Meet The
Coaches

“Dedicated to giving the quality instruction needed for improvement and success.”

Fletcher Bates is the owner and operator of Coastal Athletics, which has been in operation since 2003. He is dedicated to giving the quality instruction needed for improvement and success.

Fletcher began his baseball career at a young age and started out as a fifth round draft pick of the New York Mets in 1993. He retired after playing 10 years for the Mets, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Phillies, and Orioles organizations.

Today, he continues his connection with MLB as an associate scout for the New York Mets. In his years of professional playing, Fletcher received several high achievement awards for his athletic excellence. He earned the title of three-time All-Star as well as three-time MVP at the professional level.

He was also on Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospect List and the 40-man roster with the Marlins for two years. Fletcher’s professional experience is an invaluable asset to the Coastal Athletics team.

Fletcher provides baseball instruction and training in all aspects of the game and serves as the head owner/operator of the Coastal Athletics facility.

“Pete hopes to affect each of his players in the best way possible.”

Pete Gilardo was born in Orangeburg, New York, where he made a great name for himself. He excelled all four years at Dominican College from 2004 to 2007 and finished with a career .328 batting average while also being named All-Conference three out of his four years.

His most notable accomplishments in college included being named to the All-Tournament Team after his sophomore season with an astounding .800 batting average for the tournament and also being named a three-year captain.

Pete was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2007 MLB Draft and spent most of his time as a catcher, while also registering a few innings on the mound. He caught several big-name pitchers, including Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and John Smoltz.

His experiences in baseball are invaluable to the program’s development and the athletes he works with. Pete hopes to affect each of his players in the best way possible.

“Great passion for the game of baseball which he hopes to pass along to the players.”

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Cary, North Carolina, Michael Rooney was a four-year starter in the middle infield for the varsity baseball team at Cary High School and a three-time All-Conference selection.

From Cary, Michael attended college at UNC-Wilmington, where he started at shortstop every game but one for his final three seasons as a Seahawk. He helped take UNCW to a regional his sophomore year, playing all 62 games at shortstop.

He finished his career in the top 10 at UNCW in on-base percentage, runs scored, walks, hit-by-pitches, double plays turned, and also broke the records for career assists and single-season assists during his senior season.

Rooney was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 30th round in 2010 and spent three seasons in the minor leagues, making it up to Double-A while playing alongside and against big leaguers like Manny Machado, Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Pudge Rodriguez, Adrian Gonzalez, and others.

He was used at all four infield spots during his minor league career, mostly shortstop and second base, as well as a few games in the outfield. He has an abundance of knowledge of the game and a great passion for baseball, which he hopes to pass along to the players.