Wednesday, January 3
It's Peppertime -Hot Peppers
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| Coaches Sandy and Bill 'beam' as new members of Az ASA Hall of Fame 08/18/07
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Notable accomplishments and longevity as a softball organization under the same founding coaches is a part of the history of the Sierra Vista Hot Peppers. Hot Pepper players have gone on in their growth as players to set new records and to graduate from colleges or have gone into the job force as outstanding contributers themselves. Several players still are on scholarship rosters playing college softball in 2008 and 2009. This includes: Patty Egan (Pitcher) NCAA Division I, Binghamton, NY (Senior); Sandy Meadows (SS, OF) Binghamton University in NY (Senior); Nicole Smith (3D, SS) Pima Community College now SAn Angelo State University, Texas (Junior); Lisa Stensby (3D, 2D) Pima Community College, Tucson, Az (Sophomore); Michelle Anderson (Catcher) Eastern New Mexico State University, Portales, New Mexico (Junior); Jessica Childers (OF) Coffeyville Junior College, Kansas grad now attends Eastern New Mexico State University (Junior); Signing with college in 2008 graduating class-Alexa Straton (Catcher) playing at Boise State University. Buena senior and Pepper Alumni player-Jenna Wright attending Eastern Arizona.
Bill has been named Coach of the Year numerous times including the Sierra Vista Herald in 2005 ranked #5 in the areas coaches out of twenty nominees. Standout notable accomplishments in his career have been a ASA national women's championship in 1992 in Memphis, Tennessee, 2001 TCS Western National Hall of Fame Championship, 2002 a second place finish in the ASA B 16 and under Nationals, state championship ASA B 16 and under, 2004 TCS Western National Hall of Fame Championship in 18 and under, 2005 a third place finish in the TCS Western Championship and second place finish in ASA A 18 and under Regionals and being named coach of the year numerous times through out the 36 years of history of the team.(Since 2001, Coaches Bill and Sandy have been named as area top ten coaches of the year also including the year that they did not coach on the field but received honors as Hall of Fame inductees were named #2 Coaches of the year in the top ten area coaches. ) Assistant Coach is Coach Sandy Roberts, who began as a player with the AA ASA women's Hot Pepper team and later took on coaching duties. Coach Sandy also was Assistant Varsity Coach at Buena for 10 seasons. Both she and Coach Bill have been ASA District/youth commissioners. Sandy is also an author of the book "Life's Highways", a book of poetry. Their daughter Tisha began with the Peppers as one of the original 'bat girls', continued as an exceptional player who brought the Peppers many seasons of championship play, and on into coaching both with the Peppers and as a Junior Varsity Coach at Buena High school. Both Bill and Sandy were honored in 2005 when the city of Sierra Vista dedicated the naming of 'Robert's ' softball field in Sierra Vista and the opening of an exhibit at the Hank Hauser Museum on the past 36 years of the Hot Peppers under coaches Bill and Sandy. In 2007 both Bill and Sandy, who began a dream offering an opportunity of softball play for 36 years to young girls and young women, were inducted into the ASA Arizona Softball Hall of Fame-a highlight of their career of their loving passion to the game of fastpitch softball. They will celebrate 40 years of marriage in 2009 as well. Currently, Sandy's mom Micky Bosworth is being honored in the local museum, as a Veteran of WWII. The exhibit is to honor the veteran's who served and dedicated their lives so that we could live in freedom. Micky is 85 years old and is also one of the top fans of her daughter-Sandy and son-in-law Bill. Their daughter -all American Pitcher-Tisha is no longer playing softball, but is now the mother of three sons. Keelund, Chandler and Billy are the grandsons of Coaches Bill and Sandy, and great-grandsons of Micky.
'DARE TO DREAM THE DREAM AND LIVE IT BY PLAYING THE SPORT OF FASTPITCH SOFTBALL'.
Keep those traditions of your team ongoing. Be sure to check out our history page and alumni players-many of them went on to play college softball in the days before there were many female athletic scholarships offered. The Hot Pepper teams have played at all levels of competition through our thirty-six plus years but every year is new-the game still remains exciting, the kids are still eager to learn and play, Keep this sport going and creating great dreams for our kids-- Let's play ball for the love of it.
