Established in 2008
233+ College & 7 Professional Players since '08
3 players 100+mph, 14 players 95+mph, & 57 players 90+mph since 2014
Player Development Happens Here!
Evan Jurjevic, PT, DPT, CSCS, USAW-L1SP
Director of Operations & Player Development
Evan joined the Chargers staff in 2015 as the Chargers Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Goshen Location. Evan has since taken over the Charger organization in Fort Wayne, IN in 2019-2020 as the owner and director of player development.
He graduated from La Porte High School in La Porte, IN in 2010 with Academic Honors and a member of the National Honors Society. While attending La Porte High School, Evan earned six varsity letters. He was a three-year high school letterman in both varsity baseball and basketball. Evan was a two-year varsity basketball captain where he played the point guard position his junior and senior years. In baseball, he was a 2-time All-Region selection and had a career batting average of .400. During his senior campaign, the Slicers were ranked 22nd in the nation by USA Today. The Slicer team consisted of 12 players who went on to play collegiate baseball. He played travel baseball with the Indiana Chargers.
After high school, Evan went on and attended Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, TN, where he played baseball while juggling his college academics. He was selected team captain of the Eagles for 2 seasons and had a career batting average of .333. As a senior, Evan batted a team and collegiate career-best .358 while earning All-South Atlantic Conference honors. He set the all-time Carson-Newman baseball record with reaching base safely in 43 consecutive games, and he was the recipient of the 2015 Carson-Newman University Baseball MVP and Best Hitter awards. On March 24th, 2015, Evan was named the Player of the Week in the Volunteer State by the Tennessee Sportswriters' Association marking the first time that a Carson-Newman baseball player has earned the accolade. Evan finished 13th in the nation in doubles and was ranked top 10 nationally in doubles per game. While taking care of business at the plate, he also held a .991 fielding percentage.
Evan graduated from Carson-Newman in 2014 with a degree in Exercise Science and in 2015 with a Master’s in Education, with an emphasis in Leadership and Coaching. He recently graduated from Trine University's Doctorate of Physical therapy program in Fort Wayne, IN in 2020 and is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Evan is currently working as a Doctor of Physical Therapy for the Chicago White Sox.
Reese Kuhns
Catching Coordinator, Coach
High School
-Attended Snider High School in Fort Wayne, IN
-Received the Four-Year Varsity Letterman Award
-Snider 2x Team MVP
-All SAC-Conference 2x
-All SAC Conference Academic team
-Sectional Champion
-Graduated with Academic Honors
-Trained and played summer baseball for the Indiana Chargers
College
Reese was a catcher at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH. He graduated in 2023 as a double major in both Business Administration and Sports Management, and completed coursework, seminars and volunteer hours in the Life of the Mind Honors Program. He was a member of the Dean's List every semester of school, was awarded academic all-conference for the Ohio Athletic Conference for 3 years, and was a magna cum laude recipient upon graduation. While finishing his undergraduate degree, he served as Director of the Seneca County Teen Center. He is currently in enrolled in Heidelberg University's MBA program.
Brett Wiley
Hitting Coordinator, Coach
High School
Brett went to Huntington North High School where he was selected as a 2x all conference player and Indiana North/South Allstar.
College
After high school, Brett earned a baseball scholarship and attended University of Evansville (D1 in MVC) freshman year.
Brett had an opportunity to play in the Northwoods league, in which he made the All-star team and won the Northwoods league Championship with the Battle Creek Bombers in 2011.
Brett decided to transfer to Jeffco (Jr Co.) in Hillsboro, MO for a better opportunity to showcase his skills at the collegiate level. There he did just that and was named as an All-Conference Player and was also selected first team all tournament in the NJCAA World Series hitting .419!
Professional
His performance at the collegiate level caught the eyes of scouts and Brett was drafted in 2012 by the St Louis Cardinals in the 13th round.
-Low A Penn State league Champions
-Batted over .300 for the first three years in the minor leagues
-Made it to AAA with STL in 2015
-Playing independent baseball for two years.
-American Association Postseason All-star in 2016 and batted .311
- Played one offseason season in Australia.
After the completion of his playing career Brett wanted to provide players with an opportunity to become better hitters and has been given hitting lessons and been coaching since 2018.
Dustin DeMuth,
Baseball Skill Instructor
High School
Dustin was a stellar all-around athlete playing baseball, basketball, and football at LaPorte High School. Dustin was an all-conference selection and was named to the all-area team in all three sports as a senior. He was awarded First Team All-Area and All-State and was a finalist for Indiana's Mr. Baseball hitting .531 as a senior with a .646 slugging percentage, 12 stolen bases and 38 runs to just five strikeouts. He finished his career with record .446 average for a school that has 44 straight 20-win seasons. Dustin finished his career with just 17 strikeouts in 300 at-bats. Dustin played travel baseball for the Indiana Chargers in the summer time. Dustin earned a baseball scholarship to Indiana University.
