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2022 WMBA Rep/Select Coaches
2022-03-01See our 2022 Rep/Select Coaches!!
2022 Rep/Select Coaches for Waterloo Minor Baseball Association
18U T1 – Akssell Levia Akssell.levia@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Akssell Levia
Akssell Leiva has been the head coach of the 18U program since 2017. Under his leadership the team has accomplished the following:
OBA championship (2018)
ICBA playoffs championships (2017 and 2019)
Regular season championships (2017 and 2019)
The Nicaraguan native displays # 21 in his uniform honoring the humanitarian sacrifice of Roberto Clemente, who in December 31, 1972 lost his life bringing aid to the earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Akssell infuses a Latin style of play to the teams. Under his leadership, players grow in three years, using their baseball skills and also learning personal values that help them grow as individuals. Games and practices are chances to learn about baseball and about life skills.
22U Team – Rajeev Kudsia Rajeev.kudsia@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Rajeev Kudsia
18U T2 Team 2 – Brian Matthews brian.matthews@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Brian Matthews
I have over 15yrs experience as a head coach in multiple sports. I've assembled a coaching staff of Don Mosburger and James Craig that will bring more than 30plus years of experience in total. I've been involved with WMBA for approximately 6yrs. Most recent position was coach of 15U tier 2. Looking forward to putting together another great team for the 2022 season.
15U T1 – Kurtis Haid kurtis.haid@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Kurtis Haid
I have been a coach in WMAB for the previous 6 years, spending time as an assistant coach in 14U, 15U and U16, before moving into 18U and taking over a head coaching role for the previous 2 seasons. Prior to coaching, I spent 13 seasons playing Minor ball in Waterloo, at both a Tier 1 and 2 level, as well as a year of Junior in Kitchener and a year of NAIA College ball in Indiana. I pride myself on my ability to connect and relate to the players, while also helping them to develop as ball players, become better teammates and grow as people. My teams are high energy and have fun each and every time we come to the ball field. I look forward to getting to know everyone over the course of the year and look forward to an exciting season – Coach Kurtis
15U T2 – Paul Ewart paul.ewart@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Paul Ewart
Playing and coaching baseball has been my passion for almost 40 years. I grew up playing in Kitchener until Junior, winning a Bronze Medal in the Canadian Junior National Championships, and continued my playing career in the OUA for Brock University. I’ve been coaching Tier 1 and Tier 2 for over 10 years and am also an Assistant Coach for the Laurier Golden Hawks. My coaching philosophy revolves around teaching the fundamentals, encouraging hard work, and having fun.
15U Select – Joel Cumming
Background Info on Joel Cumming joel.cumming@waterloobaseball.ca
Joel has been coaching baseball in Waterloo for 7 years and is entering his third year of coaching Select. He grew up playing in the ICBA at the Tier 1 level up through Junior. Joel is also active on the House League Committee, where he has served as the Technology Chair for the last four years..
14U T1 – Brady Hall brady.hall@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Brady Hall
Brady was born and raised in Waterloo, playing in the WMBA until he was 15. At that time, Brady chose to go and play in the Ontario Blue Jays program in Mississauga where he played 3 years before signing to play collegiate baseball at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). After completing his 4-year term in Newark, Brady decided it was time to return to the Region to start his next chapter. After securing employment at Melloul Blamey Construction, he realized that he still needed to have baseball in his life and doubled down by playing for the Milton Redsox in the men’s COBA league and assistant coaching for the 15u Waterloo Tigers. After some 16 years of donning the chest protector and shin pads, retirement was looming and Brady hung up the cleats a year later to focus more on the coaching side of the game. With 2 more years as an assistant coach for the 18U T1 Tigers team, and 2 years working as a part time instructor at Peak Performance in Guelph, Brady is ready to make the natural progression into this head coaching role.
14U T2 – TBD
13U T1 – Scott Ballantyne scott.ballantyne@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Scott Ballantyne
The 2022 season will mark Scott's 7th season as a Head Coach in the WMBA system as he started with the 2009 age group at Rookie Ball. Scott was named the ICBA Junior Coach of the Year in 2016 and his teams have twice been named the WMBA Team of the Year. Scott is also the Head Baseball Coach at Wilfrid Laurier University where he has led the Golden Hawks since 2007. He is a 4-time OUA Baseball Coach of the Year and 3-time OUA Champion. Scott has over 250 wins as an OUA Head Coach. In 2008 and 2010 Scott was a coach with Collegiate Team Canada at the World University Games. Scott is the former General Manager of the Kitchener Panthers of the IBL where he was named the IBL Executive of the Year in 2016. He is still a member of their Board of Directors. Scott also serves as the Treasurer for WMBA and works as the VP Finance for a local software company.
