1800 Broadway Buffalo, NY 14212
(716) 322-7771
NO OUTSIDE SHOES ALLOWED
PLEASE BRING A CHANGE OF SHOES EVERY TIME YOU COME
*CANCELLATION POLICY*
If you cancel or reschedule your lesson less than 8 hours before it is scheduled, you are responsible for payment to the instructor
*PLEASE NOTE*
Credit cards payments can only be made for Kevin or Erin
Payment for all instructors is due at the end of the lesson
Our scheduling program only SHOWS AVAILABILITY up to
2 weeks in advance
Softball Lessons & Coaches Availability
Kevin Monday - Saturday
Erin Monday - Friday
Jen - Monday, Thursday & Friday
Jamie - Thursday
Mia V - Saturday & Sunday
Alex - Monday & Tuesday
Makena - Wednesday & Friday
Holly - Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Derek - Thursday , Saturday & Sunday
Gianna - Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday
Lily W - Tuesday
Lilly - Currently away at college
Genevieve - Currently away at college
Julianna - Currently away at college
Caitlin - Currently away at college
Check out the other instructors tab to see Jesse & Michelle
Scroll down to learn more about our coaches
Whether you're looking to improve for the house, travel, high school or upcoming college season, Softball Central is here to help. Making weaknesses become strengths and taking strengths to the next level, a hitting lesson can include bunting, slapping, power and the mental approach or be very specific.
There are only 2 players on the field who are involved with every play.
As a pitcher or catcher getting enough "good reps" is key. Don't wait until it's too late to get them in.
Kevin Hufford
Coach Kevin has been coaching softball for over 20 years. His coaching experiences include everything from T-ball to Division 3 college softball. He is currently the Head Coach at St. Mary's of Lancaster High School, the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022 Monsignor Martin Champions. He led the Lancers to their 1st State Semi Finalest game
His passion for the game has proven contagious at all levels.
Pitching Lessons
60 mins - $65
5 pack 60 mins - $300 Save $25
10 pack 60 mins - $575 Save $75
Click here to book a lesson with Coach Kevin
PACKAGES CAN ONLY BE USED WITH COACH THEY ARE BOUGHT FROM
ERIN HUFFORD
Erin Hufford has been playing softball since she was 4 years old. As a 7th grader she started on the JFK JV team and 8th grade Varsity. She then transferred to St Mary's of Lancaster where she was a 4 year Varsity starter. Erin played nationally for the Gold Coast Hurricanes and once she committed she played on the Diamond Girls Open team. She has been apart of many championship teams. Erin went on to play collegiately at Canisius College where in 2021 she graduated with her degree in Health and Wellness. Erin accepted the extra year of eligibility at Canisius and has received her Masters in Nutrition
· 2017 Monsignor Martin Player of the Year
· Holds the St Mary's school record for 4x100 & was Monsignor Martin 100m Champion 2016 & 2017
. St Mary's Female Athlete of the Year 2017
. Played Internationally in Italy against the Italian National Team
· Freshman Year - Batted .412 in the MAAC
· Sophomore Year - All MAAC 1st team, led the team with .368 average
· Junior Year - led team with .434 average before the shut down
. Senior Year - MAAC All preseason team, All MAAC 2nd team .359 average
Graduate Year - MAAC Player of the Year, All MAAC 1st team, MAAC All Tournament team, MAAC All-Academic Team, CoSIDA Academic All- District First Team pick, Canisius College Female Athlete of the Year for 2022, .392 average
* In 2022 Erin was name the Canisius College Nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year
Hitting / Slapping, Speed work or Fielding/Throwing Lesson
30 mins - $35
10 pack - $300 Save $50
20 pack - $550 Save $150
Pitching Lessons
60 mins - $60
5 pack 60 mins - $275 Save $25
10 pack 60 mins - $525 Save $75
20 pack 60 mins - $1000 Save $200
PACKAGES CAN ONLY BE USED WITH COACH THEY ARE BOUGHT FROM
MIKE RAPPL
Mike Rappl retired from coaching on July 28, 2014, after spending 35 seasons as Canisius College Golden Griffins’ head softball coach. In his time at the helm of the program, the seven-time MAAC Coach of the Year compiled an overall record of 831-526-2 to go with a 330-124 career mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. Under Rappl’s direction, the Griffs earned 13 MAAC regular season crowns, 12 MAAC Tournament championships and 11 trips to the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament, with the program's most recent national postseason appearance coming at the end of the 2009 season.
