Pitching Instructor

Bella grew up in Greenfield, WI and played at Greenfield High School where she was a three-time All-State, All-Division, All-Conference (POY), Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area selection, and had a record-breaking 1,004 career strikeouts.

After her remarkable high school career, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and graduated in December 2020 with an Elementary Education major and Mathematics minor. During her three seasons as a Warhawk, she was a part of three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championships, two WIAC tournament titles (2017, 2018), and three NCAA Tournament appearances. She was named WIAC Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and 2019, a three-year National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Great Lakes Region selection, a three-time first team All-WIAC selection, WIAC Pitcher of the Week eight times in her career, and is in the UW-Whitewater program record book in nine different categories. She was also the recipient of the 2020 WIAC Judy Kruckman Softball Scholar-Athlete Award and named UW-W Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete for the 2019-20 year.

Bella is very passionate about growing fastpitch softball and developing athletes to compete at a high level. She has been giving pitching lessons to ages ranging from 6-18 for five years.

Catching, Hitting & Fielding

Kennedy is from Janesville, Wisconsin, and graduated from Janesville Craig High School. During her time there, she earned All-Conference honors (x4), All-District honors (x4), and was named All-State. She led her team through one of the toughest conferences and regionals in the state. Most of Kennedy’s softball success prior to college came through her travel ball seasons. She began her travel ball career with Stateline Fury, where the team earned multiple tournament and national placements, including a first-place finish at the USSSA 16U Nationals. After several successful years with Fury, Kennedy played for BATS Academy 18U, where she competed alongside some of the most talented players in the state, before finishing her travel ball years with Wisconsin Lightning 18U.

Kennedy’s performance in travel ball and high school led to her recruitment to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She played primarily as a designated hitter during her freshman and junior years (her sophomore year was canceled due to COVID), and capped off her career as the starting catcher in her senior year. She earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors in her senior year and was awarded the Marty van Steenderen Sportswoman of the Year Award. Kennedy graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2022 with a BA in History and went on to earn her MA in Social Sciences, concentrating in History, from the University of Chicago in 2024. She is now back at UW-Whitewater, working as a Library Assistant.

Softball has been a central part of Kennedy’s life, shaping her into the person she is today. She is passionate about giving back to the game, coaching, and teaching young players about the sport and the life lessons it offers. Kennedy is dedicated to making the most of every opportunity in life, especially through softball.

Hitting & Fielding Instructor

Brooke graduated from Luther College in December of 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and later went on to graduate with a Master of Science Degree in Applied Kinesiology & Physiology from the University of Florida, in 2021. During her two years as a Luther College Norse, she was a part of back-to-back NCAA Division III Softball tournament appearances, a 2017 IIAC Softball Conference Championship, a 2018 IIAC Softball Conference Tournament Championship, was a member of the 2018 NCAA DIII 3rd Place Softball Team, and earned both IIAC Academic All-Conference and NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete honors. Prior to her time at Luther, she played her first two collegiate softball seasons at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota.

In addition to her competitive playing experience, Brooke also brings with her a growing wealth of softball coaching experience. With coaching experience ranging from the park and recreation level, to the NCAA Division III level, Brooke has worked with softball athletes of many ages and talent levels. Currently, she is the Varsity Head Coach at Oconomowoc High School and will be serving as an assistant coach on our ESA 18U Prospects team for the 2023-24 season. She is also an active member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association where she holds her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification.

Brooke is a Southeastern Wisconsin native, and she currently resides in Big Bend, WI. She is very passionate about growing fastpitch softball in and around her community and loves to give back to the game through coaching. She could not be more excited to be a part of the ESA softball family and looks forward to helping our youth softball players achieve their goals!

Hitting & Fielding Instructor

Fiona's journey through softball began in River Forest, IL, where she honed her skills at Oak Park River Forest High School. Her talent quickly became evident, earning her prestigious titles such as MaxPreps National Sophomore Player of the Year and 2x MaxPreps All-American. Fiona's accolades continued to pile up, including being named 2x Flo Softball All-American First Team Infielder and 4x Illinois 4A First Team All-State, solidifying her reputation as one of the top players in the state. Leading her team to victory as a 4A State Champion twice and earning recognition as Oak Park Female Athlete of the Year, Fiona's high school career was nothing short of remarkable.

Transitioning to collegiate softball, Fiona embarked on a five-year journey with the Wisconsin Badgers, overcoming a challenging ACL injury in her senior season. Despite the setback, she displayed unwavering determination and resilience, leaving an enduring impact on the field. In 2022, Fiona's standout performance included starting in 50 of 51 games, boasting a .324 hitting percentage with 46 hits, and earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team two years in a row. Her contributions extended beyond the batter's box, with impressive defensive stats and a memorable solo home run in the NCAA regional final. The preceding years saw Fiona continue to excel, maintaining a .324 batting average in 2021 and displaying power at the plate with four home runs in the shortened 2020 Covid season.

Off the field, Fiona's passion for the game shines through in her dedication to coaching and teaching. Now residing in Milwaukee, Fiona is committed to growing the game by sharing her knowledge and love for softball with aspiring athletes.

Hitting, Fielding & Pitching Instructor

Sierra Thomas is a collegiate softball player at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she will be entering her junior year in the fall of 2025. A versatile and dedicated athlete, she appeared in 49 of 54 games during the most recent season, primarily starting in left field while also contributing at second base. She is pursuing a major in Human Biology and a minor in Spanish on the pre-Physician Assistant track.

Before joining UMD, Sierra had a standout high school career at Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin, earning All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors in each of her three playing years, with her freshman season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership and performance helped guide Arrowhead to a state tournament appearance her senior year. She holds multiple school records in offensive categories including batting average, hits, RBIs, home runs, and slugging percentage, as well as a pitching record for throwing a no-hitter.

Known for her work ethic, adaptability, and leadership on and off the field, Sierra continues to excel as a student-athlete and looks forward to giving back to the game!

Hitting & Fielding Instructor

Sydney is a dedicated collegiate athlete entering her sophomore year at Beloit College in the fall of 2025. A versatile player, she primarily held down right field during her freshman season but is capable of playing all outfield positions as well as middle infield. Her athletic commitment is matched by her academic excellence—she is pursuing a degree in Biology and Health Sciences with aspirations of a future career in radiology. Sydney was recognized for her achievements both on the field and in the classroom, earning Scholar-Athlete honors in her first year.

Before joining the Buccaneers, Sydney was a standout varsity player at Brookfield East High School in Wisconsin. Her extensive softball background includes competing with multiple club teams, most recently with ESA, where she further honed her skills.

In addition to her collegiate and academic pursuits, Sydney is passionate about giving back to the sport and her community. She actively leads youth skills camps and provides individual lessons in Beloit, aiming to inspire and support the next generation of athletes. She remains committed to both her hometown roots and the Beloit community that continues to shape her journey.