AJ Gonzalez comes is currently at asistant coach at Division 1 Saint Peter’s University. Previously AJ was the junior varsity and assistant varsity baseball coach at Dominican University during the 2022-2023 academic year. As a collegiate baseball player, Gonzalez played for SUNY Ulster, Concordia College, and SUNY Oneonta. In addition to his coaching and playing career, Gonzalez has experience working as a director of baseball operations for the New York Silverbacks and Brewster Baseball Garage.
Coach Andrew played varsity baseball at St. Joseph Regional HS and was a member of the 2013 Bergen County Championship team. He went on to play for Franklin and Marshall College as both a closer and starting pitcher. As a freshman he set the Centennial Conference single season saves record and the next year continued to set the career saves record. By the time he graduated Andrew was a 3x All Centennial Conference pitcher with a career ERA of 3.07, 104 Ks in 137.2 innings of work, and was named a member of the All-Decade Team as a relief pitcher.
After graduating F&M in 2018 Coach Andrew has been providing 1 on 1 personal instruction to ballplayers of all ages as well as coaching several teams. He is also certified as a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Thomas Ippolito was a standout left handed pitcher at Randolph High School, instrumental in contributing to the team’s success all 3 season’s with the program. After Randolph High School, Thomas received an academic and athletic scholorship to Pace University, studying Neuroscience. He was a 4-year starter and winner of NE Pitcher of The Week as well as multiple post season awards each year.
Through the years he has amassed a wealth of knowledge on pitching inclusive of arm health & conditioning, velocity training, mechanics and more.
Raul Ortega, a seasoned catching and hitting instructor at In The Zone, brings a wealth of experience from his playing days to his coaching. His involvement with the sport is lifelong, starting from his time at Juco Howard College, progressing to Division 1 at the University of Rio Grande Valley, and culminating in a professional career with the Bakersfield Train Robbers in the Pecos League and the State College Spikes in the MLB Draft League.
Ortega’s coaching philosophy, developed over six years, is rooted in his passion for guiding young athletes towards achieving their life and athletic goals. As a switch-hitting catcher, his own experiences have honed his expertise in various areas. This includes an in-depth understanding of the game, training in mobility and agility, and mastering the skills of catching and hitting.
Off the field, Ortega also focuses on life skills and communication, believing in the importance of holistic development for his students. Witnessing his students reach their full potential and achieve greatness is what fuels Ortega’s dedication and love for coaching.
Coach Jared, an In The Zone alumni, played 3 seasons of varsity baseball at Lenape Valley Reg. High School. In his time there he pitched 87 innings, throwing 6 complete games and racking up 87 strikeouts. After an injury nearly ended his career, Jared utilized the coaching staff at In The Zone to rehab and came back even stronger for his senior campaign. Earning First Team NJAC-Freedom, First Team All NJ Herald and Team MVP honors. Jared went on to pitch for Centenary University, and had 80.2 innings of work before undergoing Tommy John surgery in his senior season. Since Graduating with a degree in Digital Marketing, Coach Jared has coached multiple teams at In The Zone and also provides 1 on 1 personal instruction to our players.
Coach Michael was a standout at Randolph High School where he was a 2-way player, contributing on the mound as well as in the field and the plate. After 3 years of Varsity Ball, he was recruited as a pitcher to play at Division 1 North Carolina Central. His playing career was cut short due to injury. After returning to NJ to continue his education, he joined In The Zone where he played club ball to works as a private instructor and coach.
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Bio Coming Soon!
Paul Segnello is a graduate of Columbia University (1985) where he played baseball for 4 years. Coach Segnello continued to play baseball post-college in a semi-pro capacity for several years. Since 2005, he’s coached softball and was instrumental in building the Mt Olive program to a high caliber and leading their teams to multiple state and regional championships as well as ranking top 3 nationally. Coach Segnello’s passion and goal is to develop players who are committed to the sport and wanting to work hard to be the best they can be as well as build competitive teams that are well respected when they take the field. In addition to his coaching success, he is widely regarded as a top softball hitting instructor
Chloe Wright is in her graduate year at Centenary University, where she shines as a pitcher and infielder while pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling. With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology, Chloe combines her love for the game with her academic pursuits.
At Butler High School, under coach Brittany Marion, Chloe was a versatile athlete, winning two-time All-Conference accolades and contributing to two conference titles, a sectional championship, and a state runner-up standing. She began pitching at age 10, and by 14, expanded her repertoire to become the starting varsity shortstop.
Chloe’s resilience is evident. Despite losing her freshman season to COVID-19, she returned to play various infield positions and continues to use her additional eligibility year to lead on the diamond. She’s passionate about teaching the mental toughness that softball demands, especially pitching, to young players. Chloe Wright is not just a player; she’s a student of the game and a guide for the next generation of athletes.
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As a freshman, Julia made a strong impression, earning the prestigious Centenary Athletics Female Rookie of the Year award and All-CSAC Honorable Mention—a testament to her talent and hard work.
Julia’s debut season stats speak for themselves: a formidable 4-2 record, a remarkable 3.00 ERA over 37.1 innings, and a top-10 ranking in several key CSAC categories. She dominated the mound with a 5th-place ERA, a 7th-place opponents’ batting average of .318, and tied for 6th with 10 batters struck out looking. Not to mention, she secured the 8th spot with four impressive wins. Demonstrating her reliability and excellence, Julia started in all nine games she played, delivering one complete game.
Her journey to this point is just as inspiring. At Hasbrouck Heights High School, under the guidance of coach Jackie Ferranti, Julia honed her dual talents as a pitcher and first baseman. Over her four-year high school career, she was recognized with First Team All-League honors for both positions.
Julia’s passion for softball ignited at the tender age of 5, with her taking up pitching in the second grade. It was then that her journey with the ball and glove began—a journey marked by milestones, including her remarkable achievement as the athlete of the year for 2022-23.
Bio Coming Soon!
Bio Coming Soon!
