Instructors

All-Star Strike Zone is pleased to provide quality instructors for pitching, hitting, and all fundamentals of the game for baseball and softball. Please call us at (515) 987-6220 to schedule lesson times.

Softball - Instructors by Skill
Pitching	Hitting	Fundamentals	Catching
Natalie Kopp Meghan Von Behren Bob Wright	Mark Brown Edwin Deugan Jodi Kopp Natalie Kopp Kylie Murray Melissa Stuber	Edwin Deugan Jodi Kopp Natalie Kopp Kylie Murray Melissa Stuber	Jodi Kopp

Baseball - Instructors by Skill
Pitching	Hitting	Fundamentals	Catching
Jason Book Jon Merrigan Gabe Sink	Jason Book Jon Merrigan Gabe Sink	Jason Book Jon Merrigan	Jason Book Jon Merrigan

Instructor Bio's

BASEBALL Catching, Pitching, Hitting, Infield: Jason Book

2 time All-State at Walnut High School, Walnut, IA Southwestern Community College 1994-1996 - 1996 team had most wins in school history Howard Payne University (Brownwood, TX) 1997 - Won American Southwest Conference, received schools first regional bid Head Coach at Walnut High School 1999 and 2000 Assistant Coach Southwestern Community College 1999 Member of Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association

SOFTBALL Hitting: Mark Brown

Lead hitting instructor at Rip City in West Des Moines for 9 years, working with both softball and baseball. Head Coach for West Des Moines Girls Softball Association ASA team for 4 years. Assistant Varsity Head Coach and hitting instructor for local 4A High School Softball program 2003 - present. Co-instructed hitting clinics with Lisa Fernandez and Crystal Bustos (former players of the USA Olympic Softball Team). Teaches all ages!

SOFTBALL Hitting & Fundamentals: Edwin Deugan

Head Softball Coach, Sonoraville High School (Georgia) - Fall 2006 Assistant Softball Coach, Tennessee State University - Fall 2004-Summer 2006 Camp Instructor - University of Tennessee, University of Alabama & Higher Ground Softball - 2003-2007 Head Softball Coach, Andrew College (Georgia) - Fall 2001-Fall 2004 Assistant Softball Coach, Des Moines East High School - Summer 2001 Head Softball Coach, Westminster College - Winter/Spring 2000 Assistant Softball Coach, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter High Schools - Summer 1999 Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach, Mt. Mercy College - Fall 1998 Volunteer Assitant Softball Coach, Interstate 35 Junior High - Summer 1998 Softball Manager, University of Iowa - 1997-1998 Attended many sports and coaching clinics - 1997-Present

SOFTBALL Catching, Hitting & Fundamentals: Jodi Kopp

University of Missouri - Kansas City (2002-2004) Iowa Western Community College (2000-2002) 1st Team All American 1st Team Academic All American Urbandale High School (1996-2000) Had the record for most Doubles in 1 year Honorable Mention 12U State Champs for West Des Moines Panthers 14U Regional Champs for WDM Panthers Coached 2007 12U SWAT team Currently plays fastpitch adult softball Has helped put on softball clinics (pitching/catching, batting, fundamentals) 2007 Received Personal Training Certificate--can give agility, strength and conditioning type workouts

SOFTBALL Pitching, Hitting & Fundamentals: Natalie Kopp

Indiana State University (Graduated in 2007) Pitcher Urbandale High School Played for two years at Urbandale High School Was a member of the White Sox summer team Named a member of the 2002 All-World Team for 18 and under Was the Most valuable Defensive Player in 2002 for the USSSA. Natalie is currently an ASA Umpire

BASEBALL - All Skills: Jon Merrigan

Former collegiate infielder and pitcher for University of South Dakota Former Youth Baseball Coach Former Head Coach for American Legion Baseball Won 3 American Legion REGION Baseball Championships 4-Time State Tournament Qualifier Won 1 American Legion STATE Championship 2-Time American Legion Baseball Coach of the Year 3-Time Amateur Baseball State Champion 2-Time All-Tournament Team Selection ABCA Member Current Coach for local, Division III College Baseball Program B.S. Degree in Education, MA in H.P.E.R.

SOFTBALL Hitting & Fundamentals: Kylie Murray

University of Iowa (2002-2006) 2005 as a Junior Mideast All-Regional Selection Second Team All-Big Ten Conference Played in 63 games, started 59 Led team with .375 batting average in conference play Recorded 6 home runs and 42 RBIs Led team with a .455 batting average with runners in scoring position Recorded more than 3 RBIs in 6 games, went 3-3 with 4 RBIs against Illinios, hit game-winning RBI double against Nebraska in NCAA Tournament 2004 as a Sophomore Second Team All-Regional Selection Played in 62 games, started 60 Started 47 games as designated player, 12 at 3rd base, one at 1st base Hit .522 when playing 3rd base, led the team with 14 multi-hit games Tied for the team lead with 11 RBIs in Big Ten play Second on the team with a .293 overall average Went 3-3 with 2 RBIs and a home run against Arizona Sate, went 2-3 with 2 doubles against Wisconsin, went 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base against Mississippi State in the first round of NCAA Regional play. 2003 as a Freshman Played in 49 games, started in 14 Went 4-5 with the bases loaded Had 13 hits and 14 RBIs 2 home runs (GRAND SLAMS!) 1-1 in stolen base attempts Dowling Catholic High School (1999 - 2002) Two-time Elite All-State Third Baseman (2001 and 2002) Third Team All-State as a sophomore (2000) Four-time All-Conference Team (1999 - 2002) Broke and currently holds the Dowling record for doubles in a season (2002) Team Captain (2001 and 2002)

BASEBALL Hitting and Pitching: Gabe Sink

Waterloo Columbus High School Baseball Team North Iowa Area Community College Baseball Team Former and current ASA Softball Coach Specializes in hitting for power and average mechanics Current teacher at an area Middle School

SOFTBALL Hitting & Defense: Melissa Stuber

Also offers Drag Bunt and Slap (hard and soft) training University of Iowa: 1997-2001 Played 3rd, 1st, and 2nd base Played in 3 NCAA Tournaments Played in the College World Series in 2001 Cedar Falls High School 1st Team All-State Selection (All Classes): Junior and Senior Year. 1st Team All-State Selection (Class 4A): Sophomore (3rd Team all classes), Junior, and Senior Year 1st Team All-Conference: Eighth Grade-Senior Year Player of the Year in the Mississippi Valley Conference: Junior and Senior Year All Metro: Eighth Grade-Senior Year Batting Average: 1995 (SO): Batting Average .607 (4th All-time in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Association) (Yearly Batting Average Leader in the State of Iowa) 1996 (JR) : Batting Average .564 (Yearly Batting Average Leader in the State of Iowa) 1997 (SR) : Batting Average .531 Hits: 1996 (JR): Hits 93 Hits Per Game 2.07 (12th All-time in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Association) 1995 (SO): Hits 82 Hits Per Game 1.91 Skills: Infielder: Played 3rd, 1st, and 2nd Batting: Knows how to hit, drag bunt, and slap (soft and hard)

SOFTBALL Pitching (Intermediate to Advanced Levels): Meghan Von Behren

Also offers Agility Training Simpson College Girls Softball Team Hoover High School Softball Team 1998 - 2nd Team All-Conference 1999 - Honorable Mention All-State, 2nd Team All Conference 2000 - 5th Team All-State Former pitching instructor at Rip City in West Des Moines North Des Moines Girls Softball ASA Team - "The Looney Tunes" won State and took 2nd at Regionals (B)

SOFTBALL Pitching: Bob Wright

42 years of playing fast pitch softball 38 years of coaching fast pitch softball 20 years of instructing fast pitch softball pitching and catching clinics Pitching Coach for Urbandale High School for 22 years Member of Des Moines Hall of Fame Iowa Assistant Coach of the Year 2006 Coached World Champion Pitcher Michelle Thomas Coached Urbandale High School pitcher Kim Jones to 68 wins 0 losses

 

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