Softball Instructors

On Deck offers the highest quality
private softball lessons for hitting, pitching, and fielding. Instructors set their own pricing and availability.*

Kevin Castillo

AREAS OF EXPERTISE — LIVE HITTING LESSONS & FIELDING LESSONS

Kevin is currently a D1 Assistant Coach for Cal State Long Beach. Kevin is also a current member of the Men’s U.S. National Fastpitch Softball Team with 15 years of fastpitch experience. And in baseball, a four year varsity starter at Long Beach Poly HS before playing at LBCC and Bacone College in Muskogee, OK.

• 2005 Jr. Men’s National Team

• 2008 to present Team USA Member

• 2015 ISF U.S. National Team

• 2015 Pan American U.S. National Team

• 2015 ISC All World Selection

Hannah Duarte

AREA OF EXPERTISE — PITCHING LESSONS

USA ATHLETICS ALUMNI & UC SAN DIEGO, CLASS OF 2016

Looking for young, eager pitchers who want to expand their knowledge of pitching mechanics, the mental game, as well as learning/improving individual pitch techniques! I bring a wealth of experience to the table, with 7 years of private pitching instruction and 4 years of travel ball coaching experience, focusing on ages 14-18u.

High School Achievements

• ​A 2012 graduate from Wilson High School in Long Beach

• CIF Female Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior.

• Named All-Moore League First Team as a sophomore (2010) and senior (2012)

• Moore League Champions (2012)

College Achievements

• UCSD Athlete of the Week in 2015

• 264.1 career innings pitched for UCSD.

• 2016 CCAA Conference Tournament Champion

• NCAA Regional appearance – 3 years

Natalie Alvarez

AREA OF EXPERTISE - HITTING LESSONS AND CATCHING LESSONS

Former D1 Student Athlete at Ohio University.

The goal I set for my clients is to deepen their knowledge and respect of their game and to educate them in the process of becoming student athletes at a higher level. I aim to optimize my students performance both on and off the field by focusing on the basic fundamentals of hitting, building strength both as a hitter and catcher, the mental aspect of the game and the intricate process of getting recruited and pursuing an education.

High School Achievements:

• A 2015 graduate from Millikan High School in Long Beach

• Earned MVP 2011-2012

• 2nd Team All- Conference 2013-2014

• 1st Team All League 2014-2015

College Achievements:

• Recorded a .441 slugging percentage and a .993 fielding percentage with 277 putouts and 20 assists in the 2018-19 season

• 2018 MAC Tournament Champions

• NCAA Regional Appearance in 2018

• Named MAC East Player of The Week in 2017

Kerry Dienelt

AREA OF EXPERTISE - CATCHNG, HITTING, AND FIELDING LESSONS

2X OLYMPIAN (2 BRONZE MEDALS)
3X NCAA CHAMPION
3X HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
(ISF, AUST & NT)

Kerry’s softball career began at 6 years old, in a small city in Australia called Darwin, aka the “Outback”. Kerry began playing tee-ball with the local softball club named South Darwin and started on representative teams at the age of 9. She represented her city and state teams and at 15 years old represented Australia in the U/19 World Series held in North Dakota. Kerry also represented Australia in the U/19 World Series in 1987 held in Oklahoma.

In September, 1987, Kerry departed Darwin, Australia to pursue a softball scholarship at U.C.L.A. At U.C.L.A, she was a member of the 1988, 1989 and 1990 (“3-peat”) college World Series Championship teams. In 1990, she was invited to the White House and met the President, George Bush. Kerry was selected as a 4-time All-College World Series Team, 3 times at 1st base and her senior year at catcher. Kerry was the Graduate Assistant Coach in 1992, and the team also won the National Championship. Kerry graduated from U.C.L.A. in June, 1992, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Kerry competed on ASA circuit in 1989 with the California Diamonds and then after her collegiate career, with the California Commotion from 1993 through 1995.

Throughout her days competing on the college and ASA circuit, Kerry continued to represent Australia from 1985 through 2000. She competed in 3 World Series; in 1990 (Illinois), in 1994 (Newfoundland) and 1998 (Japan). She was a member of the inaugural 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta. Kerry finished 7th on the batting average leaders in the world, with an average of .364 including 3 home runs. In 1998 she was elected captain of the Australian Team for the 1998 World Series and the 2000 Olympic Games. Kerry is a 2-time bronze medalist from the 1996 & 2000 Olympic Games. Kerry has a street named after her in Sydney, Australia. Kerry officially retired from the sport in September, 2000, after losing to the U.S.A. in the Bronze medal game. Her last at bat was against Lisa Fernandez where she earned the only base hit for Australia in the bronze medal game. At the completion of the game, Kerry left her cleats at home plate and the image captured in the L.A. Times. Since retiring Kerry has been inducted into 3 Hall of Fames; in 2003 the Northern Territory, in 2004 the Australian Softball Hall of Fame and in 2005 the International Softball Hall of Fame.

