BRIAN GIEBEL HITTING COORDINATOR Director of Hitting Bombs
about Brian
Brian Giebel has been coaching hitters for the past 10 years all over the St. Croix Valley.
"I believe hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult things in all of sports. As a former three sport athlete and competitor I love that challenge. I also believe that any athlete can become a good hitter with hard work and attention to detail. Being a good hitter is not entirely dependent on size and strength. Baseball is unlike other sports where the biggest or the strongest or the fastest or the tallest are advantaged. Good hitters come in all shapes and sizes. Work ethic is big. Find a way to love the grind. Attention to detail in quality repetition will be essential. These factors can broaden the gap between gifted and great!"
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Independent Instruction 2020-present
Lead Hitting & Fielding Instructor at Field of Dreams in River Falls, WI 2013-2020
River Falls Fighting Fish talent scout / Assistant Manager 2013- present
UW-Stout Baseball Team Captain 2010 and 2011
River Falls High School Baseball
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
River Falls Fighting Fish Baseball 2008-present
University of Wisconsin Stout Baseball 2008-2011
River Falls High School Baseball 2001-2005
HONORS/AWARDS
UW-Stout all conference 2009, 2011
All Region 2nd team 2011
Career UW-Stout records: most runs scored (140), 7th most in hits, 6th most in doubles, 6th most in triples, 11th most home runs (19), 7th most stolen bases, 24th most RBI's
WIAC All-Sportsmanship team 2011
High School: all conference teams in 3 sports 2004/05: Baseball, Basketball, Football
WESTON LOMBARD THROWING COORDINATOR Flamethrower Development
about Weston
Weston Lombard pitched at the University of San Francisco where he interned and worked directly with pitching guru Tom House and his company, Mustard. Mustard (teammstrd.com) uses AI and computer vision to capture pitcher biomechanics and create individualized training programming.
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Intern, Mustard, 2020-23
Extensive knowledge and experience in:
Throwing programming
Medicine balls
Weighted/plyo balls
Arm Care/recovery
Pitch design
Biomechanics
Mobility
Rapsodo/Trackman
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
New York Boulders, professional Frontier League, 2023-present
University of San Francisco, 2022-2023
Gustavus Adolphus College, 2019-2022
River Falls Fighting Fish Baseball 2018-present
St. Paul Academy Baseball, 2014-2017
HONORS/AWARDS
2021 at Gustavus Adolphus College:
National Player of the Week
Rawlings All Region Second Team
MIAC All Conference First Team
Gustavus single-season strikeout record holder
9-inning no hitter against Bethel
2023 at the University of San Francisco:
Led team in wins, saves, ERA, and appearances
First team WCC All Academic
JOSH EIDEM PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Great Teammate Specialist
about Josh
Josh Eidem has been a teacher and now assistant principal with South Washington County Schools since 2005. After playing at UW-River Falls, Josh has led the Fighting Fish amateur team to a winning culture and record of 405-149 since 2008. He has coached summer teams with the River Falls Youth Baseball Organization since 2021 and fall teams for River Falls Youth Softball.
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Driveline-certified instructor in baseball youth development
Co-Founder and Instructor, Western WI Baseball Club Sandlot Camp, 2005-2014
Educator and School Administator - has helped lead two separate middle schools to School of Character designations in Minnesota, and National School of Character designation for 2025.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
River Falls Fighting Fish, 2008-2023
UW-River Falls, 1999-2002
Rochester Mayo High School, 1997-1999
HONORS/AWARDS
Captain, UW-River Falls, 2002
WIAC Scholar Athlete
All-conference honorable mention, Big Nine Conference, Rochester Mayo 1999
KS95 Teacher of the Month, 2006
STEPH ANDERSON Big Fish Softball Pitching Coach
About STEPH
Steph Anderson was inducted into the Wartburg College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022, where she was a pitcher from 2000-2003. Steph and her family recently moved to the area from Iowa, where she was an individual pitching instructor. COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Individual pitching instructor from 2011-2023.
Pitching coach at Central College (Pella, IA) from 2006-2011.
HONORS/AWARDS
Wartburg College HOF 2022
Team captain and Team MVP 2003
NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete (2003)
Two-time IIAC Academic All Conference (2002, 2003)
CoSIDEA Academic All-District (2003)
Still the Wartburg record-holder in shutouts, innings pitched; 2nd in career strikeouts, wins, and saves, with a 1.46 ERA
CHAD PATKO
About CHAD
Chad Patko was a pitcher and infielder at UW-Superior from 2014-2017. In Patko's senior season at UW-Superior, he hit .313 with four home runs in 39 games. On the mound,
Following his college career, Chad has been the shortstop for the amateur Spooner Cardinals, one of the perennial top teams in the Wisconsin Baseball Association. Chad is originally from Hayward, WI and recently relocated to River Falls.
