btla training team
We are so proud of our training team and the skills and knowledge they all possess! They can cater to all levels of players and want to help them reach all levels of goals - whether it be making the All Star team, the high school squad, or collegiate aspirations and beyond.
Steve Bennecke
Owner and hitting/Catching instructor
Steve has been involved in baseball for his entire life. What began in the city parks of Chicago, culminated with playing at the collegiate level for Onondaga Community College and Barry University (DII) where he was a catcher. His coaching career has placed him at all levels - Little League, Youth Travel, High School JV and Varsity, and College. He is currently the head coach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. He has spent the last two summers as the hitting/position coach for the Kalamazoo Growlers where he has worked with numerous Power 5 collegiate players in improving and developing their game at the highest level. He is Driveline Hitting certified. Steve opened BTLA because he is passionate about using his many years and variety of experiences to produce elite ball players and help them reach their potential.
Joey Romence
Pitching instructor
Joey is a native of Kalamazoo and played his prep career at Kalamazoo Central High School. He went on to pitch at the collegiate level first for Glen Oaks Community College and then for Spring Arbor University. He returned to Kalamazoo as a pitching instructor - helping standouts like Jeff Criswell (Michigan/Oakland A's), Nolan Lepkoske (Central Florida), Braden Forsyth (Ole Miss), and Tanner Knapp (KVCC/Ball State) reach their potential. Joey has been the pitching instructor for the past two seasons at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and also for the Kalamazoo Growlers. He is Driveline certified in pitching. Joey is excited to work with analytics skills to improve throwing velocities, pitch variation, and arm care.
Trenton quartermaine
head coach u-17 showcase team
Trenton was a local prep player who came up the ranks under the radar, but his continuous hard work has brought him to the top of his game. He started turning heads at Kalamazoo Valley Community College where his bat was on fire for .463 batting average with 13 HR his sophomore year. He continued his solid hitting performance at Ball State University where he held the team's second highest batting average in the 2020 season. Trent will be at BTLA during his off-season to train and be the head coach for the BTLA U-17 College Showcase Team.
Michael Brettell
Pitching instructor
Michael was born and raised in Canada, but has spent most of his baseball career in the states. He played for the Canadian Junior National Team before he started his college career at Central Michigan University as a pitcher. He is now playing for the St. Louis Cardinals AA team. With all this experience, he has not only learned how to be a better pitcher, but how to become a better all-around athlete. Michael understands how to compete and succeed at the professional level, as well as maintain his physical and mental well-being. We are excited he will be spending his off-season with us for the next several months and know he will be an asset in training our players how to maximize their potential.