· The 1st active head coach in Canisius College history to be inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 2009
· 1 of 25 active Division I head coaches to reach the 800-career win milestone
· The 1st softball coach in the MAAC to reach the 800-career win plateau
· Empire State games Head Coach 11 times earning 3 Gold, 3 Silver & 1 Bronze medals
· International Coaching in Italy & Dominican Republic with a 23-9 record
Hitting Lessons
30 mins - $35
LARRY COLUCCI
Larry Colucci has been coaching softball for 18 years. He is a well respected coach throughout Western New York with the accomplishment of leading his past travel ball squads to a countless number of victories.
Not only did he groom a successful travel team, but he also taught the physical and mental aspects of the game well enough to be taken to the next level. Every one of his travel players went on to compete at all collegiate levels.
He obtains the knowledge to improve skill, especially in hitting fundamentals.
Hitting Lessons
30 mins - $35
JEN HARE
Jen has been involved in the WNY softball community as both a player & coach for several years. Jen played 4 years of D1 softball at Niagara University, where she earned the role of starting catcher & 1st baseman since her freshman year, & lead the team as Captain her senior year. In 2011, Jen played all 40 games as a junior posting a career-high .310 batting average while hitting both a career-high 6 home runs & 23 RBIs.
After Graduating NU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management in 2012, Jen continued her involvement in softball through coaching. From 2013-2015 she returned to Niagara as a GA for the D1 Softball Program, where she led hitting instruction. Jen graduated with her Masters in Business in 2015. While assisting with the D1 program, Jen also took the role as Head Coach for the newly founded Club Softball Program at NU from 2013-2017, leading the team to a 34-24 overall record, and in 2017, for the first time, they were crowned the NCSA New England West Division Champs, and earned 3rd place overall in the New England Regionals! Jen has extensive experience coaching various age & skill levels, from middle school, to high school, all the way up to the college level.
Jen is currently the assistant softball coach at Mount St. Mary’s High
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Fun fact about Jen: her 1st College at-bat was a HOMERUN!
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All-MAAC Academic & Athletic honors
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ALL-MAAC 2nd Team & Player of the Week
Hitting, Catching or
Fielding Lessons
30 mins - $35
JAMIE WARD
Jamie Ward has been playing softball since she has been 5 years old. As a sophomore, she was a starter on the Iroquois Varsity Softball team. Jamie played for many organizations, but played for the Team Mizuno showcase team her 4 years leading up to college ball. In 2015, Jamie went on to play collegiate ball at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA where she was a 4 year starter until 2019. She then graduated with two bachelors degrees in Sport Business Management and Marketing. Jamie then went on to get her MBA in Sport Revenue Generation at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She obtains knowledge in catching and hitting.
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Senior Year had 17 hits including two homeruns and three doubles. Scored six runs and had a team high 11 RBI. Picked up 71 putouts and three assists.
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Jr Year appeared in and started all 47 games…batted .274 with 32 hits, four doubles, two triples, 11 runs, seven RBI…recorded 128 putouts and had 14 assists in the field…posted a .940 fielding percentage.
Hitting Lessons
30 mins - $35
Catching Lessons
30 mins - $35
MIA VANNELLI
Mia has been playing softball since she was 7. She attends Depew High School where she has been a starter on the Varsity softball team since the 7th grade. Mia was also captain of the team during her freshman and sophomore year and she also holds multiple school records. During the 2022 season she helped lead her team to the NYS Class B final 4. She has played with different local organizations before competing nationally with The Original TC Tremors out of Binghamton, NY. Mia is also an all WNY basketball player who scored her 1,000th career point as a sophomore.