13U T2 Team 1 – Ryan Lloyd-Craig ryan.lloyd-craig@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info for Ryan Lloyd-Craig
I was a Rep soccer player growing up in Mississauga until I switched to Baseball at the age of 14. After playing only a few games of house league I was asked to join the AA rep team for the balance of the season. I continued at the AAA level with the Erin Mill’s Eagles until I ended my competitive playing career at 19 after a torn Rotator Cuff injury playing in the Golden Bat Tournament. Fun fact, I attended a tryout for the Blue Jays when I was 16 with what seemed like a thousand other players, a great experience I will never forget.
After relocating to Waterloo, I joined the coaching ranks at the Rookie ball level and have coached with the Tier 2 team for the past several years, the past 2021 year as the Head Coach. I look to develop players and work on a making well rounded ball players that hopefully can move up to Tier 1.
I look forward to working with the players this upcoming season.
Cheers, Ryan
13U T2 Team 2 – Ryan Pyette ryan.pyette@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Ryan Pyette
This will be my eighth straight summer as a baseball coach, fifth in the Waterloo Minor Baseball Association. Last year, I was with the 13U Tigers Select team. In my younger days, I played rep ball for my hometown in Sault Ste. Marie before heading to the University of Waterloo. I also played hockey growing up and was drafted by the OHL's Ottawa 67's. Sport has always been a big part of my life, even at work. I've been a sports reporter at The London Free Press for the past 20 years. Sorry Blue Jays fans, I root for the Detroit Tigers just as much as I do the Waterloo Tigers! See you at the field. Ryan Pyette
12U T1 – Jamie Pietraszko jamie.pietraszko@waterloobaseball.ca
12U T2 Team 1 – Justin Black justin.black@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Justin Black
Born and raised in Kitchener/Waterloo. Began playing baseball in Waterloo at the age of 5. Played AAA ball in Waterloo for 10 years. Played Junior in Waterloo for 3 years. Played with Team Ontario 16U and 17U. I have been coaching baseball in Waterloo for the past 6 years and greatly enjoy working with and developing young athletes.
12U T2 Team 2 – Fraser Vernon
11U T1 – Adam Lawrence adam.lawrence@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Adam Lawrence
I will be coaching the Waterloo Tigers, 11U Tier 1 team for the 2022 season. After a few years as an assistant coach for the Laurier Women’s Fastball Team, I started as an assistant coach at the 8U level in Waterloo. I then transitioned to Head Coach for the 8U, 9U, and 10U teams the past three years. With a focus on hard work, player development, having fun, and respecting the game of baseball, I am excited for the upcoming 11U. - Adam Lawrence
11U T2 – Caroline Amyot caroline.amyot@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info on Caroline Amyot
I grew up in small town Perth, Ontario playing fastball. I have a love of sport and competition and hope to instill that in my players. I have been involved in coaching with WMBA for the past four years as assistant coach for house league in 2018, assistant coach for the 8U and 9U T2 teams in 2019 and 2020, and head coach for the 10U T2 team in 2021. My goal is to teach the boys the fundamentals of baseball and provide an environment where they know expectations and are challenged to improve and strive to be their best. I also hope they take away life lessons of teamwork and respect; and, of course fond memories of good times with teammates and hitting some dingers! Looking forward to seeing what next season will bring. Go Tigers!
Coach C
10U T1 – Dale Smith dale.smith@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info on Dale Smith
Dale has been an assistant coach the past 4 seasons with WMBA for the following teams-9U, 8U T1 and 9U, 10U T2
Baseball has been a passion of mine since I was a kid playing the game. As a family growing up, we also spent a lot of time going to see live baseball in Detroit and Toronto.
Strong believer in continuous learning and development of players to maximize their personal and team growth.
Favorite position growing up - catcher.
10U T2 – Jimmy Hehn jim.hehn@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info for Jimmy Hehn
I will be the U10 Tier 2 Coach for the 2022 season. Currently, I am the Head Coach of the U9 Tier 2 team. Prior to that I've coached House League ball for my oldest son for the past 7 years. I began playing Fastball when I was 7 years old and continued playing Fastball until I transitioned to Slow Pitch, which I still enjoy playing when time permits.
