TEAM

Daniel Crabtree LePera

Owner & Co-Founder

Owner and founder of Top Notch Trainers & TNT Baseball Academy. Currently serving as an Assistant Baseball Coach at Denison University. Entering his third season with the Denison baseball program in 2021-2022 where he serves as catching coach, and assists with the hitters. Prior to joining the coaching staff at Denison, LePera served as an assistant baseball coach at Ohio Dominican University for the past three seasons. During his first two years at ODU he served as the hitting, catching, and strength and conditioning coach. In his first year (2017) he guided Panther hitters to the tops of numerous statistical categories in the GLIAC including scoring (3rd), OPS (1st), slugging (1st), on-base percentage (2nd), and batting average (1st). Nationally the Panthers finished 13th in slugging and 17th in batting average. In his second season (2018) as hitting coach, Panther hitters saw much success again. The Panthers finished atop every major category in the GMAC including scoring (8.66 Runs per Game), OPS (.906), slugging (.487), OBP (.419), and batting average (.333). Nationally the Panthers finished 8th in scoring with 8.66 runs per game, 14th in OBP, and fourth in BA. ODU finished the 2018 season with a 36-17 record, capturing the GMAC Regular Season North Division Championship, and reaching the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship title game. In his final year (2018) at ODU, LePera served as the catching and strength and conditioning coach and designed throwing programs for the pitching staff. During his three seasons at ODU, he aided in the development of two MLB draft picks, and numerous players who garnished All-American, regional/conference player of the year, all-region, and all-conference honors. ODU catchers during his time there captured all-conference honors every year including an All-American selection in 2018. LePera is also the owner and founder of Top Notch Trainers & TNT Baseball Academy in Columbus, Ohio. At TNT, LePera oversees the day to day operations, along with managing two Summer collegiate teams, four youth teams, and numerous coaches and instructors. In 2017, LePera served as both manager and head coach of the TNT Knights of the Ohio Collegiate Summer Baseball League. The Knights won the OCSBL Championship in their inaugural season and LePera was selected to coach the All-Star game vs. the SWOL. In 2018 and 2019, LePera served as the general manager of both the TNT Knights and newly formed TNT Jays, with the Knights repeating as league champions. In 2019, the TNT Knights won the League for third straight year while the Jays more than tripled their win total in the second year. Following the 2019 season, LePera was appointed as president of the Ohio Collegiate Summer Baseball Association. A native of Gahanna, Ohio, LePera was named a captain of the baseball team at Gahanna Lincoln High School where he received both all-conference and all-district honors as a junior and senior. Collegiately, LePera spent his first year and a half at Coastal Carolina University, where they won the 2001 Big South Championship and reached the NCAA Regional at Georgia Tech. He finished his playing career at Rio Grande University where he was a three-year letter winner. LePera currently resides in Blacklick, Ohio with his wife, Amanda, and daughters, Emory and Ayla.

Matt Smith

Hitting and 1B/OF Coach

Coach Smitty has been with us at TNT since 2015 and is a great compliment to our coaching staff. Coach Smitty grew up in Dublin, OH playing for Tim Saunders of Dublin Coffman Baseball program where he now serves as an Assistant Coach.

Collin Bobo

Pitching Coach

Coach Bobo started as a player in our organization as a late addition to our 18u team in 2015. Bobo conituned his career with TNT as a member of the TNT Knights collegiate team in the OCSBL collecting two league championships with the Knights. Collegiately, Bobo pitched for the Terriers of Miami Hamilton University helping them three peat in the ORCC. Bobo serves as our head pitching coach in our facility, heads the 2023 team, and serves as the Knights collegiate pitching coach.

Justin Childers

Hitting Coach

Justin is originally from Pickerington where he attended Pickerington North High School. Justing currently is a member of the Detroit Tigers organization after being drafted in the 33rd round in 2018 from Ohio Dominican University. In his first year, Justin was a member of the 2018 GCL Tigers West. In the off-season, Justin works with the hitters at TNT and serves as a substitute Teacher. Collegiately, Justin won numerous awards both on the field and in the classroom and was atop many catgories nationally. Justin lives in New Albany with his Fiance, Montana.

Summer Bourcier

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Coach Summer started with us in January of 2015 as an intern and has been with us ever since. Coach Summer also trained under Coach Austin Addington-Strapp (Assistant Strength Coach at PITT and former TNT Coach) during her 4-year soccer career at Ohio Dominican University. Summer now serves as an Assistant Coach at Ohio Dominican University and plays for the Columbus Eagles FC in the Women's Premier Soccer League.

Waly Jacobs

TNT Knights 2021 grads Head Coach

Caleb Scott

Assistant Coach 2021 grads TNT Knights

Izaiah Withrow

Assistant Coach 2023 grads TNT Knights