🥎 The Dugout Dispatch – Spring Rec Season Week 9 🥎
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
It’s hard to believe, but the spring season is almost over! It feels like just yesterday we were dusting off our cleats for Opening Day. To celebrate our amazing players and the fantastic season they’ve had, we are thrilled to invite you to the SGSL 2026 Closing Ceremony.
This isn’t just an awards presentation—it’s a true community celebration of every home run, every great catch, and every new friendship made on the field.
When: Next Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM Where: Ortega Park
Let’s Make it a Feast! To make this evening truly festive, we’re hosting a community potluck for our last day together. The SGSL Board will be providing delicious BBQ and deli trays from our wonderful sponsors at Empire Armadillos BBQ and Deli, and we’d love for our families to round out the meal.
If you are willing and able, please bring a side dish, snack, or dessert to share. You can let us know what you’re bringing by signing up here:
Closing Ceremony Potluck Sign-Up
We can’t wait to see all our players in their jerseys one last time as we wrap up a memorable year. Thank you for being such an essential part of the SGSL family!
Summer Shockwave 2026 Tryout Registration Now Open
To register, please complete this form: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/518491
We still. have room in our 8U team, if you are interested in joining our 8U team please email president@sunnyvalegirlssoftball.org
If you missed the Shockwave Informational, you may review the presentation here.
Week 6 Recap
8U Games
Fast Turtles:
The Fast Turtles proved that “slow and steady” is just a myth, as they raced to a 4-1 victory on Saturday morning at Ortega Park. After falling behind early, the Turtles’ bats woke up in the bottom of the second. A string of clutch singles by Lucy, Audrey, Eliana, and Lillianna flipped the script, driving in four runs to take a lead they would never relinquish.
The story of the game, however, was the clinical performance in the circle and the field:
- The Rotation: Milayna set the tone early, striking out three in the first inning. Audrey, Brynn, and Lucy followed up with flawless relief appearances, keeping the scoreboard frozen for EVSL-1.
- At the Plate: The Turtles amassed 10 hits, led by Evelyn who went a perfect 2-for-2.
- Gold Glove Defense: In a rare feat, the Fast Turtles did not commit a single error all game. Auden anchored the defense with three chances, and the team even turned a spectacular double play to shut down an EVSL rally.
Next Up: After Tuesday’s rainout against Pink Venom, the Fast Turtles are itching to get back on the dirt. They face off against Pink Venom this Tuesday, April 28th @ 5:30 PM at Ortega Park.
Pink Venom:
Final Score: Pink Venom 5, LGCS-1 0
Pink Venom put on a clinic this past Saturday, securing a dominant 5-0 shutout against LGCS-1. The victory was a total team effort, combining lights-out pitching with timely hitting to keep LGCS off the board entirely. This commanding performance keeps their momentum surging as they prepare for a highly anticipated mid-week showdown at Ortega Park.
Tuesday, April 28th vs. Fast Turtles at Ortega — 5:30 PM
10U
Sonic Wave:
Next Game: Wednesay, April 29th vs. EVS-1 at Ocala Middle School — 12:00 PM
Tidal Waves:
Next Game: Wednesday, April 29th @ LGCS-1 at Foothill Elementary School— 5:30 PM
The Bears:
Coming off a mid-week bye, The Bears faced a tough challenge Saturday against a high-powered TALONS offense. While the TALONS jumped out to an early lead, The Bears showed incredible heart and fundamental discipline until the final out. Despite the score, the highlights for The Bears were found in their execution and hustle. The team showed great discipline at the plate by drawing five walks, with Madeleine anchoring the middle of the order by going 1-for-1 with two RBIs. Haley, Sienna, and Alessandra also collected hits and were unstoppable on the base paths, contributing to the team’s total of 12 stolen bases. In a major bright spot, The Bears did not commit a single error in the field. Ivy led the defensive effort with seven total chances, proving that the team’s focus on fundamentals is paying off. In the circle, Helen earned the start and battled through a potent TALONS lineup while striking out two.
Next Game: Thursday, April 29th vs. LGCS-4 at Sunnyvale Middle 5:30pm
Middle School Division
Mighty Ducks:
Mighty Ducks Show Grit in High-Scoring Comeback Thriller
It was a showcase of pure resilience for the Mighty Ducks, who refused to back down in a high-pressure Saturday matchup at Ortega Park. The team proved their heart by storming back from an early 5-1 deficit to defeat the West Valley Slammers-4 in a 11-10 nail-biter. Tiana provided the spark in the middle of the lineup with two crucial RBIs, while Zaraand Ellie were a force together, each collecting hits to keep the momentum shifting. The Ducks’ discipline at the plate was on full display as they tallied eight walks, and their aggressive base running eventually forced the late-game miscues that allowed the Ducks to tie the game and ultimately secure the victory.
The pitching staff worked hard to keep the Slammers within striking distance throughout the seesaw battle. Kamilaearned the start, striking out one and walking none over two innings of work, while Evelyn and Hayeli provided essential relief appearances to help lock down the win. Whether it was Aaliyah and Tiana showing patience to draw key walks or Abby coming through with a gritty fielder’s choice, every member of the roster contributed to this gutsy team win.
Next Game
The Mighty Ducks look to keep the momentum rolling as they face off against Team Phoenix on Thursday, April 30, at 6:00 PM at Ortega Park.
