_edited.png)
Trainers and Coaches
Raymond Manning - Founder, Owner & Head Coach
Ray Manning is the founder of the NJ Cyclones Softball Program and owner of End Game Athletics, bringing nearly 25 years of coaching and athlete training experience across softball, baseball, and personal performance development in New Jersey. In addition to leading the Cyclones organization, he serves as head coach of the club’s premier 18U Showcase team and is the current head coach at Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta—one of the state’s top softball programs. Ray has coached athletes at every level, from 8U through college, and is known for his versatility in teaching high-level throwing, fielding, and hitting, while emphasizing the game's deeper nuances. An “old school” coach at heart, he instills accountability, teamwork, and pride in representing something bigger than oneself—valuing the name on the front of the jersey as much as the one on the back. Ray is equally committed to academic success, helping athletes find the right school fit and using sport as a pathway to long-term opportunity. His mission is simple: support every athlete’s success on the field, in the classroom, and in life.
Jamie Stefani
Jamie Stefani is a former All-American pitcher and first baseman who turned her standout college career into an equally impressive coaching journey. As head coach at her alma mater, Delaware Valley, she earned the 2024 MAC Freedom Coach of the Year after helping her team jump from 8 wins to 18 and significantly improving conference performance. Jamie has led teams through playoff runs, mentored award-winning student-athletes, and built a culture of belief and hard work. A Mount Olive High School and Budd Lake, NJ native, she still holds multiple career records at DelVal and brings that same standard of excellence to every athlete she trains.
Alli Winters
Alli Winters is an assistant coach at Caldwell University and a former Division II standout known for her impact both in the circle and at the plate. Over her four-year college career, she earned First-Team All-Region, First-Team All-Conference, Academic All-District, and NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors. As a pitcher and hitter, she posted strong numbers in ERA, strikeouts, batting average, and extra-base hits, proving she understands the game from multiple angles. Alli now channels that experience into helping athletes grow as complete players, on the field and in the classroom.
Jon Heitmann
With more than 30 years of softball coaching and 20 years of football coaching experience, Jon Heitmann brings deep knowledge and steady leadership to End Game Athletics. He began his softball career at Fair Lawn High School, where he became head coach, led teams to county and state tournament success, earned North Jersey Coach of the Year in 2004, and joined the BCWCA Century Club with over 120 wins. Jon later guided Rockaway Rampage teams to multiple titles, including a 2011 Babe Ruth Mid Atlantic Regional Championship, and supported Morris Knolls softball through off-season training. Now retired from education and coaching the NJ Cyclones 14U Gold team, Jon is passionate about developing athletes who succeed at high school, travel, and collegiate levels.
Lindsey Walters
Lindsey Walter joins the staff after an exceptional Division I career at Binghamton University, where she became one of the most decorated players in program history. A Mount Olive alum and lefty slapper, she was a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection and the first Bearcat ever to receive the America East Elite 18 Award, recognizing excellence in both academics and athletics. Lindsey finished with a .350 career batting average, over 100 runs scored, and significant all-region and all-star honors, including NFCA First-Team All-Region. With a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, she models what it means to be a true student-athlete and brings that mindset to every player she mentors.
Steve Hartmann
Steve Hartmann is a lifelong sports enthusiast whose passion for baseball and athletics led him naturally into coaching and athlete development. After competing in multiple sports throughout high school, he stepped away from competition before returning to the game through coaching when his daughters began playing. Over the past 15 years, Steve has progressed from town travel programs to the club level, including seven years with the NJ Sparks, where he helped develop athletes both on and off the field. He is now in his second season with the NJ Cyclones, focusing on player development, strong fundamentals, and building a positive team culture. Steve’s coaching philosophy centers on sharing deep knowledge of the game while using sports as a platform to teach accountability, confidence, resilience, and life lessons that extend far beyond softball.
Justin Jacobus - Coach
Justin Jacobus brings more than 25 years of softball coaching experience, along with unmatched energy and commitment to both the game and his players. A former collegiate athlete and lifelong student of sports, Justin has spent his coaching career working alongside some of the most respected coaches in the game, continuously refining his approach and deepening his knowledge. A longtime resident of Jefferson, NJ, and owner of Tiger Painting, he understands what leadership looks like both on and off the field. Justin takes great pride in the many athletes he has mentored through their high school and college careers, and he remains deeply committed to helping players grow, compete, and succeed at every level.
Sean Perry - Baseball Instructor
Sean Perry – Baseball Instructor
Sean Perry brings high-level playing experience and a strong commitment to athlete development to every session. With five years of collegiate baseball experience, including one year at Garrett College and four years at Keystone College, Sean developed a well-rounded understanding of the game as both a pitcher and position player. That versatility allows him to confidently train athletes in pitching, hitting, and fielding with precision and attention to detail.
Over the past three years, Sean has coached players across a range of ages and skill levels, helping them build strong fundamentals while developing the mental side of their game. His coaching philosophy centers on creating a positive, disciplined, growth-oriented environment where athletes feel both supported and challenged. Sean is passionate about building confidence, fostering strong relationships, and keeping the love of baseball alive in every athlete he works with. His goal is simple: help players grow not just as athletes, but as individuals.
NJ Cyclones 12U Head Coach - Ashley Romano
Coach Ashley (“Coach Ash”) leads the NJ Cyclones 12U team with the insight of a former collegiate player who has competed and excelled at every level she’s played. She began at Sussex County Community College, earning Academic All-American honors in 2021 and 2022, before moving on to Centenary University. There, she earned Second Team All-Conference recognition in 2023 and helped her team capture a Conference Championship in 2024. Ashley is passionate about fundamentals, teamwork, and confidence-building, and she works hard to ensure every young athlete feels supported and challenged in the right ways.
NJ Cyclones 12U Assistant Coach - Olivia Catalfamo
Coach Olivia (“Coach Liv”) brings a lifelong love of softball and years of competitive experience to her role as 12U assistant coach. She played four years of varsity softball, earning NJAC First Team honors twice and Second Team once, and competed in club/travel softball from age 10 through 18. In 2016, she was selected to play for Team USA in Italy, an experience that helped shape her understanding of high-level competition. Now on the coaching side, Liv is focused on helping young athletes discover that same passion, discipline, and drive that defined her own playing career.
NJ Cyclones 14U Gold Head Coach - Jason Villar
Head Coach Jason (“Coach Jay”) Villar has spent more than 15 years coaching girls’ softball and other youth sports across northern New Jersey. After moving to Sparta from Brooklyn with his family, he quickly became a trusted presence in local programs, helping hundreds of players grow on and off the field. Coach Jay has a strong track record of guiding athletes to become All-Conference and All-State performers and supporting those who go on to play in college. Known for his hitting and fielding expertise and his detail-focused approach, he now leads the NJ Cyclones 14U Gold team and continues to develop highly competitive, dedicated softball players.