The WAR Room instructors bring a wealth of experience as both athletes and coaches. With years of collegiate and/or professional experience under their belts, all WAR Room instructors are passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise with the next generation of ball players!

All Instructors who work at The WAR Room are required to provide a current (within 2 years) VSC Police Record Check as a requirement of employment.

At The WAR Room, we develop not only skilled young athletes but young men and women with foundations in hard work, grit, determination and sportsmanship.

OUR TEAM

  • Born and raised in Guelph ON, Rylan is a proud product of the Guelph Minor Baseball Association.

    Rylan's extensive experience includes playing NCAA Division 1 baseball at Niagara University, 3x OUA All-Star at Brock University, a member of Team Canada for the 2004 World University Baseball Championships in Chinese Taipei, 2x pitcher of the year and 1x MVP as a member of the Guelph Silvercreeks, and IBL All Star with the Guelph Royals.

    After finishing his playing career, Rylan settled back in Guelph, where he continues to live, work, raise a family and coach youth baseball in the very organization that helped shape his time as a player.

    With his experience both as a high level athlete and as an educator with the Upper Grand District School Board, Rylan is able to blend his knowledge of the game with a strong understanding of pedagogy to help support young athletes in understanding how to maximize their potential.

  • Phil brings a dynamic blend of scouting, coaching, and player development experience to his role.

    Previously with the Ontario Nationals, he supported college placement, coached on-field, captured footage for player development, and managed social media content. In addition to his dual role as manager/instructor at The WAR Room, Phil serves as a contributor to Prep Baseball, offering scouting insights and national coverage to help bridge the gap between Canadian athletes and collegiate opportunities. In addition, Phillip has served as a volunteer with Burlington Minor Baseball, being the Head Coach of the 2015 AAA Burlington Bulls for the past three years.

    Phil brings together all of these experiences - his scouting background, coaching expertise, and commitment to player development - to build an environment where athletes can reach their full potential. His ability to connect grassroots development with elite pathways ensures The WAR Room is the place where players of all levels can grow, compete, and prepare for the next step in their baseball journey.

  • Josh brings extensive playing and coaching experience to the field and now to The WAR Room.

    A former collegiate catcher, Josh began his baseball journey with the Burlington Bulls before moving on to play for the Fieldhouse Pirates in high school. He continued his career at the collegiate level, competing in Division II JUCO baseball at SUNY Sullivan and Lake Michigan Community College, before finishing at the NAIA level with Brescia University.

    Off the field, Josh is passionate about player development. Combining firsthand experience with a commitment to coaching and instruction, Josh strives to help every player reach their full potential.

  • Raised in Guelph and a member of the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame, Jeremy Ware brings extensive experience to The WAR Room.

    After his playing days in the GMBA, Jeremy accepted an athletic scholarship at Indian Hills CC and was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 25th round of that same year. Jeremy would go on to play professional baseball for 14 years as a member of the Montreal Expos and Cleveland Guardians.

    During his professional career, Jeremy was also a consistent member of the men’s Senior National Team with Baseball Canada representing the nation multiple times between 1999 and 2008 in Olympic qualifiers, World Cups, the Pan-Am Games and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

    Following his professional career, Jeremy enjoyed a decorated career in the IBL as a member of the Guelph Royals and was a multiple time all-star.

    Jeremy now resides in Guelph with his family and is a dedicated coach within Guelph Minor Baseball coaching on two teams at the 10U and 14U level.

  • Born and raised in Guelph, Liam brings a wealth of collegiate pitching experience, having served in both starting and high-leverage relief roles throughout his career. Over three seasons at the Division I level, he made 37 appearances including 19 starts and compiled 130 strikeouts across 158.2 innings. Over 5 years in the US for Collegiate and Summer ball, he threw over 340 innings with 355 strikeouts, including multiple First-Team selections concluding summer seasons.

    After completing his final season of athletic eligibility at St. Bonaventure University and receiving a degree in Sociology, he returned to join the team as a Graduate Assistant Pitching Coach in 2024 while pursuing an MBA. Disproving the myth that pitchers aren’t athletes, Liam was also a standout goalie growing up and was selected in the 9th round of the 2014 OHL draft by the Oshawa Generals. A John F. Ross graduate, having played for Guelph Minor Baseball from 7 years old to the Guelph Silvercreeks, Liam is passionate about passing on his knowledge and experience to local ball players.

  • Born and raised in Georgetown, ON, Dawn played softball for the Halton Hawks and Port Perry Angels.

