• All-Ohio selection as a high school shortstop 1998

  • All Big Ten shortstop at Indiana University 1999-2002

        - Academic All Big Ten selection at Indiana University

        - Bachelor Degree in Sport Marketing and Management

        - Business Certificate from the Kelley School of Business

  • Played baseball professionally for the Seattle Mariners 2002-2005

  • Played baseball professionally for the Gary RailCats 2007-2008

        - Member of 2007 Northern League Champion Gary Railcats

  • Has been instructing in the area of baseball and softball since 1999

  • Founder of the Crossroads Baseball Series

  • Founder of the HSFBL - HS Fall Basball League and Exposure Tour

  • Currently owns and operates Diamond Kings Baseball/Softball Complex

 

“All instructors at Diamond Kings are interviewed extensively and deemed well qualified to instruct in their respective areas of baseball and softball. Instructors will have both playing and coaching experience at the Professional, College, and High School levels. They will have patience and an understanding of the game on every level which will produce results in the players they instruct.” - Eric Blakeley

ERIC BLAKELEY

Hitting/Fielding

  • 2-Time PCC All-Conference Catcher

        - 2000 All Area NWI

  • Attended Tri-State University

  • Hanover Central Assistant Coach 2002-2004

  • Lowell Post 101 Assistant Coach 2002-2004

  • Cedar Lake Post 261 Head Coach 2005-2006

  • Hanover Central Varsity Coach 2005-2006

  • Crown Point Post 20 Assistant Coach 2006-2007

  • Andrean High School Varsity Pitching Coach 2008-2009

       - Northwest Indiana 2008 H.S. Coach of the Year

       - 2009 State Championship Pitching Coach at Andrean

  • Pitching coach for Purdue North Central 2009-2010

  • Currently the Chief Executive Officer of APEX Baseball

ALAN MYSZKOWSKI

Pitching/Catching

STACEY WESTBROOKS

Softball Pitching

  • Played softball for Valparaiso High School
  • Earned 1993 Miss Indiana Softball honors as a pitcher
  • Pitched for Austin Peay University 1994-1996
  • Top 3 all-time in strikeouts, complete games, and shutouts
  • Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness
"The goal of a coach should be to challenge a player's physical and mental capabilities to allow that player to develop into the best player they can be. As an instructor at Diamond Kings, it is clear that we strive to get the best out of each and every player we instruct." - Alan Myszkowski
"Stacey's personality and experience with players on every level makes her abilities as an instructor top notch. She displays great professionalism in the way she instructs and works with players to make them better, no matter the talent level. Her patience and understanding of the game makes her a tremendous asset to the Diamond Kings staff of instructors." - Eric Blakeley

JOE PANOZZO

Pitching/Fielding

  • NWI All Area Shortstop at T.F. South High School
  • All-N4C Conference Outfielder at Joliet Jr. College
  • First Team NCAA Division II Relief Pitcher at St. Joseph's College
  • Bachelor Degree in Physical Education and minor in Business
  • Served as Assistant Pitching Coach at St. Josephs College.
  • Pitched professionally in 2007 and 2008 for the Gary Railcats
  • Pitched professionally in 2008 for the Schaumburg Flyers
  • Pitched professionally in 2009 for the Joliet Jackhammers
  • Assistant baseball coach at St. Joseph's College
"Joe's talent, respect for his teammates, and love of the game made him a good teammate on the field. Joe's knowledge as a former collegiate and professional player makes him a great addition to our DK staff of instructors." - Eric Blakeley 
"Lee brings a ton of experience, character, and knowledge. He has been around the game and knows every facet of the game. He is respected by all his former players and coaches he has worked with. Lee's coaching resume speaks for itself. We are excited to have Lee as part of our DK staff of instructors" - Eric Blakeley 

  • Played baseball at Lincoln-Way Central

  • Played baseball and football at Augustana College

  • 1984-1986 Volunteer asst Varsity Coach Lincoln-Way Central

  • 1987-1988 Head Coach Joliet Mohawks (Record: 71-19)

              - 2 Time Illinois State Champs

  • 1989-1990 Asst Coach Midwest Angels (Record: 106-14)

              - 2 Consecutive National World Series Appearances

              - 1989 National Runner Up

  • 1991-2000 Asst Varsity Coach Thornwood High School

              - 7 Conference Titles

              - 5 (30) Win Seasons

              - 1994 3rd in State

  • 2000-2009 Asst Varsity Coach Lockport High School

              - 2005 Illinois State Champs

LEE TURNBOUGH

Pitching/Hitting/Fielding

CHRIS STOCKER

Camp Instructor

  • All-Chicagoland Catcher at St. Ignatius High School

              - MVP set school records w/ 12HR, 64 RBI, and .464 Ave.