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2022 All WNY Player of the Year
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2022, 2021 All WNY 1st Team
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2022 All Bee Player of the Year
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2022 Lancaster/Depew Female Athlete of the year
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2022, 2021 ECIC 3 Player of the Year
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2022 Class B 4th team All NYS
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2022 Hold her school record for most 3B & most HR
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Hitting or Catching Lessons
30 mins - $20
MAKENA ADAMS
Makena has been playing softball since the age of 5. She has been a pitcher and third basemen since she started playing softball. As a 7thgrader, she was the starting varsity pitcher for the Frewsburg Softball team up until her senior year, when COVID hit. She was a multi-sport athlete while competing in tennis. Makena has played for many organizations, but she ended up with Amherst Lightning before heading to Buffalo State to play collegiate softball. Makena played at Buffalo State University for 2 years, and is majoring in Social Work. Her freshman season she had a .196 ERA and a Win-Loss record of 8-3. Her sophomore season was cut short due to a shoulder injury. She currently is finishing her degree and is a volunteer coach with a travel organization, Lightning 12U and 14U. She also has volunteered to help young softball players at camps in her hometown. She enjoys working with the youth, and she is passionate about helping and guiding them towards their dreams.
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2nd team WNY 2015
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1st team WNY 2016
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1st team WNY 2017
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1st team WNY 2018
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Pitcher & Player of the Year 2019
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1st team WNY 2019
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SUNYAC 2nd team 2021
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Pitching Lessons
60 mins - $50
Hitting Lessons
30 mins - $30
Coach Makena has gone home for the holidays and will return January 20th
COURTNEY SMITH
Courtney has been playing softball since the age of 5. Born and raised in Amherst, NY she attended and graduated from Sweet Home High School. After high school Courtney continued her career at Mercyhurst University as a first basemen and catcher. She was a four-year starter with a career high batting average of .411 and a fielding percentage of .991 during her tenure. Following college, she immediately stepped into a coaching role. Courtney was an assistant coach at Erie Community College from 2014 to 2017 working mainly with hitters, catchers, and infielders. During that time, she was also coaching travel teams for the Avalanche organization ranging from the 12u to 18u age groups. In 2017 she switched to assistant coach at Buffalo State College where she remained until 2022. Courtney now works as a teacher but is excited to continue coaching in her spare time.
2013 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference
2013 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference
2021 Sandra Hollander Coaching Staff of the Year Award
Hitting or Fielding Lessons
30 mins - $35
ALEX PACKARD
Alex has been playing softball since she was 4 years old. She attends St. Mary’s High School and has been a starter on the varsity team since her freshman year. In Alex's sophomore year she led the team to the state finals. She has played locally her whole life until switching to competing nationally with the TC Tremors out of Binghamton NY.
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1st Team all-Catholic 2021
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3rd Team all-State 2021
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2nd Team all-Catholic 2022
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1st Team all-State 2022
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Championship MVP 2022
Pitching Lessons
30 mins - $20
60 mins - $35
HOLLY JOHNSON
Holly threw her first perfect game at age 13. During her 25 years playing softball, Holly pitched over 50 no-hitters and 5 perfect games. During her tenure at Rutgers she threw a no-hitter against Stony Brook and led them to their first post-season appearance in 12 years. In only 2 years at Rutgers, Holly made her way onto several career top 10 lists including ERA (#2 during their D1 era), strikeouts, and saves. While playing for UB, she led the Bulls to a shut-out victory against then ranked #15 Baylor.
Holly is not locked into a specific pitching style. She has learned much from a number of prominent pitching coaches and observing successful pitchers, and she has constantly worked to improve herself. Holly has coached all ages and all skill levels during her 16 years of coaching from t-ball to Division 1 athletes, as well as internationally. Her coaching spans from center field to the batter's box and everything in between.
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National record holder for no-hitters during NCAA Nationals
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Holds NYS & Indiana high school records for strikeouts in a game and in a season
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NFCA All-American scholar athlete during college, graduated with 3 degrees, and tutored D1 athletes for 7 years.
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Holly played professionally in the Netherlands for HCAW, where she led them to a Dutch National Championship while coaching the other teams within the organization.
