As we prepare for the launch of the Future Stars Series Baseball League in Canada, it’s time to start profiling the organizations that will be joining, as well as the people behind them.
Chuck Schembri brings a unique story to the table, with his path from multi-sport athlete — including a junior hockey career where he played with and against multiple household names — to establishing The Kage Barrie, where, along with President of Baseball Operations, Dave Maxamenko, and Director of Player Development, Brad Barlow, Schembri has quickly created one of the top programs in the area.
The Kage Kobras will be competitive in the FSSBL, and a dive into Schembri’s path, in his own words, may help you understand why they’ll be a force to be reckoned with once the games get going up north.
For those who may not know me yet, here’s a little background. I grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, where I competed in both hockey and baseball at elite levels. From the time I was eight years old until I was 16, I lived behind the plate as a catcher, representing my province at the 13U Nationals in Windsor, Ontario, and later competing for 2 straight summers on Team New Brunswick at the 16U Canada Cup in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
As I got older, I faced a crossroads: continue my baseball journey or pursue my hockey career. With a bit of encouragement from my father and recognizing the limited year-round baseball opportunities in Moncton at the time, I chose the hockey path. I went on to play Junior A and Major Junior hockey from age 16 to 20. After hanging up my skates, I circled back to the sport I truly loved—baseball—and played a few years of senior ball before shifting gears professionally.
I began a career in the automotive industry, where I met my wife Jessie, who’s originally from Barrie, Ontario. After welcoming our first child in January 2020 in Moncton, we made the move to Barrie that March to be closer to her family. Then came COVID.
The unexpected downtime gave me a chance to reflect on what I truly wanted to do with my life. That’s when the idea for The Kage Barrie was born. We opened our first 5,000 sq. ft. training facility on August 1, 2020, and it took off faster than we could have imagined.
Just two years later, we moved into our current 20,000 sq. ft. flagship location in the South end of Barrie. This space became a home for hundreds of baseball players to train year-round, build confidence, and grow their love for the game. In October 2024, we expanded again, opening a second 15,000 sq. ft. facility in the North end of Barrie, now offering both baseball and hockey training. To lead our hockey division, we welcomed lifelong friend and former Moncton Wildcats standout Devon MacAusland as a business partner and Head of Hockey Development.
And then came the next step in our evolution: The Kage Kobras Baseball Program.
After thoughtful planning and a lot of passion, the Kobras were created to elevate the high-performance side of our organization. Our goal is no longer just to operate one of Ontario’s best baseball training facilities — we’re now committed to building one of the top competitive baseball programs in the province. Our inclusion in the Future Stars League is a major milestone on that path.
What We Offer
Our two locations combine to feature:
🥎 2 HitTrax systems
📊 Rapsodo data tracking
📡 Trackman (coming soon)
🥇 9 full batting cages
🏟️ 2 open-field turf areas
🎯 A specialized pitching lab
🏋️♂️ 2 high-performance gyms
💼 15+ experienced coaches & specialists
We’ve built something special — and we’re just getting started. The Kage Kobras are more than just a team. They represent a commitment to player development, grit, and next-level preparation. We’re here to train champions and help young athletes reach their full potential.
Thanks for being part of the journey.
— The Kage Team
Thanks,
Chuck Schembri
Owner
The Kage Barrie
Since 2003, he has covered multiple World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked seven Super Bowls, 11 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,200 games covered in his career.
An avid card collector and sim racer, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son William, and their beloved dog, Bailey, and cat, Smokey.
- FSSBL Canada: Kage Kobras - June 20, 2025
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- Future Stars Series Baseball League adds Kage Kobras, Mo Bearcats - May 30, 2025
