LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ten programs were honored by their peers as 2024 ATEC/NFCA Travel Ball Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Representing each of the NFCA’s 10 travel ball regions, these respective coaching staffs – Saugerties Sonics 16u (Region I), Heartbreakers Gold National 18u (Region II), Carolina Elite - Hahn (Region III), Mojo-Lewis (Region IV), ProX Phoenix 2010 Sampia (Region V), Texas Glory 16u (Region VI), Top Gun National 18u (Region VII), Nebraska Quakes National 18u (Region VIII), Mojo Pikas (Region IX) and Charge Fastpitch (Region X).
These 10 programs are now in the running for ATEC/NFCA Travel Ball National Coaching Staff of the year, which will be revealed on Oct. 1.
To be eligible, the program’s head coach must be a member and nominated. Winners were voted on by member head coaches in each of their respective regions.
Regional Winners
Region I – Saugerties Sonics 16u (NY)
Head Coach: Zack Farber
Assistant Coach: Sarah Dangelewicz
Formed as a new team in 2024 made up of players from the Saugerties school district (750 students in high school) with some experiencing competitive travel ball at the regional level for the first time … Posted a 41-8-1 record against a mix of 16u A and B teams … Won three tournaments, including Fastpitch Nation Fall’s Last Blast, along with two runners-up and a semifinal appearance … Coach Farmer and Coach Dangelewicz created a team-first mentality and exhibited thoughtful care and commitment to the girls.
Region II – Heartbreakers Gold National 18u (MD)
Head Coaches: Wayne Persinger & Earl Edwards
In the first year under Alliance Fastpitch, the Heartbreakers registered a 67-14-1 record with No. 1 ranking in the Atlantic region and a top-20 ranking nationally … Went undefeated at eight tournaments, picking first-place showings at the Alliance Super Cup and Alliance National Qualifier, Ray Seymour Invitational, Memorial Day Madness and USA Fever Qualifier … Eight commitments (three DI pitchers).
Region III – Carolina Elite – Hahn (NC)
Head Coach: Colleen Hahn
Assistant Coach: Tammy McEntire
Posted a 15-5 mark … “Not only does Carolina Elite perform well, it puts the girls first. When they played my team, they beat us 15-0. They could have just walked off the field and called it a day, but they took the time to call all my girls in and encourage them, give them advice, and motivate them to keep going. It was a class act and my coaching staff as well as the players truly appreciate their sportsmanship.” – Johnny Harwood (Palmetto Storm)
Region IV – Mojo-Lewis (GA)
Head Coaches: Brittany Lewis
Assistant Coaches: Barb Sherwood, Ty Lewis
2024 16u PGF Premier national champions as a first-year team …. Posted a 40-7 summer record against a national schedule and an overall mark of 62-11 (Fall & Summer) … Won titles at 2023 10K Show Me the Money and 18U Mojo Invitational … Competed in championship of 16U Power Pool at Triple Crown Sports (TCS) Sparkler.
Region V - ProX Phoenix 2010 Sampia (IN)
Head Coach: Joshua Sampia
Assistant Coaches: Nick Browne, Tom Brown
The coaching staff challenged their team to play the best competition and ultimately put together a high winning percentage, while competing against all the top teams in the Midwest … Showed tremendous growth and development, defeating teams that previously had beaten them throughout the year.
Region VI – Texas Glory 16u
Head Coach: Kevin Shelton
Assistant Coach: RJ Howerton, Shayne Williams, Ryan Nicholson
2024 Triple Crown Sports (TCS) 16u national champions and Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) Tier 1 co-national champions … Won the 2023 TFL Fall Championship, 2023 USSSA American Freedom Fall Invite and 2024 Texas Glory Summer Shootout (Co) … Posted a 75-10-1 2023-24 record .. Collected a pair of second-place finishes and also one third ... Qualified for AFCS at the 2023 TFL Fall Championship.
Region VII – Top Gun National 18u (MO)
Head Coach: Bob Turner
Assistant Coaches: Brent Wilhelm, Shannon Troutman
44-13 summer record competing in elite tournaments against top national competition … First-place showing in the Colorado Sparkler National Power Pool and USA Softball Memorial Day Invitational … Top-10 finishes at PGF Premier Nationals, TCS National Championship and Patriot Games … Second and fifth-place outings at PGF Show Me the Money and Top Gun Invitational … Combined 62-20-1 mark for the 2023-24 season.
Region VIII – Nebraska Quakes National 18u
Head Coach: Paul Jonas
Assistant Coaches: Taylor Jonas, Emilee Jonas
Captured the USA Softball Gold 18u national championship with a perfect 8-0 mark … The father/daughter coaching team guided the Quakes to a 51-15-2 overall record … Also topped the field at the Top Gun Spring Invite … Earned a third-place finish at the USA St. Louis HuSTLe City Qualifier … Added two fifth-place (tie) showings at Colorado Sparkler (6-1-1) and Tulsa Elite Summer Invite (7-1) … Outside of coaching, Paul Jonas is valuable to the entire organization making sure the indoor practice facility operates smoothly for all 25 teams.
Region IX - Mojo Pikas (CA)
Head Coach: Charlie Pikas
Assistant Coaches: Dave Cardoza, Tyson Escobar
Overall record of 28-12 with a 20-5 showing in July .. Alliance Open national champions (9-0) with triumphs over Polar Crush, Clearwater Bullets and Fury National (twice) … Third-place finish at the Triple Crown Supplemental Power Poll (7-2), earning key wins over Conklin Raiders, Texas Glory Gold and Fusion National Unruh … Eighth-place outing in the championship bracket at TCS Nationals (4-3), highlighted by wins over Athletics Mercado AZ MO, Lady Magic Boykin and Northwest Vandals Scott … Third straight year all nine seniors moved on to play collegiately.
Region X – High Desert Renegades (OR)
Head Coach: Rick Morton
Assistant Coaches: Jared Beverage, Michelle Lauerman
Program created three years ago to provide the local athletes an opportunity to grow and take their athleticism as far as they can take it without having to travel three hours to practice and play … The three years of hard work of building the team, parents and community came to fruition in 2024, going 42-12 and competing in TCS events and other tournaments in California, Washington, Utah and Nevada … Showed big improvements offensively, defensively and in the pitching circle, including increasing their home run total from 12 to 41 … The staff has truly made a difference in our community and with our athletes that span outside of softball.
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