Mike Bocock grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in the town of Dayton. He attended Turner Ashby High School (TA) and played baseball for the legendary coach, Ray Lynn Heatwole. While at TA, Mike won 2 state championships.

After high school, Mike attended August Military Academy (AMA) and played for the post graduate football program. He went on to Chowan College and played quarterback for the football team. He was named a junior college All-American as a freshman. He then came home to the valley and enrolled at Bridgewater College where he participated on the football and baseball team. Mike was a member of the Eagles team that won the very first Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship in baseball.

After college graduation, Mike started his teaching and coaching career at Stonewall Jackson (now Moutain View) High School. Under the tutelage of Max Hutton, Mike started the baseball program that won more than 100 games, multiple district titles, and continues to this day.

Mike then moved to Florida and kept winning titles. His FL high school baseball win percentage was over .650. He parlayed that success into returning to one of his alma maters, Chowan, and won titles and racked up a .750 winning percentage.

From his time at Stonewall Jackson, through Florida, and currently, Mike has been involved with the Valley Baseball League (a college summer league). His VBL successes have spread through 5 different franchises with 7 league championships and 14 pennants. He was named VBL Coach of the Year in 2005, 2014, & 2022. He was also inducted with the inaugural class into the VBL Hall of Fame in 2016. To date, Mike has accrued more than 700 VBL victories. The VBL experience has allowed Mike to grow relationships with college players, college coaches, and professional baseball scouts and coaches. Many of his best players have gone on to successful professional baseball careers.

Mike’s baseball legacy is continued by his son, Tyler, who coaches baseball at Sarasota Christian Academy (FL) and his stepson, Andrew, who coached at Turner Ashby High School where he helped them win the 2017 VA State Championship. He is the loving husband to Martha and a very proud grandfather of 5.

Originally from Harrisonburg, VA Tyler spent 3 years on Varsity for the Knights of Turner Ashby High School and was named All-Valley-District junior and senior year. He was a 4 sport athlete lettering in Golf, Football, Basketball and Baseball. Upon graduating high school he went to Chipola Junior College on a baseball scholarship where he spent 1 season playing 2B under hall of fame head coach Jeff Johnson before transferring to Stetson University on a full athletic scholarship. Bocock was a 3 year starter at shortstop and Captain for the Stetson Hatters under the helm of Hall of Fame head coach Pete Dunn (2013-2015).

Tyler also played for the Waynesboro Generals in the Valley League under Hall of Fame coach and Dad, Mike Bocock. Tyler was an integral part of their championship team in 2013 and was named to the 2013 All-Valley-League prospect team. After graduating college, Bocock spent 2 years coaching at Harrisonburg High School where he assisted in coaching the baseball team to its first state semifinal appearance since 1992.

After that, he spent a season coaching under Clyde Metcalf at Sarasota High School for the Sailors. Bocock then went on to spend 4 seasons as the head baseball coach and 1 season as a JV football head coach for the Sarasota Christian School Blazers. Bocock now resides in Sarasota with his wife Michelle and his 2 children, Brooks (4) and Reagan (3). Bocock loves to play with his kids, play golf and watch sports in his freetime.

Aaron comes to the River Bandits with 28 years of coaching experience.

He started a long career in coaching in 1995 at various levels including one summer as an assistant coach under Coach Bocock for the Luray Wranglers of the Valley League in 2003.

He is currently the Head Coach at Ukiah High School where he lead them to the 2022 North Coast Section 2 Champions and the 2022 Northern California Regional State Championships,

Aaron recently stated:

“It is with great pleasure that I have another opportunity to be back in the Valley League for summer collegiate baseball! To be a part of the Woodstock River Bandits family and to be coaching alongside Mike Bocock is an honor and something I don’t take lightly. I’m looking forward to meeting new amazing people, working with the high-caliber roster, and creating lasting friendships. I’m excited to again experience the beauty of Virginia (and its ballparks) that I’ve missed since my first experience with Luray and the Wranglers organization.”

Married to Katherine Ford

Father of 3 Boys- Austin 19, Jacob 16, and Ryan 14

A former standout athlete, Blake’s journey through the sport began with a successful tenure playing Division 1 baseball at Radford University. His dedication and skill were further showcased when he joined the Staunton Braves in the Valley Baseball League, where he left an indelible mark.
During his time with the Staunton Braves, Blake consistently demonstrated his prowess on the field, earning the esteemed title of Team MVP in both 2012 and 2013. His leadership, work ethic, and love for the game were evident in every aspect of his play, making him a respected figure both within his team and the league as a whole.
Now, transitioning into the realm of coaching, Blake is eager to share his knowledge and passion for baseball with aspiring players. With a keen understanding of the game’s nuances and a proven track record of success, he is poised to make a significant impact as a coach. Through personalized lessons tailored to individual needs, Blake aims to nurture the skills and confidence of his players, helping them reach their full potential on and off the field.