Jake Dixon

Jake is the Owner of The Player's Edge. Through his Minor League and Collegiate Baseball experiences, Jake Dixon has played for some of the best baseball coaches in the nation.  By attending the University of North Florida, Dixon had the privilege of playing for Hall of Fame Coach Dusty Rhodes. In addition, during Dixon’s career in professional baseball, he also played for one of the most successful Minor League coaches ever to manage teams, Tom Kotchman of the Anaheim Angels.

Dixon is a local product and graduate from R.O.W.V.A High School where he was recruited by various MLB scouts and College coaches.  Drafted in the 18th round as a hitter by the Oakland A’s, Dixon found himself faced with a difficult decision straight out of High School.  Through much consideration, Dixon opted to attend college first and accept a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Florida and postpone his professional baseball career.  After his junior year in college, Dixon was selected again into the Major League Baseball Draft by the Anaheim Angels, but this time it was as a pitcher.  The Angels secured Dixon’s arm through a “Draft and Follow” procedure since Dixon was fresh off of Tommy John surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews.  

While at University of North Florida, Dixon was the Ace of the UNF Osprey’s pitching staff and lead the Ospreys to (3) Peach Belt Conference Championships, a Division II College World Series Championship game appearance, and the first team ever to lead UNF into its initial year as a Division I school.  Dixon notched UNF’s first ever Division I win in its program’s history and continued to play teams his senior year such as Miami, Florida State, Florida, LSU, and Ohio State.

Dixon’s professional baseball career was ended short due to a re-occurring elbow injury.  Dixon selected to retire from his professional ranks rather than undergoing another Tommy John surgery and full year of rehabilitation.  

Dixon helped coach a competitive 12 & Under Travel Team in Florida called The Creeks Rays, who had the opportunity to play at the nationally recognized tournament at Dreams Park in Cooperstown, NY.  Jake also worked with former Big League player, Rick Wilkins, at his indoor baseball complex in Jacksonville, FL.

A 2001 graduate of R.O.W.V.A High School, Dixon received his Bachelor’s Degree from University of North Florida in Sports Management with a 3.4 GPA.  


A list of some of Dixon’s accomplishments are as follows:

• Former UNF Osprey pitcher (2001-2006) for coach Dusty Rhodes
• Co-captain of the UNF Baseball Team (2004-2006)
• Former Professional pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization
• Played Pro for the Orem Owlz under Coach Tom Kotchman
• Drafted out of High School in the 18th round by the Oakland A’s as a hitter
• Drafted out of College in the 36th round by the Anaheim Angels as a pitcher
• Recruited by 26 Major League Baseball teams
• Recruited by more than 25 Colleges and Universities including University of Illinois, Illinois State, Bradley, Duke, Dartmouth, Miami, Iowa, and many others.
• 2001 Peoria Journal Star Player of the Year
• 2001 Illinois All-State Team
• 2001 Rawlings 3rd Team High School All American
• 2001 Rawlings 1st Team District  High School selection
• 2001 Top 5 High School prospects in Illinois by Baseball America
• 2005 South Atlantic Regional Tournament MVP
• 2003 South Atlantic Regional Tournament Team
• Starting pitcher in the 2005 Division 2 College World Series Championship Game
• 2001 Selection to the Illinois Collegiate Summer Baseball All Star Team
• 2003 Selection to the Coastal Plains Summer All Star Team
• 2005 Selection to the Northwoods Summer League All Star Team
• Set the record for pitching in the Northwoods League’s fastest game in league history.
• Attended invitation-only professional tryouts with the Cardinals, Rockies, Reds and Cubs.
• Two time participant in the IHSA Home Run Hitting Derby.  Once as a freshman and once as a senior.
• ROWVA High School Best Hitter Award
• ROWVA High School MVP Award
• UNF Ospreys Best Pitcher Award 2005
• Recognized as one of the State of Florida’s Top Prospects by Baseball America
• Multiple recipient of Register Mail Athlete of the Week in High School

                                                                   
                                                            Kyle Hunter

Kyle is currently a professional baseball player in the Seattle Mariners organization.  He began his professional career in June of 2011 after a 3 year career at Kansas State University.  Hunter pitched in the Appalachian League for the Pulaski Mariners before earning a mid season promotion to the Class A Short Season league Everett Aquasox.  He will join the Mariners at Spring Training in AZ.

Hunter is a local Galesburg product where he was a four year starter in baseball while also playing football and basketball.  Kyle was drafted out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rays but chose to attend Kansas State University to pitch in the prestigious Big 12 Conference.  He was a two year starter earning All Big 12 honors and Big 12 Pitcher of the week and was drafted again after his sophomore year by the New York Yankees.  Kyle chose to return for one more year at Kansas State where he was the “Friday Night” starter and helped lead KSU to its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

 Kyle has experience working numerous camps and clinics at KSU and at Knox College during his career.

