AVIATORS ANNOUNCE ASSISTANT COACHES

LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – January 30, 2023 – Jamie Sailors, Aviators Field Manager, announced today two assistant coaches for the upcoming Prospect League season. Joining Sailors in the dugout this summer will be Demeris Barlow and Jeff Wetzler.

“I’m excited to work with Demeris and Jeff during the 2023 season,” stated Sailors. “Both men take pride in developing players as well as becoming a better coach each and everyday. These guys will bring energy to the ballpark and will create a great culture of success for our players and team.”

Barlow comes to the Aviators from Saginaw (MI) Valley State University where he’s serving at the team’s hitting and infield coach.

He played college baseball at both Indiana Tech University and Indiana University South Bend. Barlow graduated from IU South Bend in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Wetzler is a native of Newburgh, IN and is in his first year as the Southwestern Illinois College serving as the team’s Hitting, Strength, and Conditioning Coordinator. Before joining the staff at SWIC, Wetzler was the Head Coach for Combine Academy’s High School baseball team. In 2022, Combine Academy was ranked as high as 12th in the nation.

Wetzler began his coaching career at Parkland College in 2018 and spent three and a half years as Parkland’s Hitting Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. During his coaching stint at Parkland, he helped move 17 players to NCAA Division I, 9 to Division II, and 7 to NAIA level schools.

Wetzler attended McKendree University where he played baseball and majored in Sport Management. Prior to transferring to McKendree, Jeff spent two years playing at Parkland College.

 

Recent News

MIKEY SCOTT NAMED 2024 EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR

LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – August 21, 2024 – Aviators outfielder Mikey Scott has been named as one of the Prospect League’s 2024 Eastern Conference All Stars. Scott had a superb summer in Lafayette, leading the league with 5 triples, while also finishing in the top-10 in...

read more

SWEENEY FIRST AVIATOR TO SOAR TO THE BIG LEAGUES

LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – August 16, 2024 – Tonight, when the Detroit Tigers take on the New York Yankees at Comerica Park, in Detroit, there will be a familiar face to Aviators fans wearing a Detroit Tigers uniform. Trey Sweeney, who played for the Aviators in 2019, has...

read more

AVIATORS SET SINGLE GAME ATTENDANCE RECORD

LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – July 24, 2024 – Last Friday, July 19, the Lafayette Aviators set a new all-time single game attendance when 2,455 Aviators fans came out to Loeb Stadium to watch their beloved Aviators battle the Full Count Rhythm. It was the second time this...

read more

TICKETSMARTER ANNOUNCES FREE TICKETS FOR LIFE SWEEPSTAKES

Our partner TicketSmarter has some big news, Aviators fans! TicketSmarter is launching its new Free Tickets for Life* Sweepstakes. Each month, one lucky winner will be selected to win free tickets each year for life. Have you ever wanted to see a Broadway show like...

read more

Partners