2012 Baseball

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2012 Baseball Coaches
Billy Berry Image
Billy Berry - Head Coach - 7th Season
 
Billy Berry begins his seventh year as head baseball coach at Tennessee Wesleyan. Under Berry's direction, the Bulldogs have an overall record of 255-102, posting a conference record of 106-23 during his six years.
 
In 2010 and 2011, he helped to lead the program to a long time goal of making it to the Avista NAIA College World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The Bulldogs reached Lewiston by winning the Columbus, GA Opening Round Championship in 2010.  In 2011 they repeated the feat by winning the Paducah, KY Opening Round Championship. In 2007 the Bulldogs reached two milestones by becoming the first team in Appalachian Conference history to go through the regular season unbeaten (18-0). In that same year the team broke the previous school record for wins (46) and tied the record in 2010.   
 
Over the last six years Coach Berry has led the Bulldogs to five of the last six AAC regular season championships as well as six AAC tournament finals with five AAC tournament titles in 07, 08, 09, 10, and 11.  The Bulldogs have appeared in either the Region XII or Opening Round Championship final game in all six seasons coming away with the Region XII title in 2006 and Opening Round Championships in 10 and 11. With the wins in 2010 and 2011 the Bulldogs made their second appearance in the Avista NAIA World Series. Berry has been named AAC Coach of the Year five times in 06, 07, 08, 09 and 10, Region XII Coach of the Year three times in 06, 07 and 08. NAIA Regional Coach of the Year in 10 and 11, and for the efforts of the 2010 team Coach Berry was awarded the TBCA College Coach of the Year award. 
 
Berry and his staff have continue to maintain a high level of recruiting.  Since the 2000 season Wesleyan has seen twenty one former Bulldogs move on to the professional ranks. Fifty three players have been named to the All Conference First team with eight of those players being named AAC Player of the Year. The Bulldogs have had countless Region XII selections and NAIA honorable mention All Americans including four first team All Americans and four second team All American selections.  
 
Coach Berry attended Bluefield College where he was a three time first team All Conference selection and in October of 2009 Coach Berry was inducted into the Bluefield College Hall of Fame. After receiving his B.S. degree in physical education in 1998, he served two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater Mills Godwin High School.  In 1999 Berry helped lead the Eagles to a Virginia High School League State Championship. The following two seasons Berry was an assistant at J.R. Tucker High School. In 2002 Berry helped to lead the Tigers to a runner up finish in the Virginia High School League State Championship. In the summer of 2002 Berry lead West End Post 361 to a Division 5 district title, the Virginia American Legion State championship and within one game of the American Legion World Series.
 
In 2003 Berry was named as an assistant coach at Bluefield College. Berry a former player and graduate of Bluefield was named the Head Baseball Coach in the summer of 2004. He remained at Bluefield for the next two seasons before accepting the baseball job at Tennessee Wesleyan. In his two year stint at Bluefield he had an overall record of 46-57 with a conference record of 22-31. The Rams broke the school record for wins in his first season going 25-29, ending the season with one of his players moving on to play professionally.
 
In his thirteen years of coaching either as an assistant or head coach Berry has seen twenty former players move on to professional baseball. He wants to continue to help young men use baseball as an avenue to get their education, continue on the bulldog baseball success and have kids that represent the school, their families and the program with pride.
 
Berry a native of Richmond, Virginia is married to the former Jacqueline Walker.  They reside in Athens and have two sons Brady (8) and Brooks (4). 

Stephen Baker Image
Stephen Baker - Assistant Coach - 3rd Season
 
Stephen Baker begins his third year as assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator at Tennessee Wesleyan College.  Coach Baker oversees the Bulldog pitching staff and handles the recruiting efforts for the Bulldogs.
 
Baker joined the Tennessee Wesleyan staff in December of 2009. Since he arrived in Athens the Bulldogs have reached new heights by appearing in the Avista NAIA College World Series in his first two seasons. Baker maintains a high level of recruiting throughout the country. In his two years as recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs he has seen four players receive First Team All AAC honors, with one of those players being named the 2010 AAC Player of the Year. Two players have received NAIA All American honors and four players have gone on to play professionally.      
 
Baker attended Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida where he lettered for four years. From there he played at Florida Community College of Jacksonville, under Chris Blaquire. During his time at FCCJ he had a career record of 16-5. After his two year career he was offered a scholarship to play at Jacksonville University. After sustaining an injury at Jacksonville University Baker redshirted and then decided to transfer to Bluefield College the following season. While at Bluefield College he played for current Tennessee Wesleyan head baseball coach Billy Berry.
 
In the summer of 2006 Baker accepted a job as the assistant baseball coach at Bluefield College. While at Bluefield he was in charge of the pitching staff and the recruiting efforts for the Rams. In the three years as an assistant at Bluefield College, Baker helped lead the Rams to three NCCAA World Series appearances. In 2009 the Rams captured the NCCAA World Series title, ending the season with one of his pitchers moving on to play professionally.
 
In his development as a coach Baker has participated in many NCAA sanctioned summer leagues and has started the East Tennessee Bulldogs Baseball Club. The team had its first season in the summer of 2010.
Baker is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and holds a B.S. degree in exercise and sports science from Bluefield College.  He resides in Athens, Tennessee.

Albert Gertz Image
Albert Gertz - Assistant Coach - 4th Season
 
Albert Gertz begins his fourth year as and assistant at Tennessee Wesleyan and third as the Bulldog volunteer assistant baseball coach.  He works baseball operations for the Bulldogs and serves as the Junior Varsity Assistant.
 
Gertz played for Wesleyan from 2006 to 2008 and served as a student assistant for one season in 2009.  He was hired as the volunteer assistant in the summer of 2009 following his graduation from Tennessee Wesleyan and has worked in many areas inside the program.
 
A graduate of Soddy Daisy High School in June of 2005, Albert went on to a three year playing career as a pitcher with the Bulldogs from 2006 to 2008.  He was in the first recruiting class that current Head Baseball Coach Billy Berry brought in the summer of 2005.
 
Coach Gertz serves as Head Coach for the 17 and under East Tennessee Bulldogs summer league team.  The teams are run by current assistant Stephen Baker.
 
Gertz is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee and holds a B.S. degree in computer science from Tennessee Wesleyan. He  resides in Athens, Tennessee.      

Matt McCracken Image
Matt McCracken - Assistant Coach - 1st Season
 
Matt McCracken begins his first year as assistant baseball coach and head junior varsity coach at Tennessee Wesleyan.  Coach McCraken will serve as first base coach as well as oversee the Bulldog outfielders.  He will be in charge of the strength and conditioning program for the Bulldogs and also assist Coach Baker in the Bulldog recruiting efforts.
 
McCracken attended Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Florida wher he lettered in baseball.  He was a 45th round draft pick of the Anaheim Angels in the summer of 2006.  After foregoing the draft, Coach McCracken attended FCCJ Community College in Jacksonville, Florida where he played for Chris Blaquire.  In the fall of 2008 he accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball at Tennessee Wesleyan.  A three year starter on the mound for the Bulldogs, McCracken compiled a 9-3 record with 125.2 innings pitched.  Upon graduation from Tennessee Wesleyan, in the summer 2011, he accepted the assistant coaching position and became part of the Bulldog staff in August of the same summer.
 
Coach McCracken serves as head coach of the 18 and under East Tennessee Bulldogs summer league team.  He was an assistant to Coach Baker in the summer of 2011 for the East Tennessee Bulldogs.
 
McCracken is a native of Alachua, Florida and holds a B.S. degree in Behavioral Science from Tennessee Wesleyan.  He resides in Athens, Tennessee.