GRIND TRAIN PERFORM
The Team
Jackie Sasko
Owner, Softball Instructor and Mentor
Softball has been Jackie passion for more than half of her life. She is dedicated and committed to the game as the Owner of TeamGTP (with 10 years of instructional experience), a Pitching Coach at Georgian Court University and Co Owner of Game Time Performance. She not only teaches the skills needed to be successful on the diamond, but she also prepares her players for the mental aspect of the game.
A graduate of Steinert High School, where she was a three time Varsity letter winner and pitched her way to a New Jersey Group IV State Championship. She also made the New Jersey All State Team two years in a row and was named Mercer County Tournament MVP her senior year. After high school, her softball journey started. She attended C.W. Post on a softball scholarship for 3 semesters and then transferred to Mercer County Community College. At MCCC she lead her team to the Junior College World Series and was named an All- American. After MCCC, she finished up her collegiate softball career at Rowan University. Jackie was name an All-American and an Academic All American her junior year. At the end of her senior year she was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the week, NJAC Conference Pitcher of the Year, was named first team All-American.
Jackie graduated from Rowan University with an American Studies degree, but her passion is softball. While finishing up her last semester at Rowan she started her GTP Softball Academy which has resulted in ownership of TeamGTP - Baseball&Softball Training. While giving lessons at GTP she also spent some time on the field. She was the Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach in the Jersey Nightmare Organization for 5 years, was an assistant coach at Steinert High School and coached in the NJ Cheetah Organization for 2 years. Coach Jackie also has coaching experience at the collegiate level. She coached side by side Nicole Degenhardt for 5 years at Georgian Court University.
Ashleigh Johnson
Softball Instructor
Ashleigh started her collegiate career at Burlington County College on a full scholarship as a pitcher for 2 years. For her first year at BCC her ERA was 1.96 and 1.78 her second year for an overall 40 games pitched.. Sophomore Year she was ranked as 39th Division II pitcher in the Nation. She was part of the BCC team each year that earned the title of Undefeated Garden State Champions. Her journey did not end there. Johnson transferred to Rutgers Camden where she finished the 2012 season with a 2.84 ERA and a 2.02 ERA in her senior year. Her overall record at Rutgers Camden was 18-18. Ashleigh graduated from Rutgers in 2014 with a BA in Liberal Arts as a History Major with a Minor in Psychology and is teaching in the Hamilton Township School District. After she graduated College she started coaching as the volunteer assistant coach at Bordentown Middle School for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons. In 2017, Ashleigh was appointed the Bordentown Regional High School Junior Varsity Coach and assisted with the Varsity team. Her coaching carrier did not end there as she has spent many years coaching travel softball. She coached with the Lower Bucks Lady Lions organization from August 2015-July 2016 and the Central Jersey A's organization from August 2016-July 2017.
​
Samantha Hastings
Softball Instructor
Sam Hastings began taking lessons with Coach Jackie in 2010 after attending a weekend clinic co-sponsored by West Windsor Little League. GTP would eventually become a home away from home, where over the next decade, she had the chance to develop not only skills and versatility on the field, but also a strong work ethic and a lifelong passion for softball. During those years, she played travel ball with the Ninjas and Witches organizations. A four-year varsity starter at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, Sam served as team captain during her junior and senior years. She later continued her softball career at Swarthmore, where she played at the collegiate level while earning a
degree in Political Science. Although a center fielder at heart, Sam brings all-around experience to the field, having played nearly every position throughout her career. She has a solid foundation in both infield and outfield play and brings hitting knowledge to her instruction as well. Sam is excited to return to GTP and is looking forward to being able to share her knowledge and experience with the next generation of players.
Education:University of Phoenix (Online)2011 -2013Psychology / EnglishBAFelician College Lodi - Lodi, NJ2008 to 2011East Side High School Newark - Newark, NJSeptember 2004 to June 2008Diploma
Jenna Rodriguez
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Jenna Rodriguez attended New Egypt High School where she competed for three New Jersey State Championships; winning two. During her high school career she was an All Area, First team pitcher winning many honor awards. Jenna received a Softball Scholarship to Franklin Pierce University, where she was the starting freshman pitcher. She then transferred to Cabrini University in 2016 to finish out her softball career. Here, she was the pitcher in three divisional championships for her team. During Jenna’s time at Cabrini University she was granted CSAC All-Academic Team three years in a row. She graduated from Cabrini University in 2018 with a major in Biology and a minor in Exercise Science. Jenna Currently works at Strive Physical
Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation and plans on continuing her education to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Jenna has been a coach for various travel organizations for the last 5 years. She served as a Jersey Inferno coach and is currently the head coach of New Jersey Ruthless 14u. After 18 years of playing competitive softball, Jenna is hanging up her cleats and is excited to pass on her passion of the sport to young aspiring pitchers.
