Tag: ECC Falcons Baseball

Miller Takes Helm for Falcons’ Baseball

August 15, 2024 | Athletics Campus News

East Central College has hired experienced collegiate athlete and accomplished coach Luke Miller as the new head coach of the Falcons baseball team.

Portrait of Luke Miller — **Coach Luke Miller**

Miller is set to bring his extensive expertise and winning record to the program, aiming to elevate the Falcons to new heights.

Miller’s playing career includes stints at St. Louis Community College, Harris-Stowe State University, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he earned a degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in Psychology. A native of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Miller first made his mark on the high school baseball scene before excelling at the collegiate level.

For the past six years, Miller has served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at St. Charles Community College (SCC), where he specialized in developing hitters and outfielders. His tenure at SCC was marked by significant achievements, including breaking over 20 individual and team offensive records.

The 2024 season, which concluded with a 37-17 record and a Missouri Community College Athletic Conference championship, was one of the best in the college’s history.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Miller has been a prominent figure in the St. Louis area select baseball scene for the past 11 years, most recently with the Adidas Athletics. His head coaching record stands at an impressive 321-90, with a focus on the U-18 Athletics team.

Miller’s influence extends beyond the field, having played a pivotal role in advancing over 300 players to the collegiate level. Notably, more than 100 of these athletes have been recruited to NJCAA Division I programs, and four of his players have been selected in the Major League Baseball draft.

As the Falcons prepare for their fourth season since the program’s reinstatement in 2022, Miller’s strategic approach and recruiting prowess are expected to lead the team to remarkable achievements. ECC is confident that his leadership will usher in a new era of success for the Falcons baseball program.

Student Athletes Recognized Within Region 16

May 25, 2023 | Athletics Campus News

Several East Central College student athletes were recognized for their talent within the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 16.

Taylor Hanger, Pacific, a pitcher in her second year at ECC was named to the all-region first team.

Hanger led the Falcons throughout the regular season and into the post season, playing the last 12 games of the season with a slight fracture in her glove hand. She even pitched some of her best games with the injury, according to Dr. Jay Mehrhoff, ECC athletic director.

“It was difficult for her to swing the bat, but the coaches in NJCAA Region 16 noticed her talent and named her first-team all-region,” he said.

Hanger, a nursing major from Pacific High School, was an NJCAA Academic All-American and the ECC Female Scholar Athlete her freshman year at ECC.

“Hanger has had a tough balance in her last semester but has managed to be successful in all aspects of being a student athlete at the intercollegiate level,” Mehrhoff added.

She ended the regular season with a 12-8 record striking out 77 batters. Her grit and determination were not always evident as she would be all business when she was in the circle pitching for the Falcons.

Region Player of the Year

ECC Baseball Falcon Shane Kearbey, O’Fallon, Mo., was named the Region Player of the Year by the NJCAA Region 16 DII coaches’ vote. Kearbey, a left-handed pitcher, had a fantastic regular season going 5-1, pitching 61.1 innings and striking out 68 batters with a 2.39 ERA, Mehrhoff said.

Kearbey graduated from ECC May 13 with an Associate of Arts degree in Business. He graduated from Francis Howell High School in 2021.

Rounding out the first team all-region selections for the Falcons were two outfielders, Luciano Terilli, and Trey Orman.

“Terilli gave opposing batters nightmares with his good glove patrolling center field making spectacular plays,” Mehrhoff said. “His at the plate and defensive approach to the game made him an all-around player.”

“Orman had his best season in college leading the Falcons in doubles with 12 and hit 4 home runs driving in 24 runs on the year,” he added.

The NJCAA Region 16 DII All-Defense team included Terilli along with Cameron Leach and Andy Hueste. Leach was a formidable outfielder with his glove and led the team with 22 stolen bases.

Hueste was injured early in the season but found his glove and bat heating up at the end of the season with 24 hits and some great plays from second base and shortstop positions.

