J3 Training Academy in Mattoon, Illinois, is a premier facility dedicated to the development of baseball and softball players of all ages and skill levels. The academy is home to an elite team of trainers, including two former MLB pitchers and eight NCAA Division I pitchers, bringing a wealth of professional and collegiate experience to the table. Whether you're a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an advanced player aiming to refine your skills, J3 provides tailored training programs focused on pitching, hitting, and overall player development.
At J3 Training Academy, athletes benefit from personalized coaching rooted in real-world, high-level competition. The trainers emphasize fundamental techniques while incorporating advanced strategies that have been proven on both the professional and collegiate stages. With a focus on long-term athlete growth, the academy fosters an environment where players can develop their physical skills, mental toughness, and game intelligence, preparing them for success at any level of competition.
Gabe Black is the current hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for Lake Land College Baseball. A Mattoon native, Black will be starting his 4th season with the Lakers. Gabe spent his playing career as a member of the first ever Mattoon Hit-men team before moving on and playing with the Post 88 Legion program.
Black played his college career at Greenville University before transferring to Eastern Illinois University to finish his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. This was also the time Black began his coaching career with the Mattoon Hit-Men. During Black’s time at Lake Land College, he has coached 16 players that moved onto the Division I level. Gabe has also helped take the Lakers to their first Region Championship appearance in 25 years, as well as the first 30-win season in 30 years.
I was born and raised in Effingham and graduated from St. Anthony High School, where I was a two-time All-State selection and the 2012 IHSA Player of the Year.
I was selected in the 31st round of the MLB Draft by the New York Mets in 2013 and went on to play Division I baseball at Illinois State University. I also spent a season at Lincoln Land Community College, earning All-American honors, before finishing my collegiate career at Wichita State University.
In 2017, I was selected in the 12th round of the MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs and would play seven seasons of professional baseball, reaching as high as the Double-A level.
I currently serve as the Director of Pitching Development at J3, overseeing athlete development with Premier Pitching & Performance out of Wentzville, MO where I dual as a satellite trainer.
My work centers on integrating force plate data, biomechanical analysis, and a comprehensive assessment process to identify performance limitations and build targeted, individualized development plans. The objective is to improve how athletes produce and transfer force within the pitching delivery and ensure those outputs are expressed efficiently under game conditions.
I also lead arsenal development through the integration of ball flight data from TrackMan and high-speed video analysis using Edgertronic camera, allowing for detailed evaluation of pitch characteristics, hand position, and seam orientation. This process supports the refinement of pitch shapes, pitch usage, and overall pitch design.
My objective is to develop pitchers who can produce force, transfer it efficiently through the delivery, and execute consistently under game conditions. Velocity is addressed within a broader model that emphasizes movement efficiency, pitch quality, and durability.
Played at MHS, and Lake Land College. Lead the area in batting average at .452 in 2017 earning All-Conference Honors. Hit .313 and .317 in two seasons at Lake Land College, leading the team in doubles his first season. Has been apart of Mattoon Baseball for multiple decades, as a player, coach, and board member. Starting as a player on the first Mattoon Cal Ripken team to qualify for a World Series in 2012, continuing all the way through serving as a Babe Ruth board member until 2024.
Davis is also certified through Driveline's Pitch Design course. Along with Pitch Design, Davis also has certifications with use of Trackman and Edgertronic Camera.
As a Freshman at Heartland Community College (2022):
Michael Flier, Cumberland County native and current coaching staff at Lake Land College. Comes with almost 2 decades of baseball playing experience, most recently at SXU in Chicago.
Michael has been coaching, training and providing lessons to young players in the region for the last 5 years. He is ready to engage with competitive teams in this area to help prepare them, mentally and physically, for the next level of play.
I played five years of Division 1 college baseball at Eastern Illinois University as a right-handed pitcher. I finished my career as the all-time leader in wins at EIU with 26, while ranking 2nd in school history in starts (46), 4th in innings pitched (272.2), and 10th in career strikeouts (182).
During my career, I earned All-OVC Freshman Team honors in 2022, OVC All-Tournament Team honors in 2023, and All-OVC Second Team honors in 2025. I was also named Academic All-District and received the 2025-26 EIU Male Athletic Director Award.
I currently serve as the Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Lake Land College.
1201 Charleston Avenue East
Mattoon, IL 61938
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