Rescheduled several times due to wet weather, the Ceres Youth Baseball & Softball Organization staged a free softball clinic under clear skies this past month.
The Brandi Harrison Hitting & Defense Camp was held on April 25 at the George Costa Ball Field Complex.
Harrison, a 2013 Humboldt State Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee/2001 Hilmar High graduate, was the lead instructor.
“It’s our first time doing this,” said Jessica Lopez, vice president of Ceres Youth Softball. “We wanted to do something for the girls that’s inspiring. Brandi has a huge following. She has a waitlist for lessons. She’s a coach that challenges you and pushes you out of your comfort zone. It was awesome for her to come out.”
Gianna Espindola, Ryleigh Muniz, Sophia Martinez and Delaney Weeks were among the 80 participants.
The clinic was open to recreational league players, ages 7-13.
“A lot of people reached out from other areas,” Lopez said. “But this clinic was only open to CYB Softball.”
“The purpose was to teach the girls the right fundamentals and for coaches to learn drills for their practices,” she added. “Doing things the right way goes so far. The biggest thing is effort and attitude.”
Players were split into two groups.
The first session (10U/8U) ran from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
The second session (13U) ran from 6:45-8 p.m.
Coaches focused on all aspects of the game during the one-day camp.
Lopez helped assist Harrison at the hitting station.
Lopez, a 2002 Ceres High School grad and two-year varsity standout with the Bulldogs, played college softball for Dominican University of California.
“I had the privilege of working with an amazing group of athletes from CYB in Ceres—and let me tell you—these girls showed up and showed out,” Lopez said. “From the first ground ball to the last swing, they brought the energy, focus, and hustle. We locked in on defensive fundamentals-footwork, glove angles, positioning—and then shifted gears into hitting, breaking down mechanics and building confidence at the plate. Each rep had purpose, and each player brought heart. I watched these girls dig deep, ask questions, make adjustments, and own the dirt like future stars. I was so impressed with their work ethic, coachability, and love for the game.”
Espindola, Muniz, Martinez and Weeks were recognized for their effort and attitude at the conclusion of the clinic.
They all took home autographed Sis Bates Adidas shirts.
Bates, a 2016 CHS grad who attended Carroll Fowler and Mae Hensley Jr. High in Ceres, held a skills camp on Dec. 21 at Costa Fields.
The former Ceres Youth Softball player was a three-time NCAA Division-I All-American infielder with the University of Washington.
Bates has also represented the U.S. Women’s National Softball Team on the international stage.
She’ll will begin her fifth season of pro softball with Athletes Unlimited this year.
“The girls who follow softball know about her (Bates),” Lopez said. “It’s awesome to have a role model that plays professional and comes from our small community of Ceres. She always gives back. She hasn’t forgotten where she came from. She’s so humble and good with the kids. She makes everybody feel special.”
Ceres Youth Baseball & Softball Organization plans to bring back Harrison to Costa Fields in the future.
“I got really positive feedback,” Lopez said. “Parents are already asking if we’re going to do it again next year.”
Harrison enjoyed a success-filled softball career at Humboldt State from 2003-06. The standout third baseman earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America honors following the 2006 season, and was a three-time NFCA all-region selection.
Harrison was voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and named her school’s Female Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Upon Harrison’s departure, she ranked first in hits (268), second in both doubles (57) and walks (126), and fourth in home runs (33) in Humboldt State’s record books.
The Lumberjacks secured playoff berths and claimed conference titles every year Harrison was on the team.
Harrison excelled under Frank Cheek’s guidance.
Coincidentally, Cheek served as head coach of Ceres High’s boys wrestling program before leading two athletic programs (softball and men’s wrestling) at Humboldt State.
Harrison and Cheek were both inducted into the Humboldt State Athletics Hall of Fame the same year.
Cheek passed away at the age of 82 in 2020.
“Frank really taught me what it means to have pride, not just in myself, but my school, team and he taught me some of the best life lessons I ever learned,” Harrison stated in a past interview with the Turlock Journal. “He was a father figure. If it wasn’t for him I would not be where I am or be successful. He really taught me how to be a leader and that was a huge thing.”