Always
Coaches Bill and Sandy
(1971-2008)
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Coaches Bill and Sandy wish you all a Merry Xmas 2008 and Happy New Year 2009
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Dreams by Van Halen
Tuesday, July 7
Congratulations to the Sierra Vista Diamonds 12 and under team Second Place in USFA Regionals
We want to congratulate the coaches and players on the 12 and under Sierra Vista Diamonds on their recent second place finish in the USFA Regionals in Carlsbad, New Mexico. We know how hard all of the kids worked to get ready for the competition there. To all the teams that played in the tourney, we salute you for the endurance all displayed in playing the 10 plus games in the heat and in the rain. We are especially proud of the excellent work that the pitchers and the catchers did in preparing for the tourney, all the extra hours you put in with us outside of the regular practices. Each of you carried your weight in pitching and catching in the tourney play-Pitchers-Jade, Cinde and Hailly;Catchers-Kayleigh and Jonnalyn. Although the first place finish eluded you this time, the girls are getting ready for the USFA Nationals in Carlsbad with the goal of winning the championship. They play in the ASA state tourney first in Tucson and then at the end of July off they will travel to Carlsbad as they make the challenge for the championship. We will be there to cheer them on at the Nationals-you will find us easily because we will be glowing with pride regardless of the outcome. Good luck girls. .
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| Jade prepares for her first 12 and under Diamond tourney in 2009
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Tuesday, December 16
Support of Youth Softball
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| SV Diamonds-Cindy makes it difficult to hit that lefty pitch
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As many of you know that it is extremely difficult to say no to a youngster asking for help to get started in various sports. Bill and Sandy have tried to remain as neutral as possible and to evade being asked back into coaching anywhere full time but they have continued to work with young players a few times a week. The retired Pepper coaches have taken on working with pitchers and catchers from the SV Diamond youth teams from Sierra Vista. They are continuing work with Jade who recently moved from the 10 and under team up to the 12 and under team. Jade has made the transition and is beginning work on many new pitches. Two other pitchers are also on the team, Cindy Chon who is an up and coming left handed 12 year old and Hailly Greenough who is the youngest player on the 12 and under team. In their midst are two young ladies training to catch and they are: Kayleigh KC Sunshine. KC has a big future ahead of her as a catcher and already has the movements and arm of several other Hot Pepper alumni catchers as Lexi Straton, Michelle Anderson or Cara Redmond. Also working on her catcher skills is Jonelyn 'Jonnee' , who is an excellent upcoming young player. Jonnee is also a very adept shortstop eager to learn more about this exciting game. Lets take time to wish all these young athletes successful careers.
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Kayleigh 'KC' targets to hold a runner at the base.
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Sunday, March 1
Sierra Vista Herald Picks Coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts #7 out of top twenty Area Coaches 2002
Friday, May 22
Coley Good Luck at the Division II Nationals-Go Angelo State
The Angelo State softball team (48-8) blasted four home runs as the Rambelles cruised to a 9-0 win over No. 7 Southeastern
Oklahoma to claim the title of the 2009 NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional at the ASU Softball Complex. The Rambelles
will advance to the NCAA D-II National Championship Finals, May 21-25, in Salem, Virginia.
In the first game of the NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional on Friday, Freshman Nicole Wellmann stole home with
two outs in the sixth inning to lift the ’Belles to a 1-0 win over No. 7 Southeastern Oklahoma and put the ’Belles in the driver’s
seat.
Wellmann pinch ran for senior Macy Baker, who opened the bottom of the sixth frame with walk and moved to second base on a
sacrifice bunt by sophomore Alix Dean. Wellmann then moved to third on a wild pitch by SOSU pitcher Marjorie Johnson to set up
the game-winning steal. With a 2-2 count to ASU junior Sarah DeMoss at the plate, Savage Storm catcher Jennifer Morales appealed
on a checked swing and then slowly returned the ball to Johnson. Wellmann took advantage of Morales' slow return of the
ball and stole home without a challenge.
In game two, the ‘Belles dominated Southeastern Oklahoma, scoring their first seven runs on long balls. The Rambelles now have
89 home runs on the season, surpassing the Lone Star Conference record for long balls in a season. Junior right-hander Chelsea
Nelson (30-4) tossed her second straight shutout in the Super Regional while giving up just two hits with four strikeouts. Chelsea
allowed just three hits in Friday's 1-0 win over SOSU.
