MINERAL AREA COLLEGE

Baseball Coaching Staff

  Head Coach - Jim Gerwitz

    High School:     Hazelwood Central (Florissant , MO)

    College:        East Central CC (1993-1994)

                        Mineral Area College (1994-1995)   AA

                        Southeast Missouri State University (1995-1997)

                        Central Methodist College (1999) BS - Criminal Justice

After graduating from Hazelwood Central High School, Gerwitz began his college playing career at East Central CC. He was an All-Conference and All-Region player as a catcher, and then transferred to Mineral Area College. He continued his All-Conference and All-Region statistics at MAC, but this time as a third baseman. After graduation, he transferred to the Southeast Missouri State University and had two more successful seasons playing under a former MAC player, Mark Hogan. Gerwitz played multiple positions at Southeast (First, Third, and Catcher).  Near the end of his senior season at Southeast, Gerwitz received a phone call to come back to MAC as an assistant coach. He finished his degree in Criminal Justice through Central Methodist College at MAC while fulfilling his coaching duties. Gerwitz was hired full-time in 1999 as a Criminal Justice Instructor and assistant coach. Gerwitz took over the head coaching job in 2004, and will be entering his sixth season as the Cards' skipper.

Coach Gerwitz and his wife Dione, reside in Farmington , Missouri. They have three beautiful daughters, Chelsea (age 16), and Kaylee (4 year), and Zoey (2 year). Gerwitz has big plans for the Mineral Area College baseball program. "We need to get the right players in here to turn this program in to a Region 16 powerhouse." said Gerwitz. "We're definitely going in the right direction!"  The Cards were vastly improved last season finishing 28-21. Coach Gerwitz was named MCCAC Coach of the Year in 2008. 

  Coaching Career:

  2003-Present   Mineral Area College     Head Coach (97-151-2)

  1997-2002      Mineral Area College     Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach - Colin Hedrick

  High School:     Bismarck (MO)

  College:            Mineral Area College   AA

                          Central Methodist College   BS -Business Administration

After graduating from Bismarck High School, Hedrick began his college playing career at Mineral Area College.  He spent seven seasons in a Cardinal uniform, two as a player, and five as an assistant coach.  Hedrick split time as a coach and a student, earning a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Central Methodist University at MAC.  After completing his degree, he left the baseball program and began working in private industry.

In 2003, the phone rang, and Colin answered a call from the new Head Baseball Coach at Mineral Area College.  Coach Hedrick answered the call from Coach Gerwitz to start his second stint as an assistant baseball coach at Mineral Area.  He has been working hand-in-hand with Gerwitz to improve the Cardinals Baseball program since then.

Coach Hedrick resides in Bismarck, Missouri . He has two beautiful children, Chloe (6) and Carter (3). Coach Hedrick's on field duties include handing the pitching staff and the Catchers. Coach Hedrick also assists with the recruiting for the Cards baseball program. When not on the baseball field, Coach Hedrick is the Business Office Manager for Georgian Gardens Nursing Center and Belleview Valley Nursing Home.

Coaching Career:

2003-Present   Mineral Area College     Assistant Coach

1995-1997      Mineral Area College     Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach - Stan Walden

High School:     Winnetonka (MO)

College:           Missouri State University   BS - Education

                       Southeast Missouri State (graduate hours in MEA)

Stan Walden begins his second year at Mineral Area College.  His duties as assistant include coordinating the recruiting efforts.  On the field, Walden works with the Cardinals defense and hitters.  Walden believes one of the biggest thrills he has with his job is seeing players from all over come together as a group to accomplish great things.  He added, “I enjoy seeing young people be a part of something successful.  It is important for people to have structure and discipline, and I enjoy being part of a program that focuses on that.  Our players not only become better baseball players, but people in general,”

Prior to coming to Mineral Area, Walden spent 30 years coaching baseball at all levels.  As a high school coach (at Caruthersville MO and Farmington MO) from 1981 to 2004, his teams had an overall record of 335 wins and 192 losses; winning 10 district championships and appearing in 4 Missouri High School state quarterfinals.  Walden has also been part of the coaching staff of Team Missouri, participating in the Junior Sunbelt series; and also the MSHBCA Senior All-Star series.  In addition to high school coaching, Walden spent three summers coaching in a collegiate wood bat league, winning a KITTY League championship in 2005 with a record of 42-8 with the Farmington Firebirds.  He has also run numerous instructional baseball camps and clinics for players and coaches of all ages.  Walden also served as an Associate Scout with the Kansas City Royals.  He was inducted into the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association "Hall of Fame" in 2001.