ECC selections to second-team all-region were Seth Shannon (.341 batting average), DeVon Jennings (5 home runs), Mario Colombo (.316 batting average), Will DesHotels (2-2, 44 strikeouts), Billy Underwood (2.69 ERA), and Hayden Steelman. All six were starters and contributed to the team’s success throughout the season, both at the plate and from the mound.

Mills to Coach Success on Baseball Field, In Classroom and Life

August 19, 2021 | Athletics

East Central College Baseball Coach Johnathan Mills said there is much more to a successful team than just winning games.

He explained that the ECC Baseball Falcons will strive to be successful on the field and in the classroom, as well as be ambassadors for the college in the community.

“If we do what we are supposed to do, how we are supposed to do it,” Mills said, “we will build a foundation in which kids from throughout the region will want to come here and play baseball.”

Mills was hired last month to take over the head coaching job when Brandon Rains took a coaching and faculty position in Texas. The team hasn’t missed a beat during the transition.

This year’s baseball team will be the first to take the field at ECC in over 20 years. The regular season begins in the spring of 2022 and preseason games are set to begin in October.

According to Mills, the squad will play some preseason games at Ronsick Field, Washington, to give more community members a chance to check out the team.

“We want to create a buzz in the community. We will play a couple of games at Ronsick Field and get more community involvement,” he said.

Mills noted that community involvement is a major part of the team’s mission:

“To give the community and the Institution the type of baseball program and baseball team they can be proud of and compliment the tradition that this Institution has been so proud of through the years, to take the expectations of everyone involved in making this program a reality and its players and bridge them into the process of what it takes to be successful.”

Success in Life

Coach Mills has been a life-long baseball player and coach.

He said it has always been his goal to coach a college program after years of being in the game.

Now that Mills has attained that goal, he wants to instill the same goal-oriented attitude in his players.

“I want them to wake up every day and be the best version of themselves,” he said.

“The players have two careers — on the field and off the field — off the field is more important,” Mills added. “it will shape who they will be in life.”

He further added that his approach and that of his coaching staff is for the players to be successful as people, in the classroom, on the field and in their careers.

“We want players to be more successful in life because they were involved in our program by the principles and values that we’re able to develop with them to be successful relative to the character and attitude they have as a baseball player here at East Central College.”

The Baseball Falcons are slated to play their first scrimmage game Sept. 15 at Central Methodist University.

Planning is underway for a dedication for the new infield turf and scoreboard at the ECC baseball field.

New Skipper to Lead the ECC Baseball Squad

July 13, 2021 | Athletics Campus News

The East Central College Baseball Falcons will have a new leader in the dugout for the first baseball squad at ECC in 20 years.

Coach Johnathan Mills was hired last week to replace Brandon Rains who took a coaching and faculty position at Amarillo College in Texas.

ECC Athletic Director Dr. Jay Mehrhoff said Mills is a life-long baseball player and coach.

“It has always been his goal to guide a program at the intercollegiate level after years of being in the game,” Mehrhoff said. “Now he will be at the helm of the ECC Falcons newly reinstated baseball program this fall.”

Mills is familiar with many of the recruits since he was named as a volunteer assistant in the fall of 2020.

Mills is a native of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., but played his high school baseball at Tuscaloosa High School and began his collegiate playing career at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

While finishing up his last two years of his undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama he served as a student assistant on Jim Wells baseball staff for the Crimson Tide. The team had success and participated in the New Orleans Regional and Tuscaloosa Super-Regional in 2005-07.

Following graduation, Mills spent the last 13 years in travel and legion baseball, high school and NCAA Division II baseball in the southeastern part of the United States.

Coach Mills earned a bachelor’s degree in consumer science and health studies from the University of Alabama. He completed a master’s degree in management from Troy University in Troy, Ala.

Baseball Reinstated

In 2019 the ECC Board of Trustees reinstated baseball at ECC beginning the 2021-22 academic year. The team will have a roster of 35 players.

