Meet the Team
The board of Directors
Chris & Lisa Silber
Founders/Directors
Dale Stapf
Vice President
McKayla Armbruster
Player Development Director
Meghan Knipp
Fundraising & Special Events Director
18U Coaches
Dale Stapf
Dale spent five years coaching in the Rosemount Traveling Softball Program at varying age levels, with a high degree of success. Through his tenure in Rosemount, Dale has lead his teams to championships in various invitational and state softball tournaments, including winning the 2017 NAFA Nationals. Dale has also spent four years serving as the Player Development Coordinator for Rosemount Traveling Softball where he has worked with girls of all ages enhancing their skills in this great sport. Dale is currently an assistant softball coach at Bethel University where he is entering his 3rd season with the Royals. “Head coach Penny Foore and Associate Head Coach Roman Foore have been so great to me and I couldn’t have two better coaches to look up to. These last couple of years at bethel have been great and I've learned so much by working with this phenomenal coaching staff and amazing young ladies.”
Playing Experience: Dale played three years of varsity baseball at his alma mater New Life Academy in Woodbury. He also spent his summers playing ball in his home town of Rosemount. Shortly after high school, he was introduced to adult slow-pitch softball where he spent the next 15-17 years playing at a high level. During that time, Dale played in some of the biggest and more popular tournaments in Minnesota, including the Dudley. Dale has also played in multiple national tournaments and two world tournaments. To this day, on the rare day off from coaching, he still plays competitive softball with his two brothers. Additionally, over the last five years Dale has also periodically filled in for the 35 and older Rosemount Pipers baseball team.
Mike Baker
Mike will be starting his 3rd year with the 18’s as an assistant. Before joining the TC Blitz, he spent 6 years coaching with the Bloomington Fastpitch Association, coaching the 8u, 10u and 12u’s. Mike is the former Assistant Coach for Bloomington Kennedy High school softball coach, where he’s been the head coach for the freshman and JV teams and most recently served as an assistant coach for the varsity Eagles. Mike lives in Bloomington with his wife Cindy and daughter Ellie.
Jonah Jenniges
Jonah begins his 4th season with the TC Blitz. Prior to joining the 18U Blitz teams, he was the assistant coach to a 12U and 14U squads. Jonah started his coaching career in Prior Lake, MN where he coached for four years at the 10U and 12U levels. He has served on the Prior Lake Athletics for Youth (P.L.A.Y) softball board as the Coach Development and Tryout Coordinator. He is a firm believer in player development both on and off the field by educating his players on the importance of academics, nutrition, conditioning, and softball IQ. Jonah lives in Prior Lake with his wife Jessica and children Evelyn and Eastin
Scott Van Hemert
Scott will begin his 5th season coaching with the TC Blitz. He has been an assistant for the 13u, 14u & 16U teams the last 4 years. Scott started his coaching career in the Rosemount Traveling Softball Association in 2017. He was an assistant at 10u for 2 seasons and helped at 12u for 1 season. Scott lives in Rosemount with his wife Tara, daughter Tessa and son Nick.
Ella Roberts
16U Coaches
Don Mittelstadt
Don begins his 6th season with the TC Blitz. He started as an assistant with the 12’s, then head coach for the 13u team and most recently the head coach of the 14u team. Don started his coaching career in the Farmington Girls Fastpitch Association (FGFA) for four years at the 10U and 12U level and also served on the FGFA board holding the position of Treasurer. Teams he coached achieved high level success, including 2nd overall at NAFA Northern Nationals 10U in 2019, Tier 1 State Champions at 10U in 2019, and multiple tournament wins. Don lives in Farmington with his wife Crystal and daughters Marissa and MacKenzie.
Andy Britten
Andy is in his 3rd year coaching with the 15u group. Prior to joining the TC Blitz coaching staff Andy began his softball coaching career in New Prague at the 10U and 12U levels. He also served on the New Prague Softball Development Committee where he focused on player development. Andy also has previous High School Baseball coaching experience.
Andy has a passion for leading and is committed to teaching the fundamentals to enhance the skillset of each and every athlete. He believes in the use of positive energy to help motivate and drive success. Andy lives in Elko New Market with his wife Sheena, daughter Lenna and son Drew.
Ellie is a former Blitz player and current Bethel University Student/Softball player
Ellie Baker, Assistant Coach
15U Coaches
Chris Silber
Chris Silber was the Varsity Head Coach for Faribault High School from 2013-2019. In 2018, he led the Falcons to their first State Title. Chris has coached club and community softball in Minnesota for over 15 years. Chris' coaching philosophy starts with each player on the team having fun and owning “ACE” Attitude / Communication / Effort. These basic things are what each athlete can control every day. This helps us lay a foundation to build on for both the players and the team as a whole. Hard work and commitment to each other and to our team goals is essential to each player on the team. Team goals help us to structure our practice plan and development plan to ensure we stay the course to achieve our goals. We can accomplish our dreams and great things by working together.
