Part of learning - is have a good teacher. All of ROOKIES' instructors have professional sports and/or teaching backgrounds. They are highly-skilled and trained instructors that have achieved great levels of success in athletics. Most importantly, they are passionate about baseball and learning. They will help you acquire the proper skills to follow your baseball dreams.

Rookies Professional Instructors - Full bio's below

President - Andrew Halpenny

Director of Operations - John Ali      

Gary Blouin
Gary brings to Winnipeg one of the greatest playing careers ever seen in Manitoba. Gary's knowledge of the game has come from many years of experiencing situations at the highest levels. The following are just some of Gary's accomplishments:


1979 - 13 year old Canadian Champions
1981 - 15 year old Canadian Champions - Senior League World Series
1984 - 18 year old Canadian Champions - Big League world Series
3 year letterman at University of Washington
1985 - Alaska League Champions. League All-Star, 2nd place NBC World Series
University of Washington pitching staff led NCAA in ERA
Selected to be on the All Century Team at University of Washington
1986 - drafted 13th round by the Kansas City Royals
Northwest League Player of the Year, 2nd place NWL.
1986 - Instructional League MVP pitcher
1987 - Most Valuable Pitcher Spring Training, Florida State League All-Star
1988 - Southern League All-Star
1990 - Retired and started coaching at the National Baseball Institute
1993 - Baseball Canada Coach of the Year.
1993- 2005 Coaching Team BC Selects and Canada Games Teams, has received 5 Gold medals, 6 Silver medals, and 3 bronze medals.

Glen Bott
Coming soon!

Darryl Bruce
Darryl was 1988 Manitoba Player of the Year, and in 1989, Darryl pitched for the Manitoba Youth Team throwing 2 complete game shutouts. He pitched the Bronze Medal game helping Manitoba defeat New Brunswick 1 - 0. Darryl capped off his playing days in Manitoba in 1992 in the Manitoba Junior League. Darryl was the league Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding pitcher and All-Star Right-Hander. Darryl had a 13 - 0 record with a 0.86 era and 93 strikeouts in 65 innings.

Darryl's college career was spent at Mayville State University from 1990 - 1993. Mayville won Conference and district Championships those years and Darryl was selected to the All-Conference and All-District Team in 1993. He had 8 wins and 1 loss with 4 saves and a 2.62 era. Darryl graduated from Mayville State University, and was recently appointed the Canadian Baseball recruiter for MSU, which takes him across Canada evaluating baseball talent.

Darryl played professionally in the Frontier League in 1993 with the Western Division Champions - Ohio Valley Redcoats. In 1994 played in the North Central League, where he started the season as a mid-reliever but moved to the closer position. He finished the season with a 4 - 2 record and recorded 9 saves. He posted a 2.83 era with 37 appearances. An injury ended his career in 1995 while pitching in his third professional season in the Prairie League.

Darryl was the pitching coach for Team Manitoba from 1997 - 2000. He coached Carillon AAA Bantam in 2001 and the team went on to win the Silver Medal at the Canadian National Bantam Championships. He was awarded the Manitoba Baseball Association's High performance Coach of the Year. Darryl is presently a recommending scout for the Cincinnati Reds.

Andrew Halpenny
Andrew began his baseball career in Selkirk, MB playing for long time coach/teacher Al Hares. During that span he competed in 6 Western Canadian and 2 National Championship tournaments. In 1989 participated for Team Manitoba that placed 3rd in the National Youth Select tournament. At the conclusion of the tournament, Andrew received an award as the All-Star catcher for the tournament, and was selected to represent Canada in the World Championships in Trois Rivers, Que. Upon returning home for the winter, Andrew was selected as the Manitoba Baseball Player of the year, the Interlake Athlete of the Year, and was a finalist for the Manitoba Athlete of the Year award. During the 1990 season, Andrew participated for Team Manitoba, and placed 3rd in the Youth Select Tournament, and again was selected to represent Canada at the World Championships in Havana, Cuba. At the conclusion of the tournament, Andrew received a scholarship to the National Baseball Institute in Vancouver, BC. The college baseball season annually concluded with the team playing against the then World Series Champions Toronto Blue Jays. Andrew participated in the Canada Summer games in Kamloops in 1933. Prior to the start of the 1994 season, Andrew signed his first professional contract with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, where he played for three years.

April 17, 1997 Rookies Baseball Experience was established

Andrew is currently the regional scout for the Major League Scouting Bureau.

Gord Leduchowski
Joining the College Development program will be the most accomplished baseball person ever to play/coach in Manitoba. Rookies is very pleased that someone with as much playing experience has agreed to help aspiring student/athletes obtain their goals.

Gord's playing career began in Manitoba where he played Junior baseball for the Fort Rouge Mallards, before accepting a scholarship to Mayville State University. Gord's Senior baseball career started at an early age and has seen him participate for 22 years for such teams as Teulon, Carmen, McCauley, Binscarth. During that time Gord has represented Manitoba from coast to coast in 11 National Championships. As a catcher and middle infielder Gord played for Team Canada in both 1977 and 1980 participating in World championship tournaments. After a very distinguished playing career Gord turned his focus to coaching young student/athletes. Gord started with the Western Canadian finalists Interlake Bantam team, and moved on to coach the Teulon Senior team for the next 5 years. Gord has coached the Manitoba Youth Selects, Summer Canada Games, and Western Summer Games for 9 years and was on the coaching staff for Team Canada in Cuba for the World Junior Championships, and for the gold medal winning Canadian Junior team that won the 1991 World Championship tournament in Brandon, Manitoba.

Gord has been a Master Course Conductor for the Manitoba Baseball Association for over 20 years.

Brian MacDonald
Coming Soon

Donnie Smith
Received a scholarship to Mayville State University from 1995-1997. Attended Valley City State in 1998. Donnie played for the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 1998 before suffering injury. Returning to action, Donnie again played with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 2000 as well as the Canadian National team that competed in Panama.