The Rambelles open the National Championship Finals Thursday, May 21, against Indianapolis, the Midwest Super Regional
champion, at 11 a.m. (Central). ASU is making its third appearance in the Championship Finals in the past six seasons, also winning
the regional crown in 2004 and 2007. The Rambelles claimed the NCAA D-II National Championship in 2004. Information on
the NCAA D-II National Championship Finals can be found at: http://www.odaconline.com/d2softball/.
May 18, 2009
WORLD SERIES BOUND!!!
BELLES DOMINATE SOSU IN SUPER REGIONAL
Coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts named #5 in Sierra Vista Herald in areas top Coaches for 2005 and number three in 2006
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| Coach Bill gives his acceptance speech at the ASA Hall of Fame Banquet in 2007
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Monday, December 31
Hot Pepper Coaches- Bill and Sandy Roberts Named #2 by the Herald/Review as Top Coaches
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| Coach Sandy accepts ASA Softball Hall of Fame induction 2007
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By Matt Hickman
Herald/Review
Published on Sunday, December 30, 2007
Number 2 Area Coaches of the Year-----
2. Bill and Sandy Roberts, Hot Peppers softball
Bill and Sandy Roberts were rewarded for their more than 30 years of coaching the Hot Peppers traveling softball team by being inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame in August.
“It’s not something that at the outset we set out to do,” Bill Roberts said. “But it’s a thrill because people we know who are in the Hall of Fame are very special people. So we’re very proud.”
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| Hall of Fame Inductees-Coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts 2007
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Friday, April 18
Hot Peppers Founders and Pepper Alumni Teams Share Exhibit Space at Hank Hauser Museum in Sierra Vista
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the city of Sierra Vista and museum curator-Nancy Krieski for their hard work and recognition of the Hot Pepper organization during the current Baseball Exhibit and early history of Cochise County at the museum. The open house was held on April 16, 2008- where a complete program with speakers from the area spoke about the early history of Baseball here in our area. We learned about the equavalence of semi pro baseball clubs that field many of the baseball college athletes in the summers-where the athletes are not paid for their play, but where they gain exposure to be seen by many of the college scouts, and pro scouts. The Bisbee Copper Kings play out of Warren ball park over near Bisbee-it is one of the oldest baseball stadiums in the country and they are trying to make it a historic landmark as well. There are many teams, uniforms, and history of many now professional athletes who first made appearances on teams such as these before turning professional. Also on exhibit in the museum are several photos, memoriabillia including the ASA National Champion trophy of the 92 ASA National Champs-Sierra Vista Hot Peppers, along with the Hall of Fame plaque given to the Coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts in 2007. There are many notable softball alumni past and currently in college play represented in photos. We -Bill and I were also honored with the cutting of the ribbon with many of the honorees prior to the opening of the exhibit. Thank you Sierra Vista and the many folks who were present to see the displays. The exhibit will be open through the month of August-call to check on the hours.
R.V. City Hot Peppers Ranked Number One in 2006 final National Ranking in TCS USA Sportsrankings
Saturday, May 24
Our congratulations to all the Pepper Alumni who completed another Year of College
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| Cara 'Red' Redmond graduates Angelo State University-Texas
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We want to tell all the Pepper players who are moving up the ladder of success by completing another year of college or earning their degrees in 2008. You have all worked hard and managed to play softball as well as get yourselves a better education-for which we as well as your families are very proud.
Congrats to:
Jennifer Sherry-Graduated Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Cara Redmond- Angelo State University
Nicole Smith-Graduating Pima Community College and Attending Angelo
State University in the fall
Jesi Lee- Vernon Regional College
Regina Nucci-Completing Subject requirements from Vernon Regional College for degree and entering Cochise College Nursing program
Brianna Lee-Graduating Coffeyville Junior College in Kansas
Jessica Childers-Graduating Coffeyville Junior College in Kansas and looking to transfer to a University in the fall to play softball
Michelle Anderson-Returning to Eastern New Mexico State University in the fall as a junior
Patty Egan-Returning to Binghamton State University in New York as a senior in the fall
Sandy Meadows-Returning to Binghamton State University in New York as a senior in the fall
Lisa Stensby-Returning to Pima Community College in the fall as a sophomore
Amanda Wilson-?Returning to Mesa Community College in the fall as a sophomore
Michelle Trinidad-Returning to NAU in the fall as a junior with her major in music
Laura McMillan-Returning to Pima after a summer of working on getting her SAG card in California in 'Annie Get Your Gun"
We are proud of each and everyone of you!
