Baseball
Coaching Staff
Baseball Coaching Staff
Casey Cummins '08, Head CoachCoach Cummins is entering his first season as the Head Baseball Coach. He is 2008 graduate from Saint John's and was a member of the baseball program from 2004-2008. Following his playing career, Coach Cummins began his coaching career at his alma mater serving as the program's Pitching Director from 2012-2013.
After that, he coached in various capacities at the collegiate level - including serving as the Pitching Coach at Nichols College (2013-2015), Pitching Coach for the Worcester Bravehearts (2014-2018), and as an Assistant Coach for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod Baseball League (2019-2021). While with the Bravehearts, he also served as the Youth Camp Director and helped the Bravehearts reach the Championship Series all five seasons and winning the Futures Collegiate Baseball League Championship in 2014, 2015 and 2018. During these experiences, Coach Cummins got the chance to work with over 50 players who have gone on to be drafted in the Major League Baseball Amateur Player Draft.
Most recently, he served as the Head Baseball Coach at Sutton High School where he oversaw the instruction and development of players in grades 8-12, created daily practice plans for both varsity and JV programs, and oversaw the college recruitment and summer baseball placement processes for players. Under his leadership, the Sutton baseball team qualified for the State tournament each year, reaching the MIAA Elite 8 Round in 2022.
Coach Cummins is also a 8th Grade Social Studies teacher in the Middle School at Saint John's.
Jeff Bercume '05, Varsity Assistant CoachCoach Bercume returns to Saint John's after he was an infielder for the 2005 District Champions. In addition to baseball, he was a 3 year letter winner and eventual captain of the Pioneer’s wrestling team. As a senior at Saint John’s, he was honored with the Ted Provo Pioneer Award for Perseverance and Determination.
He attended Merrimack College and made the baseball team as a walk-on. Coach Bercume developed into an all-conference and all-regional outfielder, and broke several offensive school records along the way including the all-time hits record. Competing in the wood-bat Northeast 10, he led the conference in batting as a sophomore. As a junior, he struck out just 4 times in 43 games, making him NCAA Division II Toughest to Strikeout in the country. Coach Bercume signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Oakland Athletics in the spring of 2010, and played two seasons in their Minor League system. At the conclusion of his playing career, he founded the 108 Stitches Baseball School. Through camps and clinics, 108 Stitches connected youth players in central Massachusetts with area MiLB and MLB players, college coaches, and professional scouts, to provide the highest quality coaching and instruction.
He will serve as the varsity hitting/baserunning coach in addition to working with the program's outfielders.
He will serve as the varsity hitting/baserunning coach in addition to working with the program's outfielders.
Tim Cummins P '08, '13, Varsity Assistant CoachCoach Cummins is entering his sixtieth year in baseball, including roles as a player, coach, umpire, administrator, camp director, parent, grandparent, and scout. As a coach, he has coached at all levels of amateur baseball including at the American Legion and Stan Musial level. During this time, he coached several players who were drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft with three of them reaching the Major Leagues.
Coach Cummins also ran a non-profit baseball camp, Boys of Summer, in Auburn for nine years and has served as an amateur scout for six Major League Baseball franchises. Currently, Coach Cummins is the part-time area scout for the Kansas City Royals covering New England.
He will work with all players throughout the program on every facet of the game while serving as the first base coach for the varsity team.
Sebastian Gruszecki, Varsity Pitching Coach
Coach Gruszecki comes to Saint John's following an accomplished pitching career. After being a T&G Super Team All Star pitcher for Shepard Hill HS, he went on to play at Florida Gulf Coast University. At FGCU, he made 56 appearances with 80.2 innings pitched before moving on to pitch at Franklin Pierce University for his grad school year. During his college career, Coach Gruszecki played three seasons with the Worcester Bravehearts of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League where he holds the franchise records for wins, games started, and innings pitched. He also served as a coach at the Bravehearts Youth Camps working with local area players.
Following his playing career, Coach Gruszecki served as a coach in the North East Baseball travel program specifically with their 16u team.
He will serve as the varsity pitching coach while aiding in the development of all pitchers in the program.
