Our Program Staff
Director of Angels Softball - Mike Gappa
We are excited to announce our newest addition to the #angelsfamily - Mike Gappa, Manager of Milwaukee Angels Softball.
Coach Mike Gappa grew up in Greenfield, WI. He attended Whitnall High School where he played baseball and football. He led the baseball team to a conference title in 2000 and an appearance in the state semi-finals in 2001 as well as the first two football conference titles in the school's history in 1998 and 2000. After high school Coach Gappa played baseball for Lakeland University leading the team to three conference titles and a 5th place finish in the College World Series in 2002. Coach Gappa was a member of the New Berlin Lakers in Land O'Lakes from 2000-2011 where he was a 9-time All-League catcher, 2004 and 2010 Grand Championship runner up, and finished with a career .476 average along with 31 home runs. He was elected to the Land O Lakes Old Timers Association Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.
After graduating from Lakeland in 2005 Coach Gappa began his goals to coach and help create great experiences in youth sports. Coach Gappa has been coaching baseball/softball teams since 2006. He has been a head coach in youth football since 2018 and coaching boys/girls basketball since 2010. Coach Gappa has spent a lot of time in leadership positions the past 10 years including spending over 6 years running the Whitnall softball program, vice president of the Whitnall Booster Club, and president of Whitnall Youth Football/Cheer. Coach Gappa began coaching high school softball at Whitnall in 2019. In 2023, Mike Gappa became the Whitnall High School Head Varsity Softball Coach.
Coach Gappa has shared his passion for sports with his children and they have grown up on the ball field. His daughters are a senior and junior at Whitnall High School. His son is currently in 7th grade at Whitnall middle school. His oldest daughter recently signed her commitment to follow in her dad's steps and will be a catcher for the Lakeland University softball team starting in the fall of 2023.
Manager of angels Softball - Lara Stachowski​
Coach (Lara) Stachowski is in her second season coaching with the Milwaukee Angels, focusing on pitching, hitting, and fielding for softball. A Whitnall High School alumna and former All-Around Conference Pitcher, Lara is passionate about the sport, which she feels shaped her into the person she is today. She works professionally in the IT Support Desk and is motivated to coach, provide support, and create memorable experiences for young players. Her most memorable coaching moment so far was seeing a U10 pitcher hit 40MPH consistently for the first time. Lara’s favorite quote is, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” by Aristotle.
8U Angels Softball - Kristin Jacobson​
Coach (Kristine) Jacobson is a dedicated coach with over 10 years of experience, currently in her second year with the Milwaukee Angels and will lead our 8U team this season. A former varsity softball player at Sussex Hamilton High School, Kristine earned First Team All-Conference honors and has also coached gymnastics at Brown Deer and Waukesha West High Schools. As a teacher by profession, Kristine is passionate about helping athletes grow in confidence, fostering a love for the sport, and creating opportunities for success. One of her proudest coaching moments was winning the first tournament of the 2024 season. She lives by the quote, "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I cannot accept not trying," by Michael Jordan. ​
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10U Angels Softball - Christine Mach​
Coach (Christine) Mach is in her second year coaching with the Milwaukee Angels and has been coaching softball for the past 15 years. Her experience spans coaching at various levels, from U8 Little League to high school varsity, including community and competitive select organizations. Christine has been involved with Black River Falls Little League and High School, Sussex Hamilton Jr. Chargers (both baseball and softball), Milwaukee Angels, and Sussex Hamilton High School. She has held roles such as head coach, assistant coach, and Director of Player Development. Currently, Christine is the head coach of the U10 Milwaukee Angels and is part of the coaching staff at Sussex Hamilton High School. A graduate of Black River Falls Senior High, where she played basketball and softball and was an avid horseback rider, she transitioned to slowpitch softball after high school and played until 2020. Christine began coaching shortly after graduating, finding joy in teaching kids the game she is passionate about. Her senior year of high school, she was team captain, MVP, and First Team All-Conference. Christine coaches because she loves helping players grow and teaching life lessons through the game. Her best coaching moment was going to the State Tournament in 2024. Her favorite sports quote is, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" – Aristotle. ​
14U Angels Softball - Lara Stachowski​​​
14U Angels Softball - Emyli Kreiser
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Coach (Emyli) Kreiser is entering her 3rd year with the Milwaukee Angels and has been coaching for 5 years. For the 2024-2025 season, she will be leading our 16U Blue team. Emyli attended Whitnall High School, where she played multiple sports, including softball and rugby, and became a state champion in her senior year. She continued her softball career in college, playing for two years at Ripon College and two years at Lakeland University. Throughout her college career, she earned Academic All-Conference honors each year, ranking second on her team in batting average and tying for the lead in doubles and home runs as a freshman. Professionally, Emyli works in Investment Compliance and holds financial series certifications, including SIE, Series 7, and Series 24. Her passion for coaching comes from her desire to share her knowledge and experience with young athletes, helping them understand what it takes to become college athletes. Her coaching philosophy is centered around her motto, "team over me," which she instills in all her players.
