Team selection, 3 time Mid-Atlantic Pitcher of the Year, Mid-Atlantic Regional MVP in 2005, 3 time All-American, and a member of the 2005 College World Series All-Tournament Team.
Josh was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005 and played professionally for two seasons before a shoulder injury ended his playing career.
Schwartz was an Assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. Since 2006, Josh has been an Assistant Coach at Gloucester County College.