Mitch Thomas

Owner/Tribe Athletics Director

Mental Development

Four-year varsity letterman at Ritenour Sr. High School in St. Louis, MO 1995-1998. Suburban North All-Conference – DH/IB Senior Season. He received a scholarship to play football and baseball at Missouri Western State College but was unable to play out a college career due to injury. Moved back to St. Louis to complete a Culinary degree at Forest Park Community College. Mitch graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing and Sales Management.

Mitch is currently entering his 7th season as an Assistant Coach at Washington University St. Louis NCAA D3 Softball.  Wash U Softball has participated in 4 regional tournaments and received two University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year award.  While at Wash U eight Bears have garnered All-American honors. While at Wash U the team has been ranked in the top 30 6 of the 7 seasons. Spending several weeks ranked in the top 5. 

Mitch currently coaches a 16u Ttribe Softball teams. Prior to THZ Mitch coached the St. Louis Lady Spikes and St. Louis Pride Softball teams for 8 seasons. 14 of 19 players who graduated have continued playing in college. Daughter Katlyn Thomas attended nationally ranked the University of Missouri St. Louis NCAA D2 on a softball scholarship. Her 2015 team will be inducted into UMSL Hall of Fame. 

Mitch is available for baseball and softball hitting, catching, and fielding lessons. mthomas@thehittingzonestl.com

Tribe Athletics Player Development/Recruiting Coordinator/Instructor

Gerrion played high school baseball at Fort Zumwalt South from 2009-12. He then went on to play the 2012-13 season at Mizzou before transferring to Jefferson College. At Jefferson College, Gerrion completed his Associates Degree and contributed to the baseball team as a pitcher and an outfielder. During that season, Gerrion boasted a .343 batting average with 10 doubles, 2 triples, and 7 home runs while also making 6 starts on the mound. In June 2014, he was drafted in the 14th round as an outfielder by the Baltimore Orioles organization. He spent his first season in the Minor Leagues in the Gulf Coast League where he appeared in 26 games.  

Gerrion was hired by St. Charles Community College Softball team as a Volunteer Assistant for the 2019-2020 season. This is Gerrion's 1st season at the collegiate level. 

Gerrion currently coaches a 15u Tribe and 10 Tribe Baseball team. This is Gerrion 1st season as a full-time coach. Gerrion spent majority of the 2018-2019 season overseeing player development. 

Coach Gerrion, is responsible for the VIP (Velocity Improvement Program) and works with THZ Instructors on advanced throwing mechanics and technique to build arm strength and development. 

Check out Coach G Blog here

 https://www.th3rdgeneration.com/ 

Gerrion is available for baseball and softball hitting instruction and baseball pitching instruction.  gerriongrim3thz@gmail.com

Hitting/Fielding Instructor
Athletic Enhancement Specialist

Jeremy was a two year varsity letterman at Fort Zumwalt North High School in 2009 and 2010. He helped lead his team to a 24-4 record and a district title in the 2010 season as well as being selected 2nd Team All GAC. Jeremy was then awarded a scholarship to play infield at Lindenwood University from 2010-2011. After his baseball career at Lindenwood, Jeremy went on to finish his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science/Sports Performance. He has been the assistant coach for the Fort Zumwalt West Senior Legion baseball team for the past two seasons leading them to an overall record of 75-29.

Jeremy is available for baseball  and softball hitting and infield instruction.  Jeremy is also The Hitting Zone's in-house Sports Performance Trainer and is available Athletic Enhancement instruction and speed & agility training for all sports.  To request instruction with Jeremy or set up Athletic Enhancement training, please email Jeremy at jkoenig@thehittingzonestl.com. 

 Baseball Hitting/Pitching Instructor

THZ Tribe 18U and 13u Head Coach

Coach King was a two-year varsity letterman for  Fort Zumwalt South High School and currently holds the record for Saves as a closer. After graduating in 2012, Tyler went on to play at Vermilion Community College in Minnesota. For 2 seasons, he served as a Pitcher and a Designated Hitter. After completing his playing career, Tyler went on to become a coach for the St. Louis Bandits organization where he coached for 2 years. Within those two years as a head coach for high school level teams, he led his team to 7 tournament championships. Last summer, Tyler joined the THZ Tribe organization as an assistant coach for the 17U THZ Tribe ball club. This upcoming summer, he will be the head coach of the 18U THZ Tribe baseball team.

