Troy Gerlach - Varsity Head Coach
Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
VARSITY
PLAYERS
Miles Vandenheuvel - Senior, #3
Brandt Heintzelman - Senior, #4
Cody Estes - Senior, #5
Liu Rodriguez - Sophomore, #6
Aydin Chippindall - Senior, #7
Matthew Bank - Junior, #10
Max Mazinter - Senior, #11
Ford Puplava - Junior, #12
RJ Seminoff - Senior, #14
.jpg)
Kyle Jantz - Senior, #16
Jackson Babione - Senior, #17
Chase Medress - Senior, #19
Tyler Hansen - Senior, #21
Javier Colina - Junior, #22
Jack Peppler - Senior, #23
Luis Ozuna - Senior, #24
Wyatt Halvorson - Senior, #25
Chris Newstrom - Junior, #26
Justin Cherrington - Junior, #27
Reece Van Devander - Junior, #28
Landon Penney - Senior, #29
Keith Eusebio - Junior, #30
Raul Escobar - Freshman, #32
Anthony Zadrozny - Junior, #33
Ryan Penney - Sophomore, #34
Hunter Crain - Junior, #35
Hudson Sinik - Junior, #36
COACHES
Troy Gerlach - Varsity Head Coach
Coach Gerlach is beginning his fourth year at Chaparral and 22nd overall year as a coach at the high school and collegiate level. During his first two years at Chaparral, the Firebirds were 17-10 and qualified as a top-8 seed in the 2021 State Tournament, losing to the eventual State Champion, Liberty High School in the quarter-finals. Prior to Chaparral, Coach Gerlach spent seven years as the head coach at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, where they made the State Playoffs four times. He has spent the last nine years coaching and scouting for USA Baseball. In 2018, he was an assistant coach for the 15u National Team, winning Gold at the WBSC World Championships in Panama.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be the head baseball coach at Chaparral! The tradition that this program has is second to none and we look forward to adding to that tradition!”
Coach Gerlach prides himself on hard work and accountability, focusing on B.I.R.D.S. Brotherhood, Integrity, Relentless, Discipline, and Selfless – all character traits of Chaparral Baseball!
Joshua Ellison - Varsity Assistant Coach, Hitting and Outfield Coach
Entering his fourth year as the Varsity assistant coach, and his third year as the Varsity hitting and outfield coach, Joshua began his coaching career after a five-year professional career. This will be his 15th high school baseball season. He’s grateful to baseball for providing him with the opportunity to work with USA baseball.
Rylee Lane - Varsity Assistant Coach, Catching Coach
This is “Coach Rylo's” fourth year on staff with Chaparral Baseball as the Firebirds' Catching Coordinator. The last two seasons Rylee has been the First Base Coach/Varsity Assistant. Prior to making the leap to a full-time Varsity Assistant Coach, he led the Firebirds Junior Varsity team to an overall 27-7-2 record, finishing 1st place in the 6A Desert Valley Region each season as Junior Varsity Head Coach.
An Arizona native, Rylee is an alumnus of both the Chaparral and Saguaro athletic programs for notable coaches such as Jason Mohns, Tom Abram, Jerry Dawson, Charlie Ragle, Kenny Dillingham, David Huffine, Randy Ford, Mike Angelone, Jeff Oscarson, Frank Rueben, Bryant Westbrook, Mike Vanderjagt, Jim Benkert and many others he was grateful to have played for.
​
“Through my involvement with championship football and baseball programs, I am very fortunate to have been mentored as an athlete and coach by some of Arizona’s most iconic coaches. Transitioning from playing to coaching was amazing and I am humbled to have learned from such incredible leaders. I am forever grateful for the guidance from these coaches, I could not have found the direction to continue my athletics career at junior college and four-year university if not for their influence on me. Coaching is a dream I get to live every day.”
In addition to Chaparral, he is also the Varsity Head Baseball Coach at Scottsdale Cocopah Middle School, a position held since 2018.
