Meet The Staff!
Kenny Burns - Director
Kenny, a native of Ralph, AL, has been married to Angeline Coleman Burns for 28 years. They have two children, Andrew Burns, 25, and Alexandra Burns McCune, 24.
Kenny retired from the Tuscaloosa County School system after serving 25 years as a teacher and Baseball Coach. He has a B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from The University of West Alabama. He played college baseball at Calhoun Community College and The University of West Alabama.
He and his wife founded Baseball Country (a non-profit camp ministry) in 1995. They have seen well over 6,000 boys and girls come through the program over the years. The Christian camp consists of teaching athletic skills and character development. Kenny has been active in the Emmaus Community, a non denominational group for spiritual unity, serving as director of the Tuscaloosa chapter in 2006. He has served in prison ministry through the Kairos program for 8 years. He served as the Director of Kairos #10 at Bibb County State Prison in 2007. He as volunteered to help the Eutaw community start a focused sports program, assisting with donated equipment, instruction, and organization. He was recently appointed to the Greene County Board of Parks and Recreation. Over the years Kenny has served as a leader for children�s programs at St. Mark United Methodist Church, leader for Boy Scouts, and Special Camp Counselor at Camp Sumatanga for young adults with special intellectual needs. He has also been a keynote character speaker for numerous youth sports banquets throughout the state. Kenny is passionate about helping young people make the best life choices possible in a world sometimes full of distractions!
Andy Phillips - Vice President
Andy Phillips is married to Bethany Barr Phillips and they have one daughter, Isaiah Jewel, and one dog, Nugget. He accepted Christ at the young age of seven and has a heart to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through the game of baseball.
Andy Phillips was a 4-year letterman at the University of Alabama where he earned All-American honors in 1999 & played in three college World Series. He holds numerous records at Alabama including career homeruns, hits, & total bases, as well as the SEC record for a hitting streak at 36 games.
In 1999, Andy was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 7th round. He played in New York parts of 4 seasons from 2004-2007. In 2008, he spent his time in the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets. During His major league debut in 2004, his very first at bat he hit a home run over the green monster at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.
Andy Currently plays for the Hiroshima Carp in Hiroshima, Japan.
Andy has been instrumental in sustaining Baseball Country and its vision for using baseball to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has sponsored the annual Andy Phillips Charity Golf Tournament for the past three years at North River Yacht and Golf Club. He has also hosted the Night of Champions event for 800 people the past two years at Bryant Denny Stadium to benefit Baseball Country. He has personally invited special guests each year to events and camps including Lance Cormier, Johnny Damon, Mariano Rivera, and Nick Johnson. Andy has served as mentor and coach to children at numerous Baseball Country camps in his off seasons over the past ten years. He currently serves as Vice-President of the Board of Directors of Baseball Country.
Lee Evans - Baseball Operations
Lee is a native of Northport, Alabama, and a 1996 graduate of Tuscaloosa County High School. After high school, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates Professional Baseball Club in the 4th round of the 1996 draft. He was a catcher and third basemen in the minor leagues for 9 years. He also played with the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres organizations. Lee began his career as head of baseball operations at Baseball Country in the spring of 2008.
Lee has been married to Jamie for 11 years, and they have 3 children: Houston (7), Jordan (6) and Madeline (2). They attend Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa. Lee enjoys hunting and fishing.
Lee sees his job at Baseball Country as his mission field. He is passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the campers who come each summer. His parents, Houston (d. 2000) and Sandy, along with his brother Park, were instrumental in his spiritual growth and an encouragement in his baseball career.
Jennifer McAteer
Jennifer McAteer resides in Northport, AL and has been married to Shaun McAteer for 4 1/2 years. They have two boys, Ethan, 3, and Levi, who is new to this world. They are members at New Beginning Family Worship Center in Northport where they serve in various ministries.
Jennifer is a graduate of the University of AL with a degree in Human Environmental Sciences. One thing Jennifer is passionate about is photography and has a photography business that she stays busy with during her spare time. Her priorities include her relationship with Christ, the growth of her family, and building relationships.
Jennifer has been working with Baseball Country since the summer of 2009 and is the Administrative Assistant for the organization. She is over most communications and merchandising, as well as taking care of any needs that may come up. To contact Jennifer, you may email her at: bbc.jennifer@yahoo.com.
Chip and Janis Wood
Chip and Janis Wood serve on staff at Baseball Country as chefs for the campers and staff. They are both retired Tuscaloosa County teachers. The couple currently lives in Northport, but is moving to Ralph very soon. They enjoy working together in a Christian atmosphere. Chip and Janis are members of St. Mark United Methodist Church, but when in Ralph, they worship at Shiloh Baptist Church. They have 2 children who are both married, along with 2 granddaughters and a third on the way in September.