Evan Zides - Owner & Head coach
Evan Zides is the owner of the Bay State Braves and DC Baseball Academy. Evan is also a head coach and assistant coach for the Braves.
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Evan started the Braves in 2014. In that time the program has grown from two teams to fifteen teams.
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Alex Ingram - Director of Operations & Head Coach
Alex is the director of operations for the Bay State Braves as well as a head coach. Alongside being the director of operations Alex is also the general manager for DC Baseball Academy, the home of the Braves.
Alex played professionally in Prague, Czech Republic and Beaucaire, France from Spring 2011 to Fall 2012. While abroad he also coached youth teams, most notably leading the Beaucaire Chevaliers to a national championship in the 12U bracket, and a 5th place finish in the 15U bracket. Alex graduated from Macalester College in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. He was a 4-year Varsity starting pitcher. In his senior season as captain he led Mac to its first MIAC Conference Championship in 62 years, going 8-1 with a 2.49 ERA and 59 K’s. That year he received All- Conference 1st Team recognition as well as being voted the team MVP.
Chris Fay - Head Coach
Chris joined the Braves in 2018 and will the head coach of the 2024 13U Red and 15U teams. Chris is excited to share his passion for the game of baseball with the Braves and its players. Chris is the Wayland High School varsity baseball coach.
Chris worked full-time as a trainer for Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA); a national non-profit that believes in the power of sports to transform lives. Chris has presented at the World Baseball Coaches' Convention for three consecutive years, as well as numerous workshops for the Red Sox Foundation and many youth baseball programs across New England on issues related to sports psychology. Chris coached at Newbury College in 2007 and 2008 and currently writes for the New England Baseball Journal on topics related to youth baseball and coaching.
Christopher Panell - Head Coach
Christopher will the 2024 head coach for the 9U and 10U Red Bay State Braves teams. Christopher joined the Braves in 2016 as a staff member running clinics in the greater Metro West area. He is excited to share his passion for the game of baseball with the Braves and its players.
Christopher has coached youth baseball for over 25 years including Williamsport and Lou Tompkins. He is also actively involved in Community Investors, a non-profit program which focuses on bringing sports and movement programs to children of all skill levels.
Brian Rhone - Head Coach, Co-Social Media Manager
A 3 Year Varsity Player at Notre Dame-West Haven from 2011-2013, Brian was part of the 2011 CIAC Class L State Championship team at Notre Dame. He also played for the CT Bombers from 2006-2013.
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Brian attended Newbury College where he played as a middle infielder. He earned NECC Academic All-Conference honors from 2014-17, and was an Athletic/Academic Award recipient at Newbury from 2014-17 as well.
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From 2018-2020 Brian was the Assistant Varisty and JV Baseball Coach at Hamden Hall Country Day School in Hamden, CT.
Besides his role as an private instructor serving hundreds of youth players in the CT area..he was the manager at Batter’s Box in Hamden, CT from 2017-2021. Brian was the director of the 12 and under program as well as the social media coordinator for the program.
Alex Belanger - Head Coach, Co-Social Media Manager
Coming Soon!
Ben Kefalis - Head Coach
Ben Kefalis joined the Braves in 2021. In 2023 his 12U Blue team made it to the final four in the Select Baseball League 12U D2 division. He is excited to share his knowledge and passion for the game to the program. Ben coached Senior Babe Ruth in Middleboro (ages 16-19) from 2016-2019. Ben is also the JV baseball coach at Wayland High School (2023-present).
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Ben played his college baseball at Eastern Nazarene College from 2013 to 2017. Ben played high school baseball at Bristol-Plymouth Vocational Tech. While there he and his team won the Mayflower League Championship in 2012, he was elected to the Mayflower League All-Star Team in 2013, and was elected to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team in 2013.
Steve Colella - Head Coach
Steve Colella is returning to the Braves coaching staff in 2023. Steve coached with the Braves in 2017 before taking a position with the Nor'Easters program until 2023.
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In addition to coaching travel baseball Steve was the Worcester State Pitching Coach from 2019-2021, the Fitchburg State Pitching Coach from 2022-2023, and the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (Collegiate Futures Baseball League in 2018 where he helped his staff set the record for Wins, Era, and Runs Scored.
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Steve had a very succesful college career. At Lindsey Wilson College he led the nation in saves and set the school record for most appearances in a single season. At UMass Dartmouth he was elected to the First Team All LEC Conference team. Steve attended Leominster High School where he was elected to the Pre-Season All Region Team, All Conference Team, and the Telegram and Gazette All Star Teams.
Brandon Smith - Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brandon Smith is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S) with over 22 years of strength training experience. After playing hockey and baseball locally at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Brandon went on to graduate with a degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Rhode Island while playing baseball for the Rams.
Brandon started his career as a member of the Strength and Conditioning staff with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians from 1999-2005. After his time in MLB, Brandon served as Director of Sports Performance for Velocity Sports Performance in Sudbury, MA. While at Velocity Sports Performance, Brandon refined his skills while working with hundreds of youth, high school and collegiate athletes, teaching sprint mechanics, speed building, weight room technique and the value of proper nutrition, sleep and recovery.
Brandon has trained and developed athletes from: MLB, MiLB, NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA D1 as well as amateur programs such as FC Stars Soccer, Boston Jr Bruins, Lawrence Academy Football and Akadema Braves Baseball.