Indiana University Career
-3x All-American
-Big Ten's All-Freshman team
-3x Conference's Freshman of the Week
-2x First Team All-Big Ten
-2x All-Big Ten Tournament team member
-2x Big Ten Player of the Week
-2x Academic All-Big Ten honoree
-Earned Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
-Part of the 2013 IU team that went to the College World Series
In IU history, Dustin ranks:
-1st in doubles (63)
-2nd in hits (316)
-.344 hitter in 236 games played (starting every single one)
Professional
Dustin was selected in the 5th round of the 2014 MLB Draft (146th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers. In 4 years with the Brewers farm system he posted a .272 batting average and was named an All-Star for AA Biloxi Shuckers in 2017. Dustin has his degree in Exercise Physiology and recently received his Master’s in Physician Assistant at Trine University.
Austin Kresl
Coach
High School Career
-Attended Carroll High School in nearby Fort Wayne.
-National Honor Society member.
-Sectional champion.
-Played travel baseball with the Indiana Chargers
College
2022
- Made 19 appearances and 2 starts on the mound as a senior.
- Led Manchester and ranked 2nd in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with 3 saves.
- Tossed 49.0 innings and had 45 strikeouts.
2021
-Made 14 pitching appearances as a junior. Started 9 games.
-Struck out 43 batters in 54.0 innings.
-Named the HCAC Pitcher of the Week on 3/29/2021.
2019
-Earned Honorable Mention All-HCAC honors as a freshman.
-Led the Spartans and ranked sixth in the conference with 6 wins.
- Threw 67.2 innings.
- Posted a 6-3 record with 44 strikeouts and a 4.66 ERA.
At Manchester University
-Majoring in Accounting and Finance.
-Member of the College of Business Club on campus.
Drake Graham
Coach
High School
Drake was a starting pitcher at Warsaw Community High School during his junior and senior seasons. He struck out 14.7 hitters per 9 innings his senior year, tallying 4 wins on the mound. While not on the mound, the 6'5 righty saw time at second base and all three outfield positions, hitting just under 300. Drake also spent 2 summers in the Indiana Chargers program, playing under his now current pitching coach at Taylor University, Justin Barber. Off the baseball field, he won the school-wide mathletes competition and won the Warsaw Iron Tiger athletic competition, which combined maximum lifts from exercises such as deadlift, bench press, and power clean, among others. In the classroom, he was a member of National Honor Society and a four year member of the Honor Roll. Drake earned a baseball scholarship to Taylor University.
College
In a shortened freshman season due to COVID-19, Drake started one game on the mound for Taylor University. This season, he looks to receive innings out of the bullpen for the Trojans, who received votes in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll. Academically, Drake is majoring in Exercise Science. He plans to attend graduate school after receiving his bachelor's degree, as he looks to study either exercise physiology or chiropractics.
Ben Keating
Coach
High School
- Attended Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, IN.
- Received 3 Varsity letters as a catcher for Bruin Baseball
- All SAC conference 2x
- Sectional Title
- Indiana Defensive catcher of the year 2017
College
Ben attended Purdue Fort Wayne for 2 seasons from 2018-2019.
Throughout his catching career Ben has caught several professional pitchers. A list that includes Garrett Schoenle (White Sox), Evan Miller (Padres), Andrew Saalfrank (Diamondbacks), Colin Brockhouse (Pirates), and Jarrod Parker (Athletics).
During college Ben decided to take a pause from his baseball career and enlist in the United States Marines. Ben served 3 years in V38 Infantry Battalion before wrapping up his 4-year military career in 2D Reconnaissance Battalion. Ben was discharged from the Marines as a Corporal and received awards for his actions overseas.
Blaine McRae
Coach
High School
Blaine played high school baseball at Canterbury and then South Side high school in Fort Wayne, IN. He was a 4-year letterman at the varsity level in baseball.
-2x sectional champion at South Side
College
McRae is attending the University of Saint Francis studying Sports Management. He redshirted as a freshman and made 8 appearances this past season. He has aspirations to open his own business one day or become a collegiate pitching coach.
Matt Gidley
Assistant Coach
Matt attended Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, IN. In the summers Matt played for the Indiana Chargers. He was the definition of a Charger baseball player. Quality work ethic, coachable, and a great teammate. In only training and playing for the Chargers for two years Matt gained nearly 30 pounds of muscle, decreased his 60 yard by .40 seconds to a legitimate 6.8 secs, and improved his throwing velocity into the low 80s.
Currently, Matt attends Indiana University and is studying to become a nurse. Matt has earned his CNA license and has worked at Lutheran Hospital for almost 2 years. He has implemented the quality traits that he learned from baseball and has now carried them over to the workforce providing quality and outstanding care to patients. We look forward to him bringing his hard work and determination as he coaches within the Indiana Chargers program.
Joel Mishler
Founder
Chargers General Manager and co-founder Joel Mishler has been involved with coaching, scouting, and giving lessons for over 30 years. He served as the Glen Oaks Community College head baseball coach for 10 years where he won over 300 games and took his 2000 team to the World Series and a third-place finish in NJCAA Div. II. During his tenure at Glen Oaks, he coached 12 players that went on to play professional baseball and over 60 players that played at four-year universities and colleges. He served as an Associate Scout for the Baltimore Orioles from 1996 through 2005 and is currently an associate scout with the Miami Marlins. Coach Mishler is dedicated to helping use his coaching skills and college connections to help young men achieve their dreams of playing at the next level. Coach Mishler is currently the Athletic Director at Glen Oaks Community College.