AUSTIN KENDRICK - Ozark Mountain Ducks

Austin Kendrick has been with the GRBL since Day 1. He started his GRBL as the starting 1st baseman for the inaugural GRBL Championship team, GRBL BLACK back in 2015. His coaching career for the GRBL started the very next season and has carried a lot of respect throughout the entire league year in and year out. Austin tasted champagne as a manager during the GRBL’s COVID year in 2020. “A.K.”is a former Parkview High School standout and the boys basketball coach at Reeds Spring High School. He signed to play at the college level, but a diagnosis of testicular cancer kept Austin from continuing to play. The GRBL has been A.K.’s ultimate baseball outlet throughout the years. Austin lives in Nixa, Missouri with his wife Jessica and two girls.

COURTNEY SPITZ - Nixa Suckers

Former Kickapoo High School and Drury University standout Courtney Spitz has been with the GRBL since Season III in 2017. Not only does he have a great baseball coaches mind but he also has been one of the league’s best catchers year in and year out. Not only that, his bat has been dangerous every time he steps into the box.

Sptiz is staying close to home as the head baseball coach for the Springfield Catholic Fightin’ Irish who led them to a state Class 4 runner up in 2023. Courtney lives in Nixa, Missouri with his wife, Katie and two children.

Jacob Karlson - Branson Showmen 

Jacob Karlson has been named the player/manager for the Branson Showmen for the 2024 Grip’N’Rip Baseball League season. “Speak softly and swing a big stick full of dynamite” seems to be the life motto for one of the most exciting athletes to ever grace the playing field in the Grip’N’Rip League.

Jacob Karlson career batting (5 seasons): 54-of-146, 37RBI, 2HR, 7 triples, 14 doubles, 12K, 16BB, .369AVG, .449 OBP

Karlson replaces Cole Roark, who retired at the end of the 2023 season. Roark will be concentrating on spending more time with his family, his business ventures and his coaching career in Licking, Missouri. Cole will always be a friend to #TheGRBL, and his name is etched on the Bell for a championship win with the High Rollers in 2019, the same season he won the Pitcher of the Year Award.

Daniel England - Moon City Mavericks

Daniel has done something that no other GRBL player has done...won four consecutive titles in GRBL and picked up his fifth championship as a coach last year in 2021 for the Mavericks. Daniel became a manager in 2020, and he understands the importance of bringing back baseball to guys who thought it was taken away from them forever. His cardiac Mavericks went to extra innings three times in their first seven games, which means you’re always in for an entertaining game when Moon City takes the field.

Daniel still toes the rubber every now and then when his team needs an out. Daniel was a part of the GRBL days where he had one pitch, bases loaded, and a full count. He got the out every time.

Chris Meza - Republic Locos

Chris was a baseball standout at the College of DuPage, then came from Chicago to Missouri State University to finish his degree. He also is a proud member of the GRBL #Original60 and has had an opportunity to play in the championship game two times. He and Austin Kendrick are one of the few remaining players who have been with the GRBL since Day 1.

He works for Kraft Foods and is also an assistant coach with the Hillcrest High School baseball team. His “Loco’s” made it to the Season VII semifinals two years ago and just fell short of the championship last year when his Locos fell to the now two time reigning Champions, the Springfield Mets.

Chris looks to win his first championship in his fifth year of managing the Republic Locos.

Clay Murphy - Springfield Mets

Clay Murphy has been named the player/manager of the Springfield Metropolitans for the 2024 Grip’N’Rip Baseball League season. The right-handed pitcher and infielder moves into a managerial role ahead of his fifth season in the league. He looks to add a third consecutive GRBL title for the SGF Mets after a very successful campaign led by previous Mets manager and GRBL great, Brock Chaffin.

Clay Murphy career pitching (4 seasons):

105.0IP, 12ER, 57H, 163K, 17BB, 2HBP, 1.03ERA

Murphy is a native of Wolf Lake, Illinois, who now resides in Springfield with his wife, Lindsay, and their sons, Clark and Tommy John. Clay also influences the next generation of baseball players as an instructor at Zone 1 Training at Marucci Clubhouse Midwest in Ozark.