Batson begins his sixth season as assistant coach. Batson’s duties include coaching first base, working with middle infielders and outfielders and assisting with recruiting.

Batson graduated from Bradenton Christian High School in 1983 after helping the Panthers to a district championship in 1981 and back-to-back Bay Conference championships in 1981 and 1982. He played his college baseball at Montreat-Anderson College and the University of Charleston (UC) and graduated from UC with a B.A. in mass communications in 1987.

Batson has been an assistant coach at Cardinal Mooney, Sarasota and Southeast high schools, and head coach of the Manatee HEAT. In that latter capacity, he led the team to district runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006.

Batson founded the Athletics in Christ ministry in 1998 and has worked with Baseball Chapel within the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and the Sarasota Red Sox (class A Florida State League) organizations.

Batson is a developer of Web-based strength and conditioning programs for professional baseball teams. He currently works with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates strength and conditioning coaches and maintains the Web-based media for the Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.

He is the administrator of Providence Community School in Bradenton. Batson and his wife, Kelly, have two children, Caleb and Christina, and reside in Bradenton.