Danae Stillitano Pesce
Softball Instructor and Coach
Danae Stillitano Pesce is the current Notre Dame High School JV Softball Coach and she also coaches the 12U Central Jersey A's travel softball team. Danae graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1995 and was an All County, All Area, and All State Selection as well as the Mercer County Player of the Year. She led the Irish to their first ever Mercer County Tournament Title and their first ever State Championship appearance. Danae moved on to play Division 1 softball on a full scholarship at Monmouth University where she was a 2 time Regional All American and led the Hawks to its first ever NEC regular season championship. She was the Northeast Conference's Rookie of the Year in 1996 and the Northeast Conference Player of the Year in 1998. She continues to hold the all time hits record with 225, the all time triples record with 30, and the all time runs scored record with 153. She was named the Monmouth University Female Athlete of the Year on 2 occasions (1998, 1999) and was named the Monmouth University Woman of the Year in 1999. She was inducted into both the Notre Dame High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Monmouth University Athletic Hall of Fame for all of her accomplishments on the softball field.
Julia Waraksy
Softball Instructor and Mentor
Julia Waraksy graduated as a Division I athlete from the University of Rhode Island in 2019. Her senior year, she appeared in 22 games, making three starts and graduated as a program record holder with most career saves. Her junior year, she was named Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Week and the team’s top relief pitcher. At URI she majored in Journalism with a double minor in English and Writing. Julia played AAU ball for Rick Waye, Rock Gold. Before
committing to URI Julia attended Notre Dame High School from 2010-2012 where she led her team to win a CVC Championship, along with pitching a no-hitter her sophomore year. After transferring to Hopewell Valley High School her junior year, she went 6-4 with 73 strikeouts in 84.2 innings pitched. Julia has coached many different age groups for the past 2-3 years and wants to continue to have an impact on young girls. Now as a retired Division I collegiate athlete, Julia is more than ready to help teach and share her knowledge of the game of softball.
Jamie Glassman
Softball Instructor and Mentor
Jamie was an All-Ivy League shortstop at the University of Pennsylvania, where she still holds Top 10 All-time records in batting average, hitting streak, RBI/YR, and Hits/YR, despite only playing a freshman season. In high school, Jamie led The Peddie School to four consecutive Prep A State Championships, and was chosen First Team All-State Prep four times and First Team All-Area three times. She was also named the Trenton Times and Trentonian area Player of the Year in 2008. Her 2005-2008 Peddie softball teams will be inducted into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. In her 18U travel season she participated in the ASA Gold National Tournament in Oklahoma City with the Nightmare Gold.
Jamie has kept softball in her adult life by playing co-ed slowpitch with her husband, Matt, who was an Academic All-American baseball player at Stevens Institute of Technology. She also assisted in coaching the 14u Witches Futures for two seasons, and looks forward to someday coaching her own two kids, Mia and Trey, as well.
Jenn Tellefsen
Softball Instructor and Mentor
Jenn is a former DII pitcher who graduated from Georgian Court University. Her first two years of college were spent at Florida State at Jacksonville and then transferred into GCU where she played an important part in the team's success. Jenn is currently the Assistant Pitching Coach at GCU and coaches in the Ruthless softball program with GCU's Head Coach Nicole Degenhardt. Jenn's main goal and passion is to help girls and young woman succeed both in softball and in life.
Meghan McDonald
Program Director of Little GTPers, Administrator, Softball Instructor and Mentor
Meghan attended Stockton College to play softball. However, in the fall of her freshman year, she had a career-ending injury. Prior to college, Meghan was the starting catcher for Bordentown Regional High School for four years where she earned “player of the week” accolades multiple times, broke the record for most hits in a season, and led her team to back-to-back NJ Central Group II championships in 2006 and 2007. Meghan was named “Female Athlete of the Year” during her senior year at Bordentown.
Meghan currently is the head coach for the Witches Futures 14u team and has been for the past three seasons. Prior to the Witches, she was coaching the Ninjas within the same organization.