The baseball program was cut in 2001 due to budget cuts after starting in 1974. Notable baseball alumni from that era include former Toronto Blue Jay and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Tom Henke and former major leaguer Omir Santos who played with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians.

In June, trustees approved a bid for a turf infield on the baseball field at ECC’s main campus in Union. The project will be funded by the ECC Foundation’s baseball campaign funds and matched by the Foundation to cover any amount over budget.

ECC Baseball Field Will Have Turf Infield

June 23, 2021 | Campus News

A turf infield at the East Central College baseball field is scheduled to be installed before exhibition and scrimmage games begin in October.

That will make ECC the first National Junior College Athletic Association school in Missouri with a turf infield.

The ECC Board of Trustees earlier this month approved the bid by Country Baseball, LLC, Johnson City, Texas, for the purchase of the turf and installation at the cost of $213,700.

The project will be funded by the ECC Foundation’s baseball campaign funds and matched by the Foundation to cover any amount over budget.

Athletic Director Dr. Jay Mehrhoff said his department planned to use grass seed, sod and install in an irrigation system. However, with recent increases in material costs, bids coming in higher than expected for materials, and future plans to install turf within the next few years, it was decided to move forward with turf now.

He added that there are several benefits to a turf infield, including fewer postponed games.

“We would be able to play in an hour after it stops raining, where before we would have to postpone a game or relocate it.” Mehrhoff said. “This will make it so much easier.”

The turf will be installed mid-September, at the latest, which means it will be available for exhibition and scrimmage games in the fall. The regular baseball season will be in the Spring 2022.

The turf will have an ECC Falcon logo behind home plate, Mehrhoff noted. The outfield will be grass.

Advantages of Turf

The field can also be utilized by other sports when it is not baseball season.

Mehrhoff explained that the athletic department will use a removable mound, making the field usable by the softball team or for soccer practice.

He said temporary fences could by placed to meet softball field size requirements.

Other advantages, Mehrhoff said, is there will be no need to purchase an $8,000 tarp to cover the infield when it is raining, and in the summer the field can be rented by baseball tournaments for high-school-aged teams.

“That could give us some recruiting exposure over the summer,” he said.

Most four-year schools and many high schools already play on turf, Mehrhoff added.

“This is the norm for a lot of high school players,” he said. “They are used to playing on turf.”

Donor Recognized at Taco Bell Field Naming Ceremony

January 20, 2021 | Campus News

East Central College alumnus John Moroney has an affinity for baseball.

His relationship with the sport has taken him to the mound of Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, to throw out the first pitch in game No. 1 of the 2011 World Series.

A more painful experience, Moroney said, was the time he was in the stands while the Cardinals played the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., when he was struck by a Lance Berkman foul ball, sending him to the emergency room of a D.C. hospital.

But Moroney’s latest brush with America’s pastime is right here at ECC — the naming of the Falcons’ Baseball field “Taco Bell Field,” where the ECC team will begin play in the Spring of 2022.

Moroney is the president and owner of W & M Restaurants, Union, which owns Taco Bell restaurants in St. Clair, Union and Washington, and more than a dozen fast-food restaurants in the region.

Late last year, Moroney committed to donating $25,000 to the ECC Foundation, purchasing the naming rights of the baseball field.

John and his family, including wife, Jeannine, and son, Patrick, were on hand Friday, Jan. 15, for a “groundbreaking” ceremony recognizing his contribution to the college.

“I am so honored to be able to do this. It is exciting, and there is baseball tradition here, obviously,” Moroney said.

While Moroney attended ECC in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the college had a baseball team. ECC had a baseball squad take the field from 1975 to 2001.

During that stretch, Major League Baseball standout Tom “The Terminator” Henke, former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays; and Omir Santos, former catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians played for the ECC team.

The team set to begin play next year will be coached by Coach Brandon Rains.

“When I was here the baseball team was pretty good,” Moroney remembered. “We had some great players.”

“There is a lot of interest in baseball locally,” he added. “We have Little League teams in all of the towns in the areas — the people around this community are excited for ECC’s baseball team to take the field next year.”

