🥎 The Dugout Dispatch – Spring Rec Season Week 8 🥎
Join Our Board
We are still looking for volunteers to join our board. If you are interested in this or any other board position, please join us at our next meeting:
SGSL Board Meeting
📅 Tuesday, April 21th, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Columbia Middle School Library
SGSL Spring Recreation Season Closing Ceremony
Celebrate a season of growth, teamwork, and home runs! 🥎 Join us for the SGSL 2026 Closing Ceremony at Ortega Park as we honor our incredible athletes with player awards, team presentations, and a final thank you to our coaches and volunteers. Bring the whole family for an evening of trophies, treats, and softball spirit. Let’s send off the spring season in style! 🏆✨
Summer Shockwave 2026 Tryout Registration Now Open
To register, please complete this form: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/518491
If you missed the Shockwave Informational, you may review the presentation here.
Week 6 Recap
8U Games
Fast Turtles:
Next Game: Tuesday, April 21st vs. Pink Venom at Ortega — 5:30 PM
Pink Venom:
Tuesday, April 21st vs. Fast Turtles at Ortega — 5:30 PM
10U
Sonic Wave:
Next Game: Saturday, April 25th vs. EVS-1 at Ocala Middle School — 12:00 PM
Tidal Waves:
Next Game: Wednesday, April 29th vs. CGSF-3 at Ortega — 5:30 PM
The Bears:
Next Game: Saturday, April 25th vs. SJALL-1 at Ortega — 11:00 AM
Middle School Division
Mighty Ducks:
Next Game: Saturday, April 25th vs. WVS-4 at Ortega — 1:00 PM
April 23rd
Team Phoenix:
Next Game: Thursday, April 23rd vs. LGCS-1 at Ortega — 6:00 PM
Meet the Coaches: Between the Chalk Lines
Sonic Waves
The Sonic Wave dugout is powered by a unique blend of analytical precision, New York heart, and deep-rooted local experience. This week, we’re spotlighting a leadership team that is truly “all-in” on SGSL, with all three coaches also leading our Shockwave 10U travel program together.
Jaime Romero (Head Coach)
Hailing from the Bronx, NYC, Jaime moved to California six years ago. Though he never played baseball or softball himself, he spent 11 years as a “student of the game,” observing every lesson and practice for his older daughters. A marketing professional in the cybersecurity world, Jaime’s dedication to the sport has grown exponentially; he now serves as the Head Coach for the Shockwave 10U travel team in addition to leading Sonic Wave. He focuses on the “human” side of development, cherishing the chance to bond with his daughter, Vera, through the sport.
- Coaching Philosophy: Jaime wants every player to walk away from the season with more “Confidence and Consistency.”
- Memorable Moment: He loves the “dugout jump for joy” that happens when a first-time player finally lands that hard-earned base hit.
Robin Thellend (Assistant Coach)
Bringing a competitive edge from the Great White North, Robin grew up in Canada playing high school basketball. Now in his fourth year of coaching and serving as a Shockwave Assistant Coach, this software engineer has embraced softball as the ultimate family activity. He finds it incredibly rewarding to witness the players’ progression year after year.
- The Lesson: Robin instills the value that “Hard work is good for you, and it’s fun.”
- Post-Game Tradition: You’ll find him celebrating a solid performance with a classic milkshake.
Stacy Brown (Assistant Coach, Team Admin & Board Secretary)
Originally from Arkansas, Stacy grew up with the sounds of St. Louis Cardinals baseball on the radio. Today, she balances being an Engineering Director for eBay and the SGSL Board Secretary with her role as an Assistant Coach for Shockwave 10U. Inspired by her daughter Alice’s passion, Stacy loves “crunching the numbers” and keeping score, but her true joy comes from the breakthrough moments.
- Post-Game Tradition: Catch Stacy heading to the Dairy Queen on Winchester for a cold treat!
- The “Lightbulb” Moment: For Stacy, nothing beats the look of pride on a player’s face when they finally put it all together to make the play and get the out.
Tidal Waves
The Tidal Waves dugout is led by a veteran staff focused on the mental side of the game—teaching players how to navigate the highs and lows of competition with grace and a short memory.
Scott Reeves (Head Coach)
Hailing from Los Angeles, Scott grew up with a glove in his hand and his father as his coach—a tradition he is proud to continue with his own daughter today. When he’s not on the dirt, Scott serves as a Manager for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, overseeing the preserves across the Bay Area. With a background in coaching tennis that started at age 15, Scott has a sharp eye for skill acquisition and loves watching the “click” when a player masters a brand-new move.
- Post-Game Treat: You can’t beat a classic donut after a hard-fought game!
- The Takeaway: Scott believes a positive attitude is an athlete’s greatest asset, especially when the scoreboard isn’t going your way.
Eddie Wu (Assistant Coach & Player Agent)
A local through and through, Eddie grew up in San Jose before moving to Mountain View. His deep history with the game includes playing through high school and spending 18 years at Yahoo! Inc., where he was a staple of the corporate softball scene during the dot-com boom. Since joining SGSL, Eddie has coached alongside his daughter through 8U and 10U. His coaching journey has been one of personal growth; while he once took the game too seriously, he now prioritizes fun and patience.
