Matthew Dennis, Operations Coordinator

Matthew returns to the Pioneers, after spending the summer of 2023 as a marketing and promotions intern with the team. This year he steps into a new role as the operations coordinator intern. Matthew is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and currently attends Troy University in Troy, Alabama majoring in exercise science with a minor in sport management.

His enjoyment of his time in Gering, coupled with the people he met in and around the town and the Pios joining a new league, adds to the excitement he has about returning to the Panhandle.

Matthew's expanded role in 2024 is wide-ranging, including coordination of staff schedules, working with our Showpass ticketing system, in-game coordination of marketing and ballpark operations, and taking a proactive role in getting our players, staff and Hiram out to meet you in the community!

Brandy Barquin, Marketing and Promotions

My name is Brandy Barquin and I am from Lakeland, Florida. I am 22 years old and am very excited to be a part of the Pioneer family!! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Business Management from Webber International University. While at Webber I played collegiate softball for 3 years and was voted captain my senior year. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Business Management and will graduate at the end of August. 

Family is very important to me. I have two older sisters and one younger brother. My younger brother and I grew up playing ball together with our dad coaching us. I’m a huge Tampa Bay Rays fan and try to go to games whenever I can. I also enjoy reading, bowling, and swimming in my free time. 

With the Pioneers, Brandy will be part of the intern team that will design and execute the game day "show" you see every night, bringing new ideas and fun to Oregon Trail Park every night!

On Saturday, June 8, Brandy will present "Taylor Swift Night", which... fair warning... will not feature an appearance by Taylor Swift. But Brandy will put together a fun night for all anyway!

Kayleigh Campbell, Marketing and Promotions

Hello! My name is Kayleigh Campbell and I am from Warrensburg, Missouri. I am currently a junior at the University of Central Missouri, earning my Bachelors in Public Relations with a minor in Sports Communications and expected to graduate Spring 2025. While at Central Missouri, I work with the promotions team and digital media team for our athletic department to help put on a good broadcast as well as making sure the students enjoy their time at the games. 

I have had the opportunity to work with two other College summer baseball leagues (M.I.N.K. League) the past two summers that are located closer to me here in Missouri. While I was with these two teams, I was able to run their social media and I’m excited to continue that with the Pioneers! I really enjoy the environment that summer leagues create for the families and for their community! I hope to help continue to show what the Pioneers do at the games as well as what they do for the community on social media!

Maya DiGiammarino, Stadium Operations and Baseball Operations

I’m Maya DiGiammarino, currently a sophomore at North Central College in Naperville, IL and a Sport Management major. I am very excited for my third summer interning with a collegiate summer baseball league. I have worked with the Takoma Park Thunderbolts of the Cal Ripken Jr. League back home in Maryland, and this past summer with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League. Heading West I am looking forward to new adventures and 10 weeks of baseball. Baseball is what I love and I can’t wait to be around a community who loves it almost as much as I do. I love learning and that is why I will be with the Pioneers in Nebraska this summer. Being far from home I don’t leave school very much to see my family and dogs, traveling even farther for the summer is going to be challenging, but baseball is worth it. 

At college I have two on-campus jobs. The first one is working in the mailroom and the second one is being a student photographer for sports games. I enjoy both of them and they are very different from each other, presenting their own challenges and lessons that have only made me stronger. I am excited for people to ask me what I did over the summer and tell them I was in Nebraska. I have never been to Nebraska before, but there's a first time for everything.

Payton Gerken, Social Media

My name is Payton Gerken and I am from McCool Junction, Nebraska. I am very excited to be a part of the Pioneer family! I am currently a double major in sports media and advertising and public relations at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In addition, I am working on a business administration minor. I intend to pursue a master's degree in sports management after earning my bachelor's degree in May 2027.



At the moment, I am a sports reporter for the Daily Nebraskan. I get to report on a range of sporting events and expand my sports knowledge while working as a journalist. In addition, I manage the Husker Hockey Club's social media accounts, which has allowed me to expand my graphic design skills. One of my favorite sports is baseball, and I have attended many games. My goal for this internship is to boost the social media accounts’ engagement. Throughout the summer, I hope the Pioneers team and supporters find enjoyment in my work. 

