2012 Field Staff
Press Release Sept. 2011
John Combs Signed as New Market Rebels' New Head
Coach
New Market,
VA—September 8, 2011 The New Market Rebels have signed John Combs to be
their head coach for the 2012 season. Combs has served as an assistant coach
with the Rebels since 2008 and is currently the assistant coach, at the
University of Rio Grande (Ohio).
"I'm
thrilled that John will be our head coach next season," said Rebel President and
General Manager Bruce Alger. "John knows the league and I believe that he'll
take us to the next competitive level."
"I'm very excited for the opportunity," said Combs. "New
Market's become a second home for me. I've spent four years there already and I
hope to spend many more there."
Combs will
emphasize pitching and defense and is looking to add speed to the Rebels'
offensive arsenal.
Corey Paluga, who led the Rebels the past two
seasons, was unable to return because of increased responsibilities at Stevens
Institute of Technology where he is the assistant baseball coach and recruiting
coordinator. "I'm very excited for John," said Paluga. "He is dedicated and will
continue to improve on what we've accomplished the last few
seasons."
Combs is a
native of Hillsboro, Ohio.
The Rebels finished the 2011 season 22-22 and lost in the
first round of the playoffs to eventual champion Covington.
John Combs returns for his fifth season in New Market. John spent 4 years as the strength and conditioning coach and assistant head coach.
This is his first year as head coach.
Combs is in his third year as an assistant coach at the University of
Rio Grande, in Rio Grande, OH. In 2010, John helped guide the RedStorm to a Mid-South Conference Championship, the first for the school since 1978, as well as a NAIA National Tournament appearance. Combs works with the outfielders as well
as being the first base coach. Additionally, he serves as the Head JV coach for the RedStorm.
Combs came back to his alma mater after coaching and running the
strength program at Whiteoak High School, in Mowrystown, OH, for 2 years. Combs played 4 years of baseball at Rio Grande and
obtained a bachelor of science in Education. He also earned his Master's of Classroom Teaching from Rio Grande in May 2011.
Combs currently resides in Rio Grande, OH.
Assistant Coach
Blayne Fuke
Coach Fuke joins the Rebels for a second season in 2012.
A 2010 graduate of University
of Rochester with a B.A. in
Economics and Correlate in Statistics, Blayne Fuke enters his second season as the Vassar College
baseball volunteer assistant coach.
An accomplished four-year starter for Rochester, Fuke
walked onto the team as a freshman and earned All-Liberty League First Team
honors as a sophomore and Second Team honors as a senior. Fuke captained the
team to a Liberty League first place regular season finish as a senior. He
helped the team to a program best 30-13 record his junior year and a Liberty
League first place regular season finish his sophomore year. He was
a University Athletic Association All-Tournament First Team selection as a
junior.
A native of Kailua, HI, Fuke was a two year varsity starter at 3B for the
Mid-Pacific Institute and twice earned All- Interscholastic League of Honolulu
honorable mention honors. He was named captain as senior.
Assistant Coach-- Pitching
Steve Gruenberg
Steve Gruenberg is in his first season as an assistant coach at John Carroll
University. Gruenberg will work with all aspects of the program, but his primary
responsibility will be working with the pitchers.
Gruenberg comes to JCU
after spending the last two years filling various roles for Ripken Baseball and
teaching in the Columbus Public School system. He began his collegiate career as
a pitcher for two seasons at Marietta College and was a member of the 2006
national championship team. The Pioneers then returned in 2007 as the Mideast
Regional Champions. Upon transferring to The Ohio State University to finish his
degree, Gruenberg began teaching at Columbus Public Schools as well as coaching
baseball and basketball at the high school level.
A native of Columbus,
OH, Gruenberg graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in
Human Development and Family Services in 2009
|
Head Athletic Trainer
Abigail Hansberger |
Abbie returns for her ninth season as Head Athletic Trainer for the Rebels.
Abbie
is completing her first year as Head Athletic Trainer at Strasburg High
School. Prior to working at SHS, she was employed as a clinical
athletic trainer for Sentara Careplex Hospital’s Rehab Services. Abbie
has also been the Director of First Aid for the Paul Webb All-Star
Basketball Team Camp held every July in Richmond, VA. In 2006, she was
a member of the Athletic Training Staff for the Cornerstone Bancard
Hula Bowl held in Honolulu, HI.
Abbie is a graduate of
Bridgewater College and holds a Bachelors of Science in Athletic
Training. She resides in Strasburg, VA.
|
Assistant Athletic Trainer
MJ Ritchie |
Mary
Jo (MJ) Ritchie Graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 2003 then
attended Bridgewater College and graduated in May 2010 with a Bachelors
of Science in Athletic Training. She spent a lot of time working with
athletes at Turner Ashby High School during her senior year. She has
worked at Bridgewater Retirement Community for the past nine years in
Dining Services as a summer and part-time job while in high school and
college. This will be her second season with the New Market Rebels while
looking into a full-time job working in a secondary school or college
D-II or D-III as an athletic trainer.
