Our Instructors

All instructors at Extra Innings Brooklyn Park come with an extensive baseball or softball background. Whether they are former or current professional players, college all-stars, or high school or college coaches, Extra Innings Brooklyn Park offers serious professional instruction!

Visit our Lessons Page to see Player Testimonials!

Ben Smith - General Manager

Ben Smith is a graduate of Orono High School where he was a three time All Conference selection. He went on to play collegiate ball at MSU Mankato, Hamline University, and Bethany Lutheran College. Smith was an All Conference and All Region selection as an outfielder at Hamline, and still holds the school record for doubles in a season. At Bethany he was an All Conference selection as a shortstop and led the conference in runs, stolen bases, and sac bunts his senior season. Smith also served as an assistant coach at Bethany for 2 seasons and has coached 3 years of legion. His summers stay busy playing amateur baseball, softball, and coaching. Ben is available for all aspects of the game.

Kim Westendorf - Extra Innings Instructor

Kim is a graduate of Mankato East High school, where she was a two time All-State selection and three time All-Big Nine Conference selection while leading her team to two Class 3A state tournament appearances. Upon graduation, she took her skills to South Dakota State University and quickly established herself in the pitching rotation, setting an SDSU single-season record with 51 appearances while leading the team with 179 strikeouts in 207.2 innings and 16 victories in 2005. At SDSU, Kim compiled a 34-52 record with five shutouts, five saves, three one-hitters, a 3.19 ERA, and 364 strikeouts during 118 appearances and 520.1 innings pitched. Kim played her last season at North Dakota State University where her team finished in the sweet sixteen. Kim was named to the Division I All-Independent team twice and All-Academic team 3 times while majoring in chemistry. After graduation Kim worked in the research field for a while before deciding her passion was teaching and coaching; Kim currently is a high school

Josh Wettlaufer - Extra Innings Instructor

Josh Wettlaufer is one the fastest players ever to play for the College of St. Scholastica and a feared lead off hitter. During his 4 year college career he set the school record of 101 stolen bases, and 253 runs. In addition to being fast, he has a career batting average of .408, and is 3rd all time with 240 base hits, Josh is also is 8th on the all time home run at St. Scholastica. He then went on to play two years of professional baseball. During his playing career Josh was a middle infielder and an outfielder. Josh loves giving hitting and fielding lessons to player of all ages. Josh is easy to spot when he is in at Extra Innings. He is the guy always smiling!

Leah Kluz - Extra Innings Instructor

Leah Kluz played high school at Anoka High School and finished college as a UW-Stout Blue Devil. In high school she was a pitcher and lead off drag bunter. Leah continued on to college where she was the starting center fielder and number one hitter as a lefty slap hitter. Her coaching experience starts with assisting the Northwestern College Team for a season working on base running, hitting, and fielding fundamentals. Leah has 4 daughters that play Fastpitch so she is always throwing a ball and working on making each of them successful. Leah is available for hitting, fielding and beginner pitching lessons.

Ben Schroeder - Extra Innings Instructor

Ben Schroeder is a graduate of Concordia Academy where he was a 2 time all conference, 2 time all section, and 2 time all state honorable mention award winner. He went on to play collegiate ball for two seasons at Dakota County Technical College (NJCAA). From there Ben took his skills to Bethany Lutheran College (NCAA D3) where he was a top relief pitcher, leading the team in appearances his Junior and Senior year with 17 and 14 respectively. He has coached at various youth levels from little league to high school and is currently the pitching and outfield coach and Concordia Academy. Ben is available for pitching and hitting lessons.

Andy Jorges - Extra Innings Instructor

Andy Jorges was an All-Conference performer his junior and senior year at Rockford High School while picking up team MVP honors both years. After high school, Jorges played at Central Lakes Community College in Brainerd, Minnesota for two seasons mainly as a catcher, but also as a closer on the mound. While at Central Lakes he accumulated All-Conference, All State, and All Region honors his sophomore season. From there he moved on to Bethany Lutheran College where he played the past two as a catcher and designated hitter. His senior season, Jorges received All-Conference honors while catching 39 of the team's 40 games. Andy is available for teaching all aspects of the game.

Keith "KJ" Johnson - Extra Innings Instructor

KJ is a Native of Chicago, IL. Where he attended Harlan Community Academy. He was 4-year letter winner in baseball and football, was All-Conference 3 years. Member of 2nd place finalist team in Chicago Public League City Championship in 1999. As a graduate of Concorida University, KJ played with Ryan Fixell (another EI instructor), was a Member of 2003 NSIC Conference Championship team under Lunch McKenzie( 2001-2005), KJ has worked clinics as Joe Mauer Quickswing hitting instructor and has 3 years of hitting instructional experience. Has coaching experience in football and basketball at McRae Park-Mpls. His full time job is working for the Hennepin County Attorney Office as a Victim's Advocate. (Putting his criminal justice degree to great use.) KJ enjoys teaching the fundamentals of hitting and fielding.

Josh Mason - Pitching/Hitting/Fielding Instructor

Josh attended Sycamore High School in Cincinnati and was a 3 year varsity starting pitcher and tri captain. He then moved on to Indiana Wesleyan University serving as a starting pitcher and catcher. Josh also was an instructor in multiple summer and winter high school and college baseball camps throughout Indiana and Ohio. Josh was a teammate of current Boston Red Sox all star Kevin Youkilis while attending Sycamore High School. Josh will be available to teach all around skills focusing on pitching, hitting, and fielding. Josh is currently unavailable for lessons this summer.

Kari Corbeille - Extra Innings Instructor

After high school, Corbeille chose St. Norbert over other schools which pursued her. By Corbeille's junior season, patience and hard work paid off as she had a season to remember. In 23 games, 16 of them starts, Corbeille went 13-3 with a 1.28 ERA. Out of the 16 starts, 14 were complete games and she also added two saves and gave up only 27 runs (20 earned) while striking out 67 batters. That season was not only a highlight for Corbeille, but also for the SNC softball team which finished with a 33-8 record and won its first ever regional game. The team finished third in the regional that season behind the arm of Corbeille, who pitched in three straight games to lead the team. Kari’s was part of an 11-day trip in Italy for the American International team, which took the top 25 Division III players. This trip was a finish to her phenomenal softball career at St. Norbert College. During the Italy trip , Corbeille's team went 1-3, but she pitched well and recorded a base hit off of the Italian national team's best pitcher and Olympian. Kari is available for pitching and hitting lessons.