Staff
Corey Eckstein
Coach Eckstein is back once again with the Cardinals Organization in the BC Premier Baseball League. Corey now enters his 7th season with the organization. The Cardinals junior team were league champions in 08 and 09 followed by three final four appearances in the playoffs.Corey began his career with the Cards as a player in 2001 and played through the 2003 season. In 2003, Corey was named to the Canadian Junior National Team as a pitcher and competed at the Pan-Am Games in Venezuela. He was also a member of the 2002 BC Select team that claimed gold at the Canada Cup. He has attended four National Championships over his short career, claiming gold three times. He attended Vernon College in Texas before having career ending arm surgery. Corey was an instructor at Powerzone Academy in Abbotsford for the past four years giving private instruction to up and coming players. He now currently operates Yale Secondary High School Baseball Academy which has been a huge success over the past two years. He was a guest coach in Oliver for the U17 Select Team in 2007, and assisted Coach Cav Whitely with the U16 Selects at the Western Canada Games and Pacific Northwest Championships. Corey was an invited guest coach of Baseball Canada at the Mizuno Elite Camp held at Toronto's Roger Center in 2008 and this year will be an assistant coach with the U19 Ball Club at the Canada Games in P.E.I. In the spring of 2009, and fall of 2009, Eckstein was a guest coach with the Canadian Junior National team at their extended Spring Training Camp in Orlando, Florida. Corey will be an assistant coach with the Junior National Team for the next two years (2011/2012) and hopes to qualify for the world championships in South Korea. He currently holds Level 3 Coaching Certification through NCCP and helps instruct at the Big League Experience Camps each year. He was elected into the Abbotsfords Sports Wall of Fame in 2005 and was in charge of Coaching Development for Abbotsford Minor Baseball in 2009/2010. Corey currently resides in Abbotsford with his girlfriend Kourtni and his cat "Yankee". Corey brings good knowledge to our program and is motivated by the success of each individual player.
Corey Eckstein - Owner/Head Instructor has worked with Sandlot Baseball Academy since the 2009-2010 season.
Derek Florko
Derek is entering his second year with Sandlot Baseball and the Yale Secondary Sport Academy. He also enters his 5th year with the Cardinals Organization as a Senior Team Assistant Coach. Derek brings a bundle of knowledge to our infielders and we are fortunate to have him around. Derek has been a part of Baseball BC and their Select teams that attend the Arizona Fall Classic each year. He attended the Prairie Baseball Academy before having elbow surgery which ended his career.
DJ Boschman
DJ is entering his first year with the Sandlot Program and we are very excited to have his energetic presence involved with our youth. DJ played Division 1 Baseball at highly ranked Grayson County College in Texas where they made the JUCO World Series in 2011. DJ also grew up playing in the Abbotsford Cardinals Organization where he won 2, All Conference Infielder Awards. DJ works with our hitters at Sandlot, Yale Academy, and is our Hitting Coach with the Senior Cardinals.
Eric Sim
Eric grew up in the Abbotsford Cardinals Organization before receiving a full ride scholarship to Colby Junior College in Kansas. From there, he played in the WMBL during the summer of 08 and landed a scholarship offer to attend the University of South Florida. After finishing the year as a junior, Eric was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 27th round and decided to sign a professional contract. We are extremely grateful to have Eric's presence around during his offseason. Eric has been working with our catchers for the past 2 years.
Cory Hill
The Sandlot is fortunate to have Cory return home from a long stint down at College and the Independent Pro Level. Cory grew up here in Abbotsford and went on to play at the National Level in 2005. From there, Cory attended Iowa Western Community College where they attended the National College World Series. From there, he transfered to Texarka Community College in Texas before landing another scholarship at New Mexico State University.Cory was on the All-Academic team in 2010 as his team was ranked 18th in the nation. Cory finished his career with the Las Cruces Vaqueros of the Mexican Independent Pro League. We are excited to have Cory back home working with our pitchers!
Billy Wilms
Mr. Wilms has been teaching in Abbotsford for 10 years, and playing hockey for over 20. He is the Teacher and Program Director for the Yale Hockey and Baseball Academy at Yale Secondary High School. He has graduated from Trinity Western with a Bachelors of Human Kinetics, a Bachelor of Education from UBC, and a Masters of Education Practice at SFU. Mr. Wilms brings experience, knowledge, and passion to our program. We are fortunate to have Billy work with our youth on a daily basis!