Gators Baseball Academy
MEET THE STAFF
2024 - 2025
Organizational leaders
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
Steve Marion
Co-Founder
Joe Lopez
Organizational Development
Joe Lopez joined Gators Baseball Academy in the Fall of 2015 to assist in organizational development. Joe brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and experience in helping not only businesses grow but people too.
From 1994 to 1998, Joe studied and played collegiate baseball at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. After 4-years, he had earned his Bachelors degree in Kinesiology.
After college, Joe went on to coach and mentor youth athletes for over 14-years; helping many coaches and industry professionals along the way. In 2018, Joe played an intricate role as the organization evolved from the Missouri Gators to Gators Baseball Academy. During this time, the organization expanded into central Illinois.
Currently, Joe resides in Naples, Florida with his wife (Candice), son (Johannes Jr), and daughters (Milena and Anasofia). Johannes Jr was a player in the GBA College Development program from 2019-2022 and now plays college baseball at High Point University.
Joe's personal aspirations for the club:
Create a safe, educational, and cutting edge environment for baseball and softball players looking to pour into this great game
Sherry Sossamon
Director of Operations & Finance
sherry.soss@gatorsba.com
Seth Von Behren
Director of Player Development & GBA
Email: seth.vonbehren@gatorsba.com
Seth was added to the Gators Baseball Academy staff in 2017 with the purpose of creating an elite high school program for players with a strong desire to play college baseball. This would lead to the beginning of the GBA College Development program.
Prior to GBA, Seth coached at the collegiate-level for 17 years that included stops at Maryville University (DII), South Alabama (DI), College of Charleston (DI), and West Chester University (DII).
Accomplishments
- 7 top 50 recruiting classes
- 3 programs that finished in top 25 including 12th while coaching at the College of Charleston
- 39 former players sign professional contracts to MLB affiliate teams
- 4 former players have appeared in the big leagues and 1 currently is an MLB Manager
From 1997-2001, Seth studied and played collegiate baseball at Illinois State University where he was a 4-year starter. In 2000, Seth was an All-Conference selection. He graduated from Illinois State with a Bachelors degree in Communications.
Currently, Seth resides in Troy, IL with his wife (Meredith) and two daughters (Alayna and Reese).
Seth's personal aspirations for the club:
To continue to provide an positive learning environment for athletes at all levels by surrounding them with high level trainers who have players and their family's best interest in mind on and off the field.
Josh Potter
Director of Marketing, Media, & GBA Operations
josh.potter@gatorsba.com
Jim Cromer
Illinois Gators Director
jim.cromer@gatorsba.com
2024 - 2025
player development & Gba staff
Jake DePew
GBA Development Staff
GBA 2029 Coordinator
Email : jake.depew@gatorsba.com
Jake was added to the Gators Baseball Academy staff in 2017 to assist in player development at the high school level. In 2018, Jake and Seth Von Behren built what is now known as the GBA College Development program.
Prior to GBA, Jake played 8 seasons of professional baseball. He was drafted out of high school in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays (9th Rd, 281 overall). Jake reached as high as the AA-level with the Rays before signing with the Boston Red Sox for a season. His professional career would end at 2745 innings caught with 141 runners caught stealing (44%).
In 2019, Jake took his passion for hitting development and started a company called HitLab. This would quickly become one of the area's top hitting development programs. By 2022, HitLab partnered with 3 select teams to provide high quality assessment based programs for their hitters.
Currently, Jake continues to coach one of the top GBA teams as well as grow his HitLab business. He resides in Granite City, IL with his wife (Danielle) and son (Turner).
Jake's personal aspirations for the club:
Create a safe, educational, and cutting edge environment for baseball and softball players looking to pour into this great game
John Lord
GBA Development Staff
GBA 2030 Coordinator
Email: john.lord@gatorsba.com
Eric Eisen
GBA Development Staff
GBA 2027 Coordinator
Email: eric.eisen@gatorsba.com
Jordan Hovey
GBA Development Staff
GBA 2028 Coordinator
Nick Beckmann
GBA Development Staff
Infield Coordinator (MO)
Tim Funkhouser
GBA Development Staff
Infield Coordinator (IL)
Joe Bauer
GBA Development Staff
CJ Schaeffer
GBA Development Staff
Gators 12U/13U Coordinator
Scott Seipp
GBA Development Staff