Rounding Third Softball

RTS is deeply saddened to share the passing of Sophia Duong with the softball community. Sophia passed Tuesday surrounded by her loved ones at the all too young age of 16 years old. The standout softball player from Southern California had been diagnosed with terminal spinal cancer over a year ago. In the true spirit and grit of the athlete she is, Sophia put up a fight just as she always did in the pitching circle throughout her battle. A GoFundMe was established to help the family with the immense medical expenses that have been incurred through her fight. That account is still active and donations and support can be made at the link below. https://www.gofundme.com/…/help-support-sophia039s-road…

Pacific University in Oregon has named Katie Duroe their new head coach. Duroe comes to Pacific after serving as head coach the last three seasons at Bushnell University. She led the Beacons to a 28-80 record, including going 17-43 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.

Peter Suarez has joined the staff at Texas A&M as director of player and program development. Suarez comes to the Aggies after spending the past five years at Iowa State as the director of softball operations. At ISU he assisted with team video, scouting reports, team travel and recruiting arrangements.

Grand Valley State has announced that Ryan Schalk has rejoined their coaching staff. Schalk was an assistant with the Lakers in 2017 before departing for the head coaching position at Alverno College. The past three seasons he was the top assistant at Toledo. He helped guide the Rockets to the first MAC Tournament Championship in school history.

Marty Kinard has been named the new head coach at Coker University. Kinard joins the Cobras after coming from nearby Claflin University where he led the program since 2017. He tallied a 114-79 record in his five seasons as the Panthers head coach. In 2021, Kinard led CU to an NCAA DII Atlantic Regional appearance.

Amanda Daneker has been promoted to assistant coach at Coastal Carolina RTS has learned. Daneker, a Chanticleer alum, had served in the volunteer assistant role since 2018. She replaces Kristin Erb who departed the program and has since joined the coaching staff at Marist College.

Holy Cross has named Kimberly Stiles their new head coach. Stiles spent the last five years as the head coach at DII University of Charleston. Before landing at UC, she was head coach at Davis & Elkins College. She owns a career coaching record of 275-232.

RTS is saddened to report the passing of Langston University Head Coach Hosea Bell. A coach well-beloved by his players, peers, and throughout the sport, Bell spent the past nine seasons leading the Lions. Before coming to LU he spent 15 seasons as head coach at Sterling College in Kansas. Bell achieved 795 victories during his career.

Washington has named Kyle Nobach, Ashley Davis-Carter, and Sis Bates to their coaching staff.

Nobach joins the Huskies staff after a standout playing career on the baseball team at Oregon State. His coaching background includes serving as associate head coach and hitting coach for the baseball team at Everett Community College in 2018. He then added the position of head coach of the Bend Elks, a summer collegiate baseball team, to his resume in 2019.

Ashley Davis-Carter served as the head coach at La Cueva High School in New Mexico in 2011. In 2015, she joined Menlo College as an assistant softball coach before being named the head coach at Notre Dame de Namur University in 2016. She returned to Menlo College in 2018 as an assistant coach for two seasons before being named the head coach at nearby Shoreline Community college.

Sis Bates, one of the greatest players in UW History, will serve as student assistant coach. RTS reported last summer she would be returning to Washington to join the staff in some capacity. Bates was most recently the 2021 Tom Hansen Medal winner, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and became the all-time hits leader in Washington history.

Alyssa Tiumalu has been named the new head coach at Iona. Tiumalu takes over leadership of the Gaels after a very successful run on the coaching staff at St. John’s. She helped guide the Red Storm to two Big East Regular Season Championships and was named as part of the Coaching Staff of the Year in both 2017 and 2019.