COACHES
Marc Shrake #11
Founder, Manager, and Coach
Marc formed the Zephyrs Baseball Club in 2013, starting with a team of twelve 5- and 6-year olds. The Club has since had hundreds of players at youth ages 5-14.
Marc was a high school all conference catcher in Winona, Minn., and he played on the Minnesota Class A baseball state runner-up team in 1981 and basketball state championship team in 1982. He then played college basketball at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., before obtaining his law degree at the University of Chicago.
Marc began coaching baseball in 1985, co-heading the youth baseball program for the City of Goodview, Minn., and managing the Goodview All Stars in regional tournaments featuring other elite travel teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Canada.
Marc also had a 7-year career umpiring high school and college baseball in Minnesota and Illinois. Since 2007 Marc has coached in Santa Monica PONY Baseball and South Bay PONY Baseball. In these programs he has coached league and all star teams in all the age divisions and served as Division Commissioner, Director of Coach Development, Athletic Director, Vice President, and President.
Dozens of players on Marc’s teams have gone on to successful careers in high school, college Divisions I, II, and III, and the minor leagues.
Tony Palka #21
COACH
Tony Palka joined the Zephyrs coaching staff in 2020.
Born and raised on the west side of Los Angeles, Tony attended and played baseball at St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey and Santa Monica City College before accepting a baseball scholarship at California State University-Dominguez Hills.
As a starting pitcher at CSUDH, Tony earned two All-Conference selections while pitching against Division I schools including UCLA, University of Arizona, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Loyola Marymount University, and Pepperdine University.
Between his junior and senior years, Tony was invited to play for the Quincy Gems in the Central Illinois Collegiate League, a summer league for the top collegiate baseball players in the country. Following his senior year at CSUDH, Tony signed with the Regina Cyclones of the independent professional Prairie League for a season.
Tony started playing baseball at age 8, and his friends still claim his career highlight was striking out Michael Jordan. In the movie Space Jam, Tony is the pitcher on the full shot of the delivery throwing it past MJ.
Tony is a private pitching instructor for players at all levels and coaches in Westchester Little League.
Greg Morena #77
Speed & conditioning Coach
Greg Morena joined the Zephyrs coaching staff in 2021.
Greg Morena played competitive team sports while growing up in Santa Monica. He has been involved with community, kids, and various teams for most of his life.
Greg was an all conference football and track runner in high school. He ran club track in San Diego and played for the San Diego State Aztecs football team before transferring to play football at Cal State University Northridge.
Greg returned from college and coached high school football and track. While coaching track with local legends, Patrick Cady and Tanya Fischer (current Santa Monica High School track coach), they won two Bay League championships and sent several students to achieve state recognition.
Focusing on their Santa Monica Pier family restaurant of 44 years, Greg stepped off the Santa Monica City Council in 2020. Both before and since serving on the Council, Greg dedicates his community service towards our local economy and career development of Santa Monica’s youth.
MATTHEW SHRAKE #25
Coach
INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION?
As seasons change, new players are recruited for teams.
Email zephyrsbaseballclub@gmail.com to tell us about your player.