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Holly has won the Aunt Rosie's tournament 10 times as a player.
Pitching Lessons
60 mins - $60
DEREK SHELTON
Derek is a former baseball player who has made the transition to coaching softball. He has been an assistant coach since his daughter played t-ball. Derek has been a coach on two travel softball teams and has led his teams to multiple league championship games, as well as tournament championship games. Coaching has always been a passion of his. Derek’s goal is to learn everything that he can about softball, but his main goal is to make sure that he can provide the best knowledge possible and help provide the best competitive edge to compete on a physical and mental level in the sport that he loves. Derek’s daughter Kamara has been learning and pitching with Coach Kalie since 2019 and Derek has been there every step of the way learning from Kalie.
Pitching Lessons
30 mins - $30
60 mins - $55
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GIANNA ZARCONE
Gianna has been playing competitive softball in the WNY area since she was 5 years old. Starting off with the Diamond Girls then joining the Inferno showcase team and winning a PONY National Title. She was a Varsity starter from 7th grade on and led Hutch Tech to the Thompson Trophy/Buffalo public championship each year. Gianna then went on to play two seasons at Erie Community College, finishing the first season with a batting average of .438 and the second with .532. In her last years of pitching, she ended up averaging an ERA of 2.63. After ECC, she then received a scholarship to play at the University of Buffalo and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and minor in education. With Covid ending her softball career a year early, she then began teaching kindergarten and coaching the Varsity softball team at Hutch Tech high school.
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First Team BPS 2013 - 2016
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Second Team NJCAA 2017
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First Team NJCAA 2018
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NJCAA All-American
Hitting or Fielding Lessons
30 mins - $30
Pitching Lessons
30 mins $30
60 mins $60
LILY WOZNIAK
Lily started playing softball when she was 8 years old. In high school, Lily was a member of the 2015 State Championship team at Orchard Park High School. As a sophomore, Lily earned the starting role at second base, where she played the rest of her varsity career and led the team as a captain her last two seasons.
Throughout her travel experience, Lily played for several teams, finishing her travel career playing at a high level for the New York Diamond Girls. Lily went on to play Division I softball at Canisius College prior to COVID. In 2022, Lily graduated from Canisius with her B.S. in Biology and is currently attending University at Buffalo in pursuit of a M.S. in International Development and Global Health. In her spare time, Lily serves as head coach for a 10u travel team under the Amherst Lightning organization as a way to give back to the sport that has granted her many opportunities.
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ECIC 1st Team 2018
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2nd Team all-State 2018
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All WNY 2018
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Team MVP 2018
Hitting / Slapping Lessons
30 mins - $30
LILLY HAMELS
Lilly Hamels has been playing softball since she was 11 and has been catching for the past 4 years. She currently attends Frontier High School and catches on the varsity softball team. Lilly has also played with different local teams and is currently on the USSSA Pride 18u team. She also assists coaching younger 8u and 9u teams and will go on to play collegiate softball at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford while studying exercise science
Catching Lessons
30 mins - $20
GENEVIEVE MUCITELLI
Genevieve has been playing softball since she was five years old. She is a senior at City Honors and has been a varsity starter since 8TH grade. She played on the North Buffalo Wildcats for eight years, as well as USSSA Pride during the last two. This season she continues to play for USSSA Pride 18u. Through the years she has had experience playing nearly every position, learning and developing her skills at each one, making her a malleable and diverse player. Genevieve is a multi-sport athlete, participating in varsity Field Hockey as well, winning 1st Team All Niagara in her junior and senior years. She has been umpiring youth games for ages 5-12 in baseball and softball for 4 years, has had experience assistant coaching for 10u and 12u travel softball, and has provided individual hitting and fielding lessons to young players from a local league. She plans to carry out softball in college, while studying to receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and eventually work in the pediatric field.