  • All-American Catcher at Purdue North Central University

              - 3 year team captain 2004-2006

              - Led team to best season in school history in 2006

  • Purdue North Central University Hitting/Catching/Strength Coach in 2008

  • St. Ignatius College Prep Head Sophomore Coach in 2009

              - Led team to .500 record after 5-22 record the year prior to his arrival

  • Coached varsity baseball at St. Ignatius College Prep in 2010

  • Head Coach of Top Tier 17U in summer 2010

  • Assitant Coach at Purdue North Central 2011

"Chris was an excellent player and leader on the field. He has chosen to use those abiities to give back to the younger players. His leadership and thirst for knowledge has set him on a path to becoming an excellent coach. Coach Stocker is a much welcomed addition to our camp staff at Diamond Kings." - Eric Blakeley 

DK INSTRUCTORS

Read Alan's "Bullpen Blog"

CLICK HERE

Read Eric's "In The Dugout" Blog

CLICK HERE

LARRY PEMPEK

Hitting/Catching

 

  • All-State Catcher and All-NWI in 2005

-         All-PCC MVP back-to-back years 2004-2005

(only player in league history) 

  • Rawlings All-American Catcher at Northern Kentucky University 2006-2010

-         3-time League Champions

-         3-time Team Captain

-         2-time All-GLVC Catcher

-         Rawlings All-NCAA Regional Team

-         American Baseball Coaches Association Regional Team

-         ABCA Gold Glove Award at the NCAA Tournament and NKU

  • Member of Gary RailCats professional baseball club in 2010

  • Played professionally for the Windy City Thunderbolts in 2011

"Larry has the attitude, patience, and experience that exudes what we stand for as instructors at Diamond Kings. He interacts with the players in a way that gives them a confident understanding of what they are trying to accomplish on the field while keeping it fun, fresh, and rewarding. - Eric Blakeley

BASEBALL INSTRUCTORS:

 

Hitting:  Eric Blakeley 

               Larry Pempek 

               Lee Turnbough

 

Fielding:  Eric Blakeley 

                 Lee Turnbough 

                 Joe Panozzo

Pitching:  Alan Myszkowski

                  Joe Panozzo

                  Lee Turnbough

                  Brett Summers 

 

Catching:  Alan Myszkowski

                    Larry Pempek  

SOFTBALL INSTRUCTORS:

 

Hitting:  Eric Blakeley 

              

Pitching: Stacey Westbrooks

 

Fielding:  Eric Blakeley 

                 Joe Panozzo

 

Catching:  Alan Myszkowski

                    Larry Pempek  

Click on a DK Instructor to view their credentials, or scroll down the page to see all of our DK Instructors.

BRETT SUMMERS

Pitching

  • All State Pitcher at Lake Central High School - 2005
    - All conference: 2004 and 2005
    - All area: 2003, 2004, and 2005
    - MVP: 2004 and 2005
    - Top 100 prospect
    - Area Code Games: 2003 and 2004
    - Honorable Mention All-American
    - Tropicana Field Top 100 (Perfect Game)
  • New York Yankees Professional Draft Pick - 2005
  • Pitched at the University of Virginia and South Suburban (Division 1 JUCO World Series - 2006)
  • Chicago Cubs Professional Draft Pick - 2006
  • Played Professionally for Chicago Cubs
  • Currently the Varsity Pitching Coach at Lake Central High School
"Brett has been through many ups and down in his career from being one of the top pitching prospects in the Midwest to battling injuries that would eventually end his professional career with the Chicago Cubs. Coach Summer's experience is one many players will come to understand and relate to as he helps them mature as players. Brett has a strong future ahead of him as a coach and we are happy to have him as an instructor at Diamond Kings" - Eric Blakeley 

 

9566 N. Industrial Drive

St. John, Indiana

(219) 558-2273

WELCOME TO DIAMOND KINGS!     Contact us about Private Lessons, Cage Rentals, Team Practices, Camp Dates, Hitting Leagues, and more... 219-558-2273

DK INSIDER

DK EVENT CALENDAR

2012 Winter Indoor Hitting Leagues: Registrater Now. Deadline to register is January 5th. Click HERE for more info.

 

2012 Spring Training 4 Week Camps:

Sign-up online today! Click HERE for more informaton