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Jesi Lee celebrates her success at Vernon Regional College
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SV Herald Picks Bill and Sandy Roberts Top 10 Coaches 2003
For more than 30 years Bill and Sandy Roberts have been engineering the area's most prestigious select softball team, the Hot Peppers.
Over the years, the Hot Peppers have helped develop local high school talent and help send several players on to the collegiate level of play.
2002 Hot Peppers Second in ASA B Nationals(16&und)
Midland, Texas-The Circle B Hot Peppers came within inches of winning the Amateur Softball Association Class B Nationals Sunday, but lost in the championship game to the Clozers of San Marino, California, 4-3.
The Sierra Vista team took a 5-0 record into Saturday afternoon's play and advanced in the tournament semifinals with a 3-0 win over EXL8 of Texas, before losing to the Clozers in their first meeting, 8-4. Peppers coach Bill Roberts called that outing"our worst defensive game of the tournament."
The Peppers, after falling to the loser's bracket, bounced back to beat the California Flames, a team they defeated earlier in the tournament, 4-0, before meeting the Clozers in the championship game.
"We had the opportunity to win it all," Roberts said,"We just couldn't get hits at the right time."
The Closers scored early, pushing three runs acrosss the plate in the first inning, but the Peppers rebounded well with two of their own in the third to close to within one.
The Closers pushed across another run in the fifth to go up 4-2. The Peppers put up a challenge in the bottom of the sixth where they cut the lead to 4-3, but left the bases loaded.
"All together, we left eight runners stranded," Roberts said.
Patty Egan was the losing pitcher despite striking out 10 batters. She allowed six hits and finished the tournament with a 5-2 record.
Sandy Meadows and Cara Redmond each went 2 for 3, Jasmine Martan went 2 for 4 and Chris Gomez and Jen Sherry each had a hit in the championship game.
"They were a very good team, but we were equal to them."Roberts said."It was a great tournament, we just had that one bad game."
In the 3-0 win over Exl8, Egan had eight strikeouts and gave up six hits.
Gennie Brown and Laura MecMillan each had two hits and Meadows, Egan, Martan and Redmond each had singles.
In the first loss to the Clozers, Egan suffered the loss.
The Peppers led 4-1 after the second inning, but couldn't holt it.
"A couple of errors here, a couple of hits there, that's all it took." Roberts said. "We made the errors when they had runners on base."
The Peppers had only five hits in the game. Meadows, Laura McMillan, Martan, M. Anderson and Sherry each had singles.
In their only loser's bracket game, the Peppers knocked off the Flames by the identical score they defeated them by earlier in the tournament 4-0.
Egan again was the winning pitcher, allowing just two hits.
The Peppers scored two in the first, one in the third and one in the fourth.
Meadows went 4 for 4 at the plate, while Martan, Egan and Redmond each went 2 for 4. Brown also had a hit in the game.
Egan went 5-2 in the tournament, Dezi Martinez went 2-0.
Martan was the tournament leader at the plate, hitting .668. Meadows hit .536, Anderson .438 and Egan .364.
"We are already looking at next season." Roberts said.
quoted from the Sierra Vista Herald as written by Kevin Carolan.
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| 2001 TCS 16 and under National Championship-Patty Egan
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Hot Peppers Win United States TCS Western Nationals 2001 in 16 and under
Hot Peppers Coaching Staff-Head Coach Bill Roberts, Coach Sandy Roberts, Assistant Coach Bob Sherry.
TCS Western National Champion team members are: Patty Egan, Cara Redmond, Gennifer Brown, Megan Wilkerson, Jennifer Sherry, Sandy Meadows, Jasmine Martan, Laura McMillan, Michelle Anderson, Sabrina Smith, Dezi Weiker, Kari Toresdahl, & Christina Gomez(Nichelle Stinson-absent)
WHAT A GREAT TEAM-WHAT A GREAT FUTURE!!
