Coach John Hodgins is an MLB scout who has scouted for the Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers.  He played college ball at Oakland Community College and went on to play at Southern Florida University before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to injury.  He then shared his passion for the game with the next generation when he started coaching his children's baseball teams and established the Lakes Area Dodgers baseball club.  He was also a varsity coach at West Bloomfield and Waterford Kettering High Schools and later coached at Jackson College for 5 years, whom he now scouts for.  He is currently the catching coach at Mott College.

Coach Hodgins has placed hundreds of high school players onto college rosters, with 5 drafted into the MLB and 1 as an MLB umpire. Based on a player's performance on and off the field, Coach Hodgins will help arrange workouts and campus visits for individual players and work with college coaches and administration to assist with athletic or academic scholarships. He is passionate about giving young ball players the opportunity to reach the next level. You'll see many of his past players come back to help inspire the future generation of players.

Coach Kal is a former collegiate player who also played under Coach Hodgins and the Lakes Area Dodgers as a standout catcher.  He brings over 15 years of experience and has a passion to mentor baseball players at all levels. He played for Mott High School and St. Clair Community College. Coach Kal's youthful, relatable approach resonate with the players.  His coaching focuses on fundamental skills, strategic thinking, and fostering a love for the game.

Coach Justin is a baseball trainer specializing in pitching and hitting. He played for Coach Hodgins and the Lakes Area Dodgers where he developed into a strong right-handed pitcher. He grew up in Waterford and played baseball at Mott High School, graduating in 2016. He played collegiately at Schoolcraft College. His local roots and collegiate experience have given him a unique perspective as a coach, allowing him to connect to young athletes looking to play college ball. 

Coach Steve is the son of Coach John Hodgins.  He is a Major and Minor League Umpire.  He grew up in Keego Harbor and was a 4-year varsity player at Brother Rice High School, where he graduated in 2009. He played college ball at Western Kentucky University and Wabash Valley College before attending the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy in 2016.  He is a veteran of the Pioneer League, Appalachian League, Midwest League, Carolina League, and AA Northeast.  He was the recipient of the third annual Dale Ford Umpire of the Year award. Coach Steve brings his wealth of experience and knowledge to the program. He connects with the players through his positive approach and baseball expertise.

Steve Hodgins Umpiring a minor league game

Our Home Field - Diamonds of Jaycee Park

Jaycee Park in Pontiac, MI, is home to the historic "Diamonds of Jaycee Park." The park holds many memories going back to the 1950s, particularly during those games played "under the lights", as the fields were used for little league, high school, and adult leagues, as well as MLB scouting and tryouts. Many future MLB players, including Kirk Gibson, honed their talents on this very field in their youth. These fields once hosted teams with the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league. One of these teams was a local professional team from Waterford, MI, the Oakland County Cruisers. The Cruisers played here during the independent baseball era that started in 1993, before relocating and rebranding as the London Rippers in 2012.