Fred Hanker

AREAS OF EXPERTISE – HITTING LESSONS, CATCHING LESSONS, THROWING, INFIELD/OUTFIELD

Fred is a 25 year veteran of playing, scouting, coaching and managing baseball and fastpitch softball. After a successful baseball career at Lakewood High School, he played four years at Cal State Dominguez Hills. He currently holds 12 school hitting records, was voted All CCAA four times and All West Regional two times. In the 1987 MLB draft Hanker was drafted by the Oakland A’s organization in the 31st round. He has accumulated over 20 years of fast pitch playing against top notch competition.

Mike Mora

AREAS OF EXPERTISE – HITTING LESSONS, SLAPPING LESSONS, SHORT GAME

Mike is presently coaching at Whittier College. Prior to his arrival (2005-2007) Mike acted as the Head Coach of the Artesia High School Softball team and Assistant Varsity Softball Coach at Cerritos High School (2003-2005). Mike has been coaching competitive softball for over 18 years at age levels spanning 10U – 18U. Teams under Mike’s tutelage have been invited to ASA National Tournaments on ten occasions.

John Medina

AREAS OF EXPERTISE – HITTING LESSONS & SLAPPING LESSONS

Playing Experience:

John has 25 years of playing experience with the Southern California Fastpitch Association, Pacific Coast Softball League and Western Softball Congress. He was the leadoff hitter and played shortstop/second base for many teams, including the Lakewood Jets, Stout Tower Stars and Magna Plating of Burbank. John was one of the earliest and most successful “slappers” in Southern California Men’s Fastpitch Softball history.

Awards:

• 1994 ASA World Series Championship – Batting Champion – Average .595

• 1990 & 1993 Men’s Fastpitch “A” National Tournament – 1st Team All American

• 1994 ASA World Series Championship – 1st Team All American

• 1995 NAFA World Tournament – 1st Team All American

• 1995 International Softball Congress Tournament of Champions – MVP

• 5X All Star – Southern California Fastpitch Association

• 4X All Star – Pacific Coast Softball League

• 2X All Star – Western Softball Congress

Coaching Experience:

In addition to 15 years of coaching at the high school level, John has been an assistant for 16U and 18U competitive softball teams. He has been providing hitting/slapping lessons for over 15 years.

Eddie Davis

AREAS OF EXPERTISE — HITTING LESSONS & CATCHING LESSONS

COACHING IS A FRAME OF MIND.

Preparation and Planning leads to success. Setting and achieving goals are the most important life lessons that I try to convey to the students and athletes I instruct. Over 23 years coaching and instructing softball and football at all levels and ages, is what drives the passion to teach. This is achieved by enhancing skills of young adults, and empowering them through education and competitive interaction. The ultimate goal is to harness the willingness to learn in young adults and mold that into a student athlete that is well rounded and prepared for the next level of achievement. Hard work and dedication together makes success a reality, and enhancing those skills will bring success in any facet of life it is applied too.

The experience I bring is from the basic learning and education that I have developed and grown from my own personal experiences. From the beginning at Torrance Girls Softball and being a co-founder to the Mizuno Pride, I have learned and enhanced my coaching style trough many mentors and classes alike. Achieving Bronze, Silver and Gold coaching levels through ASA was mandatory many years ago, and that knowledge for me was the basis for the techniques I utilize today.

I have coached for USA Athletics for the last 8 years at all different levels assisting and developing a program I truly believe in, and that the program is going to grow young ladies to utilize their talents at possibly a college level. Success I saw through my own daughter as she achieved playing at a Division 1 collegiate level. There have been well over 100 young ladies and men that I have personally coached and achieved their goal of playing at a collegiate level.

This ethic is also achieved in Football as I have participated in high school football for the last 14 years and pursuing and winning of 2 California State Championships, and 7 LA City Titles has only attested to the fact of hard work and dedication contributing to true success. Playing a part in the young adult’s lives is how I measure my success, seeing them succeed and knowing that a part of what has been taught to them as a mentor and coach will only bring them to their own successes throughout their lives and understood through a positive lived lifestyle.