Strokes Baseball Academy Instructors on Staff
D. Allen Hilsdon - Softball Pitching, Hitting, Defense
Coach Hilsdon is a 4-Star Master Coach through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Training: Coach Hilsdon holds a BS in Physical Education from Mississippi State University, and is currently pursuing a MS
in Kinesiology with an emphasis in coaching softball. He serves on the State Promotion committee for the NFCA, promoting
new members to join the NFCA. He has conducted two extensive research projects into the sport of fastpitch softball and
hopes to have them published before the summer of 2010. Coach Hilsdon has been giving private lessons since 2006.
Coaching Background: Coach Hilsdon serves as Manager of the Texas Attitude 18U fastpitch club, also has managed the
Fannin Rebels 18U, served as Head Coach for 3 years at Honey Grove, and Trenton High Schools, has also been General
Manager of the Brinkley American Legion Baseball Program, graduate assistant with the Arkansas State University Baseball
Team, and Presidet of the Allen Baseball Association.
Coach Hilsdon has a vast knowledge of softball and baseball.
Cory Crane - Softball Pitching, Hitting, Defense, Baseball Fielding, and Hitting
Cory is a 1995 graduate of Gunter High School, and played for the 1994 Gunter State Championship Baseball Team. Cory was named Denfensive Player of the year in 95.
Coaching Background: Cory has been an Head/Assistant Head Baseball coach for the past 9 years, but he has been coaching and teaching baseball fundamentals for the last 15 years. Cory is also the Head Coach/Manager for the LongHorn Elite Softball Club, and currently has 8U and 10U team playing tournament ball.
Cory's 15 years of experience in all aspects of fielding and hitting makes him a great choice for your all around fast pitch fundamental lessons.
Steve Garrabrants - Hitting, Middle Infield, Outfield, Baserunning
A native of Phoenix, Arizona Steve started his career at Moon Valley High School and went on to play 3 years at Arizona State University as a middle infielder and utility outfielder.
Steve signed after his junior year at ASU with the Arizona Diamondbacks after being drafted in the 9th round.
ASU Career: Played in 161 games in three years as a Sun Devil... hit .324 (180-for-555) with 142 runs scored, 36 doubles, 15 triples and 10 home runs... was 55-for-75 during his career stealing bases.
Professional Career: Played in 419 games in 5 years across the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox organizations. Career highlights include a lifetime .384 On-Base Percentage, .294 lifetime batting average and a .438 slugging percentage.
Steve Garrabrants is a true combination of speed, power and agility. Steve has played 2nd Base, Shortstop, 3rd Base and Outfield in his professional career.
Steve brings a wealth of knowledge regarding hitting, defense and baserunning.
Stuart Slakey - Pitching, Hitting
A native of
Sherman
Texas, Stuart started his baseball career at
Gunter
High School.Where as a freshman was selected all District pitcher.Was the Home Run Derby winner at the Super Series National Championship games in Periora
Arizona.His sophomore and Junior year he earned All State Honors.He earned All State Honors as a Hitter his senior year with a. .571 batting average. Recruitedto the Chicago White Sox Area Code team in
Long Beach
California. Selected as All Texomaland Player of the year in 2006. Chosen as the all District most valuable player in 2006. Selected as a member to the Texas All State Team in Austin Texas.Played select baseballin the Dallas Metroplex for 9 years.
College career:
University of Arkansas-Recruited to pitch for the Arkansas Razorbacks his freshman year.Grayson County College-Sophomore year started 46 games for the Vikings played outfield and was the DHwith a .324 average and 10 home runs.Was a member of the National Championship Grayson Vikings with a batting average of .471 and 3 home runs and 6 rbis in the World Series in
Grand Junction
Colorado. Recruited to play for
University of
South Carolina in 2009.
Cory Walters - Pitching, and Hitting
Originally from Winnie, Texas Cory graduated from East Chambers High School, and played college ball at Coffeyville
Community College in Kansas, and Sam Houston State University.
After college Cory played Independent Baseball for the Lincoln Nebraska Saltdogs, St. Paul Minnesota, Sioux Falls Canaries,
and Fort Worth Cats.
College Career: At Coffeyville Cory was a two year starter and co-captain who made the All-Conference team
At Sam Houston Cory was a starter and closer and made the All-Conference team is senior year and helped the team to the
Conference tournament.
Professional Career: Cory pitched 7 seasons in Independent Baseball, won 2 championships in 2006 and 2007 with
Fort Worth Cats. In 2006 was named the Right Handed Pitcher of the season with 14 wins and 4 loses (which is still tied
for most in the league), lead the league in strikeouts with 111, and third lowest ERA in the league.
Cory brings a wealth of knowledge regarding pitching in mechanics, balance, arm conditioning, and the mental approach.
Josh Green - Fielding, Hitting
A native of Celina, Texas Josh Green started his career at the age of 5. Attending Celina High School he received
2004 District 9-3A Defensive Player of the Year at third base as a freshman. As a sophomore he was the 2005
District 13-2A Defensive Player of the Year at shortstop, made the Texas High School Baseball Magazine class 2A
player to watch, and was the Texas Sports Writers Association 2005 All-State baseball team list Honorable Mention at Shortstop.
As a junior in high school Josh received 2006 District 13-2A MVP Defensive Player of the Year at Shortstop
and 2006 2nd team All State Shortstop. As a senior at Celina High he was 2007 1st Team All District Shortstop.
College Career:
At Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Oklahoma he spent two years playing under Coach Kurt Russell. In 2008 Josh
hit .390 on the season with 7 doubles. Had a .474 on base percentage with 10 walks and 4 hit by pitches. He also swiped
7 bases in 8 attempts. In his final year at Western Oklahoma State College, Josh was named the First Team All Regional
Player of the year. He hit .494 with 12 homeruns on the season. Both years at Western Josh went to the Division 2 Junior College World Series.
Currently, Josh Green is attending Southeastern Sate Oklahoma University in Durant, Oklahoma as a junior.