Instructors

coming soon

SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL LESSONS BY TAKE PRIDE TRAINING

Hitting, Fielding, Catching, Pitching, and Throwing instruction is open to all Storm players as well as any community player that are looking to further develop their softball and baseball skills.

SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL INSTRUCTORS:

Deb Sleeman, Softball Hitting Instructor

Coach Deb was a two time All-American catcher at Hope College and a member of the USA/ASA National Softball team before a career ending knee injury forced her into retirement at the age of 23. After concluding her softball career, Coach Sleeman went on to be the Assistant Softball Coach at Hope College for 8 years, a High School Varsity Softball Coach for 5 years and she also started Lakeshore Storm Softball and Baseball in 2007. Coach Sleeman has spent a significant amount of time studying and mastering the fastpitch softball swing and has worked with Don Slaught (Former MLB player/coach); Mike Candrea (Former USA Olympic softball head coach), Karen Baird (Former Eastern Michigan Head Softball Coach) and many other people in the sport of Softball to become a highly respectable hitting instructor.

Matt Sleeman, Baseball & Softball Batting Instructor & Softball Pitching Instructor

Coach Matt was a stand out High School Baseball player. Coach Matt has always been a student of the game for both baseball and softball and in 2002 joined the Hope College Softball coaching staff as their pitching coach. Coach Matt coached several MIAA All-Conference pitchers, All-Region pitchers, one All-MIAA Player of the Year, and one All-American pitcher. After leaving Hope College, he went on to be the pitching coach for a Class A High School for 5 years before deciding to put all of his energy into instructing and coaching travel softball teams.

Jason Benson, Baseball Pitching, Batting & Defensive lessons

Jason was an all state HS baseball player and 4 year varsity player at West Ottawa HS. He then attended Grand Valley State University for baseball and graduated with a BA in History and Movement Science. He has played 12+ years of Professional baseball Internationally and as an independent player since 2002. Jason was a 1st round, 3rd overall draft choice in the IBL (Israel Baseball League) in 2007 as a pitcher. He has been coaching and instructing baseball for 15 years in MI, Australia, Quebec, and he is also the owner and operator of Kinetic Baseball Training since 2010.

Courtney Vliem, Softball Hitting Instructor

Courtney is a 2019 graduate from Western Michigan University and was a catcher for the Broncos. In High School, Courtney was a standout catcher at both West Ottawa and Zeeland West H.S. She was a four time All-Area Softball player; three time All-Conference, two time All-District, and an All-Region and All-State player her senior year. Courtney was also the offensive MVP for Zeeland after breaking a 20+ year homerun record with 7 homeruns in the spring of 2013 at Zeeland East High School and crushing the record in 2015 with 15 home runs at Zeeland West High School. Courtney played travel softball since the age of 10 and played a total of 12 years for Michigan Storm either catching, playing 2nd, 1st, or at 3rd base. She has been a trainer for Michigan Storm since 2014 and works primarily with softball hitters in the older age group (high school & collegiate). Courtney has been a head coach for MI Storm since 2019. Courtney is not taking on anymore students at this time as her and her husband are expecting their first baby in the fall of 2025.

Carly Sleeman, Softball Catching, Infield Defense and Hitting Coach

Carly is a sophomore at Central Michigan University and plays softball for the Chippewa’s. She was a three-time, Division 1 First team All-State player for Zeeland West HS and in 2023, she was voted the D1 Miss Softball Position Player for the State of Michigan. In three HS seasons (lost a season due to Covid), Carly hit 29 home runs, 21 triples, 67 doubles and 164 RBI’s. At CMU, she was their starting catcher her freshman year and started all 50 games and was named to the All-MAC Freshman team. During her freshman campaign, Carly hit .276 and led her team with 163 at bats, 19 doubles, 30 RBI’s, and 76 total bases. Carly has also played travel softball for Michigan Storm since she was 8 years old and has traveled throughout the midwest and the south to compete at the highest level possible. As a softball trainer, she has been training student athletes since 2020 and loves helping athletes strive to reach their goals.

