Softball Manitoba is excited to announce the selection of our 2024 Female Coach Mentors. All of the coaches selected are leaders in the Softball community above and beyond being a coach. They run clubs, organize league play, participate on boards and continue to grow the sport year after year. We congratulate our Female Coach Mentors and are excited to see the positive impact they will make on the softball community.
CENTRAL REGION MENTOR- ERIN PETERS
Erin has been coaching for 11 years on and off, with A and two years with AA. She is currently coaching the Morden U17/19 team and U17 AA Central Charge. Erin played a lot of softball growing up and wanted to continue to stay involved with softball and found that there was a lot of opportunity with coaching. She loves being able to help kids develop their game and to try and make sure they are having fun along the way.
EASTMAN REGION MENTOR- DANI KLASSEN
Dani has been coaching AAA for the past six years as a Head Coach in the Winnipeg Lightning Organization. She also coaches at the Softball Manitoba Regional Softball Development Academy, Churchill High School Softball Academy and provides individual lessons and camps. Before coaching Dani played for Team Manitoba and at the university level in Kansas and South Dakota. Coaching is Dani's passion and finds it so rewarding!
INTERLAKE REGION MENTOR - KARLI REIMER
Softball is Karli's passion. She started coaching A ball in 2017. After many dedicated year, Karli helped her U10 A team win Provincials in 2021. Before that, she was inducted in the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of the 2002-2007 Bison Blondes Women's Slo-Pitch Team. In 2023, Karli took the next step in her softball career and became Head Coach for the U13 AAA Interlake Phillies U13. As a proud Interlaker and lifelong softball player, Karli respects the long-standing softball tradition in Manitoba and is committed to investing in our local athletes. As a coach, she brings a high energy level and a positive, supportive environment where players are free to take risks, make mistakes, and are challenged while learning the complexities of the sport. Karli's strengths are in her team management, the communication she provides to athletes and parents and her unwavering commitment to creating an unparalleled team culture. Karli is a board member of Interlake Minor Ball, Interlake Phillies, and Softball Manitoba.
WESTMAN REGION MENTOR - JILL TWORDIK
Jill grew up playing softball for Westman Magic. She was also a member of Team Manitoba and attended the 1995 Western Canada Summer Games 1997 Canada Summer Games. Jill began competitively coaching under mentor Bev Neufeld and was an assistant coach for the provincial teams that competed at Western Canada Games and Canada Games in 2007 and 2009 respectively. In 2009 she completed her level 3 certification - Competition Development. She continues coaching her daughter and is in her fourth year as a head coach in the Westman Magic AAA Organization. Jill has been a long time board member of the Westman Softball Association and is currently the Chairperson of the Westman AA Softball Committee. She is currently the U15 AAA Westman Magic Head Coach and excited to share her knowledge with two Mentors this season.
WESTMAN REGION MENTOR - LAURA WILLIAMS-HOBBS
Laura coached her first ball team in 2002 and has coached the majority of seasons since then. She coaches all ages from Learn to Play up to U19 A softball. Laura is currently coaching the Deloraine U17/U19 team and the High School Fastball team. Laura has played softball since a very young age and continues to play with her local ladies team. She was a member of two Provincial Champion teams and attended Western Canadians. Coaching allows Laura to encourage young players to fall in love with the game and enjoy some of the same experiences she had while playing. Laura is looking forward to mentoring a young coach this season.
WINNIPEG NORTH REGION MENTOR - DANA LOVALLO
Dana's focus is building life skills through sport. She coaches, assists in running and is a board member for the Manitoba Reapers AA Softball Club. In addition, Dana is the Head Coach of Team Winnipeg Gold for the 2024 Manitoba Summer Games. She coaches athletes as a whole person, not only focusing on skill development. Dana played softball from the age of 11 thru 19. Her passion for softball was reignited when her daughter wanted to play six years ago. Since then she has been coaching and loves watching kids grow, and doing so outside on a diamond is a great place to see this happen.
WINNIPEG SOUTH REGION MENTOR - THEA WORTLY
Thea has been involved in softball, as a coach or a player, since she was 9 years old. She loves coaching and is passionate about women’s sports and encouraging the girls she coaches to keep playing for as long as they can. Thea’s favourite way of coaching is a balance of skills and silliness, always sure to keep the game fun. She has learned from past coaches, in softball and other sports, how to create a positive playing environment where mistakes are allowed and even the smallest successes can be celebrated.