A list of some of Hunter’s accomplishments are as follows:

• 2008 Graduate of Galesburg High School
• 4 Yr Varsity Letter Winner in Baseball
• 2 Yr Varsity Letter Winner in Football
• All time record holder at GHS with :
• Most Career Wins - 23
•  Lowest ERA in a season – 0.57
• Most Career Strikeouts- 247
• All Western Big Six in Baseball 3 times
• Peoria Journal Star Area Baseball All Star
• Ranked # 8 Player in Illinois per Prep Baseball Report in 2008
• Represented the National American Legion Team in 2007 at USA Baseball’s Tournament of Stars
• Represented Chicago White Sox Scout team in Mariner Cup at Safeco Field in 2007
• Selected 3 times in MLB Baseball’s Amateur Draft
• 2008- Tampa Rays
• 2010- New York Yankees
• 2011-Seattle Mariners
• Baseball Scholarship to Kansas State University
• 3 Yr Letter Winner at KSU
• Honorable Mention All Big 12 2010
• # 9 All time most wins in KSU history
• # 2 All time most wins in a KSU season
• Big 12 Tournament Record holder with most K’s in a game with 9 vs Oklahoma in 2011
• Signed in 2011 with Seattle Mariners

                                                Ron Nelson

Ron is currently the Assistant Baseball Coach at Monmouth College and has coached there from 2007 to present.  His responsibilities include working with the infielders on drills and positioning as well as serving as the hitting coach.  Ron played for the legendary state legion program in Galesburg from 1972 - 1974, participating in the '73 state tournament.  He was recruited by Indian Hills Community College and University of Missouri but attended and graduated from Monmouth College 1974 - 1978 where he was starting shortstop 3 years, leading hitter 3 years running and owned a lifetime .355 batting average.  Ron also participated in 1976 in the
NCAA Div. 3 tournament losing to the eventual national champions, 3 yrs all conference, all region, 1978 MVP.  He played in 1976 on the Galesburg Pioneers of the CICL league and played in numorous leagues in the Quad Cities and Peoria, while making many contacts with many fellow teammates who went on to great coaching and playing careers.  In 2009 he received a chance of a lifetime by getting invited to work a camp at the University of Texas under camp director Mark Franklin for the legendary Texas Longhorns, and coach Augie
Garrido - the winningest coach in Division 1 history.  Coach Nelson continues to have a great relationship with area high school and college coaches, and is still in contact with many baseball professionals on many different levels.



                                                                Amanda Kocis

Amanda comes to The Player's Edge to assist with Softball instruction and has a very impressive resume.
Currently Amanda works at Kewanee Hospital as a physical therapist.  She also coaches 7th grade girls basketball at Central Junior High in Kewanee, IL.  Additionally, Amanda graduated from Colorado State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine.  Through hard work and dedication, she also attended and graduated from Regis University Physical Therapy School where she received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2005.  Some of Amanda's Softball achievements while in High School and in College at Colorado State University include:

• Attended Springfield Lanphier High School 1994-1998
• Started Varsity sports (Volleyball, Basketball, Softball) from her Freshman - Senior years
• All-Central State Eight softball all 4 years, basketball 3 years, and volleyball 2 years
• Central State Eight Softball Player of the Year in 1997 (first non-pitcher to win the award)
• Chicago Tribune All-State Team 1997 and 1998
• Led her softball team and Conference in batting average, hits, stolen bases, runs scored, walks and on-base percentage all four years
• IHSA records for Hits, Runs, and Batting Average (since have been surpassed)
• Junior National Team that played in Europe for 6 weeks in the summer of 1998
• Attended Colorado State University on a full athletic scholarship 1998-2002
• Started 192 of 193 games possible during her 4 years at Colorado State University
• Hit .333 her senior season; career fielding percentage of .998% at Second Base
• Academic All-Mountain West and Western Athletic Conference from 1999-2002

   

                                                      Ken Fristad

  Ken Fristad joined The Player's Edge team as Head Golf Instructor during the Fall of 2010.  Ken offers years of experience in Golf Instruction as well as an impressive resume of accomplishments as a player.  Fristad is a local product and graduated from Kewanee High School and got his college degree from Western Illinois University.  He is now a retired business executive after being the President of Boss Manufacturing where he conducted many motivational seminars which has proved to be invaluable in his golf instructions.  Since retirement, Ken has been giving Golf Lessons since 2004 where he has given hundreds of private individual lessons in addition to several group lessons - all of which range from youth to adult.  A list of Fristad's accomplishments and credentials include:

  • United States Golf Teachers Federation Member
  • Inducted into the Baker Park Golf Hall of Fame
  • Played Collegiate Golf at Elmhurst College
  • Won the Illinois State University Open and held the course record the same year
  • Has played in 19 City Tournaments finishing in the Top 10, 14 times
  • Two-time Club Champion Finalist
  • Three Top 10 finishes in the Kewanee Labor Day Tournament
  • Has won his age division 5 times in the Baker Park Senior Tournament
  • Played 4-years of Golf on Kewanee Varsity Team
  • District Runner-Up his Senior Year of High School
  • Tri-County Runner-Up his Junior Year and Tri-County Champion his Senior year

   

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