HRBC Assistants and Staff
Dan Thorner, Assistant Director
Coach Dan Thorner with son Jake Dan joined HRBC as junior counselor and is one one of our most popular coaches. Dan is a gifted teacher and coach, particularly with younger players. He has boundless energy and excels in motivating campers and staff management. Dan is a native Washingtonian and graduated from Georgetown Day School where he starred as a three sport athlete. Dan then attended the University of Pennsylvania.
Dan served for two years as Co-Director of Beisbol y Libros in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. ByL combines literacy and baseball in an after-school program for boys and girls ages 5 to 15. He is an accomplished athlete and fitness enthusiast. He teaches 2nd grade at The Beauvior School. Dan lives with his wife and two sons, Jake and Ben, in Washington.
RJ Johnsen, Assistant Director
RJ Johnsen with his dog Corleone RJ joined HRBC in high school and quickly became one of our most popluar coaches. RJ is a strong motivator and technical instructor. RJ graduated from Wilson High School where he starred on the baseball and basketball teams.
He graduated from the University of Rochester and starred on their baseball team and then went on to serve two years as Co-Director of Beisbol y Libros in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. ByL combines literacy and baseball in an after-school program for boys and girls ages 5 to 15. RJ also forged partnerships with the US Peace Corps and Major League Baseball players from the Dominican to help support the ByL program. RJ teaches fourth grade at St. Albans and is an assistant coach for the varsity baseball team. He is an avid chef and pyrotechnical juggler. RJ won the St. Albans alumni teacher of the year award in 2010.
Sammy Thorner, Assistant Director
Sammy began at camp as a slugging six year old known as much for his competitive intensity on the field as for his friendly nature off it. A multi sport star at GDS, Sammy wrestled at NYU, earing a degree in History and African American Studies.
He was hired at 13 and rose through the ranks with relentless reliability and natural talent bringing the best out in kids. Sammy is a high octane optimist who always makes the best of the way things turn out.
In 2008, Sammy was tapped to lead Home Run Baseball Camp’s efforts in the King Greenleaf public housing community at the invitation of former Mayor Adrian Fenty. The program blends literacy and baseball for kids ages 4-10.
Sammy is an award winning photographer who lived in Paris following college, developing a love of food. He currently manages Cowgirl Creamery downtown and one of his goals is to open a mobile french fry operation called “Lord of the Fries”.
Julienne Kane, Roving Instructor
Julienne Kane brings energy, brains and incredible teaching skills to camp every day. She has a strong background as an accomplished scholar-athlete who blends constant encouragement with technical adjustments. She is blessed with an instinctual ablity to communicate with kids from all backgrounds. Jules has a passion for social justice and worked with young men in a juvenile justice program in St. Louis.
Jules is a graduate of the Madeira School where she was a star student athlete. She was a scholarship athelete on the college level in both soccer and softball. She is a graduate of Washington Unversity in St. Louis. Jules works closely with Coach Mac on Home Run Baseball Camps community outreach programs.