9U T1 – Andrew Robb andrew.robb@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Dr. Andrew Robb
I grew up playing through the ranks in Guelph all the way to the Silvercreeks (Jr IBL) and high school (St. James HS). I played for the 1998 Canadian National Champions Brock University as a relief pitcher. I have been coaching/consulting in baseball for over 20 years. I will be the Head Coach for the Tier 1 U9 Waterloo Baseball Program for the 2021-22 Season.
I am a Sports Chiropractor (specialization in sports injuries and athletic development). My area of expertise and research is in pitching biomechanics and throwing injuries. I have collaborated with various organizations including Canadian Athletic Coaching Centre, American Sports Medicine Institute, and Major League Baseball (Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles) with research on injury prevention and pitching performance.
I am an assistant Pitching Coach and Director of Player Development for the University of Waterloo Baseball Program under the direction of Head Coach Ben Norris. I am head of Player Development for the new Kitcher-Waterloo Bearcats Elite Baseball Program. I also consultant with a wide spectrum of levels in baseball both in high performance and medical: Kitchener Minor Baseball Association, Elite Ontario, regional, OUA, US collegiate, and professional.
9U T2 – Shyam Sheth shyam.sheth@waterloobaseball.ca
8U T1 – Steve Lauzon steve.lauzon@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info on Steve Lauzon
Born and raised in Waterloo. Steve played in the Waterloo Minor Baseball program all the way through Junior. After a brief stint with the Kitchener Panthers, he found a home with the Milton Red Sox where he played 13 seasons and was elected into the COBA Hall of Fame before retiring in 2019. He has also served as an assistant coach with Kitchener Minor Baseball for 3 years.
Waterloo Minor Baseball welcomes all our coaches for the 2022 Baseball Season.
18U T1 – Akssell Levia Akssell.levia@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Akssell Levia
Akssell Leiva has been the head coach of the 18U program since 2017. Under his leadership the team has accomplished the following:
OBA championship (2018)
ICBA playoffs championships (2017 and 2019)
Regular season championships (2017 and 2019)
The Nicaraguan native displays # 21 in his uniform honoring the humanitarian sacrifice of Roberto Clemente, who in December 31, 1972 lost his life bringing aid to the earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Akssell infuses a Latin style of play to the teams. Under his leadership, players grow in three years, using their baseball skills and also learning personal values that help them grow as individuals. Games and practices are chances to learn about baseball and about life skills.
22U Team – Rajeev Kudsia Rajeev.kudsia@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Rajeev Kudsia
- Played all-star baseball in Kitchener for 17 years, including 3 years in the Senior Inter County Baseball league (IBL) with the Kitchener Panthers
- Member of 3 OBA championship teams, MVP of 2 of those tournaments, including midget AAA OBA championship in 1989
- Member of several ICBA pennant and ICBA championship teams
- Led IBL in 2 offensive categories during rookie season
- Received special training as a player during winter camps in Florida over a 3 year period from Gust Poulos, long time New York Yankees professional player & scout
- Coached at all levels Rep and House League every year for the last 13 years, including the last 5 in Waterloo
- Excellent with kids & teaching skills
18U T2 Team 2 – Brian Matthews brian.matthews@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Brian Matthews
I have over 15yrs experience as a head coach in multiple sports. I've assembled a coaching staff of Don Mosburger and James Craig that will bring more than 30plus years of experience in total. I've been involved with WMBA for approximately 6yrs. Most recent position was coach of 15U tier 2. Looking forward to putting together another great team for the 2022 season.
15U T1 – Kurtis Haid kurtis.haid@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Kurtis Haid
I have been a coach in WMAB for the previous 6 years, spending time as an assistant coach in 14U, 15U and U16, before moving into 18U and taking over a head coaching role for the previous 2 seasons. Prior to coaching, I spent 13 seasons playing Minor ball in Waterloo, at both a Tier 1 and 2 level, as well as a year of Junior in Kitchener and a year of NAIA College ball in Indiana. I pride myself on my ability to connect and relate to the players, while also helping them to develop as ball players, become better teammates and grow as people. My teams are high energy and have fun each and every time we come to the ball field. I look forward to getting to know everyone over the course of the year and look forward to an exciting season – Coach Kurtis
15U T2 – Paul Ewart paul.ewart@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Paul Ewart
Playing and coaching baseball has been my passion for almost 40 years. I grew up playing in Kitchener until Junior, winning a Bronze Medal in the Canadian Junior National Championships, and continued my playing career in the OUA for Brock University. I’ve been coaching Tier 1 and Tier 2 for over 10 years and am also an Assistant Coach for the Laurier Golden Hawks. My coaching philosophy revolves around teaching the fundamentals, encouraging hard work, and having fun.
