LI Heat 18u Gold Showcase
Head Coach Rob Aplin
roba323@optonline.net
718-614-8054
Rob Aplin is a 24 year veteran of Fastpitch travel ball, high school and middle school softball. He has coached LI Heat teams to national competitions including top 10 finishes in the USSSA, Pony, NSA, ASA and Fastpitch Nationals. Many of these competitions winning bracket championships. In 2019 Coach Aplin took over Long Island Heat Fastpitch. That year his 18U Gold Showcase team finished their season with a 25-6-5 record and have gone on to play softball at the D1, D2 and D3 levels. Coach Aplin continues assisting his athletes into becoming collegiate athletes and since taking over the LI Heat in 2019, 34 of his athletes are playing college softball.
In 2017, Coach Aplin began as the Head Coach for Smithtown East HS varsity boys bowling team. In 2022 he led his bowling team to a League 3 title for the 5th consecutive year, a first place in the Suffolk County Championship, a second place in the NY State Championship and was named Newsday’s Coach of the Year! Coach Aplin is the Assistant Coach for Smithtown East HS varsity softball. In 2023 he and the coaching staff led their varsity softball team to become the Suffolk County AA Champions!
Coach Rob Aplin continues to train and prepare all his softball players and under his leadership his athletes are making college ball annually. Coach Aplin’s knowledge of the game, relationship with his players and integrity both on and off the field have earned him an honorable reputation in the softball world.
LI Heat 18u Gold Showcase
Assistant Coach Heather Ehman
Coach Heather has been coaching softball for five years at the High School and travel ball level. She has coached girls from ages 12 to 18 years of age. After playing four years at Sachem East, Coach Heather continued her softball journey at SUNY New Paltz. At SUNY New Paltz Coach Heather graduated with her Bachelors degree in Earth Science and Environmental Education. In addition, she also graduated earning an Umpire Association’s Award and Commissioner’s Academic Award. Coach Heather stresses grades and academics as a priority along with placing a great emphasis on commitment and sportsmanship with all the players she coaches. She has had a crucial role in assisting many athletes to continue their playing careers at the next level and is excited to continued this role here at LI Heat!
LI Heat 18u Gold Showcase
Assistant Coach Jillian Shelbourne
Coach Jill has been coaching softball for three seasons and this season will be her first year coaching with the LI Heat. She was an influential LI Heat player for Coach Rob Aplin from 2018-2020 and has continued playing with this organization in their summer college team. Coach Jill is a 2020 Patchogue-Medford High School graduate where she played varsity softball all four years in high school. Coach Jill is currently a junior at SUNY New Paltz where she is a starting first baseman for the Hawks. She was recently awarded first team ALL-SUNY AC Honors in 2022, her sophomore year. Coach Jill is excited to share her softball experience with the players she coaches and is thrilled to be back at her home with the LI Heat!
LI Heat 16u Brennan
Head Coach Tom Brennan
LI Heat 16u Brennan
Assistant Coach Matt Hesse
LI Heat 16u Brennan
Assistant Coach Matt Dettleff
LI Heat 14u Graham
Head Coach Rich Graham
Richg44@gmail.com
Coach Rich has been coaching youth sports for 10 years. Before coaching he played at Rocky Point High School as a 3 sport varsity athlete. After high school, Coach Rich played Division 1 baseball collegiality at Stony Brook University. He served as the team’s starting third baseman receiving All-Conference honors (American East). Rich’s core coaching philosophy is simple. “Forget rules and establish great habits. The difference is clear. We have to keep rules while great habits keep us.”
LI Heat 14u Graham
Assistant Coach Brett Dowling
Coach Brett began his coaching career seven years ago, coaching for both spring and fall leagues at North Shore Little League in Rocky Point. After years of success at the in-house level, he moved up the ranks to coach North Shore Little League’s World Series softball team and at the travel level. Coach Brett enjoys finding in-house talent and introducing these players to the next level of play. In 2022 Coach Brett joined the LI Heat and he is excited for the opportunity to coach for such a great organization and to work with such a talented coaching staff!
LI Heat 14u Graham
Assistant Coach Dave Clasen
LI Heat 14u Graham
Assistant Coach Haley Monahan
Coach Haley joined the LI Heat in 2020. She is a Wantagh 2017 high school graduate and played varsity softball for 4 years. During her four years in Wantagh, Haley received the Nassau County Player Award for softball each year. Also in high school, she had the opportunity to travel with the America’s Team Organization and play softball in Italy! During her youth, Haley played travel softball for eight years. She went onto college at Stevenson University playing softball for the Mustangs where she started all four years. In 2021, Haley graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Counseling and Human Services. This is Haley’s third year of coaching and we are delighted she is with the LI Heat!
LI Heat 14u Welsh
Head Coach Stefanie Welsh
Coach Stefanie Welsh is a 2014 Smithtown High School East graduate. At Smithtown, Stefanie was a five year Varsity starter, she led her team with a .616 batting average and along with setting other school records she was League MVP, 4 year All-County player, 3rd team All-State and 1st team All-region. After graduation, Stefanie was signed to play at D2 Georgian Court University. She played at Georgian Court her freshman and sophomore year starting 40 out of 46 games as their catcher and batted .325 with 26 RBI’s. After her sophomore year, Stefanie was recruited by D1 Wagner College. At Wagner College she was a starter playing her primary position at catcher and secondary position as an outfielder. In her Junior year, Stefanie and her team played in the 2017 Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Series where they finished as the league’s runner-up, marking Wagner’s most successful season since 2008! In 2018, Stefanie graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, moved on to get her Masters Degree in both Special Education and General Education and then her ABA. In her 26 years, Stefanie has played softball for 17 of them which has given her a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience. She is very excited to give back to the sport that has molded her and LI Heat is thrilled to have her with us!
LI Heat 14u Welsh
Assistant Coach Catherine Pederson
Coach Cat is a Smithtown HS East 2015 graduate. She played varsity softball for the Bulls and was their team captain. During her youth, Coach Cat played travel softball for nine years. She graduated from Stonybrook University in 2018 with an Economics/Business Management double major. Coach Cat has been with the LI Heat since 2015 coaching girls from ages 10u all the way to 18u. Just recently Coach Cat reunited with her former Bulls teammate, Stefanie Aplin, as her assistant coach. We are very excited to have Coach Cat with the LI Heat!
LI Heat 14u Welsh
Assistant Coach Kim Ehman
LI Heat Staff
Marcie Dilworth
Marcie Dilworth has been with the LI Heat since her daughter, Kacie joined in 2016. In 2022, she joined the staff and runs the website, the on-line store, social media platforms, advertisements, uniforms etc. She enjoys watching the girls play, supporting the coaching staff and assisting Heat parents. Marcie has been through the college recruiting process with Kacie, understands the importance travel organizations play and feels Coach Rob and the LI Heat fully train and support their players into becoming well rounded athletes ready to succeed at the next level.