Instructors

Mitch Thomas

Baseball/Softball Hitting Instructor

Top Velocity certified coach

16u Prime - Head Coach

17/18u - Head Coach

THZ Owner and Business Operations

Four-year varsity letterman at Ritenour Sr. High School in St. Louis, MO 1995-1998. Suburban North All-Conference – DH/IB Senior Season. He received a scholarship to play football and baseball at Missouri Western State College but was unable to play out a college career due to injury. Moved back to St. Louis to complete a Culinary degree at Forest Park Community College. Mitch graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing and Sales Management.

Mitch, coached 8 seasons as an Assistant Coach at Washington University St. Louis NCAA D3 Softball. Wash U Softball has participated in 4 regional tournaments and received two University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year awards. While at Wash U eight Bears have garnered All-American honors. While at Wash U the team has been ranked in the top 30 in 6 of the 7 seasons. Spending several weeks ranked in the top 5. 

Before THZ Mitch coached the St. Louis Lady Spikes and St. Louis Pride Softball teams for 8 seasons. 14 of 19 players who graduated have continued playing in college. Daughter Katlyn Thomas attended nationally ranked the University of Missouri St. Louis NCAA D2 on a softball scholarship. Her 2015 team was inducted into the UMSL Hall of Fame. 

Mitch is available for baseball and softball hitting, catching, and fielding lessons.

mthomas@thehittingzonestl.com

Theresa Decosty

 Softball Hitting Instructor/Slap Specialist

​Coach Theresa attended Francis Howell High School. She was awarded a scholarship to play college softball at Jefferson College and then later on transferred to Columbia College. Theresa would have a chance while at Columbia College to advance and finish 2nd in the country in the NAIA World Series. She led her team to at the time record wins. 

She was a 3X All-American, currently holds the stolen base record at JeffCo, and also received the Newcomer of the Year Award as apart of her college team. She had a career college batting average of .465.

Theresa is available for softball hitting/slapping instruction. To request instruction with Theresa, please email at info@thehittingzonestl.com

Jamal Hughes

Baseball Catching/Hitting Instructor

Owner of Brickwall Catching

Coach Hughes was a 3 varsity letterman at Hazelwood Central High School from 2007-2011. He was a two time All-Conference Selection and helped lead his team to two district titles in his years there. After finishing high school, Jamal went on to play at Harris Stowe University (2012-2013), Frank Phillips College (2013-2014), and SEMO's club baseball team (2014-2017). After graduating from SEMO with a degree in Business Management, Jamal went on to play for the Somerton Caneros in the Independent League.

Jamal is available for catching and hitting instruction.