Pete Flores
Director of Player Development
Pete Flores is originally from Los Angeles, California, where he started his coaching career in 2005 at South Gate HS. Spending 1 season at South Gate, his team had an overall record of 30-5 and undefeated in league play. From that 05 team, 6 players went on to play college baseball, most in the school's history.
From 2006-2008 Flores spent his time at East Los Angeles Junior College working under James Hines, making the state playoffs all 3 seasons. In 2008 East Los Angeles College led the league in batting avg., stolen bases and fielding percentage. ELAC went on to move multiple players into the 4 year level.
During his summers, Pete coached the Dupage Dragons of the Central Collegiate League, under Mark Viramontes. Leading the Dragons to the championship games in 05 and 07.
In 2009 Flores took a position at the University of Utah. In his first season, Utah beat Texas Christian University to win the conference tournament. Resulting in Utah getting a bid into the postseason for the first time in decades. Utah went on to the championship game of the Cal St. Fullerton Regional.
Following the 2010 season at Utah, Flores spent time in the offseason coaching with Team USA, who made it to the Gold Medal Game vs Cuba. On Team USA, Flores had the opportunity to coach players like Gerrit Cole, Jackie Bradley Jr, Anthony Rendon to name a few. Flores quotes, “The opportunity to wear USA across my chest and being on the field with future MLB All Stars, was something he will be forever grateful for”.
In 2015 he helped recruit and build the Pac12 championship team for The University of Utah, the first PAC12 championship team in Utah history.
Following his coaching extent at Utah, Flores made the move to Rake City at the end of 2015. Now being the owner, Pete has had the privilege to assist over 100 players to move forward in their collegiate careers. Most notably, Owen Murphy, 1st round 2022, Atlanta Braves. Flores is honored to have had 57 players in the MLB draft and has had 13 players make it to the big leagues.
Staying goal-oriented, Pete's highest priority is the development, growth, and constant evolution of his players as well as his staff at Rake City. Currently, Pete is working towards becoming a certified MLB professional scout. Flores is a tireless worker and is excited for the future at The Training Grounds.
Ryan Crowley
Ryan grew up in Berywn, Ill., where he attended Morton West High School. An all-state pitcher at Morton West, Ryan was drafted out of high school in the 36th round but decided to pass on professional baseball for the moment and attend Northwest Florida State College instead. After spending two seasons at Northwest Florida State, Ryan was then drafted in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2011. Ryan pitched three seasons in the Angels farm system, earning all-star honors in 2013, for both the Midwest League and the Angels organization.
Ryan joined the Team DeMarini Illinois staff in the summer of 2014 and coached one of the high school teams every season since, which continues now with Rake City. As the director of recruiting, Ryan travels all over the area finding the best players in the Midwest to compete and play for Rake City. With an ability to modify coaching to best fit the learning style of each player, as the pitching coordinator, Ryan heads the pitching instruction for Rake City’s high school players.Ryan is available for pitching lessons to players of all ages.
Christian Camacho
Christian is a native of Elk Grove Village, Illinois where he attended Elk Grove High School. During his time at Elk Grove he was a 3 time all conference selection, 2-time Conference Player of the Year, 2 time all-area selection, Daily Herald and Journal Sports topic player of the year, First Team All-State Selection, as well as an ABCA Third Team All-American his senior year. In his senior season he compiled a 12-1 record with 120 strikeouts in 77 innings, while also hitting .512 with 19 doubles and scored 39 runs in the leadoff spot.
Christian attended Auburn University his freshman year evolving into the mid-week starter role. Christian made 12 appearances with 8 starts his freshman posting a 2-3 record in 36 innings.
As a Sophomore he attended Perennial Juco-Powerhouse Northwest Florida Junior College where he was the opening day starter and made 14 appearances on the mound with 10 of those being starts. Christian also hit .346 manning shortstop for the Raiders down the stretch.
His performance was well-deserving to earn a scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh. Christian became the Saturday starter early in the season before suffering a season ending elbow injury.
