Josh Sorge – Head Coach Josh Sorge, former NCAA All-American, All Mideast Region Player, and All Mid-American Conference performer, enters his seventh year at the helm for the Strongsville High School Baseball Program.

In 2005, the Mustangs captured their first Pioneer Conference Championship for the first time in 12 years. That year was followed by a Division I State Championship in 2006. In 2007, the Mustangs won another Pioneer Conference Championship but fell short of the Final Four in the Regional finals. The 2007 team finished #2 in the Ohio Coaches Poll and spent several weeks in national rankings as well. Over the last four years, Strongsville has sent 23 players to college baseball. Sixteen of those players signed National Letters of Intent at Div. I schools. In addition, the 2007 Mustang Baseball Program finished with a team GPA of 3.42 and no team has been under a 3.5 since.

In 2009, the Mustangs were ranked #1 in Ohio for the duration of the regular season.  That team saw seven players sign Letters of Intent to DI schools (RHP Ryan Bores - Ohio; INF Brent Casto & RHP Kris Hall - Cleveland State; LHP Jason Pascuzzi - Cincinnati; RHP Justin Jamison - Ohio State; C Kody Krizman - Wright State; and LHP John Hamilton - UNC Charlotte) and witnessed its first MLB draft pick, Justin Jamison, get selected in the 13th round by the Texas Rangers.  The team captured another conference and district title but lost 4-2 to St. Ignatius in the state regionals.  Outfielder Kyle Schultz was selected as Conference PLayer of the Year, becoming the fifth straight Strongsville outfielder to earn the award.  In addition, Schultz, Casto, and Jamison were selected as All-Ohio players.  Coach Sorge also was named the Ohio Coach of the Year.

Prior to coming to Strongsville Sorge served as Associate Head Coach for the University of Hawaii, hitting and catching coach for Georgia Tech as well Ohio University. In the five years as an assistant coach at the college level, Sorge was part of two conference champion teams (Ohio ’97 & GT ’00) as well as three NCAA Tournament Teams (Ohio ’97, GT ’00 and ’01). During his college coaching stints, Sorge coached eight NCAA All-Americans, 14 all-conference award players as well as 2000 NCAA National Player of the Year Mark Teixeira while at Georgia Tech. In addition to Teixiera, Sorge coached two other major leaguers: Russ Adams (Toronto Blue Jays / Durham Braves) and Matt Murton (Chicago Cubs / Georgia Tech).

During the summer of 2001 Sorge managed the East Cobb Yellow Jackets, finishing National Runner-Up at the USSSA National Tournament, after which he was named the East Cobb Baseball Coach of the Year. In addition, Sorge managed the Durham Braves baseball club in the Coastal Plains Collegiate Summer League during the summer of 2000.

As a player, Sorge was no stranger to success. From 1992-1996, Sorge played first and third base for the Ohio University Bobcats, as well as designated hitter. A three-time letterwinner, his NCAA All-American award was the first such achievement for an Ohio player since 1979. As the captain of the 1996 Bobcats, Sorge hit .383, leading the team in hits, RBI, homers, and total bases. After the 1996 season, he was also named First Team All-Mid-American Conference and First Team All-Mid-East Region. Sorge graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1991 and played for legendary coach Chuck Rozanski, manager of Cleveland Mill-Rose. The coaching profession is not new to Sorge who grew up on a ballfield while his father was head coach of Cuyahoga Community College. Coach Sorge resides in Lakewood with his wife Dana and three children, Turner Makana (8), Annabelle King (6), and Madalynne Scout (4). Sorge teaches English and Journalism at SHS. 

Pitching Coach - Jason Frederick  Coach Frederick enters his fourth season with the Mustangs for the 2010 season. Frederick is a graduate of Bellevue High School (1992) and Bowling Green State University (1998). After graduation Coach Frederick started teaching Special Education at Huron High School for students with Mild/Moderate disabilities. While at Huron he coached baseball for four years, the last two years of which he was the varsity head coach compiling a record of 31-17. While serving as head coach the Tigers reached the regionals in both seasons and were regional runner-up in 2001. Frederick also coached football for the Huron Tigers as a Varsity Assistant (RB/WR and DB/OLB) and Head JV Coach for three seasons.

Coach Frederick joined the Mustangs for the 2007 campaign and served as the freshman assistant. That team went 17-3. Beginning in 2008 Coach Frederick has supervised the development of the Mustang pitchers and has truly made an impact.  Seven pitchers, including five DI pitchers and one draft pick, have learned under Frederick.  "Freddy is tireless when it comes to our pitchers and providing them with the best instruction.  I don't know anyone who works harder than he does," said Sorge.

In 2002 Coach Frederick started teaching in the Strongsville school district. He currently teaches students with multiple handicaps at Surrarrer Elementary. In 2004 he moved back into coaching and took over the 7th Grade Volleyball team at Albion Middle School and in 2007 he joined the Baseball staff. “Our program got significantly better when Coach Freddy came on board. Here’s a young guy who has head coaching experience, knows how to instruct, understands the game, and works well with everyone on our staff. His passion and enthusiasm is contagious and I know he’ll be a star in our program,” added Sorge about Frederick.

