Illusions Gold

Our Staff & Coaches

Executive Staff

Jonathan Lampl

Executive Director
Founder/College Recruiting

For over 25 years, Jonathan Lampl’s dedication to the development of softball in Houston, TX has been unmatched. Jonathan was instrumental in the development of the Impact Gold organization as well as the Sudden Impact Organization.

In 1992, Jonathan founded the Ronald McDonald Tournament with the intention of creating a charitable softball tournament in Houston. It has grown to be one of the largest charity softball tournaments in the country, donating over $400,000 to the Houston Area Ronald McDonald House. 2017 marks the 25th year for the Ronald McDonald Tournament and their service to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

For 15 years, Jonathan served as a Junior Olympic ASA deputy. During this time he assisted Stoney Burke in bringing the Olympic team to Houston, TX three times for exhibition games. Jonathan helped hand pick players to compete against the USA team while also coaching an exhibition team in College Station. He helped expand Houston talent beyond the US, taking Impact Gold teams to both Italy and China to compete internationally.

He has served on the Spring Klein executive board for 15 years including Vice President of athletics, Vice President of Administration and Treasurer. He has three daughters and three grandchildren.

Jonathan has assisted over 175 players obtain scholarships to various levels of college, he is a true advocate for his student athletes during their college search. Jonathan strives to provide a positive environment for his players while they pursue their dreams of playing the highest levels of fastpitch softball.

Eddie Sessum

Executive Director
Founder/Training

Coach Eddie has over 20 years of select coaching experience with programs such as Impact Gold and Texas Magic Gold. Eddie has helped well over 100 players obtain Division I scholarships and pursue their degrees at the next level. Coach Eddie believes in his teams being fundamentally sound, both defensively and offensively, and mentors his athletes to be mentally fit. He has a true LOVE for the game and for each of his players.

Rob Plocheck

Executive Director
Founder/Treasurer

A local of Pasadena, TX, Rob Plocheck played baseball at Southwest Texas (Texas State) before coming back to the Deer Park area to start a family. With three daughters and a son, it was inevitable that he would be coaching softball. Rob has coached for 18 years from recreation and up through 18U Gold. Along the way players under his direction have gone to play D1, D2 and JuCo programs. Since then, they have returned to instruct the game themselves. Accomplishments include over 15 top 10 national finishes and player accolades.

Rob will bring both physical and mental preparation for the game on the field along with the preparing young ladies to be strong contributors to the community in whatever avenue they choose. His ability to teach and prepare players in demonstrated in their collegiate success as All-Conference, All-Region and All-American players. Summer 2017 finishes include 4th place at ASA 16U GOLD Nationals, top 10 finish for Triple Crown Sports USA Nationals ESPN, and 5th place at TCS Colorado Fireworks 16U Elite bracket.

Alyssa Tjaden

Executive Director
Founder/Uniforms

Originally from Austin, TX, Alyssa Tjaden began her coaching career in 2002 with the Texas Stix Softball Organization. In 2005, Alyssa was named the Head Coach of the first Texas Stix Gold team. From 2005-2011, Alyssa directed the Texas Stix Gold 18U program assisting over 70 Stix commitments to the college level. In 2013, Alyssa moved to Houston, TX where she began the Texas Stix HTX program in the fall of 2014. From the fall of 2014 to the summer of 2017, the Texas Stix HTX teams (Texas Stix HTX 05, Texas Stix HTX 06 and Texas Stix HTX 14U) developed under the direction of Alyssa.

Alyssa coached college seasons at Iowa State University (2008) as well as Concordia University -Austin (2009-2010). She assisted in the University of Massachusetts Softball Summer Camp (2005), Iowa State University Skills Camps (2004-2008) and University of Louisiana- Lafayette Skills Camps (2010-2017).

A two-time NCAA Academic All-American and a pitcher for the Iowa State softball team, Alyssa (Ransom) pitched for Iowa State University during the 2004-2007 seasons. Alyssa finished her career with the Cyclones a statistical leader in almost every pitching category and defeated every Big 12 opponent during her career, the first and only Cyclone to do so.

