A Personalized Experience

Our coaches specifically tailor their instruction to each individual athlete, and encourage positive progress even outside the facility. The Athlete Factory instructors are all talented and accomplished coaches with an extensive baseball or softball background.

The following private and group lessons are offered at The Athlete Factory:

• Pitching
• Hitting
• Throwing
• Fielding
• Catching

Brett Strahin

baseball Catching, Fielding, and Hitting

Coach Brett played college Baseball at Frederick Community College and West Virginia State University where he played catcher and first base. Throughout playing in college Brett led multiple clinics and gave instruction until graduating in 2017. After graduating, Brett put his focus on developing hitters and catchers, with an emphasis on taking catchers to the next level both mentally and technically. With close to 10 years of instructing experience and multiple catchers of his own playing in college themselves, Brett continues his passion of developing players of the game.

Alyssa Husband

Softball pitching, fielding, and hitting

Coach Alyssa has been playing softball since she was 8 years old. She graduated from Tuscarora High School in 2023 and is currently pursuing her education at Frederick Community College where she studies Business and is a pitcher and first baseman for the FCC softball team.

With many years of travel softball under her belt, including Maryland Express and Urbana Rippers teams, Coach Alyssa is extremely knowledgeable on both sides of the plate as a pitcher and infielder as well as a hitter. A starting Varsity first baseman throughout high school, she truly knows the position down to its minute details. As a pitcher, she has developed tight spins and hard command to challenge hitters. She believes that recognizing pitches and pitch locations is one of the key fundamentals to succeed as a hitter.

Coach Alyssa will help your daughter learn and succeed at many softball skills to become a well-rounded player with a mind for the game.

Tyler Volentine

baseball Pitching

Coach Tyler started his pitching career at 7 years old and continued pitching through his senior year at Hood College. Throughout his career, Tyler pitched in a variety of roles allowing him to understand the mental and physical demands of each role within a pitching staff. Over the years, he learned how to quickly evolve pitch mixes to fit his role. In addition to his time on the field, Tyler was a student of the biomechanics of pitching under Dick and Ryan Mills as well as Lance Wheeler. In doing so, Tyler discovered the key to reducing and eliminating arm pain while increasing velocity. While properly patterning each individual’s movement will increase velocity, he knows that success is more than just fundamental mechanics. In fact, he will say success starts with preparation long before you ever pick up a baseball.

Laine Heisler

Softball hitting, fielding, and catching

Coach Laine has actively played softball for more than 20 years. In high school, she was varsity captain for 2 years, and starting 1st baseman and backup catcher for 4 years. Following high school, Laine attended Kutztown University where she played for 3 years. Coach Laine has also been utilized for all forms of bunting, slapping, and hitting, and has experience commanding the field either as a catcher or 1st baseman.

Laine assisted the Reading School District Softball Program where she ran mini camps throughout the Winters and helped with fielding, and pitcher-catcher pairs. She also coached the Reading Middle School JV team (14U and 10U teams) for the Reading Girls Softball Program for 3 years. Using her experience and knowledge of the game, Laine helps her athletes with the mental and physical aspects of the game to improve their technique and teamwork.

Dany Thompson

Softball Catching, Hitting, and Fielding

Coach Dany started her career in baseball and switched to softball in high school. Dany is a utility player as well as a utility and switch hitter, which speaks to her ability to power hit, slap, and execute all forms of bunts. Dany has experience in coaching from leading softball clinics, coaching teams in their pre-season, assisted pitcher-catcher duos, group lessons, and private lessons.

In 2021 Dany played for Frederick Community College and tied 22nd for overall hitting stats (Regional), tied 8th for stolen bases (Regional), ranked 5th for OBP (.492), and led the region in BB’s.

She was ranked among the top 300 in AVG, and top 400 for OBP, of National DII players. Dany also placed within the top 35 players in the region for all 2022 statistics mentioned.

Returning this December

Nathan Farmer

Baseball Pitching and fielding

Coach Nathan started his pitching career in his freshman year of high school at Linganore High, and continued up to his senior year. In Fall 2020, Nathan walked on at Frederick Community College where he gained experience as both a starting and relieving pitcher. He currently plays at Glenville State University. He believes in throwing with a intent and a purpose, and having a set plan/goal day in and day out.

Returning this December

Ronnie Stewart

Hitting and fielding (Baseball and softball)

With nearly 38 years of coaching experience, Coach Ronnie brings a deep passion for developing players‘ skills in both baseball and softball while fostering personal growth through confidence, competition, sportsmanship, teamwork, and academic excellence. At the collegiate level, Coach Ronnie was Assistant Coach with Brunswick Orioles Summer Collegiate Baseball program out of the Blue Ridge league. (2017-2018; 2018 NABF national runner up). At the high school level, Coach Ronnie is the upcoming season (2024-2025) Head Coach - Brunswick High School Girls Softball. He was also the Assistant Varsity Coach of Boonsboro High School Softball (2021; 1A State Semifinals) and Head Varsity Coach Boonsboro High School Baseball Team (2012-2017, State runner up in 2017), as well as many other coaching positions. Coach Ronnie has also coached several Little League teams (Girls fastpitch and Boys Baseball), including the Sharpsburg Little League All-Star Girls Fastpitch Softball team (11u in 2011 and 12u in 2012), winning the Maryland State Championship both years!

Coach Ronnie was named 2017 Washington County, Maryland Public School Baseball Coach of the Year and has coached numerous players to successful college baseball and softball careers.

Nathaniel Puryear Jr.

Baseball Hitting and Fielding

Coach Nat graduated from Tuscarora High School in 2011 where he played Varsity starting his Sophmore year. He moved on to play at Penn State York his Freshman year of college, then transferred to Hood College playing as first baseman and outfield.

Nat began coaching at Hood College in 2017 where he is still currently coaching. He assisted Hood in earning a record of 32-11 his first year as a coach, and helped them through 2 straight MAC conference playoffs.

Coach Nat is also the current coach for American Legion Post 11 where he has coached for 2 years. In addition, he currently an assistant coach for Senior Legion and Frederick High School.