Staff

Originally from Raleigh, NC, Nate Stocum brings his passion and leadership to the field as he proudly takes over as the new head coach of the Honeycrisps!

Stocum spent 5 years at Western Carolina playing both Outfield and First Base. In his 5 year career, Stocum hit 41 home runs and drove in 151 runs. As a senior in 2024, Nate hit a career-best .333 with a team-high 73 hits including 15 doubles and 20 home runs, tied for seventh in WCU’s single-season record books. Stocum was selected to the first-team All-Southern Conference by both the league’s head coaches and voting media. Stocum is back with the Catamounts for the 2025 season as the Director of Player Development working with the hitters and the outfielders.

From the great area of Summerville, NC, Gavin Mortenson has made his way down to Hendersonville to serve as the assistant coach for the Honeycrisps!

Gavin Mortenson was a four year starting pitcher for Western Carolina where he started as a 2-way player playing shortstop, as well as pitching. Gavin started Friday nights his senior year and led the Catamount pitching staff with 63 strikeouts, ranking eighth in the Southern Conference. Gavin was named first-team preseason All-Southern Conference by the league’s head coaches and now serves the Catamounts as a Graduate Assistant Coach working with the infielders and the pitching staff.

Hailing from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, Bob has been a resident of Hendersonville since 2017. 

His athletic journey began at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, where he honed his skills as a standout pitcher for four seasons. This dedication and talent led to his selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round of the MLB amateur baseball draft in 1987, marking the start of an illustrious professional career.

Over eleven years in professional baseball, Bob accumulated more than 4 and a half years of Major League Baseball (MLB) service time, a testament to his skill and perseverance. His journey through the majors saw him pitch for iconic teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets. Along the way, Bob faced off against some of the game's legends, serving up home runs to the likes of Mark McGwire, Frank Thomas, and Cal Ripken Jr., an experience that few can claim.

Bob is eager to channel his MLB experience into nurturing the pitching talent of the Honeycrisps. His goal is to leverage his firsthand knowledge of the highest levels of the game to foster development and improvement among the team's pitchers, promising an exciting new chapter for both him and the Honeycrisps.

Riley is pursuing a master’s degree in Management and Leadership while coaching softball at Montreat College. Having been around baseball and softball her entire life, including playing at the collegiate level, she brings a deep understanding and passion for the game. She is focused on leadership, operations, and creating meaningful experiences for Honeycrisps fans and players. Riley plans to continue building her career in sports after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball, watching the sunset, and spending time with loved ones.

Campbell is a Hendersonville native and a rising sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in Sports Administration and Economics, with a plan to minor in business. She is passionate about baseball with a focus on operations and management and wants games to be more than a game for fans, rather becoming a family experience that is remembered for years to come. Outside of school, her interests include hiking, pickleball, and spending time with her loved ones.

Joel is currently a student at Western Carolina University, where he is pursuing a BSBA in Management and a minor in Finance. As a former collegiate baseball player, Joel possesses a deep-rooted passion for the game and a unique understanding of its inner workings. He is highly focused on mastering operations management, aiming to create efficient, high-quality experiences for Honeycrisps fans and players alike. Joel plans to build a professional career in sports leadership and operations. In his free time, he enjoys staying active in the gym and spending time at church.

As a Polk County native and CTE Business Teacher at East Henderson High School, Buffy brings both local expertise and business acumen to the Honeycrisps. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from East Carolina University, a graduate certificate from Appalachian State University, and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree at Campbell University. With her deep community connections and proven leadership, Buffy is excited to take the Honeycrisps organization to the next level and looks forward to connecting with each of our fans and partners personally.