14U Angels Softball - Justin Kehring​
Coach (Justin) Kehring is continuing his successful coaching journey with the Milwaukee Angels, bringing 8 years of coaching experience, including 3 years with the Angels. He has served as both Head Coach and Assistant Coach for the 14U and 12U teams, as well as coaching with the Pewaukee Predators and Waukesha Blazers at various levels. A Kettle Moraine High School alumnus, Justin was an accomplished baseball and soccer player. Now working as an Education Finance Director, Justin is passionate about coaching, driven by his commitment to developing players’ skills, teamwork, and leadership. He fosters a "team first" mentality, aiming to build strong camaraderie and success both on and off the field. One of his proudest moments as a coach comes from his philosophy that the goal of coaching is not just to build great athletes, but to nurture great individuals. His favorite sports quote, “The most lasting victories are those that shape players into better people,” encapsulates his approach to coaching.​
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16U Angels Softball - Chad Dornbach
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Coach (Chad) Dornbach is entering his 4th season coaching with the Milwaukee Angels, bringing 8 years of coaching experience to the field. Professionally, Chad works in insurance, specializing in Property Subrogation. His love for coaching stems from his belief that sports should be an enjoyable escape from routine life, and he enjoys sharing his passion for baseball and softball with the next generation. His goal is to instill a love for the game in the young athletes he coaches. One of Chad's proudest coaching moments came this past summer when his U13 baseball team played in the league championship game. With the game tied in the bottom of the 7th inning, two outs, and a runner on second, his son Colin stepped up to bat and delivered a walk-off hit to win the game—a perfect ending to an unforgettable moment.
His favorite sports quote, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm," by Bobby Knight, reflects his approach to coaching and life.
16U Angels Softball - Justin Kehring​
18U Angels Softball - Jim Becker
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Coach (Jim) Becker, a seasoned coach with 15 years of experience, including 3 years with the Milwaukee Angels, where he currently leads the 18U team. He has coached a wide range of levels, from T-Ball to JUCO softball, and has been involved with Muskego Storm Baseball and Softball, Milwaukee Angels, and MATC Stormers. A former high school athlete in football and baseball, Jim continued his baseball career at MATC, where he was named Wisconsin JUCO Pitcher of the Year in 1992. Now self-employed, he runs a Field Management company specializing in baseball and softball diamonds. Jim's passion for coaching stems from his love for the game and the dedication of the players. His proudest coaching achievements include winning the 14U Championship at Miller Park in 2019 and guiding his girls' team to a 2nd place finish at a national tournament in Nashville in 2023.
Trainers:
Sarah Bystra- Angels Alumni
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Sarah Bystra is a freshman currently playing college softball at Bryant & Stratton College. She graduated from Whitnall High School while focusing on pitching, fielding, and hitting. During her years at Whitnall, she was an all around conference pitcher who pitched her team to a state appearance in 2025. Sarah has received many conference awards including 1st team all conference, 1st team all district, honorable mention all state and 3x Conference Player of the year 2023-2025. During her senior year she was team captain and team MVP, showing great leadership skills. She has so much passion and love for the game that she wants to help young girls find their love for the game as well. Sarah is motivated to help girls grow in their confidence and skills. Her favorite memory is being part of her Angels travel team where she met some of her best friends and built great team chemistry. Sarah's favorite quote is "Push yourself because no one is going to do it for you."
Jayda Karls- Angels Alumni
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Jayda Karls just finished her three years playing with the Milwaukee Angels, and is now attending Bryant & Stratton College playing for the softball team. Jayda was also one of the first three girls from the Halo to sign to a college softball team. She attended high school at New Berlin Eisenhower and played for the softball team that went to state back to back years in a row, receiving multiple awards including 1st team all conference catcher, 1st team all division, and 2nd team all state. Jayda also was 4th in the state of Wisconsin for batting average at a 0.638 in 2025. At the halo, Jayda will be passing on her love and passion for the game offering hitting and catching lessons. Jayda's most memorable softball experience was playing with the Angels. She has never felt more connected and more of a sense of belonging on a team. She believes that the team chemistry she experience was unmatched to any other team she has been on. Jayda's favorite softball quote that has driven her throughout the years is: "If you don't like it... get better."
Jazmine Karls- Angels Alumni
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Jazmine Karls is currently a student athlete at Bryant & Stratton College where she plays softball. She graduated from New Berlin Eisenhower High School in 2025 where she was captain of the softball team and earned 1st team all-conference pitcher. Jazmine pitched for Eisenhower when they appeared in the State Softball Tournament in 2023 and 2024. She played for the Milwaukee Angels for the past 3 years and was one of the first three females from the Angels organization to commit to playing college softball. Playing for the Milwaukee Angels was one of the best things she could have done for her softball career, as the chemistry and love on her team was unlike any other and playing competition all summer helped her grow tremendously as a softball player. Throughout this past fall, she had the opportunity to pitch at high-level colleges such as Notre Dame, University of Minnesota, Winona State, Wisconsin Badgers and more. She learned some valuable lessons about preparation, determination, and precision. Jazmine has so much love and passion for softball that she wants to help young players learn and grow. Jazmine's favorite quote when it come's to softball is: "This pitch". this is a great reminder to brush off mistakes from the past and stay locked in on every single play in front of you.
