OUR TEAM

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Thomas has been coached by some of the best pitching and hitting coaches in the game. Not only did they teach the proper mechanics, but also the proper attitude when playing the game.  He enjoys being able to pass this knowledge of the game on to younger generations.  He has worked with all age groups and is able to figure out what works

Thomas has been coached by some of the best pitching and hitting coaches in the game. Not only did they teach the proper mechanics, but also the proper attitude when playing the game.  He enjoys being able to pass this knowledge of the game on to younger generations.  He has worked with all age groups and is able to figure out what works best to make each individual player better while still having fun. Listening is key to the game.  In order to excel in any sport, the athlete needs to be coachable.  This allows the coach to teach proper arm, body, and mind techniques that will help them on and off the field. He is a huge fan of getting to know each player because not everything will work for everyone.  This mindset allows a coach to critique drills and workouts in a way that is most beneficial to the player. He loves the game of baseball and has been working with players ever since he finished playing.

Accolades of his baseball career:  Thomas was born and raised in Mount Prospect, Illinois where he attended Prospect High School. While he was at Prospect, he was a two-time High school All-Conference and All-Area athlete.  He was one-time all-state selection while also being on the Pioneer Press and Daily Herald Cream of the Crop Illinois top 50 list. Receiving the Co-Big East honors in the Mid Suburban League after hitting a walk off Grand Slam to win the conference championship was the highlight of his high school career. In the same week he received the Co-MVP of the IHSA All-Star Game his senior year. He played in the Perfect Game USA showcases to display his abilities and was asked to participate in the Area Code Games under Dan and Nathan Durst’s team Illinois. He took a scholarship at Arizona State University but later transferred to Mesa Community College due to arm problems. After receiving Tommy John surgery in 2004, he sat out for a full year of rehab and recovery.  He was offered a scholarship to South Mountain Community College where he led his team in multiple pitching categories.  This led to multiple D1 scholarship offers and decided to attend Grand Canyon University.  He felt this decision ended up being one of the best decisions of his life.  He has held onto the lessons he learned from the coaching staff as well as the University staff throughout his life.  He received All-Conference honors, was the PAC West pitcher of the week twice, and led the team in wins, appearances, strikeouts, and ERA. Because of his hard work at GCU, he received a Free Agent Contract with the Milwaukee Brewers Developmental Team. Dave Stapleton played a major role in his baseball career and has since went on to coach the LA Angels minor league team, the Orem Owlz. Arm troubles occurred again shortly after signing which led to another ulnar nerve surgery. His experience with arm issues drives him to teach young athletes the importance of proper body development, maintenance, and how to make healthy choices especially when it comes to overpitching.  He coached (6) College Athletes, (2) MLB Draft Picks and plenty of others that excelled in the game. He coached (1) Season at GCU before coming back to Chicago. He then coached at Lake Park High School under Dan Colucci as his pitching coach for (2) Years. He coached at Amundsen High School as a pitching coach. Now coaches for the Morton Grove Muscles 11U as an Assistant and the 14U Softball as the Head Coach. He was asked by Nelson Gord to help coach at Harper College for the 2021 season but suddenly lost both his parents to COVID which forced him to take a step back to focus on family.  He is excited for the opportunity to get back into coaching!

Herb Plucinski is the Co‑Owner and Founder of FCP (First Class Prospects), the elite indoor baseball and softball training academy based in Rosemont, Illinois. He also serves as the 13/14U Baseball Black Head Coach and Personal Instructor, specializing in hitting, fielding, and youth pitching development 

Coach Plucinski brings over 20 ye

Herb Plucinski is the Co‑Owner and Founder of FCP (First Class Prospects), the elite indoor baseball and softball training academy based in Rosemont, Illinois. He also serves as the 13/14U Baseball Black Head Coach and Personal Instructor, specializing in hitting, fielding, and youth pitching development 

Coach Plucinski brings over 20 years of experience coaching youth, high school, and travel baseball teams. He is known for his disciplined coaching style, his attention to detail, and his ability to build strong relationships with players—emphasizing work ethic, skill development, and college recruiting connections for advancing young athletes 

If you're interested in his coaching philosophy, his role within FCP, or how he supports player development and college recruitment, feel free to ask!

 A Psychology major at the University of Illinois–Chicago (UIC), Jazmyn brings both high-level playing experience and a strong coaching presence to the FCP staff. As a redshirt freshman at UIC, she appeared in 28 games with 17 starts at shortstop, posting a .305 batting average with 18 hits and 10 RBIs in just 56 plate appearances. Prior 

 A Psychology major at the University of Illinois–Chicago (UIC), Jazmyn brings both high-level playing experience and a strong coaching presence to the FCP staff. As a redshirt freshman at UIC, she appeared in 28 games with 17 starts at shortstop, posting a .305 batting average with 18 hits and 10 RBIs in just 56 plate appearances. Prior to college, Jazmyn was a four-year varsity standout at both Nazareth Academy and Taft High School, earning multiple All-State honors and leading the state of Illinois in home runs her senior year. At FCP, she works with youth softball players on hitting mechanics, infield fundamentals, and the mental side of the game—drawing on her background in psychology to connect with athletes in meaningful ways. Jazmyn also coached with the Chicago Ravens travel program in 2024 and continues to be an active mentor to the next generation of softball talent. 

 Liberty Rivard is a talented outfielder and pitcher for the Dominican University Stars. A native of Bradley, Illinois, she is a sophomore majoring in Special Education and Psychology with minors in Spanish and American Sign Language. Liberty was a four-year letterwinner at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, excelling in both soft

 Liberty Rivard is a talented outfielder and pitcher for the Dominican University Stars. A native of Bradley, Illinois, she is a sophomore majoring in Special Education and Psychology with minors in Spanish and American Sign Language. Liberty was a four-year letterwinner at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, excelling in both softball and basketball. During the 2025 season, she has showcased her pitching skills with a 2-0 record, including a strong performance against MSOE where she pitched three scoreless innings and contributed offensively with an RBI single. Beyond athletics, Liberty enjoys reading and shopping and is supported by her close-knit family as she pursues both her academic and athletic goals. 

 Amanda Daly is a seasoned softball pitching coach with a rich history as a player and a deep commitment to developing young talent. A native of Johnsburg, Illinois, she attended Johnsburg High School, where she set school records for the most victories and strikeouts. Her exceptional performance led her team to back-to-back Regional Cham

 Amanda Daly is a seasoned softball pitching coach with a rich history as a player and a deep commitment to developing young talent. A native of Johnsburg, Illinois, she attended Johnsburg High School, where she set school records for the most victories and strikeouts. Her exceptional performance led her team to back-to-back Regional Championships in 2007 and 2008. Daly was honored with All-Conference and Northwest Herald All-Area selections in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and was named to the All-State team in 2009. 

Continuing her athletic career, Daly earned a full scholarship to the University of Dayton, where she played as a pitcher for two seasons. In her freshman year, she led the team with a 4.37 ERA and 72 strikeouts, earning the team's Most Improved Player award. She also set a school record with three saves in a single season.  Daly transferred to Western Illinois University to complete her collegiate career, contributing to the Fighting Leathernecks' pitching staff. 

After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Sports and Health Management in 2013, Daly transitioned into coaching. She has dedicated the past eight years to mentoring young athletes, offering expert pitching and hitting lessons. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes skill development, mental toughness, and a deep understanding of the game. Daly currently serves as a pitching consultant and coach, working with players across various age groups to enhance their performance on the field.