Staff
Justin
Coach Justin Edwards comes from Savannah, Georgia where he played four years of Varsity Baseball for Calvary Day School and winning a 2006 State Title and setting school records for both wins (68) and strikeouts (441).
After high school, Justin spent his collegiate baseball career at Kennesaw State University, finishing Conference Runner-Up in 2009 and drafted that same year by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played 4 years of professional baseball in the Cardinals organization before retiring to complete his degree and focus his efforts on training youth baseball players. Currently serving as the General Manager of Ninth Inning Baseball for the last 10 years and running their travel program, he continues to live his passion of educating amateur and professional pitchers with important life skills that help them excel both on and off the field. His teaching focus remains staying healthy, getting 1% better every day and preaching good decisions in training methods to preserve long term productivity and efficiency.
CERTIFICATIONS
Driveline Certified
Trackman Certified
Rapsodo Certified
David
Coach David Sopilka brings a wealth of experience and expertise to The Baseball Lab and EL DOJO. Born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, David began his professional baseball career in 2010 when he signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox at the age of 16. Over the years, he played from Rookie level through AA ball, earning accolades such as the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year in the Gulf Coast League. In 2017, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, continuing his professional journey.
As the creator of EL DOJO, David transitioned into coaching and has served as a Catching Coordinator for elite athletes. He is also an international consultant for professional baseball academies. His professional background and dedication to player development make him an invaluable asset to those looking to elevate their catching skills.
CJ
Coach CJ is currently finishing my Bachelor of Exercise Science Degree at Kennesaw State University. Before attending Kennesaw State, I played baseball at South Georgia State College for two years and completed my Associates of Health and Human Performance. I have been part of the team at the lab for two years and provide instruction in Strength and Conditioning for our athletes. My goal is not only to ensure all of our athletes to achieve their goals on the field, but to also make sure every athlete is safe and minimize any chance of injuries from the wear and tear of playing.
CERTIFICATIONS
American College of Sports Medicine – Certified Personal Trainer
American Heart Association – Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED