Join us as we get ready for the 2025 season, our first in the Front Range League!
Front office staff
Chuck Heeman Owner & Operator
Patrick Madden Sales & Operations Manager
Mayra Heeman Owner & Operator
After working for more than 25 years in professional sports, Chuck Heeman, along with his wife Mayra, founded the Pioneers in August 2017, leading up to our inaugural 2018 Championship season.
Chuck has served as General Manager for four professional baseball teams as well serving as the founding General Manager with two Oregon-based summ
After working for more than 25 years in professional sports, Chuck Heeman, along with his wife Mayra, founded the Pioneers in August 2017, leading up to our inaugural 2018 Championship season.
Chuck has served as General Manager for four professional baseball teams as well serving as the founding General Manager with two Oregon-based summer collegiate baseball teams, the Klamath Falls Gems and Medford Rogues. Chuck also served four years as Operations Manager with the Arizona Diamondbacks. His sports experience also includes three years with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds at their Goodyear, Arizona Spring Training complex immediately prior to purchasing the Pioneers franchise.
Chuck, age 64 and getting too old for all this nonsense, is also a disabled veteran of the U. S. Air Force, a 13-year former U.S. Postal Service worker and a graduate of Arizona State University. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Chuck grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He is married to Mayra Heeman. The couple has four children and six grandchildren and resides in Gering, Nebraska.
Chuck is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the Scotts Bluff County Visitors Bureau. To find out what Scotts Bluff County has to offer, please click HERE. Chuck also serves on the Board of Directors of Oregon Trail Days and will work with OTD to bring events to the ballpark. To find out about the 2024 Oregon Trail Days event, please click HERE. Chuck is also the Scotts Bluff County representative of the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition. To find out more about the coalition, click HERE.
Mayra Heeman Owner & Operator
Patrick Madden Sales & Operations Manager
Mayra Heeman Owner & Operator
Mayra, the retired mother of four and grandmother of six, volunteers her spare time to help the Pioneers in a number of ways. She recruits and works with host families and helps with business operations. Following a heart attack, quintuple bypass and stroke in the fall of 2018, Mayra has cut back on her baseball duties and is restricted b
Mayra, the retired mother of four and grandmother of six, volunteers her spare time to help the Pioneers in a number of ways. She recruits and works with host families and helps with business operations. Following a heart attack, quintuple bypass and stroke in the fall of 2018, Mayra has cut back on her baseball duties and is restricted by management from doing too much. Fans and friends are encouraged to tell Mayra to slow down!
Due to past... let's say... "incidents"... Mayra is not allowed to sit and watch games in which she is not working (she gets a little intense - some stories there if you'd like to hear). However, Mayra is always ready with a smile and a hug at Pios games and loves to spend time with the fans.
Mayra served for five years as a volunteer with the Klamath Falls Gems and Medford Rogues (both in Oregon) where her husband served as General Manager. Prior to retirement and getting sucked into the baseball world, Mayra worked in the legal field as a litigating paralegal for law firms in California and Arizona.
A native of Mexico, Mayra came to the United States at age nine and grew up in Southern California. Mayra and Chuck Heeman were married in 2008 and moved to Gering in August 2017. The couple resides in Gering, Nebraska, where they purchased a home in April 2021. Mayra was named Grand Marshal of the 2021 Cinco de Mayo parade in Scottsbluff and also serves on the Board of Directors for Empowering Families. To find out about the organization, click HERE.
Patrick Madden Sales & Operations Manager
Patrick Madden Sales & Operations Manager
Patrick Madden Sales & Operations Manager
Patrick is excited to have an opportunity to be a part of his hometown community. He brings enthusiasm, confidence, smiles and laughs to the Western Nebraska Pioneers. His goal is to grow the community through a sport he loves. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, - Wayne Gretzky – Michael Scott”. - Patrick
Patrick spends most of hi
Patrick is excited to have an opportunity to be a part of his hometown community. He brings enthusiasm, confidence, smiles and laughs to the Western Nebraska Pioneers. His goal is to grow the community through a sport he loves. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, - Wayne Gretzky – Michael Scott”. - Patrick
Patrick spends most of his time at home with his dog Ashe. They love to watch movies or play video games. When out and about, he loves all things sports. You may spot Patrick and some of his friends playing soccer tennis, or pickleball, or searching for his drive at the golf course. He likes to be present in the moment and enjoy the little things!
game day staff
Bill Sheffield, Public Address Announcer
Bill is back for his fifth year as the Pios’ Public Address Announcer. He just completed his ninth year at WNCC (31st year teaching overall), and also serves as the Public Address Announcer for the Cougars’ volleyball and basketball teams. He has been around sports his entire life, and is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. Bill earned his Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communication from Southern Utah State College, and his Master’s degree in Communication from Eastern New Mexico University.
