To utilize the gifts, talents and experiences that we have been given to equip athletes, so they may reach their full potential.
Home     About Us     Baseball     Softball     Soccer     Speed/Conditioning     Pricing     Programs     Camps     Teams     Contact Us      
David Darwin is the owner and director of the Core Athletics facility. His experience includes six years as a professional baseball player and 13 years as a youth baseball camp instructor.The Detroit Tigers drafted him in 1996 where he progressed through the organization to play for the Triple-A Toledo Mudhens. He also played in the Cleveland Indians organization for the double-A Akron Aeros and the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.  David is available for pitching instruction.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derek Shoe is on our staff after serving as the hitting coach as well as recruiting at Pfeiffer University for three seasons.  In Shoe’s first year on campus, the Falcons led the nation in homeruns with 114.  They also hit .333 as a team while being ranked as high as 10th nationally (NCAA Division II). In his three years at Pfeiffer, Shoe has coached one All-American and seven All-Region players. He is the current head coach for the Davidson Copperheads collegiate team that plays in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.  Derek played at Methodist College as a middle infielder and leads our defensive instructional programs.  He is available for hitting or defensive instruction as well as team practices.
 
 
 
Ryder Mathias is our catching instructor.  He retired after playing in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and LA Dodgers organizations with his last stop at the Triple-A Las Vegas 51's.  Ryder graduated from Wake Forest Univ with a degree in communications and was a team leader on their ACC championship team.  He is avaiable for catching and hitting instruction.  
 
 

 

 

Don Gemmell joins our staff as a pitching instructor as well as coaching the Middle School teams. He comes to us from California where he played in high school at East Union High School. He was an All-Conference Pitcher and led his team to a Section Championship. He set school records for wins and strikeouts. He then attended San Jose State College where he was an important part of the pitching staff success as the team reached the Regional Championships. During his senior year the team was ranked as high as 12th in the nation, leading the team in saves and striking out 49 batters in 49 innings. He was drafted in the 12th round by the Cincinnati Reds where he played for the Billings Mustangs and Dayton Dragons. While with the Billings Mustangs he led them in saves with 12, had 41 strikeouts and 4 walks in 29 innings. In 2003 he was one of the top prospects in the organization. He retired from Professional baseball in 2005 due to an arm injury.  He is available for individual instruction.

 
 

Jason Johnson is a hitting and outfield instructor. He retired after 9 years playing in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and with the Long Island Ducks. Jason was both a South Atlantic League and Florida State League All-Star, where he consistently led his teams in at bats, hits, triples, and stolen bases. He played Double-A with the Reading Phillies where he led the team in outfield assists and was second on the team with a .285 batting average. He was first drafted by Cincinnati in 1995, but opted for Chaffey Junior College, before being drafted by the Phillies in 1996. Jason was a high school standout in Montclair, California, where he was 2 time All-Inland Valley and batted over .500 his senior year. Jason is available for hitting and defensive instruction as well as team coaching. 

 

 

 

Jeremy Johnson is apart of our staff this off-season for individual and team pitching instruction. Jeremy is a former 11th round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2000. He just completed his season with the Toledo Mudhens by posting a 3.44 era. Was named Detroit Tiger “Pitcher of the Month” for June 2002. Jeremy was the 2000 Western Foothills Conference Player of the Year from Mooresville High School. He was also 1st team All-State, Iredell County Player of the Year and All-Observer Team. His seven years of professional baseball have taught him the importance of proper mechanics and a strong work ethic.


 

 
Zach Ward is joining our team during his off-seasons.  He was a high school standout at Kannapolis HS and played collegiately at Gardner Webb.  Zach was drafted in the 3rd round by the Cincinnati Reds and is currently in Double A, New Briton with the Minnesota Twins organization.  He is available for individual pitching instruction and will be working with our fall teams.
 
Jason Sarvis - Current High School coach at JM Robinson.  Jason was a former standout at Northwest Cabarrus High School  where he was 3-time All-Conference and played in at the State Games of NC in 1997,1998, and 1999.  Jason played his college ball at UNC-Greensboro where he was 2-time All-Southern Conference at second base, a team captain for two years and stills holds the school record for doubles in one season (24).  He majored in Exercise and Sport Science where he was named to the All-Southern Conference Academic Team three times.  He will be working with various programs throughout the year.