Instructors

CloseChris Estep

Master Instructor
Hitting
5-Tool Program
Functional Fitness Certified

Chris founded Roundtripper Sports Academy in 1993 after finishing his 7.5-year professional baseball career. Prior to playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Montreal Expos, Chris was named an All-American at the University of Kentucky. Chris has coached and instructed men and women of all ages for over 30 years. Chris’s clients include players of all levels, including collegiate and the professional ranks. Chris is currently the head baseball coach at University High School. His superb expertise in hitting has made him one of the most respected instructors in the country.

Chris is currently the Head of Player Training and Development for the Indiana Mustangs baseball organization and Colts Baseball Club.

CloseScott Shirley

Lead Instructor
Hitting/Fielding

Scott has been with RoundTripper for over 25 years and has coached with the Indiana Mustangs program for over 12 of those years. Scott graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Elementary and Secondary Education. He also has a degree in Physical Education and taught at Sheridan High School. Scott coached for five years at the high-school varsity baseball and softball levels, and he was also part of the football coaching staff at Sheridan High School and Noblesville High School. His patience and positive, upbeat personality have made him a favorite instructor with elementary and middle-school aged students. Scott is currently the Head JV Coach at University High School.

Scott is the lead instructor and program director for RoundTripper’s Instructional Classes and Tiny Tots program.

CloseGarrett Christman

Lead Instructor
Pitching
Professional Baseball Player

A Noblesville, Indiana, native and Noblesville High School alumnus, Garrett was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2018 and is currently a professional baseball pitcher for the Windy City Thunderbolts. Before signing his pro contract, Garrett attended Butler University, where he was a four-year starter as a shortstop/third basemen as well as a starting pitcher. He graduated Butler in May 2018 with a degree in Human Movement Health Science Education. Growing up in Noblesville, Garrett has been a student at RoundTripper, learning the game of baseball from Chris Estep and the RoundTripper staff while playing for the Indiana Mustangs during his middle-school and high-school years.

Garrett currently brings his knowledge of the game to RoundTripper by working as an instructor during the off-season. He is a lead instructor in our ACE pitching program and a Pitching Coordinator for the Indiana Mustangs.

CloseCoach Vernon Smith joins Roundtripper as our Head Director of Sports Performance. Coach Smith comes to us from Marian University where he spend 13 years as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Marian University. While at Marian Coach Smith oversaw 26 different sports and helped lead multiple teams to both conference and national championships. In addition to working at the collegiate level, Coach Smith has privately trained youth, collegiate, professional and even Olympic level athletes. Coach Vern’s coaching style includes a mixed variation of training types, depending on the sport and individual athletes’ ability. His background working with various athletes of different genders, ages, and sports allows him to adapt quickly and help take any athlete to the next level and help them reach their goals.

Vernon Smith was a collegiate football player at Marian University. After his sophomore year of college he suffered a knee injury which led to a reconstruction surgery. He battled back from his injury to play one final football season. In 2010 following his final season as a player, Vern became a strength and conditioning coach at Marian University where he eventually became the director of strength and conditioning. Vern has also been named the strongest strength coach in the world. He currently resides in Westfield with his wife and three daughters.

CloseEduardo Villacis

Master Pitching Instructor

Coach Villacis was originally signed by the Colorado Rockies as a rookie free agent out of Venezuela in 1998, under the recommendation of scout and former big leaguer Jorge Posada. Villacis started his career in the Rockies Minor League system in 2000, playing for five seasons, before being traded to the Kansas City Royals. On May 1, 2004, the Royals called him up to start a game against the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium. On May 26, the Chicago White Sox claimed Villacis off waivers from Kansas City and optioned him to the Double-A Birmingham Barons.

In 2006, Villacis played for the Atlantic City Surf of the independent Atlantic League, during what turned out to be his final year in baseball. Overall, he posted a 29-17 record with a 3.58 earned run average in 145 career minor league games, including 49 starts, from 2000–2006. In between, Villacis played winter ball with the Leones del Caracas and Tiburones de La Guaira clubs of the Venezuelan League during seven seasons spanning 1998–2005. He started eight games and relieved in 97 more, going 8-5 with a 3.87 ERA and one save in 151 innings of work.