Taylor Siersma, Softball Slappers Hitting Coach Only

Taylor started playing travel softball with the Storm Organization when she was 8 years old. She was a four-year varsity starter at Zeeland West High School. Her senior year, she was the overall MVP for Zeeland West. After high school, she attended Alpena Community College and graduated with her Associates in Accounting. Taylor transferred her junior year to St. Andrews University, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in finance. At both schools, she was the starting catcher and second baseman. She started training with Michigan Storm in 2020 and works primarily with left-handed slappers.

Elexia Fuentes, Softball Hitting/Fielding/Catching Coach

Elexia is currently a graduate assistant for the softball program at Cornerstone University and the Head Coach of a 14u team at Michigan Storm Softball. Elexia played 4 years of high school ball at Zeeland West, 3 years of collegiate softball at Northwood University as a catcher, as well as 6 years of travel softball. Elexia graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration majoring in Sports Management in May 2024. She has been giving lessons since 2021 and specializes in hitting, fielding, and catching.

Meri Klenk, Pitching Instructor

Meri started playing travel softball at the age of 9, primarily pitching and playing outfield. She was a four year varsity softball pitcher at Hamilton High School, where she was all-conference her Senior year. After high school, she went on to play one year at Saginaw Valley State University where she was a utility player. After college, Meri was hired at the MS softball coach and Fennville HS and she is now the Head Varsity softball coach at Saugatuck HS. Meri hopes to pass along the love of pitching and softball to her athletes and share her passion for the sport. Meri has been a pitching coach since 2022.

Lexi Struble, Softball Catching and Hitting Instructor

Lexi Struble is a freshman at Tiffin University in Ohio. She has been playing softball since she was 5 years old and hopes to share her love for softball and help instill passion and drive in developing players. She was a four-year varsity player who received OK-White All-Conference Honorable Mention her junior year. Her primary positions are 2B/3B/C. Lexi plays travel softball for Michigan Storm on Courtney Vliem’s regional/national 18u team.

Camden Schuessler, Baseball Hitting/Pitching/Fielding Coach

Camden graduated from Zeeland West in 2021 and graduated from Grand Valley University in the spring of 2025. Camden played Shortstop for Zeeland West all four years and was a part of the team winning districts and making a run for regionals in 2021. He played travel ball for the Zeeland Hawx for 6 years where he played shortstop, pitched, and was an outstanding leader on the field. Camden has stepped into a coaching role with the Hawx’s since graduating and has been giving lessons since 2021. Camden specializes in hitting, pitching, and fielding.

Haylie Alsip, Softball Hitting, Defense, Catching instructor

Haylie Alsip, is a 2025 Graduate of Grand Haven HS and has committed to play softball at Alma College. Haylie’s main positions are Outfield and shortstop but has spent a lot of time catching as well. Haylie is a left handed slapper, but also hits right handed. In high school Haylie received all-conference, all-district and all-region awards as a junior. Haylie has been a trainer since 2024.

Bri Kamer, Softball Catching and Batting Instructor

Bri Kamer is a sophomore at Zeeland West High School, and has been playing softball since she was seven years old. Her primary positions are Catching, First base and Third base. Bri plays travel softball for Michigan Storm on Courtney Vliem’s regional 18u team. Bri hopes to help players to love catching and the game of softball, and to help young athletes grow to reach their goals. Bri has been a trainer since 2024.

Danielle Ekin – Softball catching Instructor

Danielle started with Storm as a training in April of 2025. She was a catcher for the majority of her softball career and is now a physical therapist. She is very excited to share her experience and knowledge with other catchers to help them reach their full potential. Catching is both physically and mentally demanding and she believes it is key to establish good foundational skills to allow players to both perform their best and reduce injury risk.