Fastpitch Nation has assembled the best possible team of instructors that are highly experienced in Fastpitch softball and ready to work with your children to help them achieve their softball ambitions.
Molly Rathbun (Pitching) Will graduate Eastern Connecticut State University in December 2012 with a Bachelors in General Studies: Health and Physical Education concentration, and a minor in Psychology. Molly was a four-time Division III All-American at ECSU as a pitcher/designated hitter where she lead her team to two NCAA National Tournament's with 3rd and 5th place finishes in 2010 and 2011 respectively, three-time Little East Conference(LEC) regular season and tournament champions, and two-time New England Regional champions. She was the 2009 LEC Rookie-of-the-Year, and the LEC Pitcher-of-the-Year in 2010, 2011 & 2012, as well as LEC Player-of-the-Year in 2012. She was also a two-time New England Player-of-the-Year and a two-time ECAC Pitcher-of-the-Year. Molly holds every pitching record in program history at ECSU, except one, including appearances, innings, starts, wins, winning percentage, strikeouts, saves, complete games, shutouts and no-hitters. She also finished first all-time in homeruns, total bases, slugging percentage, RBI, and third in batting average and hits. In her four year career she threw nine no-hitters, including a perfect game, and collected 1,130 strikeouts.
Tom Eastman (Pitching), Coach E has over thirty-five years of Fastpitch softball experience as a player, coach, clinician and instructor. Coach E has played on 5 State Championship teams and two regional championship teams at the highest levels of Men's Fastpitch Softball. Over the past 18 years, Coach E has provided individual instruction, clinics, and camps to several local towns, and travel softball clubs. Several of his pitching students have gone on to pitch in college at all levels. Coach E was one of the founders of Fastpitch Nation before his semi-retirement in 2011.
Alexandra Fox (Pitching) is a 2008 graduate of Wellesley College where she earned a degree in Political Science and Philosophy. Allie was a pitcher for the Blue and garnered the Wellesley College athletic department’s award for outstanding service in 2008. After graduation she served as the Wellesley College pitching coach as well as the head varsity coach at Gann Academy in Waltham, Mass. Allie most recently was the assistant coach at Elms College where she earned her Masters degree in Exercise and Sports Studies at Smith College.
Destinee Meeker (Pitching) Destinee is a 2011 graduate of Elms College where she earned degrees in Elementary Education, English and a minor in Coaching. Destinee was a pitcher and designated hitter for the Blazers where she earned 3 First Team All-NECC honors, and 3 Academic All-Conference Awards, along with the Monsignor Froehlich Award. She was a captain both her junior and senior years, and ranks in the top 10 all-time in career homeruns. Throughout high school, she also earned 3 All-Conference honors, and helped lead her team to a conference championship. Destinee is now a second year assistant coach at Elms College.
Sarah Downs (Pitching, Hitting, Fielding) Sarah is a 2006 cum-laude graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University where she earned degrees in Sociology, Anthropology and Women’s Studies and Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Promotion from Ohio University. Sarah was a four year starter for Ohio Wesleyan splitting her time between pitching and first base. For the Bishops, Sarah was her conferences’ most intimidating power hitter and still holds the record for single season homeruns. In her senior year, Sarah was named to her All-Conference team, named the conference’s Most Valuable Player and was selected to the second team 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Softball Team.
Rich Wilkison, (Pitching) Rich Wilkison has been involved with fastpitch softball for 40 years. He is a member of the CT ASA Hall fo Fame, inducted in 1998. Both his father and sister as also in the Hall of Fame as fastpitch has been in his family for many years. Rich has coached men’s major and class A fastpitch teams, girls' high school softball teams and has provided individual private fastpitch pitching and hitting instruction. In addition to coaching, Rich has represented Connecticut in state, regional, and national tournaments. Rich is also a certified NCAA, USSSA, ASA and HFHS umpire.
