SPORTS ZONE STAFF DIRECTORY


The Sports Zone Staff & Coaches are some of the most professional and experienced group in baseball at teaching the fundamentals of the game in a safe and fun environment. 
Richard Woodridge Sr.  "Wood"
TITLE: Co-Founder, Senior Pitching Instructor
  • Phoenix High School in 1965
  • Auburn Community College 1971
  • Syracuse University 1973
  • 1973-1975 New York Semi-Pro State League
  • 1980-Coached Little League
  • Onondaga Senior Babe Ruth Head Coach - 1984 -Present
  • Sports Zone Baseball Instructor 1991-Present
  • 25-30 former play sign professional contracts
Richard Woodridge Jr. "Dickie"

TITLE: Co-Founder, Senior Hitting & Infield Instructor

  • Liverpool High School-1989 (Inducted in the Liverpool Hall of Fame in 1997)
  • Onondaga Community College-1991 (Inducted in the OCC Hall of Fame in 2005)
  • Le Moyne College-1993 (Inducted in the LeMoyne College Hall of Fame in 2009)
  • San Diego Padres-1993-1998
  • Empire State Games Central Region Baseball Head Coach 2003-Present
  • Classic League Head Coach - 2001-Present
  • Classic Showcase Co Organizer - 2003-Present
  • Sports Zone Baseball/Softball Instructor 1991 - Present
  • 1995 Record Holder California League (Class A) errorless games for a 2B - 86
  • 1993 NCAA D1 Batting Average Champion - 476 (Le Moyne College)
  • 1991 NJCAA 1st team All-American - Short Stop (Onondaga C.C.)
Bryan Gaal

TITLE: Senior Pitching Instructor

  • Head Coach - Ononaga Community College 2006 - 2009
  • Assistant Coach - Onondaga Community College 2005 - 2006
  • Pitching Coach - New Jersey Jackals Can-Am League 2006 - 2007 (Professional Independent League)
  • Sports Zone Baseball Instructor 2001 - Present
  • Allentown Ambassadors Northern League - Player 1999-2000 (Rookie Pitcher of the Year 2000)
  • San Diego Padres Organization - Low A Fort Wayne Wizards, High A Lake Elsinore Storm (California League Champions & Baseball America's Minor League Team of the Year), AA Mobile Bay Bears, AAA Portland Beavers - Player 2000-2004
  • Venezuela Major League (LVBP) - Azulia Eagles - Winter Ball 2004
  • Florida Marlins Organization - AA Carolina Mudcats, AAA Albuquerque Isotopes - Player 2004
  • St. Paul Saints Northern League (Northern League Champions) 2004 -2005
  • Ithaca College 4 Year Letter Winner in Baseball (Team Captain & NCAA All-Region Selection (1997,1999), 1996-2000
  • Cushing Academy in Asburnham, Massachusetts (Prep School) 1994-1995
  • Corcoran High School Graduate - Varsity Letter Winner 1

MIKE PIRRO

TITLE:

STRENGTHS: Hitting

  • Manager of Sports Zone Chiefs 2011 - Nationally ranked 12th by Perfect Game
  • Houston Astros Associate Scout 2009 - current
  • Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1984
  • Henninger High School 2 time MVP and ALL-CNY Player of the year (1984)
  • Played at Auburn University 1986 - 1987 (SEC)
  • Sports Zone Academy instructor / Manager 2009 - Present
  • Youth Baseball - 12 years of coaching experience
  • Ran Clinic at Alliance Stadium for 8 years (100+kids)
  • Coach of District 8 North Syracuse Little League All Stars - Champs (2005)
  • Manager North Syracuse Babe Ruth Regional Runner up 2007-2008
  • Cicero North Syracuse Varsity Assistant Htting Coach - 2007
  • Bishop Ludden Varsity Hitting Coach 2008-2010
TIM ALEXANDER

Title: Senior Instuctor

Strengths:  Hitting, Catching, Infield, Outfield, and Pitching

Experience:

    • High School - East Syracuse Minoa, 1993
    • Le Moyne College, 1997
    • Head Coach Onondaga Central High School, 1998 - 1999
    • Assistant Coach Division III Cazenovia High College, 1999 - 2000
    • Assistant Coach Christian Brothers Academy, 2003 - 2005
    • Classic League head Coach 1999 - Present
    • Head Coach Onondaga Senior Babe Ruth 17, 18 year old All Star Team, 2001
    • Head Coach Onondaga Senior Babe Ruth All 16 year old All Stars, 2002 - 2003
      • World Series Chamionship 2003
      • Mid Atlantic Regional Championship, 2001, 2002, 2003
      • New York State Championship, 2001, 2002, 2003
    • Assistant Coach Empire State Games Coach 2003 - present
    • Sports Zone Instructor 1997 - Present
    • Associate Scout New York Yankees 2008 - 2010
    • Assistant Coach Area Code Games (Northeast Team (New York Yankees Team) 2008 - Present
    • Northeast Area Scouting Supervisor - Tampa Bay Rays 2010 - Present
Ryan Cole
Strengths: Hitting and Pitching
  • 16 years in baseball
  • Played and graduated from St, Johns University
  • Won 3 Big East Championships
  • 3 NCAA Regional Apperances
  • Drafted in 2010 by the Houston Astros 34th round (1023)
  • Sports Zone Alumni 2003-2006
  • Cicero North Syracuse graduate 2006
  • Babe Ruth World Series Most Outstanding Player in 2004
  • Louisville Slugger All-American 2005

BUTCH ALBERTS

Title:

Strengths: Infield, Outfield, Hitting

Experience:

    • Gettysburg High School (Pa Allstate)
    • University of Cincinnati (inducted in 1991 to the UC Sports Hall of Fame)
    • Pittburgh Pirates 1972 -1973
    • California Angels 1974 - 1977
      • Texas League Batting title 1975
    • Torinto Blue Jays 1978 -1980
      • Major League Debut 1978
    • Atlanta Braves 1980
  • PA Adams County Sports Hall of Fame
  • Sports Zone Instructor
Greg Ferlenda

Title:

Strengths:

Experience:

  • Corcoran High School 1982
    • All City 1981 and 1982
    • National Sports Festival
  • Onondaga Community College 1983
  • Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays 1983
  • Texas Rangers 1985 (40 man roster)
    • player 1983 - 1990
  • Minor League Piching Coach for Cleveland Indians 1991 - 1993
  • Sports Zone Instructor
Dan Almonte
                  Title:
                  Strengths:
                  Experience:
  •  Saint Paul Saints, Professional Baseball Team, St. Paul, MN,
  •  Shortstop, 1997 Season

           ◊ 1997 Season, .289 - Batting Average, .349 - Slugging

              Percentage, . 389  - On Base Percentage
  • Long Beach State University, 1995 - 1996

        ◊ Baseball America's number 1 transfer in college Baseball

  • Old Dominion University, 1992 - 1995 Position: Shortstop

          ◊ 1994 - 2nd team all CAA Shortstop

          ◊ College Career Batting Average, .360

          ◊ CAA Champions, 1993 - 1994, 1994 - 1995

          ◊ East Regionals at Clemson University, 1993 - 1994

          ◊ Atlantic I Regionals at Florida State University, 1994- 1995

          ◊ One of Baseball America's Players to watch in the

              Colonial Athletic Association
          ◊ Baseball America's number 1 transfer in college baseball
          ◊ Summer 1995, Cape Cod Summer League,
             Position: Short Stop
  • East Syracuse - MInoa high School, E. Syracuse, NY

       ◊ Varsity Baseball, Shortstop - 1990, 1991, 1992

          ◊ 1st Team All League Shortstop, 1991, 1992

          ◊ Honorable Mention All League Shortstop, 1990

          ◊ Most Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award - 1992

          ◊ Only Male Athlete in NYS Section III to make 1st Team All

              League Football, Basketball and Baseball

  • Bethel High school, Hampton, Viginia - Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach, 2005 - 2007

          ◊ District tournament champions 2005, 2006

  • Lyncourt School, Syracuse, NY

          ◊ Head Modified Baseball Coach, 2008

  • East Syracuse- Minoa Schools, E. Syracuse, NY

          ◊ Coach, Freshman Baseball, 2003, 2004