Instructors & Trainers

Albert Baur: Hitting / Fielding

Albert is a Neumann-Goretti graduate (2010) who helped bring the Catholic League Title back to South Philadelphia for the first time in 49 years in 2009.  Albert’s dedication to hard work and honing his craft led him to a record setting career at Newberry College in South Carolina.  Just like he helped rebuild Neumann-Goretti to a Championship caliber team, Al turned a Newberry team that went 18-30 before he arrived to a 34-18 team in 2015.  Al was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the June 2015 MLB Draft and played in their minor league system for 4 years.  Albert enjoys his time at SPST passing on his know-how to his players and helping them realize their potential.

Fran Caruso: Baseball – Hitting / Fielding / Pitching

A South Philadelphia resident and graduate of Bishop Eustace Prep (2011). At Bishop Eustace, Fran was a three year Varsity baseball player. He continued his baseball career at Chestnut Hill College as a corner infielder and catcher. He later transferred to Penn State Abington to finish his playing career where he started two seasons at 1st base earning All-Conference Honors. After graduation Fran immediately became involved into the coaching and training of baseball players. Fran started his coaching career at Maplezone Sports Institute where he coached the 16u National team and trained players in defense and hitting. In 2016, Fran took a position for Phenom Baseball as the 16u National coach taking his team all over the country competing in top-tier baseball tournaments.

 Jimmy Kerrigan – Lead Strength & Conditioning / Hitting / Outfield

Jimmy comes to SPST as a graduate from VCU with a degree in Exercise Science. Jimmy transferred to VCU after his Sophomore season at Temple who discontinued their baseball program.  At VCU, he played his Junior and Senior years as a starting outfielder where he helped lead the team to the “Super Regionals” during the 2015 season.  He also earned the Hammer Strength All American award for in 2016 for his work ethic in the weight room and dedication to physical fitness on and off the field.  He is currently a professional baseball player at the AA Level for the Minnesota Twins organization.  After baseball, Jimmy hopes to a Head Sports Performance Director at a Division 1 program.  While at SPST, Jimmy has taken on a leadership role in the Strength & Conditioning area and has really brought that aspect to the training of our athletes.  He looks forward to helping all athletes get better, especially baseball players, and do everything in his power to help them succeed in their sport.

Joseph Messina – Lead Pitching Instructor

Joe retired from coaching at Neumann Goretti after 14 years!  He continues to help out with some behind the scenes work, but has moved on from his on field duties.  Eight of those years as pitching coach where he was part of 5 Catholic League Championships, 7 City Championships and 2 State Championships. Joe started his coaching career after playing four years at St. John Neumann H.S. where he coached Stella Maris grade school.  He was the first coach in South Philadelphia to win a Philadelphia Archdiocese Championship. He has been a part of DVYAA since 2007. He has coached district teams, in-house teams, travel teams and most recently American Legion Baseball. His son Joseph played at Neumann Goretti and has been pitching at LaSalle University. Joe’s philosophy is to train young pitchers the proper mechanics and to avoid overuse that will benefit them when they enter the High School and College years.

Nicky Nardini – Lead Instuctor: Hitting / Fielding / Catching

Nicky is regarded by many area High School and Travel Baseball coaches as one of the Top up and coming coaches in the area and we are thrilled to have a talent like his on our staff.  Nicky was a 4-year starter for Neumann-Goretti where they won 3 Catholic League Championships with him catching his Sophomore through Senior years.  He has been an assistant coach at Neumann-Goretti since 2013 and also Manages our SPST Pirate Travel Teams, coaching our 13u Team.  He continuously looks for cutting edge methods to connect with his students and get the most out of them and reach their potential.  Nicky graduated with a Finance Degree from Temple’s Fox School of Business.

Lou was born and raised in South Philadelphia and played baseball locally for Engineering and Science and South Philadelphia High Schools.  During High school, Lou also played American Legion Baseball and participated on various All-Star baseball tournament teams.  Continued playing sports in college for Temple University where he was a scholarship – 4-year Letter winner in Football, and 1 year letter winner in track.  After graduating, he went back to playing baseball Semi-Pro.  In 2006 & 2008, was named M.V.P in the Delco baseball League, while playing with the Springfield Sox.  In 2007 started coaching Youth baseball at Taney, where he helped grow the Youth tournament program, which included the 2013 L.L.W.S. team headed by Alex Rice.  In 2011, he was hired to work with Salem Jr. College as their Hitting & Outfield coach where he helped turn a 5-win team to a 17 win and 19 win teams the next two seasons and placing their offense among the top 10 in J.U.C.O. those two years.  Lou currently heads Taney’s (Now P.Y.A.A)  American Legion Baseball Program, which in 2017 won Mainline district and runner- up in State Championship, 2018 and 2019 earned a Regional Birth in Jr. Legion.  2018, was voted in to Mainline as the new President for the Prep, Sandlot and Jr. Legion divisions.

  Very excited about the opportunity to bring something to South Philly that kids and grown-ups alike have been missing.  An indoor facility to work on their craft and get better.

Dom Nardini- Owner | General Instruction

Dom in a lifelong resident of Philadelphia and is committed to the development of our young athletes.  Dom played baseball at Central High School, Roche Post American Legion and in the Delco League.  He continued coaching at the CYO and travel Baseball level.  In 2001, he established this coaching philosophy: “To establish a safe atmosphere where his children and teammates could enjoy learning the game of baseball while instilling a strong work ethic, competitive spirit and a love of the game of baseball that would flourish over time”.  He has had the extreme honor of coaching the 2005 11U LL District Champion from DVYAA, which included future College players Tyler Criniti, Mark Gervasi, Joey Gorman, Jimmy Kerrigan, Nicky Nardini and Marty Venafro.  Dom and his wife Tina are the proud parents of Nicky (Neumann-Goretti Saints Baseball Coach and SPST Coach-Instructor), Tommy (Neumann-Goretti Alumn, 4 Yr Starter at Gwynedd-Mercy University and SPST Coach-Instructor) and Eric (4 Yr Starter Neumann-Goretti High School, Wester Chester Univ Junior and SPST Coach).