HITTERS COUNT
SPORTS
Coaching Staff
Hayes Smith, Founder
Coach Hayes “Smitty” Smith has been coaching since the early ‘70s when he started the Richmond Royals League as both a player and coach. His career includes high school, recreational, travel baseball, softball and umpiring. He founded the Richmond Hornets Baseball Club (RHBC) to increase interest and participation, develop skills and offer a quality baseball program in the Richmond Metro area. He served as Metropolitan Junior Baseball League’ state commissioner for Virginia. Smith opened the Hornet’s Nest, an indoor training facility, in 2016 and has grown the organization to six highly competitive teams.
Email: hsmith1151@verizon.net
Phone: 804-527-1938
Steve Smith
Steve Smith has been coaching travel and high school baseball for 19 years. Steve is currently the Assistant Baseball Coach for Highland Springs High School and presently is our:
​
-
Hitters Count Hornets 16U/17U/18U/Showcase-Head Coach
-
Hitters Count Hornets 14U & 15U Head Coach
He is available for private and group instruction specializing in pitching, hitting and fielding
Email: stevencsmith07@yahoo.com
Phone: 804-640-4856
Arthur Kinsler
Arthur Kinsler, a.k.a "The Professor" has 13 years of coaching experience, manages our college recruiting, and social media platforms for Hitters Count Sports.
Present:​
-
Hitters Count Hornets 14U-Head Coach
2018-2024:
-
Hitters Count Hornets 12U & 13U-Head Coach
-
Hitters Count Hornets Showcase-Asst. Coach
-
RockIt Sports 15U Showcase Baseball: Volunteer Asst. Coach
-
Glen Allen Youth Athletic Assoc. JR Babe Ruth 13U-15U All-Star Asst. Coach
-
Glen Allen Youth Athletic Assoc. JR Babe Ruth 13U-15U Asst. Coach
2017-2018: RockIt Sports 14U Baseball - Volunteer Assistant Coach
2016-2017: New York Heat 13U Baseball - Assistant Coach
2012-2015: Frozen Ropes - Head Coach for 10U, 11U & 12U
2011-2012: Sullivan County, NY Little League Vice President
Available for private instruction specializing in all aspects of the game.
Contact for Video and Social Media recruiting packages.
Email: Arthur.Kinsler@comcast.net
Phone: 845-551-1898
Brad Lahocki
Brad Lahocki duties consist of setting up and assisting with practices and workouts. He is the assistant coach for the Hitters Count Hornets and Showcase team. He coaches 1B during games and help advise our Coaches and players. Works with Arthur Kinsler and Steven Smith on a weekly basis to improve the Hitters Count Sports program.
2020-Present: Hitters Count Hornets 16U/17U/18U Showcase-Asst. Coach
2015-2021: Coached at Glen Allen Youth Athletics at various ages
2015-2019: Basketball Head Coached at Glen Allen Youth Athletics
2016-2017: Assistant Coach for RBA West Seminoles Latina 13U & 14U
​
Available for private instruction specializing in hitting and catching.
Email: hitterscountsports@gmail.com
Randy Baker
Randy Baker’s duties consist of setup up and assisting with practices and workouts for the 13U Team. He is the assistant coach for the 13U Hitters Count Hornets Travel team. Randy maintains the team’s scorebook and advises the coaches and players during the games.
Present: Hitters Count Hornets 15U Head Coach/Assistant Coach
2022 - 2023: Richmond Hornets 13U & 14U Head Coach/Assistant Coach
2020 – 2021: Atlee Little league Head Coach, All-Star Assistant Coach 2020
2014 – 2015: Glen Allen Youth Athletic Association 11/12U Assistant Coach
2011 – 2013: Chesterfield Baseball Club Head/Assistant Coach
​
Available for private instruction specializing in all aspects of the game.
