The Seattle Spice Fastpitch club was founded in 2000 with a single 14U team.  It was begun by Queen Anne Little League Coaches and administrators Hal Abbott and Anton Gielen to allow young softball players in the city a chance to enhance their skill without having to leave the immediate area for higher-level play.

In 1999, Hal and Anton Coached the Emerald City All stars, a little league team that combined the players of Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, NW and Rug little league softball teams.  A trial 12U tournament in 1999 set the stage for our 2000 14U team.

In 2000 the 14U Spice played 37 games in 8 tournaments, winning only a few, but the experience proved so successful in improving the player’s skill and love of the game, the Spice expanded to include a 16U team in 2001.

Our 2001 season saw great strides by our returnees on 14U and the result was double digit wins in 40 games and 8 wins by our rookie 16U team.

2002 saw both our 14U and 16U teams capture their first tournament championship.  By the end of the year a trial 12U team under the Spice banner entered 3 summer tournaments, winning one.  

2003 saw the full time expansion of 12U and continued success with our 14U team finishing the year with a +.500% winning record.  The majority of our players continued to come from the local Seattle area and many of our players were now beginning to find homes on the local highs school rosters (particularly Ballard).  At the end of the year, co-founder Hal Abbott announced his retirement from active administration and coaching and co-founder Anton Gielen took the full rein as President of the Spice.

2004 added current coach Kevin Jacobsen to our staff as he took on our 16u program.  Another successful year was had by the Spice and the 14U team finished the year with 4 tournament wins and a .714 winning percentage.

The Spice expanded to include an 18U team in 2005 and welcomed Coach Ed Minshull to our ranks.  2005 saw the Spice competing at every age level from 12U through 18U and all teams continued to show growth and success.

For the 2006 season, Spice fielded teams at 12U coached again by Ed Minshull, 16U coached by Anton Gielen, and 18U coached by Kevin Jacobson.

The 2007 season included a significant change after Spice Co-founder Anton Gielen accepted the Varsity coaching position at Roosevelt High School during the 2006 season.  Due to conflict of interest rules with the WIAA Anton stepped down from his Spice coaching position and assumed the position as Treasurer.  Ed Minshull followed his 2006 12U team up to 14U, Corky Davis joined Spice to coach our 16U team and Kevin Jacobson again coached the 18U.

2008 was another transitional year for Spice.  Kevin Jacobson who had previously coached at 16U and 18U took the reins of the 14U.  Ed Minshull moved up to coach the 18U team and Spice added Ken Jones to take over our 16Us.  Ken joined Spice with many years of experience coaching several select programs as well as a stint as the Varsity coach at Newport High School.  

In 2009, Colleen Lawler, veteran Spice player, returned to Spice as the head coach of the 14U team.  Colleen re-joined spice as a coach with experience as a collegiate softball player.  Also in 2009, Kevin Jacobson's team moved to 16U and Ken Jones' team moved up to 18U.

The Seattle Spice Fastpitch Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the following mission statement: To provide an opportunity for girls to play competitive fastpitch softball in an environment based on teaching the proper skills and always with the spirit of true sportsmanship.  In support of this mission, Seattle Spice has defined three objectives:

1.    To promote amateur fastpitch softball for girls and provide a venue for those wish to play at the select level.
2.   To provide a fastpitch Club (SPICE) within the spirit of true sportsmanship.
3.   To educate (ASA/NSA rules) and train each player in the proper skills of playing fastpitch softball.

All of our staff are volunteers interested in seeing the development and growth in the skill and maturity of these fine young athletes.  We continue to serve primarily the Seattle area, and our reputation has attracted players from the greater Puget Sound area.  Our current program serves up to 60 players a year and is aided by community cooperation of McClure Middle School.

Since its inception, the Spice has served hundreds of individual players and their teams have competed in more than 1000 tournament games.  Current and former Spice Players now fill the rosters of high schools throughout Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area.  Many Spice players have played for and come from the local little leagues.  Today Spice teams consist of players from Seattle and surrounding communities.  Former Spice players have gone on to play for Long Island University, Willamette College, Dartmouth, Western Washington University, University of Oregon, Washington State and Edmonds Community College among others.  2010 will see more Spice alumni on college teams.

The Spice provides opportunities for young women to improve their athletic softball playing skills and achieve a higher level of competitive play.  The Spice will not discriminate or deny participation and membership because of race, religious preference, color, and nationality or ethnic heritage.  Members are joined together in a spirit of friendliness and good sportsmanship to share the pleasure of playing fastpitch softball.  The Spice delivers a quality competitive program at a reasonable cost.

Please contact our club President or any team coach for more information about our club or our teams.