Sonny Merlo-Director, FCA Baseball San Diego

Coach Sonny Merlo has over 20 years of experience in coaching baseball at the high school level and in competitive travel baseball. Coach Merlo was the founder and owner of California Academy of Baseball in Northern California for 6 years before relocating to the San Diego area. Coach Merlo has been on staff with Oceanside High School Varsity Baseball as an assistant coach for three years. His duties include being hitting and catching coordinator.

Coach Merlo expertise lies in hitting, fielding, and catching.  He is passionate about incorporating life skills into the game anchored in biblical principles. Not only has Coach Merlo has worked with over 1,000 players during his career but he is also dedicated to mentoring and developing his fellow coaches. 

FCA Baseball is a faith-funded ministry. We invite you to come alongside us in our mission to bring the good news of the gospel to players, coaches, baseball families and our San Diego communities. Imagine the things God can do through FCA Baseball!

Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can help reach more athletes and coaches for Christ.

Join Sonny Merlo's Support Team

CONTACT SONNY:
[email protected]

Dave Barrett-Head Chaplin, FCA Baseball San Diego

Coach Barett has been a long time resident of Oceanside, California. He is a graduate of Oceanside High school. He went off to college and played a couple of seasons of Semi-Pro Baseball. After leaving professional baseball he went on to become a teacher and Varsity baseball coach at Oceanside High school where he has remained for over 40 years. Coach Barrett also served as a football coach and the Athletic Director for the Pirates.

Coach Barrett is also the worship Pastor for At The Cross Church in Oceanside, which has brought perfect harmony and talent together for the church body. 

Josh Milner-Coach, FCA Baseball San Diego

Coach Milner is the current head coach at SD Christian College. He previously served for five seasons as assistant head coach for the Arizona Christian University Firestorm. His baseball responsibilities at ACU included serving as bench coach, recruiting, and working with catchers. Off the field, Milner was charged with the spiritual development and mental well-being of the Firestorm coaches and players. He will take the helm of an up-and-coming Hawks team that features many talented young pitchers and position players.

Milner has also worked full-time with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) over the past three years in the Phoenix area. He will continue this ministry, transitioning to part-time with the organization in San Diego to serve high schools around SDCC. Milner believes in using his calling as a coach to be a positive influence on athletes. He loves handing out Bibles, starting coaches' Bible studies, and ultimately seeing lives transformed by Christ.