Email: randelba1121@gmail.com
Phone: 804-698-0915
Rob Ashford
Coach Rob Ashford a.k.a “Coach Roc”is an accomplished Baseball Coach with over 5 years of experience and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
2022 - Present: Head Coach for our Hitters Count Hornets 10U, 11U & 12U travel team
​​
Coach Roc played high school baseball as a middle infielder in Denver, Colorado from 1992-1995 under the guidance and direction of Tom Severson, pro scout for the Cincinnati Reds. During his High School tenure, Coach Roc was invited to the following Camps- Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and the East West Ambassadors Showcase
Coach Roc went on to play as a starting freshman at Virginia State University as a MIF & leadoff batter during 1995-1998 under the guidance of Terrance Whittle, pro scout for the Florida Marlins. Coach Roc then was invited to the Florida Marlins Camp where he made the 3rd cut & was also invited try out for the Richmond Braves as a MIF
After graduating Virginia State University, Coach Roc went on to play for the Bethel Red Sox in 1999 within the semi-pro league as a MIF & was chosen to the All-star team where he received the MVP award
After his semi-pro career, Coach Roc began coaching on all levels from Recreational Baseball to Travel. Coach Roc is now the Head Baseball Coach for the Maggie Walker Governor School where he helped the team get to the regional playoffs in 2022. Coach Roc is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who owns and operates his own company under Play the Game, LLC.
​
Available for private instruction specializing in all aspects of the game.
Email: ashfordr@ptgfitnessstudio.com
Phone: 804-665-4447
Joe Hasting
Joe Hasting has been coaching and training competitive youth baseball the past 4 years while still playing collegiate baseball for:
-
2020: RHP at Louisburg College
-
2021: RHP, IF, OF at Bryan College
-
2022/23: RHP, IF, OF at Virginia State University
-
Present: RHP, IF, OF at Concord University
In 2018 Joe was named to the NACA All American First Team
Coach Hasting is majoring in Exercise Health Science and is our Assistant Coach for both our Hitters Count Hornets 10U travel and Showcase Teams
​
Coach Hasting is specialized in Pitching, Strength and Conditioning and is available for private lessons
​
Email: jhastingsperformance@gmail.com
Phone: 804-909-4029
Keyon Smith
Keyon Smith, an original Richmond Hornet, has been coaching and training competitive youth baseball the past 3 years while still playing collegiate baseball for:
-
2018-2020: 1B, OF at Virginia State University
-
2021: 1B, OF at Claflin University
-
2022: 1B, OF at Crown College
Coach Smith majored in Health and Physical Education and is our Assistant Coach for our Showcase Team
​
Available for private instruction specializing in all aspects of the game​
TJ Jones
2002 graduate from Christopher Newport University and Full time starter while at CNU in left field, having started all 85 games. The pinnacle of his career ended in Appleton, Wisconsin at the D3 World Series where CNU finished 3rd in the Nation. TJ was a standout earning multiple honors including All-Tournament teams and All-Conference Awards with a career batting average of .340.
Out of high school, TJ was recruited by Virginia Commonwealth University where he played two seasons and played in 55 of the 65 games his freshman year. As a result, he has knowledge of both D1 and D3 baseball and what it takes to play both.
That knowledge has provided TJ the opportunity to become a Coach, understanding talent, skill sets, and how an an athlete should develop to end up with their desired college.
Most recently, TJ coached at:
-
2023/24: Hermitage High School as the Head Coach
-
2022/23: Assistant coach at Highland Springs High School, coaching with David Churchill and Steve Smith
-
2021: RBA, where he was the organizations hitting Coach, as well as the 15u Developmental team Head Coach and the 17u Elite team Head Coach.
TJ played on the Highland Springs High School Varsity baseball team from 1994-1997 and finished his high school career as All State first baseman. His baseball career started at a young age and at the age of 16, he earned a spot on the USA Ambassadors that traveled to Australia and competed in a 3 week tournament against the best Australia had to offer.
​
Available for private instruction specializing in Hitting.
Email: Talmonjones79@yahoo.com
Phone: 804-965-3022
Experienced Coaches Wanted
​
We’re growing! Hitters Count Sports is seeking qualified and experienced youth travel ball coaches that have previous coaching or playing experience at the high school, college, or professional level, and/or have more than 5 years of experience coaching little league or recreational baseball. The candidate must have strong communication skills and knowledge in the game of baseball. This is a volunteer position that comes with a huge benefit of impacting young player’s lives and their futures.
Our program supports youth ages 8 – 18, and we are based in Henrico,VA (Richmond).
If you are interested, please contact Coach Hayes "Smitty" Smith at 804-527- 1938.