Heath Cummings is entering his 14th year as the head baseball coach at CLC. Under his leadership, 160 student-athletes have transitioned to four-year universities, each earning either an athletic or academic scholarship. The Lancers have achieved remarkable success, winning 130 games in the past four years and producing the Skyway Conference Pitcher of the Year for the last three consecutive years.
Last season, the Lancers celebrated three All-Conference players:
- 1st Team All-Conference: Isaac Santos Jr. (RHP) from Parkside University, who was also named the Skyway Conference Pitcher of the Year, and Clay Cerna (CF) from Lincoln University.
- 2nd Team All-Conference: Isaiah Terrell (LHP) from Parkside University. Joseph Mrowiec (SS) was named 1st Team All-Region, leading the region in home runs, and Clay Cerna was honored as the All-Region Gold Glove Winner.
Last year, the CLC baseball program successfully moved 11 sophomores to four-year universities:
- Joseph Mrowiec (SS) - Georgia Gwinnett University
- Brendan Whalen (RHP) - Indiana University Southeast
- Isaac Santos Jr. (RHP) - Parkside University
- Isaiah Terrell (LHP) - Parkside University
- Kyle Niebow (LHP) - Cumberland University
- Clay Cerna (CF) - Lincoln University
- Ryan O’Toole (MIF) - Marian University
- Brayden Gibour (1st base) - Florida Atlantic
- Caden Herron (MIF) - Auburn
- Seth Gossett (OF) - North Dakota State
- Logan Paplham (RHP) - Shawnee State University
Coach Cummings' primary goal at CLC is to develop players individually. Believing in personalized coaching, he works one-on-one with each athlete, recognizing their unique talents and needs. To date, he has coached 55 All-Conference players, 4 All-Conference Players of the Year, 5 All-Conference Pitchers of the Year, 19 All-Region players, 6 All-Region Gold Glove Winners, and 1 All-American. His overall record over the past 13 years at CLC is an impressive 317-260.
Coach Cummings' own baseball journey began at Zion-Benton High School under the esteemed coach Gary Bereiter. Reflecting on his mentor, he says, "Coach B played a huge role in my life, guiding me through the coaching process. Without him, I wouldn't be the coach or person I am today." After high school, Heath attended the College of Lake County, where he played under the legendary Gene Hanson. There, he earned All-Conference, All-State honors, and served as the Team Captain of the 1994 Region IV State Championship Team. He continued his education and athletic career at Erskine College on a baseball scholarship, where he earned team MVP honors his junior year.
His coaching career began in 1997 at Zion-Benton High School, where he remained until 2010, eventually rising to head varsity baseball coach. He also coached a summer Colt 16U team, leading them to multiple successes, including a state title and a combined record of 98-39.
Beyond the baseball field, Heath Cummings holds a BA in Project Management and serves as the Student-Athlete Academic Success and Compliance Coordinator at CLC. He has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Sara, for 28 years, and together they have two children, Troy and Molly.
