From trouncing the competition to giving back to the community, Valley Fastpitch, a local 12U travel softball program, is helping young athletes find their way home.
Founder and Head Coach Jeri Kievlan saw the need for a feeder team to help girls 12 and under enhance their skills before trying out for high school teams, so she created the competitive youth fastpitch travel softball program in Santa Cruz County: the Santa Cruz Mountains Renegades.
By teaching these young players valuable life lessons, Kievlan’s Renegades are ready to represent the area with fast pitches, stolen bases and a whole lot of enthusiasm.
The program currently has nine players and Kievlan is seeking to add six new players for the fall program. The 2024 Renegades attended a training camp together last month and bonded over their shared love of the sport.
Now, those athletes are taking their learned skills of confidence, empathy, leadership and resilience back into the cages as they start training for the season and preparing to welcome some fresh faces to the team.
“Our program is the only 12U year-round fastpitch program within Santa Cruz County,” said Pam Spehar, a board member with the Renegades. “We provide an elite level of competition for the athlete looking to push themselves to the next level. Our teams learn skills that roll into life skills. Dedication, reliance, confidence, empathy and how to work in a group; on the field, we learn to focus on technique, rules, game strategy, mental game, sportsmanship, nutrition, and strength training.”
The program’s goal is to have resources available for athletes with coaches that have played the game ranging from D1 schools to community college. Valley Fastpitch has teachers on staff that know childhood development and enrich the program.
“Valley Fastpitch is a nonprofit organization. Not only are we affordable for families, we give back to our community,” Kievlan said. “We look to build the girls up at a young age to support our high school teams and to keep kids with great talent here in this county. It’s a hard battle and a lot of work, but I feel this is what our county needs. We really work on the whole athlete, giving them skills to be well-rounded individuals on and off the field. I don’t think there is any other program out there like ours.”
The organization’s mission is to empower female athletes to play at their highest potential while having fun, and with the eager smiles crisscrossing the faces of the players, Kievlan is well on her way to achieving that goal.
The SCM Renegades will be holding tryouts at the San Lorenzo Valley High School softball field (7105 Highway 9, Felton) on Sunday, July 21, starting at 10am with pitchers and catchers, and all-team tryouts at 11am. For questions or more information, email [email protected].
The team also accepts donations to help its players reach their potential. Visit valley-fastpitch.square.site/donations.
Valley Fastpitch’s dedication to empowering young athletes in Santa Cruz County through the Santa Cruz Mountains Renegades is commendable. Coach Jeri Kievlan’s program not only fosters competitive skills but also teaches valuable life lessons like leadership and resilience. By emphasizing community support and affordable access, they’re shaping well-rounded individuals both on and off the field.