Kole Mayberry, Baseball Operations

Hi, I am Kole Mayberry, and I am from Plainview, Texas. Growing up in Plainview I played football and baseball and remained a faithful fan of the World Series Champion Texas Rangers. I am a Sport Management major at Lubbock Christian University and will graduate in December 2024. 

I played baseball at Richland College where I was 2-time DCCCD First Team All-Conference and named captain for the 2022 Richland College team that was consistently ranked in the top 10 of NJCAA Division III rankings. I then signed with Lubbock Christian University to play baseball and finish my education. Outside of playing I have worked Perfect Game tournaments as a Field Manager as well as various races, events, and tournaments with the YMCA and their affiliated organizations.  I am super excited to be a part of the Pioneer family and cannot wait to get started!

Jeffrey Nelson, Voice of the Pioneers

My name is Jeffrey Nelson and I am in my final semester of college at Butler University. I am majoring in Sports Media with a minor in Video Production. I'm excited to be the voice of the Pioneers both on the air and on YouTube this summer. I grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey making me a New York Yankees fan, home to the 27-time World Series Champions.

Baseball has been my entire life. Ever since the age of three, all the way through high school, it was in the words of Yogi Berra, "Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." By the time I graduated high school, I had traveled to every Major League Baseball stadium and seen a game in each stadium. I look forward to adding Oregon Trail Park Stadium to the stadiums I call home and bringing every fan both excitement and an added insight to the Pioneers this summer!!

Clare Sanger, Baseball Operations

Howdy! My name is Clare Sanger and I am a junior Sport Management major at Texas A&M University. I plan to graduate Spring of 2025. I am part of Sport Management Society at my college and I’m so excited to join the Pioneers this summer!

I’ve been a baseball fan all my life and I’m a diehard Giants fan even though my brother and dad are Rangers fans. I have two brothers, a sister, and three awesome dogs. My dad was in the Air Force so I’ve been all over the US and love traveling!

Anna Tsemba, Social Media

Hi, I’m Anna Tsemba. I am a junior at the University of Florida. GO GATORS! I plan to graduate in spring 2025 with a Journalism Sports & Media degree and a Sport & Entertainment Law and Risk Management certificate. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but moved to Tampa, Florida, when I was 10. Making me a Reds and Bengals fan but also a Lightning fan.

Growing up, I was a dancer at a competitive level, doing it for ten years. On top of dancing, I was super involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and showed livestock for fairs. For a long time, I thought I would be a large animal veterinarian. Then, at the beginning of my sophomore year of college, while studying Animal Science, I decided to complete a 180 and change my major to Journalism Sports & Media. I have never looked back and have been beyond grateful for the switch.

I have been a part of ESPN Gainesville WRUF for the past year and will continue in the fall. I have created various forms of media for the network, such as writing articles, co-hosting podcasts, doing live broadcasts, TV anchoring, and, most importantly, social media. Some of my favorite games that I’ve covered for ESPN Gainesville are the Florida vs. Georgia game in Jacksonville and the Bucs vs. Eagles Wildcard game. I am super excited to be a part of this team and be able to take the Western Nebraska Pioneers’ social media content and YouTube live stream broadcasts to the next level.

Coaching Staff

Shane Sharkey, Head Coach

Shane Sharkey started his college coaching career at the age of 23. In 2016-17 he served as the assistant coach at his alma mater, Nebraska-Kearney, for one season. Then named assistant baseball coach at his junior college alma mater, Dallas College-Brookhaven in 2018 & was there until 2022. 

Sharkey has been a part of the success of Brookhaven baseball for years. He served as an assistant coach on the 2021 team that was ranked No. 4 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III rankings, and won the Dallas Athletic Conference. He coached on the 2019 team that reached the NJCAA DIII World Series. 

As a player, Sharkey was a member of the 2013 team that reached the NJCAA DIII World Series. He earned All-American honors that season at second base. He finished his college career at Kearney & then made his way to California to play professional independent baseball in the Pecos league. He was named an All-Star his rookie season & helped his team win the league championship.

Personal life - He is recently married to his wife Becca & has a baby girl on the way. He loves golfing & spending quality time with his family & friends.