About Us

Welcome To Elite

Elite Baseball was founded in 2006 by Matt Werts and Matt Knox. Werts was committed to bringing quality instruction and advisement to baseball players of all ages, based on his years of experience on the field and playing at the D1 level in college. Werts reconnected with one of his former teammates, Matt Knox, who returned to Lancaster to continue his professional career with the newly formed Lancaster, Barnstormers.

What began as lessons, summer camps & agility clinics soon led to the development of a year-round training facility in Mount Joy, PA. The 7500-square-foot facility was complete with turf, batting cages, and a strength and conditioning gym. In 2007 Elite launched its own travel summer and fall teams, along with the region’s first College Baseball Showcase, giving high school baseball players the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents in front of some of the top college programs on the East Coast.

Over the last decade and a half, Elite Baseball has grown to include training locations in New York, regional teams in Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia, and national teams in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Tennessee.

Elite also hosts some of the tri-state area’s top summer and fall baseball tournaments, ranging in ages from 10U to 18U, along with the Nation’s top Academic College Showcase Camps, which offer high school athletes the opportunity to learn from and be seen and evaluated by coaches and recruiters from the most prestigious academic and athletic schools in the country.

Elite Baseball has prided itself on its commitment to providing a motivating and positive atmosphere to all its players and families and dedicating time and effort to its college placement program. Elite has helped over 415 players continue their dream of playing baseball at the next level and beyond, providing families and players with the expertise needed in finding the “right” college experience for every athlete that walks through their doors, as well as helping navigate the recruiting process, scholarship opportunities, and player development.

Coaching Team

Matt Werts

Founder/Coach/ College Placement Advisor

Matt is the co-founder of Elite Baseball with nearly two decades of experience as a coach and instructor. Matt specializes in pitching instruction and coaches the Elite Baseball Showcase Teams. Matt also leads the Elite Baseball College Placement Services Program and has helped placed 315 players in college programs since 2007.

Matt Knox

Founder/Coach/Instructor

Matt is the co-founder of Elite Baseball. After a successful collegiate career at Millersville, Matt was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. He completed his professional career in 2006 and has been involved in developing, coaching and mentoring young ballplayers for more than a decade. Matt coaches the Elite Showcase Teams and specializes in hitting instruction.

Jonathan Grosse

Co-Director Elite National

Jonathan is one of the founders of Elite National with nearly two decades of experience as a college coach and instructor. Jonathan spent 10 years as a college coach, 7 of which were at the Division 1 level. Jonathan is the Director of the Elite National Teams and coaches and oversees all age groups.

Arne Werts

Coach/Instructor

Arne has been involved in the game of baseball for several decades as a coach and umpire. He has coached players from 9 to 18 years old including years as a High School and American Legion skipper. Arne has impacted thousands of kids as a coach and umpire and his diverse background allows him to assist players in every aspect of the game.

Zach Hostetter

Coach/Instructor

Zach is a former Elite Baseball Player who graduated from Cedar Crest High School and went on to play Division I college baseball at Mount St. Mary’s before graduating in 2017. At The Mount Zach played in more than 120 games as an outfielder, had a career .251 average with 70 RBI and posted a career .303 on-base percentage. Zach started his coaching career at Elite Baseball in 2018 and specializes in hitting and outfield.

Dana Best

Coach/Instructor

With more than a quarter century of coaching and instruction under his belt, Dana has guided teams to success in the 9-16 years old range and has been working at Elite Baseball since 2017. In addition to coaching teams, Dana specializes in pitchers, infielders and player aptitude development. With nearly two decades of experience as an NCAA Division I basketball scout, Dana has a unique skill set and knowledge to enhance Elite’s already strong College Placement Services Program.

Jackie Commella-Werts

Coach/ Instructor/Strength Conditioning

Jackie Commella-Werts is a registered Health Care Practitioner with a AFAA certification in group fitness, NASM strength training and conditioning certification, as well as a RYT -200-hour certified Yoga Instructor. Jackie also has a background in fitness, nutrition, cardiology and health education and extensive baseball knowledge of the game. Jackie brings over seven years of health coaching and personalized fitness and nutrition planning to our clients and players, including speed and agility training. Jackie has been part of our staff since 2006 as one of our assistant coaches for our 12U and 14U teams.

Zach Hostetter

Coach/Instructor

Jordan Seltzer

Coach/Instructor

Jordan has been a part of the Elite Baseball coaching staff since 2016 specializing in hitting and developing first basemen. The Northern Lebanon product played college baseball at Messiah College where he played first base and was a designated hitter. Jordan is a physical education teacher in the Annville-Cleona School District and is the head Junior Varsity baseball coach for the A-C Dutchmen.

COLLEGE ADVISEMENT

Elite Baseball is the Mid-Atlantic Region’s leading provider of college placement services, annually assisting in the placement of 30-40 student-athletes into their top college choices at all levels, from NCAA Division 1 to Junior College. Matt Werts has established and developed long-term relationships with college coaches throughout the United States, which has opened the doors for players to have multiple opportunities to showcase their skills and talents to college programs that may have gone unnoticed. Matt has helped over 415 players continue their dream of playing baseball at the college level and professionally over the last 17 years of his career.

Our College Advisement Process

Our process is built upon 3 key components: player development, strategy & implementation, and logistics and finances. Through our experience in the collegiate and professional realm, we are personally invested in providing an unrivaled perspective to those we work with.

Player Development

Appraisal of skills and athletic traits.
Personal guidance while implementing and executing specific development plans.
Video and in-person sessions to explain and enhance the technique.
Utilization of personal referrals for needs that are specific and nuanced.
Directed strategies for essential programs and events.

Strategy & Implementation

Logistics & Finances

Coaching Team