For his final year of eligibility he transferred to NAIA Powerhouse Southeastern University. Christian went 11-1 and was a First-Team All Sun-Conference selection. Christian led one of the nation’s best pitching staffs to an outright Conference Title as well as a trip to The NAIA Avista World Series where the Fire were the number 1 overall seed.
Christian then inked a professional deal following that stellar season in the Frontier League for the Gateway Grizzlies. Christian started in the bullpen and made his way into the rotation totaling 6 appearances with 3 starts. In 24 innings Christian compiled a 1-1 record with a 3.33 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
Christian was excited to have rejoin the Rake City Family as a coach after playing for the organization from 2014-2017. Christian is a jack-of-all trades and has extensive knowledge in all aspects of the game, focusing on pitching, hitting, catching and infield. Christian is in his second year working with Rake City and hopes to have an impact on all players that go through the program. Christian available for lessons for all ages in pitching, hitting and defense.
Ryan Cantlin
Ryan grew up in Downers Grove, and he played his High School ball at Downers Grove North. At DGN Ryan was All Conference twice and all area honorable mention once.
After high school, Ryan attended Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago where he was a 4 year starting Pitcher. He helped lead the Scarlet Hawks to their first 2 NACC tournament appearances. He currently ranks in the top 5 in career ERA, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts.
Ryan currently serves as the head pitching coach for Illinois Institute of Technology.
Ryan joined the Rake City staff in the summer of 2021 and looks forward to providing a positive impact on all players in the program.
Ryan is available for pitching lessons to players of all ages.
Phone: (630) 796-9030
Email: rcantlin@iit.edu
Kyle Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was a 2017 Grad at Riverside-Brookfield where he was a three-time all-conference and all-area shortstop, was given the award of Landmark’s Male Athlete of the Year during his senior campaign; Fitzgerald can be regarded as one of RB’s all-time hitters.
Fitzgerald went on to play at Northwest Florida State College; a well-known powerhouse in the Panhandle Conference under Head Coach Doug Martin and Assistant Coaches Chris Johns and Matt Miller.During his freshman year Fitz slashed a .309 avg/.383 obp/.533 slg pct., leading the team in doubles (16), ranking second in RBIs (41) and HRs (6). His performance allowed him to earn a spot on the All-Panhandle Conference Second Team. His sophomore year campaign he slashed .324/.411/.394 line which got him a spot on the All-Panhandle Conference First Team. Fitz’s favorite memory from NWF was playing in the Region VIII State Championship Tournament at the Detroit Tigers Spring Training Complex in Lakeland,FL his sophomore year even after falling one game shy losing in the championship where they lost their bid to Grand Junction to participate in the NJCAA D1 World Series.
After a strong two seasons at NWF Fitzgerald transferring to Saint Louis University under Head Coach Darin Hendrickson, and Assistant Coaches: Logan Moon, Adam Revelette, Evan Pratte, and Will Schierholz. Fitzgerald started his first Division 1 season on a tear slashing .477/.500/.750 in a COVID-shortened junior season. He was listed as D1 Baseball’s Top Transfer Hitters list and going into his second year at SLU was on D1 Baseball’s Preseason 3B list at #23. Fitzgerald slashed .285/.341/.441 his second season and then .308/.424/.514 his final season. He ranked top 3 on the team in every major hitting category during his three year stint at Saint Louis University and posted a career fielding percentage of .974 there.
Fitzgerald played for the Southland Vikings under Kevin Frenchetti the summer of ‘17 and helped them win the MWCL Championship. The ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, and ‘22 summers he played for the Lombard Orioles under Jeff Vukovich and Tim Stoddard. He was a crucial piece to the ‘18 team that won the NABF World Series. Fitzgerald is a three-time First Team All-CSBL and four-time All-WSL team. Fitzgerald was the Collegiate Player of the Year in the CSBL in ‘19 and CSBL League MVP in ‘22 as well as setting the batting average record in the Wisconsin State League in ‘22.
Fitzgerald is excited to be back again as he once played with RC from 2014-2017. Fitzgerald would help out with summer and winter camps hosted by Rake City during his college years and even was the 10u Head Coach all the way back in 2018. Fitzgerald brings a lot of energy and knowledge to the staff as well as leadership experience as he was named Captain at RB and Saint Louis University. Fitzgerald is excited to develop and spread his baseball knowledge to the next generation of players going through the Rake City Family.
