Hailey Breakwell Softball Development

My Story

My softball journey has taken me so many places, allowed me to meet so many amazing people and helped to shape me into the person and coach I am today. I owe so much to this sport and am passionate about paying back that debt. With that being said, what I am about to share with you has brought me here to this very moment.

My journey did not actually start on the softball field, it started on the baseball field. A young girl filled with a passion for a bat, ball and a glove. I played with the boys from Little League up through a few years of travel ball for EJ Sports. (Ironically the same company I am now bringing a softball program to) This is where I got my first taste of international play, travel and all the amazing things that come along with it, traveling to Beijing, China with the EJ Sports Pacific Coast Stars. Fast forward a few years and I am now playing softball in high school and for a high level travel ball team in Northern CA. Getting my first taste of travel ball, showcases and college recruitment. Next, I’m living out my dream of playing Division I softball for Idaho State University, winning three conference championships along the way and graduating with my bachelor’s degree in sport management as well as a minor in marketing. Then it was gone, it was over, so what was next? Well next I made one of the best decisions of my life and reached out to Softball New Zealand about playing for the National Team because I was not ready to hang up my spikes just yet and after all, I am half Kiwi. (My father is from New Zealand and although I was born and raised in the U.S., I have dual citizenship) I played for the New Zealand White Sox for 5 years from 2015-2020. Attending two World Championships in Surrey, Canada and Tokyo, Japan, the Oceania-Asia Pacific Olympic Qualifier in Shanghai, China, along with many other tours and tournaments in many different countries. Also, during that time I got my coaching career started at Wichita State University where I was a graduate assistant for the softball team for 2 years while earning my master’s degree in sport management. I then went on to become the assistant coach at Saint Francis University for 2 years from 2018-2020 working with the hitters and infield.

All of these different and amazing experiences and opportunities I have had through softball have strengthened my knowledge and passion for the game. Playing at the highest level of the sport against the best competition in the world has been an amazing opportunity and given me immense insight and knowledge into this game. I have had ups and downs along the way, and learned so much through the entire process. I am now ready to pass along all of this knowledge that I have slowly accumulated throughout these years. Although, I am still a student of the game, always trying to learn from others and from myself. I am passionate about teaching in ways that will help you succeed in whatever your softball goals may be.

I have had the privilege to be taught and mentored by some of the best coaches in the game and want to share that knowledge with you. With years of experience giving lessons and most recently coaching at the Division I level I am excited to be back in the Bay Area and offer individual, group and clinic instruction to hitters and infielders. I am affiliated with EJ Sports, bringing a softball side to this already established baseball program with Erik (EJ) Johnson. I am also affiliated with Hardball Athletics with EJ (baseball) and Aaron Thigpen (strength & conditioning), where we will be providing unique instruction and training to baseball and softball athletes. Aaron is also the owner of Gamespeed in Concord, CA where I will be based out of for lessons, clinics, etc. I have a cage in Napa, CA that I also will be giving hitting lessons out of.

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