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2nd Team All Buffalo Public Schools 2021
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All WNY Honorable Mention 2022
Fielding & Hitting Lessons
30 mins - $20
JULIANNA VERNI
Julianna Verni is a four year varsity starter from Nardin Academy. She has been playing softball since she was 5. She played with multiple local organizations before competing nationally with New Jersey Intensity and now Top Gun Fastpitch out of Kansas City, MO. In her free time, Julianna loves studying anatomy in addition to the game of softball. Julianna participates in leadership activities, is a member of the National Honor Society, and is a multi-sport athlete. As a junior in 2021, she threw 89 strikeouts in 44 innings and limited batters to a .135 batting average. She will continue her academic and athletic career in the Big 10 at Purdue University where she will study Health and Kinesiology.
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2021 MMHSAA Pitcher of the Year
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Co-Captain Nardin Varsity Softball
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1st Team All-Catholic
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All WNY 1st Team
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All NY State
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2021 MMHSAA strikeout, ERA, and shutout leader
Pitching Lessons
30 mins $25
60 mins - $45
CAITLIN BISH
Caitlin is currently a junior infielder and neuroscience major at Princeton University. Prior to college, she played softball at St. Mary’s Elementary in Lancaster and went on to be a four-year starter and three-year captain on the varsity team at St. Mary’s High School. In her senior year at St. Mary’s, she batted .468 with 37 hits and 24 RBIs in 22 games played. Caitlin played travel ball with the Amherst Lightning and New York Diamond Girls and was also selected to play for the Northeast Region in the 2015 USSSA All-American Games in Orlando. She is interested in mentoring young girls to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves both athletically and academically.
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First Team All-Catholic 2018 and 2019
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First Team All-NYS Class C 2018 and 2019All WNY
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First Team All-WNY Small Schools 2019
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St. Mary’s Female Athlete of the Year
Hitting & Fielding Lessons
30 mins - $25
Coach Catie has gone back to College but will return during breaks
ELIZABETH LIS
Elizabeth was a 4 year starter at Orchard Park High School, leading the team in innings pitched for all four years. Liz is currently pitching for D1 St Bonaventure University and she is entering her senior year working towards a triple certification in education. Orchard Park made it to the Section 6 AA Sectional Championship game in 3 of her 4 seasons. In her freshman year, when she led the team in wins and ERA, Orchard Park made it to the New York State AA Championship Game.
In college at St. Bonaventure, Liz led the team with an ERA of 2.15 during her sophomore season, and she won the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week award early in her junior season. She was the first St. Bonaventure pitcher to win this award in over 10 years.
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Section VI Champions, NYSPHSAA Regional Champions & NYS Class AA State Runners-Up - 2016
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ECIC Division 1 Pitcher of the Year Award – 2018
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WNY Athletics - All WNY 3rd Team – 2018
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Section VI Champions - 2019
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ECIC 1 Second Team – 2019
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All Bee WNY Pitcher of the Year Runner Up – 2019
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Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll – 2020, 2021, 2022
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Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week Award – Feb 22, 2022
Pitching Lessons
30 mins - $25
60 mins $45
Coaches currently full and not accepting new clients
INSTRUCTORS ARE NOT EMPLOYEED BY SOFTBALL CENTRAL
UNUSED PACKAGES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE OR TRANSFERABLE
INSTRUCTORS CANNOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS
KALIE MCHENRY
As a D’Youville graduate, Kalie was one of the most decorated pitchers to come out of the AMCC. She is the only 3-time AMCC Pitcher of the Year (2014-16) in conference history.
McHenry finished her career as the best pitcher to wear red and white as she holds every major pitching record in Spartan program history. She holds the record for wins (65), innings pitched (691), strikeouts (622), games started (98), complete games (95), shutouts (17) and appearances (107). McHenry earned D’Youville College Female Athlete of the Year honors twice (2014, 2016) and most Valuable Player honors three times (2014-16). Over her 4-year career, McHenry had an ERA of 1.62.
Kalie finished her 4th season as a collegiate softball coach. Kalie spent 2 seasons at D’Youville College and has 2 years of experience as an Assistant Coach at Medaille College. In her two years at Medaille, McHenry led her pitcher to an All-American Honorable Mention, a pre-season All American selection, AMCC Player of the year, All Tournament Team selection, and as a First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Conference selection.
