The Rafters announced today that Josh Tavelli will return next season, teaming up again with returning coach John Hessel and field manager Scott Laverty. Tavelli will man the third base coaching box, once again, while also working closely with the team’s hitters. Tavelli currently performs the same duties as an assistant coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

“The fans in Wisconsin Rapids are fantastic and I am looking forward to playing in front of them again,” said Tavelli. “I am eager to help the team achieve even more success next year as well.”

Tavelli joined the Dominguez Hills staff last year and helped lead the team to a 41-20 record in the spring, before joining the Rafters for the summer season.

Prior to joining the staff at Dominguez Hills, Tavelli spent one year as a coach at Vanguard University, assisting with hitting instruction, infield coaching, and manning the third base coaching box.

Tavelli is no stranger to success, having spent time at UC Irvine, where he helped lead the Anteaters to the NCAA Division I College World Series in 2007 as a junior.

As a player, Tavelli saw action in the post-season two years, participating in the Pepperdine Regional in 2006 and the Louisiana State University Super Regional in 2008. Tavelli also spent two seasons with the Butte Community College Roadrunners, earning All-Conference honors. Always an infielder, Tavelli attended Oroville High School, earning numerous honors, including CIF-Northern Section All-Star, Chico Enterprise Record Senior Male Athlete of the Year, and setting the CIF-Northern Section single-season triple record at six.

A graduate of UC Irvine, Tavelli received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Tavelli currently resides in Costa Mesa, California.