Coaches

#23-Field Manager, Jake Martin

The Rafters named Jake Martin as the third manager in Rafters history on January 3rd, 2012.  Martin guided the Rafters to a 16-18 first-half record during the 2012 season, the best record in a single half in franchise history.  During the first month, the team went on a roll reeling off eight straight wins---the longest winning streak in franchise history--- from June 13th-June 21st.  The team won three straight versus Wisconsin, two against both Battle Creek and Eau Claire, and one against La Crosse during the stretch and were in the playoff hunt until the final week of the first-half. 

The 2012 Rafters finished with a 27-42 overall record, good for 6th place in the Northwoods League’s South Divison standings. Under Martin’s leadership, the team also surpassed the previous high water mark of 24 wins set in 2011.

The younger brother of 2011 manager John Martin, Jake began the 2011 season as an assistant coach for the Rafters, working closely with the hitters and bullpen pitchers while also coaching first and third base at different times throughout the year.  Jake took over the reins for the final 18 games of the 2011 regular season and guided the team to a 7-11 record after John left the team following his appointment as the head coach at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.  Following the conclusion of the Rafters 2011 season, Jake joined his older brother John on the coaching staff at Coffeyville Community College, where they lead the Red Ravens to a school record 33 wins overall and 22 conference victories in their first season. 

Jake Martin played baseball at Barton County Community College during the 2004-2005 seasons.  From 2006-2008 he was responsible for maintaining a sports complex while also spending time coaching summer baseball. He then spent the 2008-2009 season at MidAmerica Nazarene University before transferring to Emporia State where he played from 2009-2011, culminating with a conference championship during his senior season with the team.  During the summer of 2010 Martin also coached the Emporia American Legion baseball team and led them to a 35-15 record.  He is a native of Shawnee, Kansas.

#64-Hitting Coach/First Base Coach, Dave Allbritton

Allbritton joined Martin’s staff in 2012 after a successful collegiate playing career at Barton County Community College and Emporia State University.   Under his guidance the Rafters offense compiled a .262 team batting average, ranking them third-best in the South Division in that category.  The only two teams with a better team batting average than the Rafters were the Loggers and Woodchucks, who both advanced to postseason play.  The 2012 Rafters also ranked fourth out of the eight teams in the South Division in hits (622) and home runs (43).

Allbritton began his college career at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas, where he was the team’s starting catcher for two seasons and was voted to the Jayhawk West All-Conference Team.  He then transferred to Emporia State University, where he was the team’s starting catcher for his final two seasons.  While at Emporia State, Allbritton received All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American honors at the Division II level. 

Allbritton’s success afforded him the opportunity to play two different stints of summer collegiate baseball, an area in which he brings invaluable experience to the Rafters organization.   He spent the 2009 summer playing for the El Dorado Broncos of the National Baseball Congress Jayhawk League, helping the Broncos to an NBC World Series title that summer.  As a member of the Broncos, Allbritton was an All-Jayhawk League selection, posting a .401 batting average, with eight home runs and 47 RBI.  He also received All-American honors at catcher and the “Just Block It” catcher award for his efforts.  The following summer he was a member of the--now defunct--Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers of the Northwoods League.  Allbritton appeared in 54 games with the Lunkers, posting a .227 batting average, with two home runs, and 24 RBI.

Allbritton is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was team captain and won All-City and All-District honors playing baseball at C.E. Byrd High School.  He is currently serving as the hitting coach at Emporia State University in Kansas.

#25-Pitching Coach, Derek Brooks