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AMCC First Team All-Conference (2013-16)
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AMCC Scholar Athlete (2013-16),
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AMCC Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year (2014-16)
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AMCC All-Tournament Team (2015-16
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AMCC record for season wins with 23 (2016)
KAYLA WILLIAMS
Kayla has been playing softball since she was 4 years old and pitching since she was 12. She was a 4 year varsity starter at John F. Kennedy High School where she had many accomplishments. Here she would average a .422 batting average and an ERA of 3.27. She also was a player on the 2012 Softball Factory National Team where she played in the World Series in Kissimmee, Florida training with Lee Ann Jarvis and a variety of other D1 softball coaches.
She would continue her softball career at the nationally ranked Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY. In 2014 she attended the NJCAA National Championship and would serve as a major contributor to their successful and earned her spot as the number one starter the following year.
Kayla has an Associate Degree in Science and Physical Education and has received her Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Health in December of 2017 from Canisius College.
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Named ECIC Class C First Team her junior and senior year
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ECIC Class C Second Team her freshmen and sophomore year
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2013 inductee on JFK Softball Wall of Fame
Coaches no longer doing lessons but still a apart of our SC family
MOLLY HENNESSY
Molly comes from a family of coaches and players and has always had a passion for softball. Molly played elite level travel softball from ages 9 to 18 for the New Era Diamond Girls. Her High School career started at Immaculata Academy then transferred to Class-AA Orchard Park where she led her team in the circle and at the plate to win Orchard Park’s first Girls Varsity State Championship, hitting .425 that season. In the circle she had a 2.54 ERA in 121 innings pitched, going 15-4 with 123K’s and three 1-hitters. She received both a softball and academic scholarship to play at Division I St. Bonaventure University where she played for 2 years until transferring to play at Canisius College where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Sports and Exercise Health Care, graduating with a 3.4 GPA.
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2nd Team All-Catholic honors as a freshman and sophomore
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Class C 5th Team All-State honors
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Class AA 7th Team All-State honors as a Junior
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1st Team –All-ECIC Div. I and Class AA 2nd Team All-State honors
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MAAC Softball all-academic honors her junior and senior year
STEPHANIE BIELEC
A Niagara Falls High School and Binghamton University graduate, Stephanie Bielec started every game at 2nd base for the Bearcats once she arrived Freshmen year while helping her team make school history by winning the America East Tournament and making their first ever Division 1 Regional appearance. Her conference batting average was .345 Freshmen year, .417 Sophomore year and .412 Junior year, which ranked second in the conference. Ranked second on the team for runs scored and had 12 multiple-hit games. Both her Sophomore and Junior year the Bearcats remained back to back Regular season Champions. Unfortunately Steph’s Senior year was cut short due to injury. Bielec received a bachelor degree in English Creative Writing and Rhetoric and a minor in Health and Wellness Studies and completed her Masters of Education at Canisius College where she was the assistant coach for the softball team.
· America East All-Rookie Team
· America East All-First Team both Sophomore and Junior year seasons
· Selected as a member of the A.D Honor Roll with a 3.7 GPA
LINDSAY GARBACZ AHMED
Lindsay Garbacz-Ahmed has been giving pitching lessons for 18 years. She graduated from Lancaster High School where she had an over-all record of 52-6 with 566 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.15.
Lindsay received a scholarship to Canisius College to play softball for the Griffs. While at there, she helped her team win 4 MAAC Championships, along with a tough 3-2 victory vs Long Island in the 2008 NCAA Regional Games. During her junior year, opposing teams hit just .186 against her. She had an 0.33 earned run average in seven starts against MAAC opponents en route to being.
Lindsay is currently a Physical Education Teacher at Depew Schools where she is the Girls Volleyball and JV Softball Coach.
She has a deep love for the game of softball, and wants to spread that love and experience with young talent.
