Big Fish Baseball & Softball Training

We believe our local athletes can train at the highest, data-driven level
​and still get to compete with their friends on their hometown spring and summer teams.

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
  • Youth Baseball Coach, RFYBO 2021-2023 (9U AA, 9U AAA, 10U AAA)
  • Educator - has helped lead two separate middle schools to School of Character designations in Minnesota

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
  • River Falls Fighting Fish, 2008-Present
  • 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
Off Season Academy
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
Off Season Academy
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
Chief Fun Officer
Off Season Academy
(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
Big Fish Baseball & Softball
Off Season Academy
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
Big Fish Baseball
​Summer Training 2024
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
  • River Falls Baseball coach: 15u, 16u, 18u, 2020
  • Sandlot Baseball Camp (ages 7-14) Instructor, 2018-Present

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
  • River Falls Fighting Fish Baseball 2016-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
AVERY AMIDON
Big Fish Softball
​Summer Sandlot Camp 2024
About Avery
Avery Amidon played first base and pitcher for the River Falls Wildcat Varsity team and is a freshman softball player at Bemidji State University where she will be majoring in biochemistry. She enjoys working with the youth in her community, including individual lessons and volunteer coaching youth teams.
 
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
  • Played Club Softball for five years
  • Volunteer coach for youth teams and individual players in River Falls

HONORS/AWARDS
  • Academic Letter (2020, 2021, 2022)
  • 2nd Team All-Conference (2021-22)
  • Honorable Mention All-Conference (2023)
  • Varsity Captain (2021, 2023)
  • NCAA Division II Softball at Bemidji State University
HENRY ZIMMERMANN
Big Fish Baseball
Summer Training 2024
about henry
Henry Zimmermann is a 2024 graduate of River Falls High School currently committed to the Winona State Warriors to play college baseball. He is also serving double duty this summer playing for both the River Falls American Legion team and the River Falls Fighting Fish amateur team. Zimmermann has been a student of hitting coordinator Brian Giebel for several years and is looking forward to starting his coaching career working with our campers this summer.
 
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
  • Played club baseball for seven years, most recently for the Great Lakes Lumberjacks.
  • Volunteer for youth baseball programs in River Falls

HONORS/AWARDS
  • Academic Letter 2024
  • Varsity Letter (2022, 2023, 2024)
CHASE MCQUADE
Big Fish Baseball
Summer Training 2024
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
JORDAN TORREZ
Big Fish Softball
​Sandlot Camp 2024
about jordan
Jordan Torrez is a 2024 graduate and a four year starting catcher for the River Falls Wildcat Varsity softball team. In the fall Jordan will attend Luther College where she will play softball and major in Exercise Science on a Pre-Occupational Therapy Track. 
 
COACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE
  • Played club softball for three years for Minnesota Magic
  • Volunteer for youth softball programs 

HONORS/AWARDS
  • Academic Letter (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • Varsity Letter (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • 2nd Team All-Conference (2023)
  • Honorable Mention All-Conference (2022, 2024)
  • ​Varsity Captain (2023, 2024)