15U Select – Joel Cumming
Background Info on Joel Cumming joel.cumming@waterloobaseball.ca
Joel has been coaching baseball in Waterloo for 7 years and is entering his third year of coaching Select. He grew up playing in the ICBA at the Tier 1 level up through Junior. Joel is also active on the House League Committee, where he has served as the Technology Chair for the last four years..
14U T1 – Brady Hall brady.hall@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Brady Hall
Brady was born and raised in Waterloo, playing in the WMBA until he was 15. At that time, Brady chose to go and play in the Ontario Blue Jays program in Mississauga where he played 3 years before signing to play collegiate baseball at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). After completing his 4-year term in Newark, Brady decided it was time to return to the Region to start his next chapter. After securing employment at Melloul Blamey Construction, he realized that he still needed to have baseball in his life and doubled down by playing for the Milton Redsox in the men’s COBA league and assistant coaching for the 15u Waterloo Tigers. After some 16 years of donning the chest protector and shin pads, retirement was looming and Brady hung up the cleats a year later to focus more on the coaching side of the game. With 2 more years as an assistant coach for the 18U T1 Tigers team, and 2 years working as a part time instructor at Peak Performance in Guelph, Brady is ready to make the natural progression into this head coaching role.
14U T2 – TBD
13U T1 – Scott Ballantyne scott.ballantyne@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Scott Ballantyne
The 2022 season will mark Scott's 7th season as a Head Coach in the WMBA system as he started with the 2009 age group at Rookie Ball. Scott was named the ICBA Junior Coach of the Year in 2016 and his teams have twice been named the WMBA Team of the Year. Scott is also the Head Baseball Coach at Wilfrid Laurier University where he has led the Golden Hawks since 2007. He is a 4-time OUA Baseball Coach of the Year and 3-time OUA Champion. Scott has over 250 wins as an OUA Head Coach. In 2008 and 2010 Scott was a coach with Collegiate Team Canada at the World University Games. Scott is the former General Manager of the Kitchener Panthers of the IBL where he was named the IBL Executive of the Year in 2016. He is still a member of their Board of Directors. Scott also serves as the Treasurer for WMBA and works as the VP Finance for a local software company.
13U T2 Team 1 – Ryan Lloyd-Craig ryan.lloyd-craig@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info for Ryan Lloyd-Craig
I was a Rep soccer player growing up in Mississauga until I switched to Baseball at the age of 14. After playing only a few games of house league I was asked to join the AA rep team for the balance of the season. I continued at the AAA level with the Erin Mill’s Eagles until I ended my competitive playing career at 19 after a torn Rotator Cuff injury playing in the Golden Bat Tournament. Fun fact, I attended a tryout for the Blue Jays when I was 16 with what seemed like a thousand other players, a great experience I will never forget.
After relocating to Waterloo, I joined the coaching ranks at the Rookie ball level and have coached with the Tier 2 team for the past several years, the past 2021 year as the Head Coach. I look to develop players and work on a making well rounded ball players that hopefully can move up to Tier 1.
I look forward to working with the players this upcoming season.
Cheers, Ryan
13U T2 Team 2 – Ryan Pyette ryan.pyette@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Ryan Pyette
This will be my eighth straight summer as a baseball coach, fifth in the Waterloo Minor Baseball Association. Last year, I was with the 13U Tigers Select team. In my younger days, I played rep ball for my hometown in Sault Ste. Marie before heading to the University of Waterloo. I also played hockey growing up and was drafted by the OHL's Ottawa 67's. Sport has always been a big part of my life, even at work. I've been a sports reporter at The London Free Press for the past 20 years. Sorry Blue Jays fans, I root for the Detroit Tigers just as much as I do the Waterloo Tigers! See you at the field. Ryan Pyette
12U T1 – Jamie Pietraszko jamie.pietraszko@waterloobaseball.ca
12U T2 Team 1 – Justin Black justin.black@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Justin Black
Born and raised in Kitchener/Waterloo. Began playing baseball in Waterloo at the age of 5. Played AAA ball in Waterloo for 10 years. Played Junior in Waterloo for 3 years. Played with Team Ontario 16U and 17U. I have been coaching baseball in Waterloo for the past 6 years and greatly enjoy working with and developing young athletes.