Assistant Coach - Tim Spatz  Coach Spatz enters his fifth season with the Mustangs.  Spatz returned to Strongsville last year after serving as an assistant coach at Cleveland State for two years.  Prior to Strongsville and CSU, Spatz was the head coach at Columbia HS.  In addition, Spatz won an Arizona HS state title while teaching and coaching in Tucson.  Spatz oversees outfield play and baserunning.  "Tim is incredible.  He's like a sponge for baseball information and ideas.  A day doesn't go by that I don't learn something from him and I feel ridiculously lucky to have him here.  He sees things that not many people do on a field and I rely on him to give me some alternative views and opinions on our team," said Sorge.

Junior Varsity Coach—Doug Cicerchi Doug Cicerchi enters his fifth season as an assistant coach on the Strongsville Baseball Staff. In 2007, Cicerchi managed the freshman squad to a 17-3 mark. In addition, Cicerchi helped compile a 34-6 record as an assistant coach for the freshman Mustangs from 2004-2005. His best season was a 21-1 mark in 2004. A longtime student of the game, Cicerchi enters 2008 with seven years of coaching and managing experience. Prior to joining the Mustangs in 2004, Cicerchi was a Student Manager/Coach for the Miami University RedHawks from the fall of 2000 until graduation in 2003 At Miami. Cicerchi charted pitchers’ progress throughout games, videotaped hitters in practice and games to find flaws, observed strategic mid-week, in-game, and post-game discussions between coaches, and helped maintain the grounds and repair existing equipment for practice and game use. All three coaches on that Miami staff are currently Division I managers (Tracy Smith—Indiana University, Dan Simonds—Miami (OH) University, Scott Googins—Xavier University) and the experience he gained from his time at Miami was invaluable. Since 1999, Cicerchi has also coached for the Strongsville Mustangs Baseball Club, a summer baseball program not affiliated with the high school team. He managed his initial Mustangs summer team (age 16-18) from 1999-2001. Players from those teams comprised seven of the nine starters on Strongsville High School’s last district champion and regional participant in 2001.

Junior Varsity Coach - Rob Pace  Rob Pace will join the baseball coaching staff this spring after patrolling the sidelines for the Mustang Football program. Coach Pace, a three-year varsity starting catcher for Strongsville High School, will be on staff with Junior Varsity Coach Doug Cicerchi.

During Coach Pace’s time as a Mustang baseball player, he served as captain for two years. In addition, Pace was First Team All-Pioneer Conference twice while finishing near the top of the league in several offensive and defensive categories.

After graduating from SHS, Coach Pace attended Bowling Green State University where he played five years of college rugby, earning All-Michigan for three years, and All-Midwest for one.

Coach Pace has been coaching football for SHS for six seasons and is currently the director for the NFL Big Man Camps.

“I’m thrilled to have Rob on our staff. I know he’ll be an invaluable addition to our program. Over the last few years I’ve seen how passionate he is for athletics and our student-athletes here at SHS. Rob brings a wealth of knowledge about baseball and he’s a tremendous communicator with the kids. We’re really lucky to have him in one of our uniforms,” said Head Coach Josh Sorge.

Freshman Coach - Dan Machovina  Dan Machovina enters his second season with the Mustangs as the Freshman Manager.  Machovina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the SHS program.  As a player, Machovina pitched for Midview HS and was named All-Lorain County Conference twice, named All-Ohio senior year as well as being named captain.   Machovina was part of three conference champions while at Midview HS.  In addition, Coach Mac participated in the Lorain County all-star game and the Mizuno All-Ohio all star game.

Freshman Coach - Dan Weimer  Dan Weimer is also a new addition to the Strongsville coaching staff. Coach Weimer comes to Strongsville Baseball after graduating from SHS in 2000. In his junior year of baseball for the Mustangs Dan hit .310 and was voted Pioneer Conference Honorable mention and team Defensive Player of the Year. During his senior season Weimer it .490 and was named First Team All Pioneer Conference, MVP and Defensive Player of the Year a second time. In addition, Weimer was named to two all star games, the G.C.B.C.A and also the NEOBCA, which are voted by the coaches in northeast Ohio.

Dan began his college career at Cuyahoga Community College and as a freshman he set a record for double plays in a season. In two years of junior college Dan hit .318 and set a record for most at bats in one season. Following his time at Cuyahoga Community College Dan earned a scholarship to play at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. Dan batted .300 and led his team in doubles in his senior year and was named AMC Conference Honorable mention.

Dan began coaching at Shawnee State. He was an assistant coach and worked primarily with the infield. This past summer Dan coached for the Northeast Baseball Program out of Massachusetts. He worked with all the teams which included ages 16-18. Dan was the head coach of the 18U Northeast Mudhens. He posted a 36-14 record over the summer. The Mudhens played in some major tournaments such as the East Cobb Yankee Classic and Perfect Game World Wood Bat Championships where he saw some of the nation’s elite talent.

Coach Weimer’s team finished with a 4-1 record in the W.W.B.C. giving up the least amount of runs in his pool. On his team Weimer coached six Division I players including two MLB draft picks. His team went on to win the Massachusetts Connie Mack state title outscoring his opponents 62-7.

Dan earned a Bachelors Degree in 2006 in Sports Management and a minor in coaching.

"We're all very excited to have Dan on staff this year. Over the last few months I've seen how passionate he is about baseball and teaching it to young players. Our program got a lot better when we were fortunate enough to add Dan," Said Sorge.