When the Falcon Baseball team takes the field next year, Moroney said he will be there to watch the crew during its inaugural season.

“It will be so neat to be able to come and watch games,” he commented. “I think it is incredible that ECC has done this.”

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer, who also is an avid baseball fan, said there were vital components that were necessary to reintroduce baseball at ECC.

“When we first talked about doing this, it was very critical that we had a few things in place,” he said.

“We knew the only way that this would work is if we had interest from local players, support of local coaches and support of local individuals and businesses,” Dr. Bauer added.

Moroney played a very important role in the plans for the return of baseball at the college, according to Dr. Bauer.

“To have John step up like this as an alum, individually, and as a business leader getting this off the ground was extremely important to the success of this program,” he further added.

Dr. Bauer noted that Coach Rains already has signed local players and he is working on signing more from the area.

“This is really just an exciting development for East Central College, and it could not be done without local support,” he said. “That’s what a community college is about and that’s what this day is about.”

To learn more about baseball at ECC or donate to the campaign, visit the ECC Foundation.

Baseball Tryouts for Local High School Seniors

November 18, 2020 | Campus News

East Central College is looking for local players to tryout for the first Baseball Falcons squad that will take the field next year.

Coach Brandon Rains will check out the local talent this Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, to fill out the first baseball team at ECC in 20 years.

Any local high school seniors who would like to tryout contact Coach Rains via e-mail at brandonrains@eastcentral.edu.

The tryouts will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the Union High School Baseball Field, located at 1217 W. Main St., in Union.

Players should bring a current high school physical exam, their own water, turf baseball shoes, metal cleats and all other equipment.

Baseball Coach Taking the “Rains” at ECC

November 9, 2020 | Athletics Campus News

East Central College has hired an experienced skipper to lead the Falcons Baseball team when they take the field in the Spring 2022.

Coach Brandon Rains is ECC’s first baseball coach in 20 years. Last year, the sport was reinstated at ECC beginning the 2021-22 academic year.

Rains has been a head coach in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) since 2010 when he began managing the squad at Brookhaven College, Dallas, Texas.

Coach Rains has been a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) for the 20 years. He was selected as ABCA Coach of the Year in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2013 and 2019 he also was part of the coaching staff of the Texas New Mexico Junior College Coaches Association All-Star Game.

Rains will begin his duties at ECC by recruiting the entire squad over the next year, and preparing them to take the diamond in fall of 2021.

The ECC Athletic Department and Foundation will be raising funds to renovate the baseball field through the winter of 2020 to have the field playable in the fall of 2021.

Rains’ Background

Coach Rains took over head coaching duties at NJCAA DIII Brookhaven College in Dallas, Texas, in the Fall of 2010.

During his staff’s first season, the Brookhaven Bears cracked the top 10 in the NJCAA polls for the first time in school history coming in at No. 9. Over the next nine seasons, Brookhaven remained in the NJCAA top 10 polls every year with the exception of one.

The Bears were ranked 3rd in the nation to start the 2020 season. During Coach Rains’ 10 seasons at Brookhaven College the Bears won Metro Athletic Conference (MAC) championships in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018.

Rains’ team was in the Final Four in 2013 and took third place in 2019.

The Bears set school records for wins in 2017 with 35 and topped that with 42 in 2019. Brookhaven College had seven straight 30-plus win seasons dating back to 2013.

While at Brookhaven Coach Rains recruited and coached over 60 players with all conference or other post season awards including six NJCAA All Americans.

A native of Rotan, Texas, Rains came to Brookhaven College after spending eight consecutive winning seasons as the lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Coach Rains began his college baseball coaching career at the University of Saint Mary (NAIA) in Leavenworth, Kan. from 2000-2002

Coach Rains has coached summer travel teams in Italy, Amsterdam, Australia, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic.

Coach Rains has a bachelor’s degree from West Texas A&M University and attended graduate school at the University of Kansas and has a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University.