12U T2 Team 2 – Fraser Vernon
11U T1 – Adam Lawrence adam.lawrence@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Adam Lawrence
I will be coaching the Waterloo Tigers, 11U Tier 1 team for the 2022 season. After a few years as an assistant coach for the Laurier Women’s Fastball Team, I started as an assistant coach at the 8U level in Waterloo. I then transitioned to Head Coach for the 8U, 9U, and 10U teams the past three years. With a focus on hard work, player development, having fun, and respecting the game of baseball, I am excited for the upcoming 11U. - Adam Lawrence
11U T2 – Caroline Amyot caroline.amyot@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info on Caroline Amyot
I grew up in small town Perth, Ontario playing fastball. I have a love of sport and competition and hope to instill that in my players. I have been involved in coaching with WMBA for the past four years as assistant coach for house league in 2018, assistant coach for the 8U and 9U T2 teams in 2019 and 2020, and head coach for the 10U T2 team in 2021. My goal is to teach the boys the fundamentals of baseball and provide an environment where they know expectations and are challenged to improve and strive to be their best. I also hope they take away life lessons of teamwork and respect; and, of course fond memories of good times with teammates and hitting some dingers! Looking forward to seeing what next season will bring. Go Tigers!
Coach C
10U T1 – Dale Smith dale.smith@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info on Dale Smith
Dale has been an assistant coach the past 4 seasons with WMBA for the following teams-9U, 8U T1 and 9U, 10U T2
Baseball has been a passion of mine since I was a kid playing the game. As a family growing up, we also spent a lot of time going to see live baseball in Detroit and Toronto.
Strong believer in continuous learning and development of players to maximize their personal and team growth.
Favorite position growing up - catcher.
10U T2 – Jimmy Hehn jim.hehn@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info for Jimmy Hehn
I will be the U10 Tier 2 Coach for the 2022 season. Currently, I am the Head Coach of the U9 Tier 2 team. Prior to that I've coached House League ball for my oldest son for the past 7 years. I began playing Fastball when I was 7 years old and continued playing Fastball until I transitioned to Slow Pitch, which I still enjoy playing when time permits.
9U T1 – Andrew Robb andrew.robb@waterloobaseball.ca
Background Info on Dr. Andrew Robb
I grew up playing through the ranks in Guelph all the way to the Silvercreeks (Jr IBL) and high school (St. James HS). I played for the 1998 Canadian National Champions Brock University as a relief pitcher. I have been coaching/consulting in baseball for over 20 years. I will be the Head Coach for the Tier 1 U9 Waterloo Baseball Program for the 2021-22 Season.
I am a Sports Chiropractor (specialization in sports injuries and athletic development). My area of expertise and research is in pitching biomechanics and throwing injuries. I have collaborated with various organizations including Canadian Athletic Coaching Centre, American Sports Medicine Institute, and Major League Baseball (Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles) with research on injury prevention and pitching performance.
I am an assistant Pitching Coach and Director of Player Development for the University of Waterloo Baseball Program under the direction of Head Coach Ben Norris. I am head of Player Development for the new Kitcher-Waterloo Bearcats Elite Baseball Program. I also consultant with a wide spectrum of levels in baseball both in high performance and medical: Kitchener Minor Baseball Association, Elite Ontario, regional, OUA, US collegiate, and professional.
9U T2 – Shyam Sheth shyam.sheth@waterloobaseball.ca
8U T1 – Steve Lauzon steve.lauzon@waterloobaseball.ca
Background info on Steve Lauzon
Born and raised in Waterloo. Steve played in the Waterloo Minor Baseball program all the way through Junior. After a brief stint with the Kitchener Panthers, he found a home with the Milton Red Sox where he played 13 seasons and was elected into the COBA Hall of Fame before retiring in 2019. He has also served as an assistant coach with Kitchener Minor Baseball for 3 years.
Waterloo Minor Baseball welcomes all our coaches for the 2022 Baseball Season.