CHRIS CRADICK
CO-FOUNDER & CLUB PRESIDENT
Email : chris.cradick@gatorsba.com
Chris Cradick started the Missouri Gators Baseball Club in 2009 to provide teams for his sons and their friends. Little did he know, he was building a club that would quickly become one of area's top programs.
As the early years went on, Chris' passion for youth baseball continued to grow which led to more teams and attracting some of the top players in the area. Chris was determined to continue take his club to the next level and provide one of the top training facilities in the Midwest.
In 2014, Chris brought his ideas and ambitions to business partners Steve Marion and Joe Lopez. By 2015, the SportsBarn in Wentzville was built and was the new home to the Missouri Gators. To this day, the SportsBarn is home to the Missouri Gators and other local baseball & softball teams.
Over the next couple years, the Missouri Gators continued to see a surge in talent and soon would start attracting players from Illinois. In 2018, the Missouri Gators evolved into Gators Baseball Academy with the additions of the Illinois Gators and GBA (High School Program).
Currently, Chris resides in Wentzville, MO with his wife (Niki), sons (Evan, Connor, Schafer, Chase), and daughter (Riley). Schafer (2024) and Chase (2026) are the last two Cradick boys to go through the GBA College Development program.
- 1992-1994 pitched at Missouri State
- 17-years as a youth baseball coach
Chris' personal aspirations for the club:
To become synonymous with industry leading organizations at the national level by providing players and families with a world-class experience