Ben Grimm - President/Head Coach
Phone 315-761-5870
Email: sherrillsilversmiths@hotmail.com

Ben serves in the role of President and Head Coach for the Silversmiths. He is a founding member of the Silversmiths and is in his third year as Head Coach and second as team President. He handles the day to day responsibilities of the team.

Over the first two years Coach Grimm led the Silversmiths to the 10th annual Albany Althletics Baseball Fest Championship and the 2010 ECBL Runners-up, his team falling 5-4 in 12 innings.

He has led the Smitties to a 37-38-2 record.

Ben is also in his first year as the Pitching Coach at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He comes to Hamilton after serving in the same capacity at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV.

At D&E, Ben helped lead the Senator Pitching Staff finish in the top 4 of the WVIAC in ERA, Strikeouts, OBA, and HR allowed in 2010. Over his three years he saw the team ERA drop by over 3.30 runs and the team win total increase by 16.

Coach Grimm also served as the Pitching Coach at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY for one season, coaching Smitties Pitching Coach Joe Pallone.

He has also worked camps throughout the country at various Universities and Colleges including Mississippi State University, The University of Mississippi, The University of Hartford, and LaFayette University.

Ben played four years of collegiate baseball as well. He pitched two years at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY. After OCC, he pitched two years at NCAA Division II power Concord University in Athens, WV. Ben also played one summer in the NYCBL, pitching for the Mohawk Valley Cobras in 2003.

Coach Grimm has a M.S. from West Virginia University and a B.S. from Concord University.


Matt Rafte - Vice President/General Manager
Phone: 315-264-4334
Email: sherrillsilversmiths@hotmail.com

Matt serves in the role of Vice Prasident/General Manager for the Silversmiths. He returns for his second season with the franchise taking on off the field duties after serving as the team First Base Coach in 2010.

"Rafte" as he is affectionately known by the Smitties players, is responsible for overseeing team fundraising and housing. He will also serve as the "Voice of the Silversmiths" during all home radio broadcasts.

Matt is currently a teacher for Oneida-Madison Boces and is very involved in his community. He is also an avid sports nut.

Rafte is currently pursuing his B.S. from the College at Brockport.


Joe Pallone - Pitching Coach
Phone: 315-532-5150
Email: palonej@sunyocc.edu

“JoePa” as he was known throughout his playing days is in his 2nd year as pitching coach for the Smitties, after pitching for them in their inaugural year. He helped guide the Smitties to a 3.46 team ERA in 2010.

Coach Pallone is also the Pitching Coach at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY, and serves as an instructor at Perfect Practice in Syracuse.

At Cazenovia College he was the “closer” for all 4 years. In his Freshman Year 2007 under the direction of Coach Grimm he was converted from starter to closer. As a freshmen he set the single season record for Saves at Cazenovia. In addition to saves he holds the single season record for Appearances and Games Finished at Cazenovia. He also holds career records for Saves, Appearances and Games Finished. He is also in the All Time top 10 in Strikeouts.

Joe earned his degree in B.S. Sport Management at Cazenovia in 2010.


Jimmy Habecker - Hitting Coach
Phone: 585-507-1690
Email: jimmyhabecker@gmail.com

Jimmy is entering his first year serving as Hitting Coach for the Silversmiths.

He is currently an Assistant Coach at Penfield High School in Penfield, NY and instructs at Frozen Ropes of Rochester, specializing in catching and hitting.

The past two summers he has been the Assistant Coach for Rayson Miller Jr. Legion, a 17u team out of Pittsford, NY. With RM, Jimmy helped guide them to their second district title in team history and finished 5th in New York State.

Jimmy has also spent time instructing with Ripken Baseball in Aberdeen, MD. He was a four year member of the Mount Union College baseball team where he earned his BA in Sport Management in 2008.