Written by Justin Ciavolella
Director of Broadcasting & Media
Photo Courtesy of Madison Giltner Photography

SANFORD, Maine – Sanford Mainers fourth-year head coach Nic Lops announced his coaching staff for the upcoming 2024 New England Collegiate Baseball League season on Tuesday afternoon. Lops will be joined in the dugout by second-year assistant Tim Moreau and newcomer Jeff Heinz.

Heinz, a Stratham, New Hampshire native, joins the Sanford organization from Bridgton Academy where he serves as an assistant coach on the staff of Mainers’ general manager Aaron Izaryk. Heinz graduated from Portsmouth High School in 2013 where he was a NHIAA Division 2 State Champion. After a postgraduate stop at Bridgton, Heinz pitched to a 3.80 ERA in 87.1 innings for Lesley University.

“I’m very excited to have Jeff Heinz join my staff for this summer,” Lops said. “He has a solid baseball background and a great mind for the game. He will be a wonderful addition to the Mainers this summer.”

The former closer’s baseball background goes beyond just the playing field as his coaching career started shortly after alongside his father, James, at the Rye Jr. High School. Between Rye and Bridgton, Heinz worked in the Beach Collegiate League and in the athletic operation departments of Merrimack College and College of the Holy Cross.

“I look forward to this new step in my career and want to do my best to help the Sanford Mainers be a great team both on and off the field this summer,” Heinz said.

That next step in his career will be alongside Moreau, who returns to Sanford for a second summer after helping the Mainers to a 24-19 regular season record and the second round of the 2023 New England League Postseason. Moreau, who also served as head coach for a win against Keene in July, worked in all facets of the team last season and served as the primary third-base coach.

The Nashua, New Hampshire native, was recently promoted to associate head coach at Colby-Sawyer College where he continues to assist with outfield, hitting and base coaching duties.

The trio of Lops, Heinz and Moreau debuts in just over two months when the Mainers travel to face the Vermont Mountaineers on June 4. For more information on the Mainers and the upcoming season, visit sanfordmainers.com.

About the Sanford Mainers
Sanford Mainers Baseball is Southern Maine's Premier Baseball Experience located in Sanford, Maine and is one of 13 members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, as well as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001, playing its first season in 2002. The Sanford Mainers are committed to providing an outlet for collegiate baseball players from across the country to assist in skill development, while also acting as a community partner to the Southern Maine region in regard to youth activities, internships, volunteerism, and more. The Mainers are two-time league champions, taking home the title in 2004 and 2008. For more information on the Sanford Mainers, please visit our website at www.sanfordmainers.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfordmainers or on Twitter and Instagram at @sanford_mainers.

###