Fitzgerald is available for lessons for all ages
Jaxon Herchenbach
Jaxon grew up in Downers Grove, IL and attended Hinsdale South High School from 2013-2017. Jaxon started playing for Team Demarini, now known as RakeCity in 2014. He first started playing three years earlier with the Perfect Swing Panthers where he took 6th in the home run derby.
He started playing for Rake City in 2014 where his team during the 2017 season won the ABC championship at Grand Park. At Hinsdale South Highschool, Jaxon hit .316 with 2 home runs and 42 RBI’s while also posting a 7-2 record on the mound with a .87 ERA and 47 strikeouts. his senior season.
Jaxon went on to play at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville TN where he spent two years on the baseball team and finished undergraduate schooling. During his time at Austin Peay, he played under pitching coach Greg Byron. This is where Jaxon started to get into the more technical and biomechanical side of pitching and really focusing on how the body movements affected pitching.
This is Jaxon’s second year coaching for Rake City. Jaxon looks forward to impacting kids at the youth and high school levels.
Tobey Rigsby
Coach Tobey Rigsby brings unmatched experience and baseball knowledge to the program. Born and Raised in a small farming community, Tobey is a 2017 graduate of Prairie Central High School in Fairbury Illinois. He was a 3 sport athlete where he was voted All-Conference in Baseball and Football. Tobey Played under his Father Darcy Rigsby. His summer baseball experience includes playing in the Eastern Illinois Baseball league for the Royal Giants (Spanky Dillman). To this day he claims that E.I Baseball is the most pure and fun baseball he has ever played.
A graduate of Kankakee Community College, Tobey Helped lead KCC to a Region 4 championship appearance in 2018 under the leadership of NJCAA Hall of Famer Todd Post.
After Graduating from KCC Tobey continued his academic and baseball career to Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Starting at 3rd Base, Coach Rigsby helped lead SXU to an NAIA regional appearance in Head Coach Addison Rouse’s first year at the helm. He credits much of his Fielding philosophies to his Father, Todd Post (Kankakee CC Head coach), Matt Van Mill (Former Saint Xavier IF Coach), Peter Romsek (Saint Xavier Assistant and Infielders coach), and Pete Flores (Rake City). Coach Rigsby has always taken pride in his defense and baseball IQ. He is a firm believer that with the right mental toughness and love of the game anyone, no matter their stature, can play and excel at the next level.
Coach Rigsby brings passion and spontaneity to the program everyday which is a great tool to motivate kids and help them get through the tough times during the offseason. Coach Rigsby is currently finishing up his undergraduate degree and then continue on to get his Masters in Education. He is available for Hitting, Throwing and Fielding lessons.
815-674-4448
Steven Washilewski
A native of Dyer, IN. Steven attended Saint Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago. Earning All-State honors his Junior and Senior year at Saint Rita.
Steven went on to play at the University of Kansas Steven where he logged a total of 117.1 Innings pitched and tallied 79 career strikeouts. Steven finished his career in the Big12 with a record of 8-4. After four years at the University of Kansas, Steven earned his degree and Grad-Transferred for his 5th year to Ball State University in Muncie, IN.
In his only year at Ball State, Steven was part of a Championship team and pitching staff, as Ball State won the MAC Championship in ‘22. During the summers in college, Steven played for the Danville Dan’s in the Prospect League where he was 4-0 with a 1.57 era which and threw a no-hitter, an accomplishment only four guys has able to achieve in the team’s history. Steven also won a college summer league championship with the Morehead City Marlins in the Coastal Plains league. After college, in the summer of ‘22 Steven made his professional debut with the Windy City Thunderbolts in the Frontier League.
Steven joined Rake City as a coach in the summer of ‘22. Prior to coaching at Rake City, Steven played for Rake City from 2015-2017. Steven brings a huge amount of knowledge to the table and continues to share his knowledge of both pitching and the game of baseball to our current players.
Feel free to contact Steven for questions about our organization or lessons.
Email: Stevenwashilewski@yahoo.com