    She played NJCAA Division 1 for Indian River State College in Fort Pierce Florida.  There, she was awarded pitcher of the year in her sophomore year, was named second-team NJCAA Division 1 All-South Region and was the solo recipient in the state of Florida to receive the Jean Williams scholar-Athlete award for outstanding academic, community and athletic achievements.

    From there, Dawn furthered her Division 1 softball career at Stony Brook University, where she pitched that program's first 7-inning perfect game against Cornell University. Through her senior and graduate years, where she completed a bachelors in multidisciplinary studies and a masters in business, she earned first team All-America East, all championship team, all academic team, and NFCA second team all region as well as multiple pitcher of the week awards. She threw a total of 5 no hitters, 4 of them being in the month of April during her graduate year.  That same year, Dawn broke the program's single season strike out record with 285 strikeouts and was awarded Graduate Female Athlete of the Year. 

    Dawn made the Canadian national team in 2022 and has since won bronze at 2023 pan American games, bronze at the 2024 World Cup, gold at the 2025 pan American championship, and most recently finished 4th at the 2025 world games in Chengdu, China. 

    She’s spent the last 5 years off season coaching for many programs including the Halton Hawks, Guelph Gators, Mississauga Tigers, as well as individual athletes around the southern Ontario area.

  • Grayden brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for player development. Throughout his playing career, he trained with professional coaches and players, gaining valuable insight into pitching and the game as a whole.

    He competed at the NCAA Division I level with UT-Martin and at the Division II level with Cameron University, in addition to playing two seasons in the WCBL. Facing and playing alongside top-tier talent sharpened his understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the game.

    Grayden’s passion for baseball and coaching is reflected in his commitment to helping athletes reach their full potential—both on and off the field—while becoming the best version of themselves.

  • Davis Llewellyn is in his final season with the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks, bringing years of experience and a lifelong passion for the game to the field. He began his baseball journey with the Hamilton Cardinals organization, where he developed not only his skills but also a strong foundation in work ethic, perseverance, and commitment.

    Driven to excel both on and off the field, Davis prides himself on being a dedicated athlete and mentor. As a personal coach, he is passionate about helping athletes refine their skills, build confidence, and unlock their full potential through hard work and a love for the game.

  • Born and raised in Georgetown, ON, Hayley played softball for the Halton Hawks. She went on to play for Humber College in Toronto from 2018-2022 where she was an OCAA champion in 2019! In her senior year at Humber, Hayley led the league in slugging percentage and was named softball MVP and Athletic Director’s Pick. In addition, Hayley was also the Athletic Valedictorian for the Humber Hawks in 2022. From there, Hayley furthered her softball and academic pursuits with Division 2 Barry University in Miami, FL. In her 1 season at Barry, Hayley started 30 games and was an NSCA All-American selection in 2023. While at Barry, Hayley earned her Master’s Degree in Human Performance and Wellness, graduating in 2024. Hayley has since spent the last 4 years coaching and doing private and team lessons for many programs including the Ontario Blue Jays, D1 Nationals, Milton Bats, Halton Hawks and many individual high performance athletes within the GTA. In addition to training youth athletes, she continues to refine her own hitting skills to provide players with the most relevant, effective and up to date knowledge.

  • Alycia Vanderhout is a former elite fastpitch pitcher and experienced pitching instructor with over 10 years of pitching-specific instruction and nearly 15 years of overall coaching experience. After her playing career was cut short by injury, she transitioned into coaching to continue her passion for developing pitchers and supporting athletes in their growth.

    Alycia has hosted pitching clinics for multiple softball associations, including the Mississauga Southwest Hurricanes and Mississauga North Tigers, and currently coaches with the Oakville Angels 2010 U17/16U team, which competed at the Canadian National Championships in the  2024/2025 season.

    Her instruction focuses on efficient mechanics, injury awareness and prevention, confidence-building, and helping pitchers understand the “why” behind their movements. Alycia is committed to providing athletes with a positive, structured learning environment that helps them reach their full potential.

  • Sawyer Whitaker brings a strong competitive background and proven leadership experience to our team. A former collegiate athlete, Sawyer began his baseball journey with the Ontario Blue Jays before continuing his career at the collegiate level, competing in NCAA Division II baseball at Shippensburg University. He later transferred to the University of Guelph, where he currently serves as team captain, helping lead UofG to back-to-back national championship appearances. Off the field, Sawyer maintains an active lifestyle and a strong commitment to personal development. An avid golfer and cyclist with a passion for the gym, he values discipline, consistency, and continuous improvement—principles that translate directly into his approach to sport and leadership.

  • Born in Alberta, Clark developed a passion for baseball at an early age. After moving to Guelph in grade 7, he joined the Guelph Minor Baseball Association (GMBA), where he played two seasons before advancing to the Ontario Nationals program at the U14 level. Over three seasons with the Nationals, Clark was recognized for his consistent performance, earning selection to the CPBL All-Star Game each year.

