Pathway Baseball - Triple Crown

Coach Bower is the Associate Head Coach & Recruiting Coordinator for the Centralia Blazers. He is the primary hitting coach for the team, as well as responsible for coaching outfielders. Bower is also the Blazers’ 3rd Base Coach. 

In his first year with the program, he helped lead Centralia to a 26-24 record. This marked the highest win total since 1985 and the first winning season for the program since 2010. 

The Blazers saw a jump in nearly every offensive category in his first season as the hitting coach, including runs scored, OBP%, SLG%, hits, walks, 2Bs, HRs, RBIs, XBHs, and total bases. The Blazers hit 17 HRs in 2023, tied for 2^nd most in the NWAC over the course the regular season, after hitting only 4 the year prior. The Blazers also led the NWAC in walks at the end of the regular season. 

Centralia’s offense was led by Casen Taggart, who was named 1^st Team All NWAC and an ABCA All-American. 

Prior to coming to Centralia, Bower spent 2 seasons on Head Coach Chris Sabo’s staff at the University of Akron. He was the team’s outfield coach, worked with the hitters, and was the Zips’ 1st Base Coach. In his second season at Akron, the Zips outfielders combined for an eye-popping 27 assists. 

While at Akron, Coach Bower helped develop outfielder Bryant Shellenbarger into a top defender and professional baseball player. After Bower’s first season with the Zips, Shellenbarger won The Northwoods League 2021 Rawlings ‘Finest in the Field’ Award, recognizing the best fielder at each position during the summer ball season. After the conclusion of Bower’s second season on the Akron staff, Shellenbarger began his professional career with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers of the United Shore Professional Baseball League. 

Prior to his time in Akron, Bower was the Volunteer Assistant for Cuyahoga Community College for the 2019-2020 season, where he also led the outfielders, worked with the team’s hitters, and was the Triceratops’ 1st Base Coach. 

Bower discovered his passion for coaching while serving at the youth level, having previously coached for the Cleveland Whitecaps, Force Ohio, and the Cleveland Jr. RBI Program. 

Coach Bower is a Cleveland, Ohio native. He graduated from Ohio University with a BBA in Finance and Business Economics in 2011, and earned his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2014.