Categories
BASEBALL COACHES
KORY BUCKLEW, Professional Baseball Instructor
Director of High School Baseball
Manager-Finish Strong Force Baseball Team-16U Red
RANDY DUNNETT, General Manager/Professional Baseball Instructor
Director of High School Baseball
Manager-Finish Strong Force Baseball Team-18U Red
Randy Dunnett is a co-founder, and fills the General Manager and Baseball Director role at Finish Strong. His dream of an indoor baseball school materialized in the summer and fall of 2004, and the doors at Finish Strong opened in February of 2005. Playing, learning, instructing, and coaching baseball have consumed Randy’s life. As a student Randy began his learning at 10 years old with private lessons. He continued to take pitching and hitting lessons for 10 years. Respectively, Randy had 10 years of pitching lessons with 12 year major league veteran Tom Brennan, and four years of hitting with highly regarded hitting instructor Mark Dorn. His ability to learn quickly and his early successes on the field lit an inner fire for learning and playing the game of baseball. A Chicago native, Randy played junior college at South Suburban College in 1996-97. After SSC, he moved on to Belmont University for the 1998-99 seasons, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Along with the many camps, Randy instructed through his college career. He was frequently the source of insight for his teammates. His keen eye for mechanics and game-play, and his ability to communicate, set a clear forecast for his future. He began his professional playing career in May of 1999 with the Cook County Cheetahs (Windy City Thunderbolts) of the independent Frontier League. He played two full seasons before his retirement in May of 2001.
After finishing his first stint in organized baseball, Randy continued to play in various semi-professional leagues. He followed his inner passion and found his way back to playing all positions on the field and hitting competitively. He started his career as a professional instructor at Jack Perconte’s Sports Academy in the winter of 2000, and continued his work there until the spring of 2004. He opened his baseball academy at Finish Strong in the spring of 2005, where he has worked with thousands of students and experience levels ranging from t-ball to professional players in both baseball and softball.
Each season, Randy maintained his ability to pitch at a professional level, and in the summer of 2007, he made a comeback at the age of 29 to professional baseball after a seven year retirement. In August of 2007, the Schaumburg Flyers (of the independent Northern League) signed Randy to pitch the last 20 games of their season.
Field management and coaching have also been a part of Randy’s baseball life. He has coached 7-8 year old Little League coach pitch teams, and he has also served as a minor league pitching coach with the Windy City Thunderbolts. In between, he has coached at the Pony League level, High School level, and the College level. His ability to connect with players and prepare them for game success is where he excels. Randy’s thorough enjoyment of coaching on the field will be sure to land him on the field for many more coaching positions.
"Randy's passion for the game is remarkable," says David Jarvis, Head Baseball Coach at Belmont University and Coach Dunnett's college manager. "His love of baseball and desire to help young players excel is as great as I have seen in 25 years of coaching college baseball. Working with him provides an opportunity to bring out a player’s best."
Randy’s manager from the Men’s Senior Baseball League, Tom Laforce says this “ I have been managing a Men's senior baseball team in the Fox Valley area for over 20 years. The ages of our players are from 28 and up. We are affiliated nationally and have over 650 players in three age divisions. For the past 20 years, my teams have been using indoor facilities to prepare for our summer season. Three years ago, we found the FINISH STRONG folks in West Chicago. This facility, headed by Randy Dunnett, is one of the finest indoor places we have ever used (and we have used almost everyone in the Fox Valley area). The baseball layout is terrific and large groups of players can get multiple station practice in a limited time. But a facility is only as good as the people that run it. This is where FINISH STRONG really shines. Randy Dunnett, owner and director, and his staff provide a professional facility that is an extremely effective practice and training outlet.”
“Randy Dunnett is an outstanding instructor in all phases of baseball with particular strengths of working with pitchers and hitters. Randy still pitches professionally with the Schaumberg Flyers, and has that unique set of abilities to transfer 'mechanical' baseball knowledge to players of all ages and levels. I have witnessed first hand how he works with younger players and can unequivocally recommend him as an instructor to your kids. I believe the expertise and passion that Randy and his staff demonstrate on a daily basis makes FINISH STRONG a can't miss facility for all your indoor athletic training needs.”