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2001-2003 named 1st team all ECIC, 1st team all WNY, Pitcher of the year and a member of the all New York State team
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2003 player of the year, all ECIC, Buffalo News pitcher of the year and 1ST team all state
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Record holder at Lancaster for fewest runs allowed, fewest walks, fewest doubles, triples and homeruns, complete game shut-outs, as well as strike-outs
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Named MAAC Pitcher of the week multiple times
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Named 1st team all MAAC
JESSICA BERZINS
Jessica Berzins began her playing career at the age of 4, on a boys Little League tee-ball team. Shortly after, she transitioned to softball where she instantly fell in love with the game. Jessica Berzins brings a wealth of knowledge to the Softball Central family, and will be offering lessons in pitching, fielding and hitting/slapping.
A California native, Berzins attended Canisius College where she had a career average of .367. Jessica started every game in center field and was a lead off hitter for the Griffins for all three years. In her sophomore season, Berzins hit .444 which ranked 20th in the nation and lead the MAAC in outfield assists. Jess ended her career early to focus on her work at Canisius’ Institute for Autism Research and to further her education. Jessica received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from D’Youville College.
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3 time All-MAAC player
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NFCA All-Regional honors
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ECAC Division 1 All-Star Second Team
MARK BLERSCH
Mark has been involved in softball in one capacity or another for over 20 years. He has coached, developed and mentored softball athletes at a high level since 2005. Mark recently retired from the hitting coach position at Canisius College.
Mark is an assistant coach at Lancaster High School JV and coached at all levels of travel softball. He specializes in hitting skills and development and produced many successful collegiate athletes.
He has also served on the Board of Administrators with the Lancaster/Depew Softball Program as Facilities Coordinator, Scheduling Coordinator, and Umpire Coordinator.
Mark provides instruction for all levels of defensive skills infield/outfield and proper throwing mechanics. However, he specializes teaching all aspects of hitting including the physical mechanics as well as the mental approach.
KIM MAZZAPICA
Kim played D1 softball at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana from 2008-2012. As a pitcher for Ball State, Kim helped the Cardinals post a 40-15 overall record in her senior season. During her time as the Volunteer Assistant at BSU she helped mentor a freshman pitcher to the program’s 1st MAC Freshman of the Year award, as well as recognition on the All-MAC 2nd Team and MAC All-Freshman.
Following her time at BSU, she went to Mercer University in Macon, GA (D1 ASUN then SoCon Conferences) as a Graduate Assistant and then was promoted to full time pitching coach. During her time at Mercer, she helped develop their sophomore pitcher into the 2015 SoCon Pitcher of the Year, who also broke Mercer's single-season wins record and pitched the 1st no-hitter in both program and SoCon Tournament history.
Kim has been giving lessons around the country for the past 12 years and most recently coached a 14U team in Orlando Florida and was the President of a travel organization.
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2009, 2010 & 2012 MAC regular season Champions
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2010 MAC Tournament Champs
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2012 undefeated in MAC season play
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2011 & 2012 All MAC Academic Team
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Has collegiate experience in assisting in the organization and administrations of camps and clinics, recruiting and securing the commitments of players, assisted with the outfield and played an integral role in scouting opponents and game preparation as well as pitch calling and film breakdown
RYLEIGH FITZGERALD
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Ryleigh captained the Lewiston Porter Lancers for two seasons as a middle infielder and earned six varsity softball letters. Ryleigh batted .492 as a junior and .509 as a senior with a .529 on-base percentage and .794 slugging… She was named her high school’s athlete of the year, Niagara Frontier League First Team, All Western New York First Team and All New York State Fifth team. Ryleigh played travel softball with the Amherst Lightning, led the team with a career .523 batting average and also set the pace in stolen bases, hits, doubles, and triples.
After successfully being recruited as junior in high school, Ryleigh was a starting middle infielder for the University at Buffalo Bulls leading the charge to win their first, in school history MAC East Championship. Ryleigh’s best showing was during the MAC East Championship game against Kent State where she drove in a total of 5 runs for the Bulls. Ryleigh was an assistant coach for her former high school, Lewiston Porter as well as later joining the Niagara University Purple Eagles as a volunteer assistant during the 2015-16 season.
