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Meet the Staff
Hit & Run Baseball has created a qualified staff of
proven instructors for our clinics and individual instruction. Each of our
baseball / softball experts is available to assist you in learning the
game's proper techniques and fundamentals on an individualized basis. The
guidance they provide will allow you to improve your game quickly and
realize your maximum potential. Our teaching philosophy is to give our
participants our undivided attention each session and teach to the ability
level of each person to enhance skill development one session at a time. We
can guarantee that you will become a better player in the future. There are
no short cuts to success - only hard work and attention to detail.
Mike Jackson, CPT, CSCS –
Owner
Director of Instruction
and Performance Training
Mike Jackson brings over 20 years of baseball
specific conditioning and coaching experience to
the facility. A Certified Personal Trainer and a
Specialist in Sport Conditioning as well as a
certified Speed, Agility and Quickness trainer,
young athletes are sure to benefit in whatever
aspect of the game they are trying to improve
upon. Along with functional strength knowledge,
Mike also serves as the Pitching Coach at
Seminole Community College as well as the
Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Having owned / operated other baseball training
facilities, the goal was to one day incorporate
the proven facets of baseball training and
functional fitness into one main training
facility. He was a 3-year varsity baseball
player and named to All-State teams in Florida,
being a South Florida native. He went on to
pitch for Miami-Dade South Community College
until an arm injury shortened his pitching
career. He continued on to assist with the
Pitching staff and play intercollegiate
Basketball.
"Having the opportunity to play for Charlie
Green in Miami was a great inspiration. Learning
the finer points of the game as well as the work
ethic and discipline it takes to enable athletes
to move to the next level."
Mike worked 5 years with the Stoneman Douglas
High School baseball program where he served as
the Strength and Conditioning and Pitching
coach. Douglas is constantly ranked in the top
State and National rankings. Mike has coached
many young athletes that have gone on to Junior
and Div -1 college’s, and some drafted into
Major League Baseball.
"My coaching philosophies are always being
fine-tuned, and are not geared to make every
player the same as the last. Researching and
constantly looking for the best methods of
baseball-specific conditioning, focusing on the
small details of "playing the game", not just
the mechanics, has been the secret to success in
the years of coaching the players I’ve had.
Living by the coaching ethics of "Instruct,
Inform, and Inspire" has greatly helped me in
continuing my coaching goals of improving
player’s skills to achieve next level success."
Married to his wife Dena and has three children,
Devin, Austin and Sienna.
 Mike
Bono – Director of Business Development
Mike
has been coaching amateur baseball for the past twenty-five years and is
one of the most recognized baseball names in Central Florida. An Indiana
native, he went on to play Division I baseball at Murray State University
in Kentucky from 1969 to 1973.
Mike’s teams have won Florida championships in Pony, Babe
Ruth, American Legion and AAU baseball. As a charter member of Florida’s
AAU Baseball Committee, where he helped launch AAU baseball in Central
Florida. His AAU teams served as feeder a program for several of Central
Florida’s top high schools. Most noted was the nationally ranked Lake
Mary High School 2001-2002 teams where 14 of his players went on to play
collegiate baseball. In 2000, the Central Florida Suns-17U team competed
for AAU’s national championship, finishing third in the nation. In 2001,
he sponsored and coached American Legion Post 53 that compiled a 51-2
record falling one game short of the World Series. His Seminole scout team
placed third in the 64-team 2001 Perfect Game Wood Bat National
Championship.
During the past two years Mike, along with his three sons
has established Bono Baseball, LLC. Mike is married to Sheila, his wife of
34 years. They have four children, Mickey, Kim, Ryan and Kyle and two
grandchildren.
"By joining forces with Hit-n-Run Baseball we have
created a dynamic team". "Mike and Daren bring new energy and
excitement to Central Florida baseball". Together we plan to develop
unique and innovative programs for players, coaches, teams and leagues that
will set Hit-N-Run Baseball apart and make it Central Florida’s best
baseball training and educational facility.
 Mickey
Bono – Professional Baseball Instructor
(Hitting and Pitching)
Mickey
has been coaching and instructing baseball in Central Florida for the past
fifteen years. He played his high school baseball at Lake Brantley before
attending Seminole Community College. After high school Mickey played for
Chet Lemon’s Juice where he competed for a national championship. He
worked one season with Doyle Baseball in their summer training program and
worked with Chet Lemon Baseball for two seasons. Mickey coached the Central
Florida Suns (AAU) team for five years. The past seven years he has coached
the Lake Mary High School fall team at UCF.