He lives in Scottsbluff with his wife Mary, who is the Alumni Relations and Stewardship Director for the WNCC Foundation. They are parents to four adult children, and enjoy doting on their one and only grandchild.
2025 coaching staff
Easton Babe, Head Coach
Chris Gabis, Assistant Coach
Chris Gabis is excited to be back with the Western Nebraska Pioneers. Chris has been a fan of baseball as long as he can remember. Following in his late father's footsteps, Chris is a diehard Reds fan (he even has a great story about the 1990 World Series, if you ask him). He grew up idolizing players like Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr, and Joey Votto. Chris played and eventually coached with the Sidney Legion Baseball Team. He joined the Pio's staff in 2021 to help with batting practice late in the season. He's been with the team in a more formal role ever since, even winning a championship with the team in '22!
Chris is married to his beautiful wife, Chera, and they're expecting the birth of their first child at the end of March. They couldn't be more excited! Chris is a Firefighter/EMT with the Scottsbluff Fire Department where he's worked for seven years. He serves as the HazMat Coordinator and is the President of the Scottsbluff Professional Firefighters Local 1454. He also recently started a new venture as a sales rep for Dinges Fire Company. Chris and Chera enjoy traveling, spending time with their pets, and seeing their family.
The Pios allow Chris to be seen here in Reds gear because we don't want our house to burn down.
2025 interns
Isaac Fien Baseball Operations
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Ben Ineson Director of Community Relations
Isaac is originally from Houston, Texas, but he is currently a rising Junior at Arizona State University working on a bachelor’s degree in Sports Business. He is excited to have this opportunity to grow his skillset while getting a chance to work in a sport that he loves. Previously, he worked as a data collector for college football and
Isaac is originally from Houston, Texas, but he is currently a rising Junior at Arizona State University working on a bachelor’s degree in Sports Business. He is excited to have this opportunity to grow his skillset while getting a chance to work in a sport that he loves. Previously, he worked as a data collector for college football and basketball, where he developed attributes that included problem-solving and attention to detail. Since he was young, Isaac has been passionate about all sports, especially baseball, basketball, and football. He loves to watch movies and shows with family and play sports like pickleball, basketball, and football with friends. His dream has always been to work in sports, so he is extremely committed to producing high-quality work.
Ben Ineson Director of Community Relations
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Ben Ineson Director of Community Relations
Ben recently graduated with his master’s degree in Sport & Athletic Administration from Gonzaga University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix in the Spring of 2022. During his time at GCU, he played club baseball competing in the NCBA Regional Finals, earning All-American recog
Ben recently graduated with his master’s degree in Sport & Athletic Administration from Gonzaga University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix in the Spring of 2022. During his time at GCU, he played club baseball competing in the NCBA Regional Finals, earning All-American recognition as a pitcher his senior year.
Ben's industry experience has included working as a Marketing & Promotions Coordinator for Goodyear Ballpark in Phoenix, supporting MLB spring training operations for the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds. Ben also served as the Director of Baseball Operations for Ferris High School in Spokane and was selected to participate in a sport outreach program, teaching baseball in Ecuador last summer as part of a U.S. State Department initiative. In higher education, he has worked as a graduate assistant for Gonzaga’s Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management over the past two years, as well as Student Athlete Academic Services Intern at Eastern Washington University. Additionally, Ben has volunteer experience working with youth and high school athletics.
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Kaylee is originally from Caldwell, Idaho, but is currently attending the University of Wyoming. She is studying marketing and finance and plans to pursue a career in sports marketing post graduation. Kaylee currently works as a marketing intern for the University of Wyoming athletics department where she works various athletics events p
Kaylee is originally from Caldwell, Idaho, but is currently attending the University of Wyoming. She is studying marketing and finance and plans to pursue a career in sports marketing post graduation. Kaylee currently works as a marketing intern for the University of Wyoming athletics department where she works various athletics events promoting the players and sponsors.
Kaylee loves baseball and is very excited to work with the Pioneers this Summer.
Kaylee is committed to promoting the players and the team through social media and marketing and believes in making the games entertaining and enjoyable for all fans and the community. Kaylee cannot wait to get started!
Anna Fitzpatrick Stadium Operations
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Kaylee Sanchez Marketing and Promotions
Anna is from Charlotte, North Carolina and is currently a senior at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Exercise and Sports Science. She currently works with Campus Recreation where she assists and facilitates Club and Intramural sporting events. This past summer she worked as a Marketing and Entertainment Intern wit
Anna is from Charlotte, North Carolina and is currently a senior at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Exercise and Sports Science. She currently works with Campus Recreation where she assists and facilitates Club and Intramural sporting events. This past summer she worked as a Marketing and Entertainment Intern with the Mooresville Spinners. During the summer she managed their social media accounts, promoted theme nights throughout the summer, and facilitated in-game entertainment. Anna has always had a love for sports and is looking forward to being a part of the Pioneers team this summer!
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