- The Takeaway: Eddie wants his players to embrace that softball is a game of failures, and the true skill is the ability to re-focus and try again.
- Favorite Quote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
The Bears
The Bears dugout is led by a staff that combines high-level sports storytelling, community leadership, and a deep-rooted passion for the fundamentals. Whether they are analyzing a championship or teaching a first-time player how to swing, these coaches are all about the “ah-ha” moments.
Daniel Poo (Head Coach & SGSL President)
Growing up in the Central Valley town of Exeter, CA, Daniel was raised in a “fierce” baseball family. Inspired by his father, who served as his Little League pitching coach, Daniel has spent the last three years giving back to SGSL in every capacity—from Shockwave 8U Head Coach to his current role as League President. When he isn’t at the fields, he is the Principal of Columbia Middle School, where his dedication to student growth shines. For Daniel, the best part of coaching is the opportunity to work alongside his three daughters: Isabella, Sofia and Alessandra. In a beautiful full-circle moment, Daniel now serves as the pitching coach for Alessandra, mirroring the same support his father once gave him.
- The Goal: Coaching grounds Daniel; he aims to make a lasting difference in the lives of his athletes while fostering the competitive drive and fundamentals he grew up with.
- Memorable Moment: Taking his father to his first pro game in Oakland to watch the legendary “Big Three” (Hudson, Mulder, and Zito).
Chris Silva (Assistant Coach)
A first-generation American raised in East Palo Alto, Chris brings a “can-do” attitude to the Bears. An aircraft mechanic for United Airlines, Chris understands the importance of precision and hard work. He was inspired to coach by his daughter, Janelle, and his desire to ensure every girl had a team to play on. This season marks Chris’s second year working alongside Coach Daniel, a partnership that has provided stability and growth for the team. Chris is a veteran of the local adult softball circuit, having played everywhere from Palo Alto to Twin Creeks.
- The Lesson: Chris lives by his favorite phrase: “Hard work pays off.”
- Rewarding Moment: Watching his 8U team snap a four-game losing streak to find their first win—the pure joy and cheering from the girls made all the effort worth it.
- Fan Favorites: Outside of softball, Chris is a huge fan of Mustangs and the San Francisco 49ers.
Stewart Mandel (Assistant Coach)
If Stewart’s name sounds familiar, you’ve likely read his work at The Athletic, where he has covered college football for 25 years. Originally from Cincinnati, Stewart traded the press box for the third-base coach’s box to share the game with his daughter, Madeleine. A true student of the sport, he even spent his February break at a top-tier college tournament in Palm Springs to study the best in the business.
- The “Believe” Moment: Last season, Stewart predicted a hit for a struggling player who hadn’t reached base all year. When she finally ripped a hit in the final game, the entire bench went wild—a moment he ranks above any professional game he’s covered.
- Pro Tip: Stewart loves a good dugout chant, but warns against rounding third too hard—he once pulled a hamstring scoring a winning run in his 30s!
A Village of Coaches
As we wrap up our spotlight on the Sonic Wave, The Bears, and the Tidal Waves, one thing is abundantly clear: our league is powered by a truly remarkable “village.”
From the engineering offices of eBay and the hangars of United Airlines to the press boxes of national sports media and the principal’s office at Columbia Middle School, our coaches bring a world of diverse expertise to the dirt. Yet, despite their different backgrounds—whether they hail from the Bronx, the Central Valley, Arkansas, or Canada—they are united by a singular goal: building confidence through the game.
Whether it’s the “Shockwave connection” seen in the Sonic Wave dugout, the full-circle pitching legacies on The Bears, or the resilience-first philosophy of the Tidal Waves, these mentors are teaching our players that while softball is a game of strikes and outs, the real wins are found in the “ah-ha” moments and the friendships made along the way.
We are incredibly lucky to have such dedicated volunteers leading our daughters. So, when you see them at Ortega Park after the break, join us in giving them a huge “Thank You”—and maybe bring an extra donut or milkshake along for the ride!
🗓️ Week 8 Game Schedule:
Here is the full lineup for this week. Please double-check your locations, as several teams are heading out for interleague matchups!
Tuesday, April 21
- Fast Turtles vs Pink Venom Ortega Park— 5:30 PM
Wednesday, April 15
- Tidal Waves vs CGSF-3 at Ortega — 5:30 PM
Thursday, April 16
- Team Phoenix vs LGCS-1 at Ortega — 6:00 PM
Saturday, April 25th
| Team | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 6U Purple Unicorns | BHGS-1 | Stocklmeir Elementary | 9:00 AM |
| 8U Fast Turtles | EVSL-1 | Ortega Park | 9:00 AM |
| 8U Pink Venom | @LGCS-1 | Foothill Elementary School Field AA | 2:00 PM |
| 10U Sonic Waves | @ EVS-1 | Ocala Middle | 12:00 PM |
| 10U Tidal Waves | Bye | ||
| 10U The Bears | SJALL-1 | Ortega Park | 11:00 AM |
| MSD Mighty Ducks | WVS-4 | Ortega Park | 1:00 PM |
| MSD Team Phoenix | WVS-1 | Ortega Park | 3:00 PM |
See you on the Field!
Daniel Poo
SGSL President