Rounding Third Softball

Former Ole Miss and Chicago Bandit standout Taylor “RT” Cantillo has been named JO Commissioner for Memphis, Tennessee by USA Softball. Cantillo will work in developing the sport in the Greater Memphis area by hosting tournaments and clinics while promoting the Junior Olympic Fastpitch Brand to local leagues and associations. Before arriving in the Bluff City, the California native spent time throughout the country on the collegiate and club levels coaching while also working on the development and training side of the sport. Cantillo will also coach the Virginia Unity Club Program and their franchise based in the West Tennessee and Mississippi area moving forward.

RTS has learned through sources that Kenneth Bellamy will join the coaching staff at DII Georgia College as an assistant. Bellamy spent the 2021 season on staff at Mercer. He joined MU after eight years as the head coach at USC Salkehatchie where he turned the JUCO into a regional and national competitor.

Megan Valente has been named the new head coach at the College of the Redwoods. She replaces longtime head coach Maggie White, who announced last month that she was stepping down after 25 years leading the program. Valente returns to Redwoods after serving as an assistant coach in 2019 and 2020. She spent the 2021 season as an assistant at Adams State.

Former Division I Player of the Year Abbey Cheek has joined the coaching staff at Limestone University. Cheek spent the 2020 season playing overseas in the Japanese Softball League (JSL) for Hitachi. Prior to Japan, the former Kentucky Wildcat standout spent a year playing for the Chicago Bandits of the now defunct National Pro Fastpitch league after being selected in the third round of the 2019 draft.

Valerie Arioto a longtime member of the USA Softball Women’s National Team has announced her retirement. Arioto has been a member of the WNT for the last decade, helping the U.S. to four World Cup Gold Medals, three Pan American Games Gold Medals, and two World Championship Golds. One of the top hitters with Team USA, she also helped the squad to the Silver Medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer.

Aaron Longenecker has joined the coaching staff at Louisville as volunteer assistant. Longenecker spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Central Baptist College. During his time with the Mustangs he helped lead the program to more than 80 wins and two NAIA National Tournament appearances, while working with the hitters and outfield and serving as recruiting coordinator.

Mike Heard has been named the new head coach at Nebraska-Omaha. Heard takes leadership of the Mavericks after serving the past six seasons guiding the program at Midland University. He compiled a 147-92 record and was a three-time GPAC Coach of the Year. Heard led the Warriors to the regular season championship in 2021 and shared the title in 2019 and 2018. He also guided MU to appearances in the NAIA National Championship Tournament in each of those seasons.

Toledo will play a charity game against the USA Patriots, America’s amputee softball team, on August 28 it has been announced. The Rockets will play the the third game of that day as the USA Patriots will first play the Toledo Police Department before also facing a team of local celebrities, medical personnel and veterans. Admission for the event at Mercy Field will be $5 with all proceeds going to the USA Patriots Charity which benefits wounded veterans.

The Racers Foundation has announced that the City of Akron has elected not to renew their contract to manage Firestone Stadium moving forward. The foundation was the administrative offshoot and established charity for the former Akron Racers professional team. The Racers Foundation had brought many large scale softball events to Akron, Ohio including the NCAA Division II National Championship, the MAC Championship, several USA Softball Tours, and countless club events and championships during their 22 years managing the facility. A new three-year contract was set to commence in 2022, but according to Racers Foundation head Joey Arrietta the city reversed course outing the last remanence of the Akron Racers.

Kathryn Bzdafka has been named the new head coach at Davenport. Bzdafka joins DU after spending the past six seasons at her alma mater Malone. At MU she compiled a 95-114-2 record including a 47-72 mark in G-MAC play.