Ryan O’Rourke ‘06, Varsity Assistant Coach
Sean Hastings '87, JV Red Head Coach
Coach Hastings has been a member of the program's coaching staff since 2018. During that time, he has coached at every sub varsity level and will be entering his second year as the JV Red Head Coach. Also, he serves as the Offensive Coordinator for the Pioneer football team and the head coach for the Middle School- Red basketball team.
In addition to coaching, Coach Hastings serves as the Assistant Athletic Director and a member of the Science Department here at Saint John's.
Dezi Garcia, JV White Head Coach
Mark Chiasson, Middle School Head Coach
Coach Chiasson enters his first season in the program. During a playing career at Umass Lowell, he was a starting infielder on their 1981 Div. II New England Championship team. In 1993, he began his coaching career which included time with the America’s Pastime and Triple Play AAU programs. Recently, he was the Director/Co-Owner of the Triple Play AAU program and batting facility in Clinton. Chiasson has been a hitting/fielding instructor for over twenty years with players at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. Among those players, over fifteen of them had gone on to play collegiately at all divisions.
Coach Cummins also ran a non-profit baseball camp, Boys of Summer, in Auburn for nine years and has served as an amateur scout for six Major League Baseball franchises. Currently, Coach Cummins is the part-time area scout for the Kansas City Royals covering New England.
He will work with all players throughout the program on every facet of the game while serving as the first base coach for the varsity team.
Sebastian Gruszecki, Varsity Pitching CoachCoach Gruszecki comes to Saint John's following an accomplished pitching career. After being a T&G Super Team All Star pitcher for Shepard Hill HS, he went on to play at Florida Gulf Coast University. At FGCU, he made 56 appearances with 80.2 innings pitched before moving on to pitch at Franklin Pierce University for his grad school year. During his college career, Coach Gruszecki played three seasons with the Worcester Bravehearts of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League where he holds the franchise records for wins, games started, and innings pitched. He also served as a coach at the Bravehearts Youth Camps working with local area players.
Following his playing career, Coach Gruszecki served as a coach in the North East Baseball travel program specifically with their 16u team.
He will serve as the varsity pitching coach while aiding in the development of all pitchers in the program.
Ryan O’Rourke ‘06, Varsity Assistant CoachCoach O’Rourke returns to Saint John’s, after being a pitcher in the program from 2002-2006. Following Saint John’s he went on to Merrimack College where he was a 2010 Northeast 10 All-Conference First Team selection and a two-time Merrimack Pitcher of the Year. He then was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 2010 MLB Draft which began his ten year professional career. During that time, he played for the Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets, making his major league debut in 2015.
After his career, he served as a volunteer assistant coach and director of player development at Holy Cross and the player development coach for the Jr. WooSox AAU Baseball program. Coach O’Rourke is also a member of Ireland’s national baseball team.
Sean Hastings '87, JV Red Head CoachCoach Hastings has been a member of the program's coaching staff since 2018. During that time, he has coached at every sub varsity level and will be entering his second year as the JV Red Head Coach. Also, he serves as the Offensive Coordinator for the Pioneer football team and the head coach for the Middle School- Red basketball team.
In addition to coaching, Coach Hastings serves as the Assistant Athletic Director and a member of the Science Department here at Saint John's.
Dezi Garcia, JV White Head CoachCoach Garcia enters his first season in the program. He was a starting infielder and captain at St. Peter-Marian High School and for East Side Legion from 2010-2013. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for SPM in 2014 and at Wachusett High School in 2016-2017. While in those roles, he assisted in practice planning and the player development of the program’s players at all levels.
Mark Chiasson, Middle School Head CoachCoach Chiasson enters his first season in the program. During a playing career at Umass Lowell, he was a starting infielder on their 1981 Div. II New England Championship team. In 1993, he began his coaching career which included time with the America’s Pastime and Triple Play AAU programs. Recently, he was the Director/Co-Owner of the Triple Play AAU program and batting facility in Clinton. Chiasson has been a hitting/fielding instructor for over twenty years with players at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. Among those players, over fifteen of them had gone on to play collegiately at all divisions.