Heather Devine
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Heather grew up in Millstone, NJ where she started playing softball at 5 years old. She attended Allentown high school receiving 3 varsity letters for pitching, first base and hitting. While in high school Heather played for the NJ Cheetahs where top-level coaches coached her. The experience with the Cheetah Program enriched her with tons of knowledge of the game. She continued her softball carrier at Mercer County Community College for a year and 1/2 until her season ended due to a knee injury. Currently, Heather is attending WGU for elementary education. While attending online courses Heather works at an Elementary school as a paraprofessional. When not working or coaching her 14u travel team Heather coaches for Ewings Special Olympics Teams. Heather’s goal is to give every child an opportunity to grow not just in sport but to teach them how sports and the real world are so much similar.
Megan Trisch
Instructor Coach and Mentor
My name is Megan, and I’m a second-grade teacher in the area, as well as a mom to my favorite person—my 9-year-old daughter. I spent most of my younger years on the softball field, playing a variety of positions, but third base quickly became my favorite. I played travel ball for many years and continued playing through my first year of college. I recently had the opportunity to coach my daughter’s Little League team. That experience reignited my love for the game and inspired me to get more involved in softball again. I’m beyond excited to be part of the GTP team and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together!
Michaela Luyber
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
I started playing t-ball at the youngest age possible and never put down a bat/ball since! I have played softball my entire life ranging from town teams, travel teams, to school teams. I have explored every position on the field but for most of my career I played third base and was a catcher. When I entered Bordentown Regional High School, there was an opening for a second baseman. I gave it a shot and received the BCSL All-Star Second Team award and BCT All County Team award as a freshman. Sophomore year through senior year I played third base earning the BCSL All-Star Second Team award three more times while being team captain for two years. During my time at Bordentown, we were the Central Jersey Group 2 Champions along with competing in the New Jersey State Championship game for the first time in Bordentown softball history!
After high school I played collegiate softball at Stockton University. After conquering two knee surgeries I was ready to jump on the field wherever I could, finding first base as the only open position. During my first season ever playing first base I earned NJAC First Team playing all 42 games, batting .331, finishing second on the team with at bats (131), hits (41), and runs (27). I led the NJAC in defensive chances (312) and putouts (299) while recording a .984 fielding percentage. Throughout my career at Stockton, I played in 91 games, starting 79 times earning NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mention each season.
I graduated Stockton with my BS in Marine Biology. I have a strong passion for the outdoors, conservation, and animals alongside my competitive passion in sports. When I am not coaching, you’ll find me outside enjoying spontaneous activities with my friends or petting lots of dogs!
Savannah Wildmann
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Savannah’s passion for softball has grown into a new love for the game, coaching. She grew up in Columbus, NJ where she started playing softball at 6 years old.
​
She attended Northern Burlington Regional High School where she played on the varsity softball team her sophomore, junior and senior year. While in high school, Savannah played catcher and outfield, then switched to become a left handed slapper. At the same time, Savannah was the starting catcher and outfielder for her travel team, the Hamilton Hurricanes from 14u-18u.
​
She continued her softball career after receiving an athletic softball scholarship at Rowan College at Burlington County. She also received the Scholar-athlete award in 2019 earning a GPA of greater than 3.5 while playing collegiate softball.
​
Savannah studied Liberal Arts and Science and received an associate’s degree while playing softball, then continued her education being accepted in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at RCBC. She received another associate’s degree in Applied Science specializing in DMS.
​
Upon completion of collegiate softball to focus on her career, Savannah received an opportunity to coach softball for Hamilton Girls Softball Association. She is now able to give back to her community where she once played travel and recreational softball growing up. She has been head manager and coached 8u travel softball for two years, one year of instructional recreational softball and now currently coaches and is the head manager of the 10u Hamilton Hurricanes Blue travel team. When not coaching her Hurricanes travel team, Savannah works for Virtua hospital as a maternal fetal medicine sonographer.
​
​
Bella Marino
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Bella Marino’s journey in softball began at a young age, where her love for the sport quickly turned into a lifelong pursuit. She began playing softball at the age of seven and has continued to play the past 14 years. GTP had become a big part of her life at the age of 8 where she started pitching lessons with Coach Jackie. Since then she has become a GTPer for life by having pitching lessons once a week up until college and during her breaks from college . This allowed Bella Marino to become a standout pitcher and batter throughout her playing career.
Bella Marino attended Bordentown Regional High School where she was a 4 year varsity starter for their softball team. During her time there she helped the team win the Central Jersey Group 2 Sectional Final as well as the BCSL Patriot Division. She earned BCSL second team all star award two years in a row.
