Meet the Staff
Greg Raho (hitting/fielding)
Coach Raho is well known throughout Rockland County as a 5 time All-Stars coach in New City Little League, where he built the New City Pirates into a Little League dynasty. Coach Raho brought his Pirates team to the Journal News "Tournament of Champions" twice. Greg is a very popular name in the local baseball community and is widely recognized as one of the premier coaches of young children ages 5-11. Coach Raho works extremely well with younger kids, teaching proper mechanics and technique. His soft spoken, positive reinforcement way of dealing with youngsters, makes learning baseball fun and exciting.
Greg is in charge of the "New Player Development" program at The Sports Place, in which children ages 5-8, through interactive drills and simulations are taught how to play the game of baseball as they prepare to start their T-Ball and Little League careers. At The Sports Place, Greg gives individual and group lessons daily, along with running numerous Fielding, Hitting and General Baseball Clinics for "New Players". Coach Greg has in-depth experience as a baseball camp director and his skills and techniques have been instrumental in the development programs at New City Little League.
Joe Curreri (pitching)
Coach Curreri is in his first year as the Dominican College Pitching Coach.
A Rockland native, Joe graduated from Albertus Magnus High School where he was an All-League, All-Section and All-County selection in both baseball and basketball. He went on to star at Rockland Community College and Long Island University where he finished in the top 10 in strikeouts for NCAA Division I play. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball draft and played in the minor leagues at the AAA level. Joe was considered one of the White Sox's top prospect a future "major Leaguer" until he had career ending shoulder surgery.
Joe earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education from LIU. In addition to be the Chargers Pitching Coach, Joe currently oversees all pitching instructors, pitching clinics and pitching lessons at "The Sports Place" in Blauvelt, NY. Joe also gives individual lessons at "The Sports Place", for serious and dedicated youngsters (Ages 7-19), who want to perfect the craft of pitching.
Joe Ruback (hitting/fielding) The Hit Doc & 'License Plate Guy'
Known for years throughout Rockland County, Westchester and Bergen County as the famous "HIT DOCTOR", Joe was a standout player at Spring Valley High School before entering the University of Western Connecticut. Playing just one year with the Colonials, Ruback earned "Player of the Year" honors after leading his team in both average and stolen bases. Ruback went on to the State university of Cobleskill where he led the Tigers to their first playoff appearance while leading the team in seven different offensive categories: Runs Scored (25), Hits (42), Batting Average (.492), Doubles (18), Triples (6), Home Runs (10) and Stolen Bases (19). Ruback was named "Player of the Year" in his conference and also was named first team all-star NJCAA. As the MVP, he was also named Defensive and Offensive "Player of the Year" and was the first player in Cobleskill college history to ever win the Triple Crown.
Upon earning his Physical Education degree at Cortland State University, Ruback went on the teach at his alma mater.
His coaching achievements include becoming the youngest head football coach in Section 1AA history and leading the S.V. Tigers to their first ever Section 1 Championship and the School's first ever victory in the Eastern Regional playoffs taking the team to the state's semi final football game. This feat earned him "Coach of the Year" honors in New York State and the New York football Giants named him football coach of the week in 1997. He moved on to become the Athletic Director of the JCC and led a 15 and 16 year-old Rockland baseball team to a Bronze medal victory in the Maccabi games in Miami Florida. Ruback continued to show his love for the game and children initiating a baseball/softball program at Reuben Gittleman Day School and introduced a new program at the school, starting a league for all nonpublic schools called the "Rockland County Interscholastic League."
Joe's "Hit Doctor" program incorporates the vast knowledge he learned from the great Charley Lau SR., along with his own baseball vision. Ruback teaches both Charley Lau and Ted Williams style hitting. He continues to work with All-star teams around the county and runs the minor league clinics for all of New City Little League. In addition to teaching Hitting, Pitching and positional play Ruback insists a good training exercise and sports specific training will enhance any young athlete to better reach their goals. Ruback continues to strive for excellence in instruction of Hitting.
Ruback brings his "Hit Doctor" program and knowledge to "The Sports Place", widely known to be the best baseball instruction facility in the area.
Chris Lemonis
Chris brings significant MLB experience to all of his lessons. Using proven teaching techniques, Chris helps players to learn and grow at a controlled and safe pace. He was a free-agent from 2001 through 2004 with powerhouse MLB teams including the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Chris also spent time with the Baltimore Orioles and major-league level teams in Taiwan and Korea.
Chris was drafted in 1995 by the Detroit Tigers, and spent 1997 through 2003 playing in Mexican, Venezuelan, and Dominican Winter Leagues. He spent seven (7) years in Triple-A baseball, and was rated the #7 prospect by the Detroit Tigers in 1996 and 1997. Chris was on the 40-man roster for the Tigers throughout the ’96 and ’07 seasons.
Peter Bouton (Windmill Pitching)
Peter has been a windmill pitcher for over 40 years and is recognized worldwide, in the fast pitch softball community, as one of the premier men's windmill pitchers of all time. Coach Pete calls "The Sports Place" home where he teaches all aspects of windmill pitching. Peter instructs on the finer points of pitching to committed beginners and experienced hurlers in both private and group lesson settings. He also runs Coaching Clinics and introductory sessions for youngsters considering learning the art of windmill pitching.
Pitching is in the Bouton family genes as his brother Jim played 10 years for the New York Yankees and authored the famous baseball tell all book "Ball Four".
John McNamara (hitting/fielding)
John McNamara is well-known throughout the baseball world as a coach and leader. John works as an Associate Scout for the Milwaukee Brewers, so he has a keen eye for potential in a baseball player. John played professional ball for the Lafayette Leopards in Indiana and is a former Dominican College player and coach. As a Dominican player, Coach McNamara was All-District and All Conference as a centerfielder and shortstop. He has coached High-School for Nyack, Rye, Scarsdale, and Nanuet districts.
Coach McNamara has been involved with several baseball camps, including West Point, Dominican College, and the Spartans. He also spent over 10 years working with Joe Rigoli (head scout for the St. Louis Cardinals) as a hitting, fielding, and base-running instructor. John also spent time as a batting practice for the amazin' NY Mets.
Brandon Mann (pitching)
Currently:
- 1st year as Pitching Coach at Division I Iona College
- 2nd year as 1st Assistant Coach Iona College
High School:
- 2002 New York State Baseball Player of the Year
- Captain of 2002 State Champion Clarkstown North Rams
- All state, 2 time all section, 2 time all county.
- 3 time district champion, 3 time state champion, 1 time mid-atlantic regional champion with the American Legion Rockland OTB Pirates. Appeared in 2002 American Legion World Series.
College:
- Member of 2003 nationally 11th ranked Florida Atlantic University Owls. 2003 A-Sun Champions. 2003 Coral Gables regional participant.
- Transferred to Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL in 2005
- 2006 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American for the South Region.
- Captained Lynn to first ever Regional Appearance in 2006 losing to eventual national champion Tampa.
- Helped Lynn lead nation in double plays with 69 in 2006 while starting at second base.
- pitched in 2003,2004, 2005.........played middle infield in 2006.
- Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management with a specialization in Sports Management.