Full Bio can be found on Cyclones.com – Alyssa Tjaden

Chris Hankins

Regional Director - Dallas

Joey Aleman

Regional Director - Central Texas

Tamera Plocheck

Uniforms & Merchandise

Chris Hankins

Technology & Website Support

Paula Lampl

Uniforms & Merchandise

Brian Waraksa

Webmaster - Raxa Design

Team Coaches

Houston
18U
Deer Park

Rob Plocheck

Head Coach
(713) 501-3406

Jacob Hickman

Assistant Coach

Chad Sandel

Assistant Coach

Caitlin Hickman

Assistant Coach
18U
Missouri City

Eddie Sessum

Head Coach

Kassie Trojan

Fielding Coach
18U
Spring, Texas

Mark Reyes

Head Coach

Sabrina Reyes

Assistant Coach

Lindsey Cassel

Assistant Coach
18U
Spring

Jason Clevenger

Head Coach
281-889-7768
16U
Spring, TX

Steve Cambric

Staff
281-468-9295

Eddie Sessum

Head Coach

Theresa Plaxco

Head Coach
2817984877

Allen Wright

Assistant Coach
16U
Sugar Land

Cal Henningson

Assistant Coach

Jack Petree

Assistant Coach
16U
Conroe

Donnie Lyle

Pitching Coach

Saul Castañeda

Head Coach
2819105432

Hailey Castañeda

Batting Coach

David House

Assistant Coach
2819105432

Jason Brown

Assistant Coach
16U
Beaumont

Matthew Rodenberg

Head Coach

Don Hopson

Assistant Coach
14U
Richmond

Kristen Cavallo

Staff
14U
League City

Kellianne Barron

Head Coach

Gary Schrock

Assistant Coach

Brandon Barron

Assistant Coach

Jose Juarez

Assistant Coach

Alysa Torres

Assistant Coach
14U
New Caney

David Needham

Head Coach
832-401-4114

Kim Castle

Assistant Coach
281-740-8462
12U
Houston

Gibo Tristan

Head Coach
832-472-3294

J.R. Charles

Assistant Coach
281-932-6152
Central Texas
18U
Austin

Mike Turnipseed

Head Coach
512-563-9117

Terry Pruiett

Assistant Coach

Hector Gallegos

Assistant Coach
18U
Liberty Hill

Kellie Trinidad

Head Coach
512-422-0465
18U
Austin, Texas

Kyle Sanford

Head Coach
5129666509

George Strable

Assistant Coach
16U
Austin

Rod Garcia

Head Coach
512-228-8232

Matthew Garcia

Fielding Coach
512-986-0481

Megan Hooper

Fielding Coach

Andrew Garcia

Fielding Coach

Troy Garcia

Assistant Coach
512-986-0482
10U
Liberty Hill
10U
Liberty Hill, Texas

Kellie Trinidad

Head Coach
512-422-0465
10U
Austin

Chuck Miske

Head Coach
North Texas
18U
Argyle

Clark McNulty

Head Coach

Frank Pollacia

Assistant Coach
972-567-0445
18U
Argyle

Chris Hankins

Head Coach

Jason Green

Assistant Coach

Brittany Chalk

Assistant Coach

Alyssa Batson

Assistant Coach
16U
Denton

Ken Otis

Head Coach
405-625-6847
12U
North Richland Hills

Jimmy Martinez

Head Coach

Joel Pena

Assistant Coach

Markee Groves

Assistant Coach

Michael Blackman

Assistant Coach
12U
North Richland Hills

Amel Davila

Head Coach
10U
North Richland HIlls

Jimmy Martinez

Head Coach

Karyn Pruitt

Assistant Coach

Jason Chancellor

Assistant Coach
10U
Frisco

Melissa French

Head Coach

Jordan Gaut

Assistant Coach

Jay Miller

Assistant Coach
East Texas
18U
Southeast Texas

Clint Smith

Head Coach
409-350-8701

Samantha Harrington

Head Coach
409-622-9834

Michael Sanders

Assistant Coach

Kenny Mendoza

Assistant Coach
18U
Nacogdoches

Kyle Creech

Head Coach
3182188788

Tyler Cox

Assistant Coach
318-505-4630