After high school Bella Marino attended Kean University where she majored in Sports and Event Management and obtained a minor in Marketing. In 2023 Annabella graduated with a 3.845 GPA from Kean. During her time at Kean she played 4 years of college softball for the Cougars. She appeared in 44 games with a 22-13 record recording 240.2 innings pitched. She had 130 strikeouts and a 2.21 ERA. In 2022 she competed in the NCAA Division 3 Regionals and was named to the All NJAC Second Team. Bella made the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team as well during her time at Kean
Bella Marino interned with GTP during her schooling. It was during her internship and her own training sessions with Coach Jackie that she discovered her passion for coaching.
Victoria Bowen
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Victoria has been playing softball since the age of 4 until she graduated from her first college in 2021. From t-ball to the college World Series Victoria has great experience all around the field. Prioritizing pitching for most of her career, Victoria has taken 1:1 lessons to sharpen her skill sets which led to 1:1 lessons for her other positions as well. She pursued middle infield, 3rd base, outfield, and catching throughout her softball career.
​
When she wasn’t pitching, Victoria was rocking out at shortstop or 2nd base and loved playing the middle infield. From turning double plays to diving up the middle to knock down a ground ball her middle infield experience is great. During her last year of college she played 3rd base which came to be her best position. Victoria has natural talent at 3rd base including snagging foul balls over the sideline fences, diving for popped up bunts, and having the quickest glove to throwing hand transfers to get the routine outs at 1st base.
​
Victoria is 24 years old and works at an elementary school with all different grade levels and classes. She graduated from Mercer County Community College with an associates in education and continued to William Paterson University where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. While maintaining a 3.7 gpa throughout her time at Mercer, Victoria attended the College World Series in Mississippi and held the 2nd place spot for most homeruns hit her sophomore year.
​
Being a retired athlete, Victoria's hobbies are snowboarding during the snowy season and spending time in the gym lifting weights, and keeping her body moving. Victoria plans on furthering her career to become a physical education teacher in the near future.
Haley Jones
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Haley played softball at Georgian Court University (20') where she received her bachelor's degree in business.
​
She was most recently the assistant softball coach at Coker University, helping coordinate all compliance activities, facilitating travel operations and acting as the recruiting coordinator. The Cobras recorded their most wins in four years during her time there and received 2 all conference awards.
​
Haley began her post-undergraduate career as a graduate assistant softball coach at Misericordia University, where she received her MBA.
​
In addition to serving as the interim head coach during the Fall 2021 season, she acted as the team's academic advisor, managed the yearly budget, implemented fundraising strategies and recruited. In her two years she coached 11 All-Conference, and 6 All-Region players, as well as the 2021 Rookie of the Year and 2022 Pitcher of the Year. The Cougars were the 2022 MAC Freedom Season Champions
​
Haley is currently the Athletics Coordinator and Project Manager at Holy Family University.
Aaron Winzinger
Baseball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
Aaron is a former Division I baseball player who competed at the highest collegiate level for two years at Rider University, helping his team to a MAAC Conference Championship. Known for his strong work ethic, leadership, and pitching skills, he built a reputation for hard work while at Rider. After concluding his playing days, Aaron transitioned his passion for the game into coaching, now offering personalized pitching lessons to young athletes. He is dedicated to helping the next generation of players develop their skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential both on and off the field.
Elisa Andrew
Softball Instructor, Coach and Mentor
I’m Elisa and I’ve been playing softball since I was a little girl. I started out playing second base and outfield then quickly learned I wanted to try pitching. I began taking lessons with Coach Jackie when she was coaching out of her backyard and continued with her! I played travel ball through middle and high school. Went to Allentown HS, graduated in 2012 and was a 3-year varsity player. I went on to attend and play at DeSales University where my team was 2 time MAC conference champions in 2013 and 2016 and attend NCAA DIII Regionals! I graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology.
After graduating, I took some time away from softball to pursue my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Graduated from DeSales University in 2019 with my DPT and passed my boards that October and became a licensed Physical Therapist. I began to pursue some coaching opportunities with local travel teams to get back into the sport I love and missed! I’ve been coaching since 2021 in various roles including assistant and head coaching. Most recently I spent 2 seasons has the head coach with the 14u Hamilton Hurricanes. I now am an assistant coach with the Jersey Outlaws 18u Gold Wally! I truly believe coaching reignited my love for the game! I’m looking forward to joining the team at GTP! I’m very passionate about combining injury prevention into developing sport specific skills!