At Finish Strong, Randy’s goal is to have a positive affect on as many lives as possible. His dream of opening an indoor sports academy has fulfilled his desire to help others learn and follow their dreams. Despite never reaching his own dream of playing in the Major Leagues or being inducted to the Hall of Fame, his goal in baseball is to achieve the true mark of a Hall of Famer, to leave the game better than he found it.
His proudest moments in life include countless on-field achievements, opening for business at Finish Strong, marrying his high school sweetheart, and becoming a father to his two children, Drake and Brady.
Randy owes special thanks to his immediate family for preparing him for life, especially his parents Rick and Colleen. Also, thanks are in order to his wife Deana for sacrificing her husband since the start of business in ’04. All of his friends, family members, and employees that have helped him build our project. Last but not least, a very special thanks to all the investors who allow us to make a difference.
MIKE TRIUMPH, Professional Baseball Instructor
Manager-Finish Strong Force Baseball Team-14U Red
Finish Strong is thrilled to have Mike Triumph on the baseball instructional staff. Mike is a Chicago Native, having played two years of Junior College at Prairie State and two years of Division 1 baseball at Western Illinois University.
At Prairie State Mike won All Region and also set the all-time hitting records in batting average (.455), doubles and triples. At Western Illinois University Mike played infield and contributed at the Division 1 level for 2 years.
Mike began working with Randy as a student during his years at Prairie State. Since then he continued working with and playing summer baseball with Randy. Now Mike is excited about teaching and building Finish Strong’s Baseball Program.
MARK TRIUMPH, Professional Baseball Instructor
Manager-Finish Strong Force Baseball Team-15U Black
Mark Triumph grew up in South Holland, IL on the south side of Chicago. He played two years of Junior College baseball at Prairie State where he was also a two year team captain.
From there Mark continued his career at Mount Mercy College which was one of the nation’s top NAIA baseball teams. At Mount Mercy, Mark played infield and was a contributor to back-to-back 40 plus winning seasons.
Mark and Randy Dunnett met in 2001 while playing for the Dolton Braves and they continued to work and play together over the years. Now Mark looks forward to contributing his knowledge and skills to the Finish Strong baseball program.
SEAN DOHERTY, Professional Baseball Instructor
Director of Youth Baseball
Manager-Finish Strong Force Baseball Team-13U Red
1999-2003: St. Charles North High School: Two Time All-Conference, Shortstop
2003-2005: Parkland College-Champaign. IL: Played in the Junior College World Series, Finish 2nd
2005-2007: Charleston Southern University-Charleston, SC
Division I program in the Big South Conference
(Business Management,Marketing Degree)
2007-2008: Tampa Bay Rays Organization
Rookie Ball- Princeton, WV A Ball- Vero Beach, FL
Summer League Teams
2004- Lombard Orioles (Chicago Suburban League) Lombard, IL
2005- Wilmington Sharks (Coastal Plains League) Wilmington, NC
2006- Brainerd Blue Thunder (Northwoods League) Brainerd, MN
MATT ZALESKI, Professional Baseball Instructor
Welcome back Coach Matt!
Coach Matt returns to us for the 3rd season, and he's very excited about that. We would like to congratulate him on a fantastic season with the Birmingham Barons in the White Sox organization. He was a AA All Star with a 6-2 record, 2.05 ERA for the Birmingham Barsons, he also made three starts with the AAA Charlotte going 0-1 with 3.0 ERA.
Coach Matt is excited about passing along his knowledge and experience to younger players.
DUSTY GILBRETH, Professional Baseball Instructor
Manager-Finish Strong Force Baseball Team-12U Black
Dusty was born in Jacksonville, and was raised in Orlando and Chicago. At Barrington High School, he was the Catcher and 3rd Baseman for their baseball team. In 2005 Dusty went to North Central College, where he was a Catcher for all 4 years. He was named Team Captain senior year, and received the Mental Attitude Award. Dusty graduated with a degree in Business Management.
Carmen Pignatiello
Carmen was selected by the Cubs in the 2000 Draft...he struck out 662 batters in 720 innings of work in the first six years of his pro career...graduated from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill., in 2000 ... was a first-team all-state selection and co-MVP of the Chicago Catholic League in 2000, going 14-0 with a 0.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts...selected as the 2000 Illinois Baseball Player of the Year by Gatorade and named the 2000 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year...was a member of the 1998 gold medal-winning USA Baseball Youth National team.