Tyler is available for both baseball and softball hitting lessons and will also be available for baseball pitching lessons. He also is one of the in-house Personal Trainers and is available for personal training for both baseball and softball. To request instruction with Tyler or set up Personal Training, please email Tyler at  kingtyler@rocketmail.com.

Baseball Catching/Hitting Instructor

16/17U and 11u THZ Tribe Head Coach

Coach Hughes was a 3 varsity letterman at Hazelwood Central High School from 2007-2011. He was a two time All-Conference Selection and helped lead his team to two district titles in his years there. After finishing high school, Jamal went on to play at Harris Stowe University (2012-2013), Frank Phillips College (2013-2014), and SEMO's club baseball team (2014-2017). After graduating from SEMO with a degree in Business Management, Jamal went on to play for the Somerton Caneros in the Independent League. The last few summers Jamal has been coaching with the STL Sting Baseball Club, and is new to the THZ Tribe organization this year. He will be coaching the 16/17U Tribe team this upcoming summer alongside his assistant coach Mike Eagan. 

Jamal is available for catching and hitting instruction. To request instruction with Jamal, please email at  jamalhughes365247@gmail.com.

 Baseball Infield Specialist

18U THZ Tribe Assistant Coach

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Coach Lubinski attended and played baseball at Pattonville High School. He received a scholarship to play baseball as a shortstop at Wabash Valley Community College. After one season there, he transferred to Mineral Area Community College. He then went on to transfer again to Lindenwood Belleville. At Belleville, he earned AMC All-Conference honors at the shortstop position. Through 386 career at bats at Lindenwood, he batted .337, slugged .464, and totaled 20 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, and 19 stolen bases.

Cory is available for baseball fielding instruction. To request instruction with Cory, please email at clubinski2@yahoo.com.

 Softball Hitting Instructor/Slap Specialist

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Coach Theresa attended Francis Howell High School. She was awarded a scholarship to play college softball at Jefferson College and then later on transferred to Columbia College. She was a 3X All-American, currently holds the stolen base record at JeffCo, and also received the Newcomer of the Year Award as apart of her college team. She had a career college batting average of .465.

Theresa is available for softball hitting/slapping instruction. To request instruction with Theresa, please email at info@thehittingzonestl.com

 Softball Pitching Instructor

18U Tribe Softball Assistant Coach

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Coach Ally attended and played softball at Christian High School from 2010-2014. She was an All-District, All-Conference, and AAA Conference Player of the Year during her years at CHS. Ally continued her softball career and played the beginning of her Freshman year at Lindenwood University. Ally then became the assistant coach at Christian High School during the 2016-2017 season. She is currently pursuing a degree in Deaf Education. This year will be Ally's first year with the Tribe Softball organization. She will be the assistant coach on the 18U Tribe Softball team.

Ally is available for softball pitching instruction. To request instruction with Ally, please email at info@thehittingzonestl.com.

 Softball Hitting / Catching Instructor

14U Tribe Softball Head Coach

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A four-year starter at Fort Zumwalt North High School...Second-Team All-State, All-District, All-Conference and Player of the Year as a senior...Hit .526 with five home runs and 35 RBIs her final prep season...Hit over .400 as a junior (.435) and sophomore (.452)...Also secured All-Conference accolades in each of those seasons...Helped lead her team to conference, district and sectional titles in 2013...Played softball in the summer for the St. Louis Nemesis...Was on the soccer team during her freshman and sophomore years.

Three Rivers CC: Broke the Three Rivers Community College single-season home run record with 12 in 2015...Boasted a .669 slugging percentage and had 53 RBIs that year...Garnered All-America, All-Region and All-Conference honors.

Abby attended Southeast Missouri State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. She played 3 seasons at SEMO which she helped her team reach the OVC tournament her SR season. 

Abby currently is a PE teacher at Fox High School where she is an Assistant Coach for Varsity Softball and Soccer. 

Abby is available for softball hitting and catching instruction. To request instruction with Abby, please email at info@thehittingzonestl.com.