Team Phoenix:
Team Phoenix Battles Through Tough Double-Header Week
It was a week of grit and strong contact for Team Phoenix, who faced off against two formidable opponents in high-energy matchups. On Thursday, the team went toe-to-toe with LGCS Magic, ultimately falling in a close 5-3 contest. Avaprovided an early spark with a sharp RBI single to tie the game in the first, while Geneva was dominant in the circle early on, striking out four batters in just over two innings of work. Ayeh and Aashvi also contributed key plate appearances to keep the pressure on, showing that this lineup can compete with the best in the region.
The team returned to the dirt on Saturday against the West Valley Slammers – Khaos, and despite a 9-2 loss, the box score told a story of offensive potential. Phoenix actually out-hit the Slammers 6-5, led by multi-hit performances from both Aashvi and Ayeh, who each collected two hits on the day. Ava continued her hot streak with a clutch RBI double in the first inning, and Rheya showed great focus to drive in another run. In the circle, Sofia was lights-out, throwing one inning without surrendering a single hit and giving up zero earned runs. While the Slammers capitalized on walks and wild pitches to pull ahead, the defensive focus and consistent hitting from Phoenix prove they are ready for a breakout.
Next Game
Team Phoenix looks to turn those hits into runs as they host the Mighty Ducks on Thursday, April 30, at 6:00 PM at Ortega Park.
Meet the Coaches: Between the Chalk Lines
Coaches Corner: Meet the Mentors of Team Phoenix
The Team Phoenix dugout is led by a staff that blends financial wisdom, international athletic experience, and a deep-rooted passion for building player confidence. This trio brings together perspectives from Southern California, Spain, and India to create a unique and supportive environment for our athletes.
Dan May (Head Coach & SGSL Treasurer)
A veteran of the diamond, Dan grew up in Southern California playing baseball and later spent 20 years playing competitive adult slow-pitch softball. While he spends his days as a Wealth Advisor, he views coaching as a natural extension of his career: developing people into future leaders. For Dan, the most rewarding part of the season is watching his daughter grow as a player while helping her teammates find their spark.
- Coaching Philosophy: Dan believes softball is 50% mechanics and 50% confidence. He takes great pride in helping players build the self-belief needed to shine in high-pressure moments.
- Off the Field: Dan is a major “foodie” who loves to man the backyard grill with his wife, Susy.
Jorge Martínez (Assistant Coach)
Hailing from Valencia, Spain, Jorge brings an “international multisport” background to the team. An Automotive Engineer who moved to the U.S. four years ago, Jorge was a soccer, tennis, and basketball player (and marathon runner!) who had never even heard of softball until his daughter started playing. He stepped into coaching two years ago to ensure a 10U team wouldn’t be canceled, and he hasn’t looked back since.
- The Lesson: Jorge emphasizes that effort and consistency bring results, and that supporting your teammates matters far more than the final score.
- Favorite Reward: He recently discovered the joy of the post-game donut—a tradition he says he could definitely get used to!
Rushil Kadakia (Assistant Coach)
Growing up in Mumbai, India, Rushil’s first love was Cricket, a sport he played through the college level. As a Marketing Engineer at a semiconductor company, he noticed the natural parallels between Cricket and Softball when his children started playing. Rushil decided to jump in as a coach this year to support the staff and deepen his own knowledge of the game.
- Memorable Moment: His favorite part of the game isn’t a specific play, but the pre-game cheers and the high energy found inside the dugout during a rally.
- The Goal: He hopes his players learn to truly enjoy the game, as having fun is what ensures the sport stays with them for the rest of their lives.
Team Phoenix Philosophy: Whether they are drawing on the strategy of Cricket, the endurance of a marathon, or the leadership of the financial world, this coaching staff is dedicated to one thing: helping every girl find the confidence to execute what she’s learned and, most importantly, have a blast doing it.
🗓️ Week 9 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 28th
- Fast Turtles vs Pink Venom Ortega Park— 5:30 PM
Wednesday, April 29th
- Tidal Waves vs CGSF-3 at Ortega — 5:30 PM
- Bears vs LGCS-4 at Sunnyvale Middle-5:30 PM
- Sonic Waves @ LGCS-1. Foothill Elementary School-5:30 PM
Thursday, April 30th
- Team Phoenix vs Mighty Ducks at Ortega — 6:00 PM
- Sonic Waves vs Tidal Waves at Las Palmas-5:30 PM
- Pink Venom vs SCP-3 at Stocklmeir-5:30 PM
Saturday, May 2nd
| Team | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 6U Purple Unicorns | SJALL-1 | Cory Small Field | 3:30 PM |
| 8U Fast Turtles | @LGCS-2 | Foothill Elementary School | 10:00 AM |
| 8U Pink Venom | No Game | ||
| 10U Sonic Waves | SCP | Ortega Park | 11:00 AM |
| 10U Tidal Waves | @ The Bears | Ortega Park | 1:00 PM |
| 10U The Bears | Tidal Waves | Ortega Park | 1:00 PM |
| MSD Mighty Ducks | SCP-1 | Central Park | 11:00 AM |
| MSD Team Phoenix | SCP-2 | Central Park | 1:00 PM |
See you on the Field!
Daniel Poo
SGSL President