Ma
rk Morawski (Hitting, Fielding) a former professional baseball player in the Baltimore Orioles organization and Men's Professional Fastpitch player with the Tampa Bay Smokers, brings an incredible amount of experience and knowledge to Fastpitch Nation. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1986 as a shortstop and was in line behind Cal Ripken to make the big club. A knee injury ended his pro baseball career. After rehab he went on to play for the Tampa Bay Smokers in 1995 and in 1996 won the World Championships. He was a Head Asst. Coach at Eckerd College and also coached at the Tampa Bay Rays summer baseball camps. He was the Head baseball coach for IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida and worked with current Major Leaguers such as: Jed Lowrie (Red Sox), Carlos Quentin (White Sox), Mark Teahan (White Sox), Aaron Hill (Blue Jays), Mike Fontenot (Giants), Conor Jackson (A's), Chris Carter (Mets) and Pat Burrell (Giants) among others.
Mikelyn Messina (Hitting, Fielding) Mikelyn attended Rutgers University for three years. While at RU, Mikelyn ranked 5th in single season homeruns, 6th in career homeruns, and 3rd in single season walks. Mikelyn also holds the homerun record at her high school, Woodland Regional. Throughout the duration of the four years, she earned All-League and All-State honors, as well as the titles: most valuable player, best offensive player, and league’s most valuable senior. Mikelyn now serves as an assistant head coach for Wolcott High School, where she has furthered her experience of coaching and working with individual hitters and fielders. Mikelyn participated in the 2012 Prague Softball Week as a member of the American International Team, where she helped lead her team to second place and earning the fastest throw award and tournament most valuable player.
Jenna Lipscomb (Hitting, Slap Hitting) Jenna is a 2011 graduate of Division III Elms College in Chicopee, MA where she earned First Team All American two years in a row in the NECC and First Team All Tournament her senior year. Upon graduating she became an assistant coach at Elms, specializing in slap hitting, hitting mechanics and defensive strategies and mechanics. At Elms her primary position was short-stop and hit from the right and left side. Prior to Elms College, she attended Division I George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, where she played the 2007 season and appeared in 29 games out of the season. She was used as the flex player and slap hit.
Samantha Cieri (Hitting, Fielding) Sam will graduate from Central Connecticut State University in May 2013 where she will have earned her Bachelor’s in Physical Education with a cross-endorsement in Health Science. Sam played for four years as a Blue Devil at Division I Level Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. Sam’s pinnacle achievement was receiving Academic All-American Honors following her Junior Season. Sam is currently in her second season coaching 18U travel softball. Sam has been giving private individual instruction for the past 3 seasons.
Jennifer Duell (Catching, Hitting), Jennifer graduated with honors from Siena College in 2012 where she earned a degree in Biology. For the Saints, Jen was a catcher/ utility player batting .355 in her senior season. A three time member of the MAAC All-Academic team, Jen is continuing her education at the University of New Haven where she is working on her master’s degree in Secondary Education.
Darrin Gould (Hitting, Fielding) is both a baseball and softball hitting coach. Coach D come to us from Southern California. He began his coaching career in 1996 as an assistant varsity coach at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, CA. Coach D was scouted by the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants as a middle infielder where he was offered a free-agent contract with the Giants. Soon after relocating to Connecticut, he assisted a very successful freshmen baseball program at Simsbury High School from 2004-2006 and 2008. In 2007 and 2009, he was the head junior varsity baseball coach at Litchfield High School.
Umpire-in-Chief
Mike Almeida is one of the top professional umpires in CT. His experience includes: 20+ years High School softball umpire.; 15 years NCAA softball umpire (Div I, II, and III).; Tournament umpire with national experience.; Former President of the CT High School Umpire's Association; CT USSSA Umpire-in-Chief; Fastpitch Nation Umpire-in-Chief; UIC for Northern CT Spring, Summer, and Fall softball leagues (all age groups).
We Raised Nearly $21,000 for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund at the 20 Angels in the Outfield Tournament, Dec.26-28 at FPN!
