Megan Ruediger

Northern Michigan Fastpitch

Pitching
p: 231.642.0062
e: meganruediger33@gmail.com

Steve Steimel

 Hitting Training
p: 231.642.1486
e: gritshoptc@gmail.com

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Coach Steimel has coached girls fastpitch softball at various levels including, Long Lake rec league, TAGS, West Middle School LEAP, Traverse City West Varsity and travel softball, including the Turnin2 Mirabelli team. He created and built the local 231 Fusion program.  He is the owner of GritShop and his inspiration, passion for softball and driving force are his two daughters/ball players, Katelyn & Brittany.  Katelyn has followed in his coaching footsteps as an assistant at TC West Varsity.  Brittany currently plays for Northwood University.

Juli Tiesworth

Hitting and/or Defensive Skills
​p: 231.392.3485
e: julitiesworth@gmail.com

​Coach Tiesworth has been actively coaching softball since 2012 and has held positions as a Middle School, Freshmen, JV and Varsity coach at Traverse City West. Her softball coaching experience also includes coaching 12U and 14U travel for 231 Fusion Fastpitch.  She also organizes the "Snowball Series" and "Summer Camp" events for GritShop.

Kathy Breece
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Private lessons available for catching, hitting or pitching.
p: 231.499.9832
e: frameitupsoftball@gmail.com

Coach Breece played softball at Central Michigan University (CMU) as a walk on in 1983. In her senior year, Kathy’s CMU team had the honor of playing in the NCAA Softball World Series. After college, she spent two summers touring overseas with Athletes in Action, a sports ministry. Kathy coached varsity softball while teaching high school and founding the Elk Rapids Alternative Education High School.  Coach Breece has been inducted into the Hall of Fame five times as a player and coach. Her honors include the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association, Belding High School Athletics, American Softball Association, CMU Athletics (1986 team), and the Michigan High Coaches Association. Coaching has led Breece to the little league, middle school and high school levels. 

Shawna Esther
​
Private lessons available for pitching, conditioning and strength training.
p: 231.590.3804
e: deliciousfitness14@gmail.com

Coach Esther both played and coached softball at all levels locally and is a former shortstop at Spring Arbor University. After college, she went on to coach softball in several capacities including each age group in TAGS, the Freshman team at East Middle, Asst. Varsity Coach, JV Head Coach, and eventually Varsity Head Coach at TC Central High over the course of about 15 years. 

Shawna has a passion for coaching, and it doesn't stop at softball - she is an A.C.E. (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer, and loves to help players reach their goals through proper off-season conditioning training. She lives in TC with her husband and 2 doggos!