During
the past two years Mickey along with his two brothers, have been running
Bono Baseball, LLC, a highly successful baseball-specific training
organization. Besides being one of the areas most versatile instructors he
is also known for his batting practice pitching skills and currently
servers in this capacity at UCF and area showcases.
"I am excited about this opportunity to join Hit-N-Run
Baseball., as our old business just outgrew its current facilities."
The new Hit-n-Run Baseball facility offers both expanded hours for team
practice and private instruction.
 Kyle
Bono – Professional Pitching / Hitting Instructor
Kyle
was a two-year all state performer in high school at Lake Mary playing for
Coach Allan Tuttle. He attended UCF on a baseball scholarship where under
the coaching of Craig Cozart and Jay Bergman, he became one of the nation’s
dominant closers his freshman year with a 0.83 ERA in 28 appearances. As a
sophomore Kyle earned two All-American honors with an 8-2 record and 1.93
ERA. Kyle ended his college career as UCF’s all-time ERA leader with a
1.66 career ERA. After being drafted in June of 2004 by the Boston Red Sox,
Kyle decided to play for the Chatham A’s in the Cape Cod League with his,
twin brother and catcher, Ryan, before signing. He earned all-star honors
with 8 saves and an ERA of 0.00 at mid-season. Kyle signed with the Red Sox
on July 20, 2004 for a record bonus and began his professional career at
Lowell, MA. In 2005 Kyle pitched for Wilmington in the Carolina League. As
the trading deadline approached the Red Sox traded Kyle to the Diamondbacks
for major leaguer outfielder, Jose Cruz, Jr. Kyle finished the 2005 season
at Lancaster in the California League and will rejoin the Diamondbacks at
spring training in Tucson.
In his first two off-seasons Kyle has conducted two benefit
camps as a way to give back to his former high school and one of his
coaches who died unexpectedly at age thirty-eight. A true student of the
game Kyle shares what he has learned from his college and professional
pitching coaches. He has developed a comprehensive training program that
can be adapted to any age player.
"While my own professional career is my primary focus,
Hit-n-Run Baseball gives me the perfect venue in the off-season to share my
experiences with others and continue my annual benefit camp." Kyle is
engaged to Sarah Aza and plans to be married in October of this year.
 Ryan
Bono – Professional Baseball Catching/Hitting Instructor
Ryan was a four-year starter at UCF playing both
catcher and first base. He ended his career as a .300+ hitter and an
all-time Top-10 performer in seven offensive categories.Through his
leadership and competitive drive he served as “a coach on the field” for
coaches Jay Bergman and Craig Cozart. Defensively he only allowed eight
passed balls in his career while throwing out nearly 40% of the base
runners. During his senior year he was nominated for the prestigious
Johnny Bench Award, an award that goes to the nation’s top catcher. He
finished as one of the ten semi-finalists. Arguably known as the “best
receiver in school history” by both the pitchers and coaching staffs.
His career highlights include both power and
finesse. He had two game-winning walk-off home runs, one coming against
24th ranked Oklahoma State in the 2004 NCAA regional at Dick
Howser Stadium at Florida State. Against 8th ranked Clemson
he executed a game-winning suicide squeeze bunt giving his twin brother,
Kyle, a complete game pitching victory.
Ryan also earned an opportunity to play in the
prestigious Cape Cod league in 2004 following his sophomore year.
Playing for the famous Chatham A’s was one of his most favorite baseball
memories as he competed against the best players in the nation and where
he threw out three runners in one inning.
He prepped at Lake Mary High School where he
lettered three years in baseball and two years in basketball. He was
coached by Allen Tuttle and named all state, all-conference and all
county as a junior and senior. He finished his prep career with a
batting average of .395, hitting .462 as a senior where he led Lake Mary
as the nation's fifth-ranked team according to Baseball America. He was
also an honor roll student at Lake Mary.
Ryan just earned his Bachelor of Science degree at
UCF with emphasis on Marketing and Communications. This was
accomplished in nine semesters and outstanding achievement for any
student-athlete.
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