GRB STiKS STAFF
Sean Smith
DIRECTOR OF GRB STiKS
Sean Smith is a native of Oconomowoc Wisconsin. Smith was a two-time 1st team All-State Selection in High School and the 1992 Wisconsin State Gatorade Player of the Year. In 1992 Sean was drafted in the 5th Round of the MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves. Smith spent 7 years playing professionally as a catcher.
Following his playing days Sean spent two years coaching at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater (’98, ’99) and two years as the assistant coach at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (’00, ’01). In 2012 Sean created STiKS Academy in Oconomowoc to provide a 12 month a year training facility for youth baseball players in the Lake Country Area. In 2017 STiKS moved to their new 44,000 sq ft facility in Waukesha to better serve the athletes of SE Wisconsin. In his time at STiKS Sean has seen over 60 athletes sign Division 1 scholarships and over 150 total athletes move on to play college baseball. Three of Smith’s former players have won Collegiate National Championships and has seen 4 former players be drafted by MLB teams.
Eric Semmelhack joins GRB to lead the charge of the High School program, along with focusing on throwing and pitching development for GRB-Milwaukee. Semmelhack previously was the General Manager of Hitters Baseball Academy of Racine, where he also was in charge of the 16U team. Eric’s relationships with many of those in college baseball will be instrumental in helping players and families with recruiting.
An Oak Creek, WI native, Semmelhack starred at UW-Milwaukee where he led the Horizon League in strikeouts as a junior. Post college, Semmelhack was rewarded for his efforts by being a 12th round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers. Post playing days, Semmelhack has coached at Oak Creek and Marquette HS, along with being the pitching coach at MSOE for 2 years.
Rudy Rott joined the GRB staff in November of 2020 after playing in the program from 2007-2015. A Holmen, WI native, Rott was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 9th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. He played his first year in the minors with the Williamsport Crosscutters at the Short Season A level. Rott was Wisconsin Co-Player of the year in 2015.
An Ohio University graduate, Rott played in every game over four years playing 1st base. He holds the current all time hits record at OU and was the only back to back and two-time MAC Player of the Year. He was also a two time MAC All-Defensive Team honoree. Rott was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. His senior year he made the Rawlings All-Region Baseball Team and was an ABCA All-American. Rott also played in the Northwoods League from 2016-2017 for the Eau Claire Express. Rott joins the STiKS staff to offer personal instruction for hitting and infield play.
Hayden served as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin Parkside while also serving as an instructor at Hitter’s Baseball Academy. During his time with the Rangers, Hayden served as the first base coach while working with the corner infielders, outfield and hitting instruction, recruiting, strength and conditioning and fundraising.
Hayden was drafted in the 16th round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, the second time in his career that Hayden was drafted by the Phillies. The first baseman played two seasons in the minor leagues, playing the 2015 season with the Short A Williamsport Crosscutters before spending the 2016 season with the Phillies’ High A Lakewood BlueClaws.
Ryan Hollander, also known as “Holly,” has been a key figure in player development at GRB STiKS for several years. With a deep understanding of the game, he has been instrumental in the growth and success of numerous Division I and professional players. A former collegiate player himself, Ryan played baseball at UW Parkside, where he honed his skills and passion for the sport. Widely recognized as one of the best young hitting minds in the Midwest, Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every athlete he coaches.
Trevor Schwecke is a native of Marshfield Wisconsin where he was a multi-time All Conference performer. Trevor took his baseball prowess to the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where he was a three time All Conference player in the Horizon League. Schwecke’s performance at UWM led him to being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th round of of the 2019 MLB Draft. In the winter of 2024 Trevor was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies Minor League Rule 5 Draft. Originally drafted as a shortstop, Schwecke quickly transitioned into a true utility player; he spent most of his career in AA and AAA, splitting time between the outfield and infield. Trevor finished his B.S. in Actuarial Science in the spring of 2025 and will enhance player development at GRB STiKS through the lens of technology and data analytics.
Nathan Burns is a native of West Bend, Wisconsin. The right-handed pitcher was a two-time 1st team all-state selection, 2016 North Shore conference player of the year, and 2017 State champion at West Bend West HS. Burns went on to play college baseball at Oregon State University from 2018-2021, highlighted by winning a national championship in 2018. Burns was then drafted in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels. Burns reached as high as Double-A in his 3 professional seasons, as well as an invitation to the Arizona Fall League in 2021. Burns is available for pitching lessons at GRB STiKS.
Avery Owusu-Asiedu is a former STiKS player who excelled at Waukesha West High School. Although growing up in England and Canada Avery did not start playing baseball till he was older and his path to professional baseball was much different than most. His size and athleticism garnered him a baseball scholarship to play Division 1 at Southern Illinois Edwardsville. Avery’s performance at SIUE led to him hearing his name called in the 9th round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Avery works with our youth and High School teams here at GRB STiKS during his offseason.
Demetrius Sims, a native of Ann Arbor, MI, was a standout infielder at Huron High School, where he earned multiple All-Conference and All-State honors and holds the school’s all-time hits record. In 2013, he was named Washtenaw County Player of the Year and selected as a shortstop for the MHSAA West All-Star team.
Sims continued his baseball career at Bethune-Cookman University, where he excelled for three seasons, earning All-MEAC honors in both his sophomore and junior years. He led the league in runs scored and triples, and capped his collegiate career by being named Conference Tournament MVP. In 2017, Sims was drafted in the 14th round by the Miami Marlins.