“The mental part of the game is one of the most important and controllable factors! A positive attitude is everything! On top of improving sound fundamentals and softball knowledge, I am driven by instilling the love of the game into developing players as well as creating solid, respectful character, and a well rounded coachable individual! So Excited to Work and Have FUN!”
CAITLIN ATTFIELD
Caitlin attended Niagara Wheatfield High school where she played 5 years of varsity softball. She was tabbed NFL and WNY player of the year 3 years while also helping her team reach its first ever state semi finals her junior year. She broke the NYS stolen base record with 128 career stolen bases. She hit .753 her senior year with 64 hits and 40 stolen bases and a career batting avg of .569. Caitlin was recruited by the University of Alabama Birmingham where she went and started at shortstop for 4 years. During her freshman year, she helped lead her team to its first ever Super Regional appearance against the Florida Gators after topping UCLA in extra innings. She became UAB’s all-time career leader in batting average (.402), at-bats (762), runs scored (157), hits (306), total bases (378), and assist (463), while ranking in the top 10 in on-base percentage (.458), games played (226), games started (225), doubles (34), triples (7), walks (65), and stolen bases (54). She ranked sixth in the nation with a .473 batting average and was selected by league coaches as 2015 Conference USA Player of the Year, the first athlete in program history to receive the honor. Caitlin also ranked 18th in the country as the toughest player to strike out with just six strikeouts in 194 at-bats, stringing together 54 consecutive at-bats without striking out. During her senior year, she became the first Blazer in Program History to be Professionally drafted, selected ninth overall by the Dallas Charge in 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Draft. She started the first 14 games for the Charge before getting a season ending injury. In 2017, Caitlin helped out Coaching as a student assistant at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is currently the GA at Canisius College in Buffalo.
EMILY MAZIARZ
Emily attended Cleveland Hill High School and played on the Varsity Softball team since she was in 7th grade. Emily’s main position was catcher, but Emily made appearances at 3rd base and in the outfield as well.
Emily attended Edinboro University in Pennsylvania as a student-athlete. Emily completed all 4 years on the team but her time was cut short due to an elbow injury that wouldn’t allow her to catch anymore. Before her injury Emily had appeared in 13 games.
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4 time All ECIC and ECIC First Team selection
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2 time Small School All Western New York selection
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All Western New York Honorable Mention
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Career high school stats - 65 games, 227 at bats with a .423 batting average, 75 runs, 96 hits, 76 RBI’s, 13 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs and 7 passed balls total in 4 years.
EMILY NICOSIA
Emily played varsity softball at Williamsville North high school for four years and won 1 section VI title in her senior season for the Spartans. Emily is entering her 5th year of softball at Division 1 program Canisius College. At Canisius she has pitched 318 innings in her four years for the Griffs. In her most recent season, Emily posted 8 career high wins, had an ERA of 2.53, and had 70 strikeouts on the season. She threw 3 complete game shutouts her senior season, one of which was a 12 strikeout, two-hitter performance against Monmouth. Emily also struck out 7 batters against Marist in an elimination game of the MAAC Championship while pitching a two-hitter complete game shutout to advance the Griffs to the MAAC Championship finals.
Emily studied Health and Wellness with a minor in Strength and Conditioning at Canisius College. She is hoping to pursue her dream of being a Physician Assistant and work in orthopedics.
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ECIC Division I 2nd team - 2015
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ECIC Division I 1st team - 2016
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Section VI Champions - 2017
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MAAC All-Academic Team (2019, 2020, 2021)
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MAAC All-Championship team - 2021
TROY LIVESAY
Troy has been coaching travel softball for the last 9 years. He has been a coach with the Cayuga Gamblers Travel Organization for that time period. He has a passion for the game and enjoys sharing his love of the game with all the girls that he coaches.
Troy currently does Team Hitting sessions at Softball Central and is now looking to start providing individual hitting lessons.
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Troy has served on the Board of Directors at Cayuga Youth Athletic Association as a Tournament Director, Vice President for 4 years and is currently the Travel Director for the Cayuga Gamblers.
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His current travel team has 7 girls committed to play at the college level next year.