Coach Villacis then began his coaching career and has made multiple stops in the MLB coaching system. From 2007 - 2008 he was the pitching coach for the Colorado Rockies at the pioneer league. In 2010 Coach Villacis was the Manager / Player with the Bern Cardinals in the Swiss league in Europe. Then from 2011 - 2012 he pitching coach for the Zulia Aguilas In the Venezuelan winter league. From 2014 - 2018 he served as the pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs at The Venezuelan Summer league ( VSL ) and at the Dominican Summer League ( DSL ) and was the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamond Backs 2019 - 2020.

Coach Villacis is currently a Master Pitching Instructor in our ACE pitching program and is also a Pitching Coordinator for the Indiana Mustangs.

CloseAndrew Quinn

Lead Instructor
Pitching/Hitting

Andrew Quinn was a four-year letter-winner at DePauw University graduating with a BS in Communications. He was a two-time All-Conference starting pitcher for the Tigers, and helped lead them to two NCAA regional appearances--including his senior year as team captain, when the team set a school record with 33 wins and a top-20 ranking nationally. Quinn was also an All-State pitcher in high school. He spent a summer in the collegiate Prospect League, where he earned pitcher-of-the-week honors and multiple NCAA Division III spotlight honors.

Coach Quinn is currently the Head Coach at Clinton Central High School, where he was Sectional Champion in 2021, and previously worked as an Assistant Coach at Wabash College. Quinn is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM CPT) and is an instructor with our ACE pitching program. Coach Quinn has served a Head Coach in both the Indiana Mustangs and Colts Baseball Club programs.

CloseReese Sharp
Ace JR Pitching Instructor

Reese Sharp is a former Indiana Mustang and RoundTripper athlete who graduated from University High School in 2019. After leading the Trailblazers to an IHSAA State Championship, Reese was drafted by the San Francisco Giants out of high school in 2019 but chose instead to attend Indiana University. He was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round in 2022. Reese was recently promoted to High A in 2023, appearing in 22 games for the MiLB Aberdeen IronBirds.

Reese is currently instructing in RoundTripper's ACE Jr program while working out and training at the facility in his off season.

CloseGabbi Schnaiter

Associate Instructor
Fastpitch Pitching

At Fishers High School Gabbi was a Varsity starter for four season, All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference three consecutive seasons, All-Hamilton County first team for four seasons, 2016 Hamilton County Player of the Year, the career and season record holder for strikeouts, wins, ERA, and innings pitched at Fishers HS, 2016 first team All-State selection, Indianapolis Star Super Softball Team in 2016, a 2016 Indiana All-Star, team MVP in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and was the first softball player on the FHS Athletic Wall of Fame.

Gabbi continued her playing career first at Butler University where she led the team in innings pitched as a Freshman. After transferring to Indiana State for her Junior season, Gabbi lead the Sycamores in innings pitched and ERA that year. She concluded her college career in 2021 striking out 225 batters, good for 8th all time in single season strikeouts for the Sycamores.

CloseEric Wott
Lead Instructor
Pitching/Infield/Hitting
Performance Training – Speed & Agility

Eric Wott grew up playing the game of baseball and is among the many RoundTripper Alumni. Having played travel ball for Cesar Barrientos, he too has a similar skill set of having the ability to advance players' fundamentals, explain the physics of baseball in order improve performance, and develop well-rounded, intelligent players. A graduate of University High School, Wott started for Chris Estep on the Varsity Baseball team all four years. He continued his playing career at Bellarmine University, located in Louisville Kentucky, playing 3rd base and relief pitcher. He graduated with a degree in Fitness Management and Personal Training from IUPUI. Coach Wott specializes in pitching, hitting, and performance training.

Wott is currently a Head Coach in the Indiana Mustangs program as well as the RoundTripper Elite fall program.

