Book Lessons with Coach Riley

I began my softball career at the age of four in co-ed T-ball. That early love for the game led me to my local softball program and eventually to my first travel ball team in the greater Seattle area, where I had the opportunity to learn from University of Washington softball legends Shawna Wright, Taylor Smith, and Ashley Charters. During my years of travel ball and high school softball, I earned several honors, including being named to the Seattle Times All-Area Team two years in a row, receiving Under Armour Pre-Season All-American recognition, and being named an All-American Scholar.

I went on to play collegiate softball, beginning my career at Oregon State University in the Pac-12 from 2015 to 2017. I then transferred to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I completed the remainder of my collegiate career in the Atlantic 10 Conference from 2018 to 2019.

I began my coaching career right after graduating college in 2019, when I served as an assistant coach for a competitive 14U travel softball team in Washington State with the Sundodgers organization. While coaching, I also provided one-on-one instruction as well as two- to three-day camps and clinics. I specialize in teaching slap hitting, fielding, and agility/sprint training, working with athletes of all ages, but primarily those 12 and older.

My coaching style is highly technical, especially when it comes to slap hitting. I focus on explaining the “why” behind each technique so that coaching becomes a conversation rather than a list of instructions to follow. The more athletes understand the reasoning behind what they are doing, the better they become at identifying what is working, what is not, and how to make adjustments on their own. My goal is to give athletes the tools for long-term success so they eventually do not need me. Softball and travel sports are expensive, so I aim to help my athletes reach a point where they can apply what they’ve learned independently toward their future development and success.

In addition, I place a strong emphasis on the mental side of the game. Too often, athletes allow pressure and stress to lead to overthinking, which negatively impacts performance. By mastering the mental aspect, athletes can gain a major competitive advantage and stay ahead of the game.

An example of a one-hour hitting session would look like this: the first 10–15 minutes are spent warming up and checking in about the athlete’s week, including any games, practices, or travel ball experiences. During this time, we also discuss successes and areas for improvement from recent performance. I then ask the athlete or parent what they would like to focus on during the session; if there is no specific request, we proceed with a structured plan of drills.

We begin with drill work to break down the swing or fielding mechanics and identify any adjustments that may be needed. From there, we transition into targeted front toss work or live at bats that focuses specifically on those areas of improvement. As the session progresses, we move into full front toss or specific fielding needs, including at least 10 minutes of situational hitting/fielding to simulate real-game scenarios.

I always reserve the final five minutes for a player debrief, where the athlete can ask questions about the lesson, recruiting, softball, or anything else they’d like to discuss.

I started playing softball at just 4 years old, and the game has been a huge part of my life ever since. I began competing in travel ball in 8th grade, playing for multiple organizations including the Sundodgers in Washington State, and had the opportunity to play with the Corona Angels during the summer before starting my collegiate career.

I began my Division I career at Oregon State University as a utility player before transferring to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played outfield. As a slap hitter myself, I’m especially passionate about helping slappers develop their skills, build confidence at the plate, and learn how to use speed and strategy to impact the game.

The best coach I ever had was actually my travel soccer coach. He was passionate, disciplined, and believed in every single player on the team. He created an environment that was both competitive and supportive, pushing us to grow not only as athletes, but as people. That balance of accountability, confidence, and encouragement is something I strive to bring into my own coaching today.

I provide instruction for softball athletes of all ages and skill levels in nearly every area of the game, with the exception of pitching.

Throughout my playing career, I gained experience as an infielder, outfielder, and catcher, which allows me to coach the game from multiple perspectives. I offer lessons in hitting, slapping, base running, speed and agility training, and can also provide guidance throughout the college recruiting process.

One area I’m especially passionate about is the mental side of athletics. Competing at the collegiate level taught me the importance of confidence, resilience, and mindset, and I make it a priority to incorporate mental performance and supportive coaching strategies into every lesson.