Coaching Bio:
Varsity Coach Faribault High School (2013-2019)
- Named Big Nine Coach of the year 2017 & 2018
- 2018 Section 2 AAA Coach of the year
- 2018 Class AAA Coach of the year
- Most Wins in a high schoool season 23-3(2017) & 23-2 (2018)
- Team Set 28 new school records in 2017
- Team Set 4 new school records in 2016 with a 16 – 9 record
2017-Current TC Blitz Coach
2016-2017 MN Irish 2000 Coach
2014-2016 MN Sting Coach & Board Advisory Resource
2004-2013 Farmington Coach & Board Member
Chris lives in Lakeville with his wife, Lisa. They have three adult children Meghan, Becca and Chad who graduated from Farmington High School.
Meghan Knipp
Meghan will begin her 8th season with the TC Blitz! She has served as an assistant coach at all levels and last two seasons as the 14U head coach! Meghan played softball growing up and quickly fell in love with coaching when she began that new adventure. She is an assistant director of a private preschool in Eagan. She lives in Elko New Market with her husband, Thomas and dog Tito and currently expecting their first child. “I love this program more than anything. I’ve learned so much more about the game through coaching the amazing girls in our club as well as from our coaches.” I owe a lot of my coaching philosophy to my dad, Chris Silber. He has taught me so much about coaching and how to best support the players."
Playing Experience: Meghan played club softball from 14U until 18U. She still says to this day that club softball was her favorite memory. She played three years of varsity softball for Farmington High School. After high school she decided to focus on school but missed the game too much. Once her parents started talking about the TC Blitz she jumped onto the idea to be back involved in the game. “Coaching for me has been one of the most rewarding things in my life. I love spending my weekends at the ball field.”
Meghan graduated from the College of Saint Scholastica with a degree in Elementary Education in May 2020.
Rachel Kawiecki, Assistant Coach
Rachel is starting her 3rd year coaching for the Blitz where she helped coach the 07's and the 2010's. Rachel is a former Blitz player and is a current Senior at Gustavus Adolphus University in St Peter majoring in Exercise Physiology and pursing her masters in Athletic Training.
14U Coaches
Ashley Wear
Bio & Photo coming soon! We are so excited for Ashley Wear to join our staff as the 14U Head Coach. Ashley is the Ninth grade coach for New Prague High School
Madi Lee, Assistant Coach
Madi Lee enters her second year coaching at TC Blitz, serving as 13u co head coach last season. Madi will be a senior at UW Lacrosse, where she is studying psychology and sociology and is a pitcher for the Eagles softball team. She played her 18u club years for the TC Blitz and decided she wanted to continue her involvement in club softball and coach! Madi attended Farmington High School, where she was a 3 year starter and earned South Suburban All Conference honors.
Abby Lake, Assistant Coach
13U Coaches
Brent Anderson
Brent enters his 6th season with the TC Blitz, spending the last 4 seasons as the head coach of our '06 group. Brent has coached at every age group over the past 11 years. He started coaching in the Rosemount Fastpitch organization at 10u and helped develop that program into a state powerhouse, highlighted by back to back 12u Tier 1 state championships in 2017/18. Brent lives in Rosemount with his wife Marilyn and daughter Bryn. His other daughter Maizie is a pitcher at Gustavus, and she will also help with the 13u squad.
"I am super excited to be named the coach of the TC Blitz 06 (16U) team. I couldn't be more proud to be involved with such a wonderful club organization. I cant wait to get started with the girls and push them to be better players, better teammates and better people."
Gerald Brekke, Assistant Coach
Gerry Brekke is in his 3rd season with the TC Blitz as an assistant coach. He has spent the past 5 years coaching fastpitch softball through various programs at different age levels. In addition Gerry has coached multiple youth and high school prep sports programs for wrestling since 2004 and even dappled in youth girls basketball. It safe to say he has passion to be a fun motivating coach the athletes enjoy learning from.
Gerry embraces the chance to cultivate small details of improvements and enjoys the victories when you achieve them.
Gerry lives in Belle Plaine with his wife Peggy and daughter Aysa
" I'm so lucky and honored to be apart of a wonderful club with exciting young players who love they game. Truly look forward to helping the young ladies develop their portion of the game with a team first mentality. ROLL BLITZ!"
Maizie Anderson, Assistant Coach
Maizie enters her first season as a coach with the TC Blitz. She will be a junior at Gustavus Adolphus, where she is majoring in marketing/ management / sports management. Maizie is a pitcher for the Gusties and has earned MIAC All conference honors in each of her first 2 seasons. She is a 2022 grad of Rosemount HS, where she was part of the 2021 4A State championship team, and earned South Suburban All Conference HM honors as a senior. Maizie played for the TC Blitz for 4 seasons. She will be a great asset to our pitching staff.
12U Coaches
Shane Martin
Shane will be entering his 3rd year with the TC Blitz, all as the head coach of our 12U team. He has also served as head coach for the Rosemount HS 9th grade team for the past two seasons. Shane has a passion for coaching and developing players at all age and skill levels. Last season, the 12U team were the Gold level Fall USSSA state champions and finished in the top four at several tournaments. He has also coached hockey for the past 15 years. Shane lives in Apple Valley with his wife Sarah, daughter Madison and son Cullen
Craig Dose, Assistant Coach
Craig enters his second season with the TC Blitz as the assistant for the 12's. Craig previously has spent time both coaching and on the board for the Lakeville Fastpitch Association.