Who is Paine Mountain Softball
Chris Cummings
Nearly 25 years ago, my oldest daughter wanted to play softball. Growing up in a tiny town in south-eastern Pennsylvania, there wasn’t a lot of options for her at that time.
After watching her and the few other girls who had joined the baseball team get completely dismissed for an entire season, a year later I volunteered to be a softball coach to help build a program in our community.
Immediately, it became very clear there was desire for a competitive softball program but no one either willing to or with enough knowledge to lead it.
I began committing myself to be that person. I started reading everything I could get my hands on, watching training and coaching videos, volunteering for whatever our softball league needed such as umpiring and fixing the fields. And then, I started going to scout out teams who were at the level I knew our league could get to. I observed how they treated their girls - like athletes - and how strong the players on those teams were.
If these girls - some younger than the ones I was coaching at the time - could be this competitive, why couldn’t we? With this mindset, within just a few years, our program had gone from a league with no softball to a league with multiple teams in every division from 7 - 18 years old.
Once laughed at as “farm girls” our teams were now considered one of the most competitive and truly progressive in the district. We offered not only our players, but also coaches the opportunity to constantly improve through innovative training both on the field and in the classroom.
Since then, I’ve coached on travel teams, multiple varsity level high school teams, as well as collegiately. I’ve worked to build a great relationship with National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and have access to world class players and coaches who’ve participated in Olympic and Professional programs.
When my family moved to Vermont almost 12 years ago, I recognized something I saw when I first started. A community with the need and the desire but without the reputation or the resources.
I want to bring my resources to Vermont and help promote softball as a way for our community to offer those who want it a real opportunity to compete at a level that can take them to wherever they want to go.
If you are this person or know anyone who could benefit from this level of instruction, please contact me by email at PaineMountainSoftball@gmail.com or by phone at 802-778-0722.
Individualized Lessons and Group Clinics Available
Paine Mountain Softball offers individualized private lessons to cater to your specific needs, as well as small and large group clinics.