    In the summer of 2025, Clark was invited to join Team Elite National in Atlanta, gaining valuable experience on the highly competitive U.S. summer circuit. He was also selected to represent Team Canada at the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games. In addition, he had the honour of representing Team Ontario at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in Newfoundland. For the 2025–26 season, Clark will continue his development with the Ontario Blue Jays. Known for his strong commitment to training, he is passionate about skill development and continually seeks out innovative drills and methods to elevate his game.

  • Raymund Gloria, a native of Guelph, Ontario, began his career at just six years old with the Guelph Minor Baseball Association (GMBA), where he developed a strong foundation from T-Ball to AAA and competed here until the age of 14.

    At 15, Raymund advanced to the Cambridge Cubs 15U Elite program, where he quickly made his mark. That season. He continued with the Cubs through his 16U year before taking on a new challenge with the 17U Midwestern Ontario Bearcats.

    Raymund thrived with the Bearcats, putting together a strong campaign highlighted by his selection to represent Team Canada at the 2025 Filipino World Series in Los Angeles, California. Recognized as one of the top Filipino players in Canada. Raymund also received The 17U Defensive Player of the Year Award as well as the Bearcat Resiliency Award in just his first year.

    For the 2025–26 season, Raymund will be competing in his final year of eligibility with the 18U Midwestern Ontario Bearcats, bringing with him his trademark energy, commitment, and vocal leadership.

  • Jade Tough, of Rockwood, Ontario, began her softball career at just 9 years old with the Guelph Gators softball Association, from there she played for the Mississauga North Tigers then the Oakville Angels. Jade is a dominant pitcher with a strong bat. In 2025 Jade was selected to the U15 Women’s National Team and represented Canada in Mexico at the U15 Pam Am women’s championship. In the summer of 2024, Jade competed in the U15 & U19 Canadian Nationals as a call up winning a silver medal with the Waterloo Ghosts. In 2025, she competed in U15 and U17 Canadian nationals again as a call up.

    The last two seasons Jade has been a member of Northern Force winter program travelling to compete in various tournaments across the US.

    For the 2025–26 season, Jade will be competing with the Oakville Angels 09 looking to get back to the Canadian Nationals for a 5th time.

  • Jackson Heimbecker is a collegiate baseball player and instructor who relocated from Alberta to Ontario, where he continued developing his career on and off the field. A catcher in the Ontario Nationals organization for over two seasons, Jackson became recognized for his leadership behind the plate, defensive ability, and strong work ethic. He is currently a catcher at Cleary University in Michigan, where he continues to develop his game at the collegiate level.

    Alongside his playing career, Jackson has built extensive coaching experience through leading summer camps, winter training programs, and private catching instruction. During the summer season, he returns to Ontario to compete with the Guelph Silvercreeks.

  • Born and raised in Guelph, Aislinn has been passionate about softball since picking up a glove at the age of seven. Starting out in Guelph's local house league, she quickly discovered her love for the game and worked her way up to compete at the tier one level with the Waterloo Ghosts. Aislinn is currently a pitcher at North Dakota State College who just won the D3 NJCAA National Championship in 2026!

    With past experience in coaching, and volunteering in softball with youth. Aislinn is excited to use her knowledge from many years of experience to pass down to the next generation of softball players.

  • Born and raised in Paradise Valley, AB, Lindsay played with the Lloydminster Liners before continuing her career with the 222's Fastpitch travel program.

    Her collegiate journey began at NCAA Division II Newman University, where she earned First Team All-MIAA honours as a freshman before transferring to NCAA Division I Niagara University.

    During her three seasons with the Purple Eagles, Lindsay was a two-time All-MAAC Second Team selection and served as Team Captain in her senior season. She posted a career-best .357 batting average in 2024 and graduated ranked among Niagara's career leaders in hits, runs scored, and doubles. Lindsay also earned All-MAAC Preseason Team honours in 2025 and was invited to both the Junior and Women's Team Canada National Final Tryout Camps throughout her playing career.

    In 2025, Lindsay graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, combining her passion for athletics with an understanding of the mental side of performance.

    For the past five years, Lindsay has coached athletes of all ages. Specializing in hitting instruction, she is passionate about helping athletes build confidence at the plate, develop fundamentally sound mechanics, and reach their full potential. Having benefited from incredible coaches and mentors throughout her own journey, Lindsay is committed to giving back to the softball community that shaped her. She strives to be a positive role model for young female athletes, inspiring them to pursue their goals on and off the field while fostering a lifelong love for the game.