Herkimer Baseball

Head Coach: Jason Rathbun

2005, 2007 Mountain Valley Coach of the Year
2006, 2007 NJCAA District A Coach of the Year
2006 ABCA/Diamond Region III Coach of the Year

Head Coach Jason Rathbun enters his fourth season leading the Generals baseball team. Rathbun's coaching style of demanding accountability from his players has produced impressive results in the classroom and on the field. In three seasons, Rathbun has produced 90 career victories averaging 30 wins per season. His 2006 team achieved Academic All-American status as well as leading his team to the school's first World Series appearance.  In 2007, Herkimer made the World Series for the second season in a row where they went on to finish third in the national tournament held in Tyler, Texas.  He has recruited some of the area's top athletes including five Center State Conference (CSC) Players of the Year and eleven All-Mohawk Valley players, as well as players from California, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

In Rathbun's first season as head coach (2005), the baseball program reached new heights of success as the team advanced to the Region III Final Four for the first time since 1990. Herkimer broke the school win record with 21 victories, the first 20-win season in the program's history. Herkimer's offensive was the top hitting team in Region III with a .349 batting average, while the pitching staff posted a 2.95 earned run average.

In 2006, Herkimer had its most successful season in the history of the program. The Generals won their first Region III championship and went on to compete in the Division III NJCAA College World Series. Nationally, the team was ranked first in batting average (.380) and second in winning percentage (34-7 overall record). The team also achieved excellence in the classroom receiving Academic All-American honors with a team GPA of 3.02.

Last season, Herkimer had another record breaking season. The Generals won their second Region III championship and went on to compete in the Division III NJCAA College World Series in Tyler, Texas. Herkimer would go on to finish third in the national tournament. Herkimer broke the wins record for the third straight season achieving 35 wins.  Herkimer again showed their offensive strength pounding out 32 homeruns and posting a .390 batting average.

Rathbun started his playing career for legendary high school coach Ted Schoff (516 career wins) at Little Falls High School. In two years of playing varsity baseball, Rathbun compiled a record of 8-1 with an earned run average of 2.81. After high school, Rathbun served a three-year commitment to the 3rd Infantry Division in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Fort Stewart, Georgia, he competed in an Independent Summer League where he was voted MVP of the League. During a one-year stint with the Hinesville Marlins, he posted a 4-0 record with a 0.42 ERA and 64 strikeouts, and walked only seven batters in 32 innings pitched.

After serving in the Army, Rathbun accepted a spot to play for NJCAA Hall of Fame Coach Howard Roey at Division I Florida Community College in Jacksonville. After the birth of his son Andrew Joseph, Rathbun returned home to play for Head Coach Henry Testa at HCCC. During his freshman year, he led the team with five wins and a 3.66 ERA, and posted a .429 batting average. During his senior season, Herkimer qualified for the Region III Tournament.

Upon graduating from Herkimer, Rathbun accepted a baseball scholarship to Division II Erskine College in South Carolina to play for former University of Alabama and Philadelphia Phillies draft pick, Kevin Nichols, known for his hitting styles, techniques and record-breaking seasons. At Erskine, Rathbun compiled a 7-3 record highlighted by a senior season ERA of 2.64. Erskine broke the school wins record in Rathbun's senior season earning him the victory in the record-breaking 30th win game.

In addition to his coaching duties, Rathbun is employed in the housing department at HCCC. He lives in Herkimer with his seven-year-old son, AJ. Coach Rathbun is also a part of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Rathbun at HCCC