CloseAlfonso Palacios
Lead Instructor
Hitting/Fielding

Coach Palacios played with the Caracas Lions in Venezuela. He worked for the Chicago Cubs holding various positions within the organization including area scout. Coach Palacios has played and coached for over 20 years and is the manager of the "Roundtripper The Show" adult baseball team.

CloseAJ Brack

All Disciples

AJ comes to RoundTripper after 27 years of pitching experience. AJ pitched professionally for 5 years, and 12 years pitching for the Greek National Team.

AJ is excited to coach all disciplines from pitching to base running. He prides himself on enhancing strengths and improving weaknesses. AJ is open to both individual and group lessons, while being active in Mustangs training and working with individual teams. AJ currently resides in Zionsville with his wife Katelynn and 3 kids.

CloseEli Copner

Eli graduated from Zionsville HS in 2017, and Hanover College in 2021. During his time at Hanover, Eli was involved in Phi Gamma Delta and acted as the Director of Gameday Operations for the Athletic Department, while serving as a captain on the baseball team.

Eli is excited to work with all athletes, from fundamentals to mechanics of base running, hitting, pitching, or catching. Eli currently coaches at Zionsville HS as a JV coach, while serving as the Assistant General Manager of RT Baseball Academy and coaching one of their 16U teams. He also coaches a RT Elite fall team.

CloseTony Meyer

Lead Instructor
All Disciplines

Tony joins the RT staff with over 20 years of coaching experience, eager to coach all disciplines of the game including; catching, pitching, hitting, and fielding. Currently, Tony is involving in teaching 5-tool hitting with coach Chris Estep and as a Lead instructor in Mustangs Training.

Coach Meyer's resume includes coaching college baseball at Hanover College, DePauw University, and Marion University among other schools. Most recently, Tony has coached the Gulf Shores Seahorses to a League Championship appearance. Meyer has also instructed at the Gameday USA National Prospect ID Camps in Pensacola, Florida. His experience at the College, High School and Youth level helps him relate to players of all Levels. Tony currently resides in Greencastle Indiana with his wife and kids.

CloseFormer RoundTripper student Tre Douglas, returns to RT as an associate instructor, specializing in catching & hitting. Tre is currently involved in teaching in the 5-tool hitting program along with coach Chris Estep. Tre also works with catchers and hitters of all ages throughout the Mustangs program.

Tre was a former Catcher at Noblesville HS, and ranked one of the top players in the state. Tre went on to Northland CC and Marion University Ancilla to play baseball. Following his time at Marion, Tre caught in the Midwest Prospect League. He continues to play in the Indy Baseball League, where he was a 2-time All-Star (2022/2023) and 1-time MVP (2023). Tre currently resides Noblesville with his two daughters and son on the way.

CloseJackson Freed
Hitting / Catching Instructor

Jackson Freed is back in Westfield and exciting to be teaching lessons at RT! During his four years at Franklin College, he carried a .305 average while throwing 50 out from behind the plate. He was selected to the all conference team his Junior year, and led his team as the starting catcher to the HCAC Regional and a 39-5 record. He was also selected to the Conference All Sportsmanship team.

Jackson preaches work ethic and perseverance, and is ready to pass those life skills on to the next generation of ballplayers.

CloseCarlos Peredes

Lead Instructor
Hitting/Fielding

Carlos is a long-time member of the RT family. Carlos hails from Venezuela, where he started playing baseball at 5 years old. Carlos graduated from USM (University of Santa Maria) where he also played baseball. Carlos went on to play a decade of AA ball in Venezuela. Since 2014, Carlos has played Men's Baseball in the Latino League, IBL, and the Travel Men's League, even dabbling in flow-pitch Softball for a nationally ranked team. He has also represented team USA in the fast-pitch league.

Carlos has almost a decade of instruction under his belt, where he specializes in every aspect of the game. Carlos is available for individual lessons, group lessons, and often leads our Mustangs Training teams throughout the fall and winter. Carlos is excited to work with athletes of all ages as they work toward their baseball and softball goals.