Meet the Coaching Staff
Ben Closson – Head Coach / Teacher
Ben Closson has joined LAPCS athletics as the second head baseball coach in program history. Closson, a native of Buffalo, NY, has played 5 seasons at the collegiate level and coached both at the high school and college ranks as an assistant coach. He will serve in this role in addition to his middle school teaching position.
As a coach, Closson served most recently as a volunteer assistant coach with Milton Hershey School, where he assisted with hitters and catchers at all levels of the program. He also had two stints as an assistant coach in the New York Collegiate Baseball League in 2021 and 2022. Closson holds his “ACE” baseball coaching certifications from Team USA Baseball. When asked about his goals for La Academia’s baseball program he stated, “It is important that our players are scholars first and well-rounded individuals. Not only do we hope to compete on the field, but off the field as well, in the classroom and as rising young men. Confidence and work ethic must be built, so our players/scholars find success beyond graduation”.
As a player, Closson was a top-10 ranked high school catcher by Prep Baseball Report in the state of New York and committed to the defending Division 3 national champion and #1 nationally ranked Cortland State. After an arm injury, Closson returned close to home to attend Houghton University. There, he achieved accolades such as 2x NCCAA All-America Scholar Athlete, Empire 8 President’s List, ACBA/Rawlings All-Region Team, Empire 8 All-Conference Team, and Empire 8 Player of the Week. He was also a member of the first team to earn a postseason bid for a young Houghton University baseball program. As a graduate student at Penn State-Harrisburg, Closson was a SAAC representative and Northeast Conference Scholar Athlete. However, his time was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a career-ending arm injury.
Closson earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Adolescence Education from Houghton University in 2020 and a Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum from Pennsylvania State University in 2022.
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Jeremias Tirado – Assistant Coach
Jeremias Tirado is entering his third year as an assistant coach for La Academia baseball. Tirado, a native of Lancaster, PA, has 13 years of coaching experience including coaching positions with Lancaster Recreation and Salsa Baseball. Tirado has strong ties to the Lancaster community and plans to continue to make an impact on the lives of young individuals within the city of Lancaster. As a player, he mostly played the positions of 3rd baseman and outfielder. He will predominantly serve as a hitting/fielding coach for the Leones during the 2024 season. Tirado currently holds a position as a subcontractor, remodeling and improving homes in Lancaster and Dauphin counties.
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Cristian Graciano Jr. – Assistant Coach / Paraeducator
Cristian Graciano Jr. is entering his first year as an assistant coach for La Academia baseball. Graciano, a native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, has one previous year of coaching experience and spent his entire childhood playing baseball on different travel organizations.
He will predominantly serve as a pitching coach for the Leones during the 2024 season. Graciano will enter his coaching role in addition to his current role as a paraeducator at LAPCS.
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Jacobo Alvarez – Volunteer Assistant Coach / Teacher
Jacobo Alvarez is entering his third year as a member of the La Academia baseball coaching staff. Alvarez, a native of Allentown, PA, has played 3 seasons at the collegiate level, primarily as a first baseman for Lancaster Bible College. He remains active and involved with LBC’s baseball program even after his time as a player. Alvarez will serve as a volunteer assistant coach in addition to his middle school teaching position at LAPCS.
Alvarez returns to the staff after starting La Academia’s baseball program back in the fall of 2021. He is responsible for leading the team that earned La Academia its first program win in its first season as a full member of PIAA in 2023…a 3-1 victory over Rosedale Academy. When asked about his goals for La Academia’s baseball program he stated, “I want to impact our scholars at LAPCS through athletics, and develop lifelong qualities such as respect and integrity, on and off the field”. Although Alvarez has taken a step back from the head coaching position to spend time with family, he will remain having a major impact on scholars at LAPCS and the future of the baseball program.
Alvarez has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management from Lancaster Bible College in 2019.
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Kieran Kearns – Volunteer Assistant Coach
Kieran Kearns has joined LAPCS athletics as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2024 season. Kearns, a native of Saylorsburg, PA, has played 5 seasons at the collegiate level as a pitcher for Penn State-Harrisburg. During his time as a player, Penn State-Harrisburg made 4 postseasons and won back-to-back Northeast Athletic Conference championships in 2021 and 2022. Kearns, a right-handed pitcher, was predominantly used as a relief pitcher with a fastball reaching as high as 94 mph. Kearns will predominantly help with the development of pitchers. Kearns currently holds a position as a civil engineer with Constellation Energy, a national energy production company.
Kearns earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 2021 and is pursuing his Master of Science in Civil Engineering.