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
2019-2024 Spooner Rails Assistant Varsity Coach
Infield/Hitting mechanics
UW-Superior 2014-2017
Spooner Cardinals 2013-2024
Hayward High School 2009-2012
HONORS/AWARDS
UW-Superior 1st Team All-UMAC 2016, 2017
2022 WBA State Defensive MVP
Honorable mention All-Conference 2010, 2011, 2012
SAM RUDESILL
About SAM
Sam Rudesill has been working in the health and wellbeing field for 15+ years and coaching local athletes for 10+ years. Sam played at the University of St. Thomas from 2006-2010 and earned a degree in Health Promotion and Business. After graduation, Sam pursued a Master’s in Human Development with an emphasis in Sports Mentality and Performance from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Spring Valley, WI High School Assistant Coach: 2013 – 2015
Field of Dreams, River Falls, WI individual instructor: 2016-2019
Local individual instructor 2014 – present
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 2006-2010
Baldwin-Woodville HS, Baldwin, WI, 2002-2006
KAEL BACON
(Coach Kael: Way more fun than this serious picture)
about KAEL
Kael Bacon is originally from Lake City, MN and has been a part of the Fighting Fish amateur baseball team for the past three seasons.
Coach Bacon is also an educator at Park High School in Cottage Grove, MN and coaches high school football.
RYAN SISKO
about RYAN
Ryan Sisko is a graduate of Menomonie High School and current assistant coach and director of baseball operations at UW-River Falls. COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Successfully served as the UWRF baseball club team president for two seasons, and was a player for three.
Coaching experience includes Great Lakes Academy, Menomonie High School, and collegiate NCBA in addition to UWRF
Continues to be active with other youth athletics in River Falls and the local area, including serving as a hockey referee.
HONORS/AWARDS
Hit .339 as a senior and finished 8th in the country in hits for NCBA Dlll.
Currently an active player with the Menomonie Eagles WBA team, and previously with the Elmwood Expos.
LUCAS LUEDTKE
about Lucas
Lucas Luedtke is currently in his second year as an assistant coach at UW-Stevens Point after a decorated playing career. Luedtke is a River Falls High School graduate and co-manager of the River Falls Fighting Fish amateur baseball team.
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
UW-Stevens Point Assistant Coach, 2022-Present
Guppy League Camp (ages 4-6) instructor, 2022-Present
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Baseball 2017-2022
University of Minnesota-Morris Baseball, 2016-2017
River Falls High School Baseball 2012-2016
HONORS/AWARDS
ABCA Second-Team All-America, 2022
ABCA First-Team All-Region, 2022
D3baseball.com Third-team All-Region, 2022
Honorable Mention WIAC All Conference, 2022
All-Sportsmanship WIAC, 2021
First-Team UMAC All-Conference, 2017
Second-team BRC All Conference, 2016
CHASE MCQUADE
about CHASE
Chase McQuade is a 2024 graduate of River Falls High School currently set to start his freshman season at Concordia-St. Paul as a catcher. Coach McQuade was our head defense coach for the 2024 summer camp. COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Freshman catcher at Concordia-St. Paul
Played club baseball for the Minnesota Blizzard
Coached for the Blizzard during the summer of 2024
Volunteer for youth baseball programs in River Falls
Also volunteers as a youth hockey referee in River Falls
HONORS/AWARDS
Served as a team captain for RFHS
All-BRC and All-District Second Teams, 2024
ANDY METCALF
about ANDY
Andy Metcalf currently plays for the River Falls Fighting Fish after a standout college football career at UW-River Falls. A multi-sport athlete from La Crosse Logan High School, Metcalf also recently earned his degree in sports psychology from Minnesota-Mankato before returning to River Falls. COACHING AND PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Degree in Sports Psychology
Volunteer coach for both football and baseball camps
Three-time WBA champion with the River Falls Fighting Fish (2020, 2022, 2024) as a catcher and third baseman
HONORS/AWARDS
2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll
2019 All-WIAC Honorable Mention
La Crosse Logan - all-conference HS baseball 2016, 2017
RAGAN PINNOW
about RAGAN
Ragan Pinnow currently plays at Augustana University (Sioux Falls), where he has been a conference champion two times in his three seasons playing third base for the Augies. COACHING AND PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Augustana University, 2023-Present
Northwoods League, Eau Claire Express, 2024
River Fall High School, 2019-2022
Sandlot camp instructor, B. Giebel Hitting, 2023-2024
Minnesota Blizzard
WBA champion with the River Falls Fighting Fish (2022)
HONORS/AWARDS
2025 NSIC All Tournament Team
Varsity captain, RFHS, and honorable mention all conference