During his time with the Marlins organization, Sims achieved significant milestones, including being named an All-Star in 2019 and earning Defensive Play of the Year in 2021 while playing for the AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He advanced to AAA before moving on to play in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB) and with the Lake Country DockHounds over the past two seasons.
This offseason, Sims will be sharing his expertise by working with infielders, outfielders, and hitters.
A Wisconsin native of Highland, Indiana, Spear honed his skills at Mount Carmel High School before advancing to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he became a cornerstone of the Warhawks’ pitching staff. During his collegiate career, Spear posted impressive numbers, including a standout 7–0 record with a 1.44 ERA in 2019, played a pivotal role across multiple seasons, and consistently limited opponents at the NCAA Division III level.
In addition to his on-field performance, Connor earned league recognition — including All-Region and All-Conference honors — and finished among the program’s historical leaders in key pitching categories such as runs allowed and ERA.
A standout at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Frey ranks second all-time in program history for strikeouts despite competing for only three seasons. His success at UWM, combined with an impressive summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League, earned him selection in the 19th round of the MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves.
In 2024, Frey posted a 2.36 ERA while splitting time between Low-A and High-A affiliates. He advanced to Double-A in 2025 and will complete his offseason training at GRB STiKS Academy.
Frey brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for player development, and we are excited to welcome him to the GRB coaching staff!
Jack Carlson is a native of Neenah Wisconsin and attended Neenah High School. At Neenah, Jack was a team captain and a 2-year starting catcher for the rockets without having his senior year to due to covid. Carlson attended Benedictine University and was a two-year starter at Benedictine and remained a catcher. At Benedictine, Jack began his love for teaching and coaching while recovering and coming back from Tommy John Surgery.
Jack played for Stiks in 2018 and 2019 and considers Stiks as some of his best baseball memories. He has recently graduated from Benedictine University and acquired a degree in Sports and Exercise Science. He is continuing his education at the University of Milwaukee to get his masters in Kinesiology. Carlson is looking to work with catchers and hitters to take their game to the next level using his knowledge of the game combined with his degree in Sports Science.
Sean Walsh is a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin and attended Catholic Memorial High School. Sean was a 2-year starting infielder for the Crusaders. He then attended Bryant and Stratton College, a junior college out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and continued to play middle infield as well as some corner infield for the Bobcats.
During his high school and college careers, he helped work hitting classes and grew a great love for teaching the game.
Throughout high school, Sean also played for Stiks for 3 years and is extremely excited to be back on the coaching side of things here. Sean is looking to work with infielders and hitters to improve their game on all levels while building their confidence to take their growth out onto the field.
Joey Spence is a native of West Bend, Wisconsin, where he spent his high school career training and playing for STiKS. Spence was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft but chose to continue his playing career at the collegiate level. He spent the majority of his college career at the University of Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish advance to the 2022 Men’s College World Series in Omaha. Spence then used his fifth year of eligibility at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he helped lead the Panthers to the 2026 NCAA Tournament and an appearance in the Auburn Regional. He also spent two summers competing in the MLB Draft League with the West Virginia Black Bears and the Williamsport Crosscutters.
As a catcher, Joey developed a strong foundation in receiving, blocking, game management, and throwing mechanics. His attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement fueled his transition into coaching, where he is dedicated to helping athletes maximize their potential through individualized training and programmed training methods.
In addition to his work with catchers, Joey serves as an offensive and hitting instructor, focusing on developing competitive hitters through swing training, disciplined approach, and data-driven feedback. Joey’s playing experience and effective communication help players of all ages build confidence, refine their skills, and reach their full potential.
Ryan Kalinowski is a native of Oak Creek, Wisconsin. After a standout high school career, Ryan continued his baseball journey at the collegiate level, playing at Bryant and Stratton College, the University of Northwestern Ohio, St. Ambrose University, and the College of Calumet St. Joseph.
As a freshman, Ryan played every game either behind the plate or at corner infield, posting an impressive .323 batting average and a .471 on-base percentage. He was recognized as a Preseason First Team All-Conference selection during the year of COVID-19, showcasing his consistent performance and leadership on the field.
Following his playing career, Ryan served as the Program Manager for the Milwaukee Angels for two years, where he played a key role in player development and team management.
Currently, Ryan works closely with the entire program’s catchers, providing specialized instruction and helping lead practices. He also offers private catching and hitting lessons, focusing on building strong fundamentals and empowering players to reach their full potential.
Ryan’s dedication, hands-on approach, and passion for the game make him a valued mentor to athletes throughout the area.
Ray built an impressive career as a 2016 Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year in the state of Kentucky before competing for five years of Division I baseball at Western Kentucky University. During his college career, he earned two C-USA Hitter of the Week honors, recorded 58 extra-base hits, 21 home runs, 100 RBI, and secured two All-Conference team selections. He went on to play four years of professional independent baseball, adding 135 extra-base hits, 44 home runs, and 210 RBI to his résumé.
Thomas Ward, a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, played for STiKS in high school before playing collegiately at Carroll University. While at Carroll, Thomas led the offense as the starting 1st baseman for three years. He was recognized as the team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, in addition to winning multiple CCIW Hitter of the Week and Carroll Athlete of the Week awards.
Since joining GRB STiKS in 2021, Thomas has enjoyed helping young athletes build confidence, improve their skills, and develop a love for the game. Thomas works primarily with the youth program, focusing on player development through individual lessons, hitting classes, and team practices.