2004 Peppers Win Triple Crown Sports Western Nationals-6&0 in 18 and under
What a way to conclude our 2004 summer season with the Championship win of the Triple Crown Sports Western National All American Tourney held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Hot Peppers arrived at the tourney with only 11 dedicated players who had worked extremely hard throughout the summer to fine tune their playing skills and all their hard work paid off, as they earned the championship title.
In round robin play, the Peppers defeated the Red Wings of Colorado 3-0 as Jesi Lee got the credited win. Then our youngster-Jenna Wright took to the field and held her own in a tie contest against an aggressively strong New Mexico Oro team 4-4. Jenn enters high school in the fall and just turned 14. Due to heavy rain delays, the tourney changed to double elimination and veteran pitcher Patty Egan took to the mound with battery catcher Cara Redmond behind the plate. Egan fired a 1 hitter against the aggressive Oklahoma Twisters and her team mates pounded out several runs to give her the win 6-1 in first round of the tourney. In the second game, Jesi Lee took control of the 2-1 win over San Antonio Law as she struck out 9 hitters enroute to the victory. This win secured the Peppers face off in the winner bracket game against XLR8 of Midland Texas where Patty Egan with Redmond behind the plate called the shots for the 3-0 win. With Redmond calling the pitches, Egan handilly struck out 13 batters as her team rallied with a strong defensive stand and scored the necessary runs to win. The Peppers returned for play on Sunday morning after more rain to play the Championship gaime against the XLR8 team that had fought off a strong SA Law team that morning in the now single elimination tourney.(A change made by the tourney committee due to early morning rain). The Championship game turned out to be one of the best games for the Pepper team in the tourney, as Egan in her final appearance on the mound for the Arizona team took her honored place on field along with Christina Gomez(both players not age eligible in 2005)to play the Championship.
The Peppers managed to score three runs and held the Texas team scoreless. Egan struck out 11 and helped her own cause with a double.
Cara Redmond managed a double as well, as the Hot Peppers won the Western Nationals with 6 wins in the tourney. Members of the championship team are Patty Egan (Pitcher on scholarship to Binghamton, NY), Cara Redmond(Catcher on scholarship to Angelo State University), Chris Gomez(2d baseman attending UofA), Jenna Wright(P/utility), Michelle Anderson(Catcher/utility), Jesi Lee (Pitcher/OF), Nicole Smith(3d, SS), Laura McMillan(OF), Brittny Baynes(OF), Regina Nucci(OF),& Ashley Chavez(OF/IF). Team managers and coaches of the 2004 Hot Peppers are Bill and Sandy Roberts.
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| Many ASA Hall of Famers including Rose Mofford attended induction
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Sunday, September 9
Arizona ASA Softball Hall of Fame Induction Banquet 2007
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| Lynn Mooney(Sun City Saints/Hall of Fame)greets old friends Sandy and Bill
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A few photos from the banquet at the Embassy Suites North in Phoenix on Aug 18.
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Hall of Fame inductee UofA/All american Pitcher-Susie Parra also inducted 2007
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| Head Coach Bill Roberts from the Hot Peppers holds Natl Champ trophy 1992
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Wednesday, April 29
Hot Peppers Head Coach-Bill Roberts Shows Off ASA Women's National Champion Trophy 1992
A dream is realized in 1992. Hot Pepper Head Coach Bill Roberts holds up the 1992 ASA Women's National Champion Trophy after the end of the Championship game in Memphis, Tennessee. The thrill of the win was having both wife Sandy and daughter Tisha on that National Champion team.
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| Tisha Roberts is named (First Team All American Pitcher)
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Tisha Roberts Pitches 92 Peppers to Championship in Memphis ASA Women's 1992
The 1992 Hot Peppers women's team came back a National Champion after winning the 1992 ASA women's fastptich Nationals in Memphis, Tennessee. The following players were named to the All American:First Team: Tisha Roberts(pitcher), Trish Magargee Holmes(catcher); Second Team- Roberta Edwards(3d base), Jenny Caporale(first base);Third Team: Paige Losey(pitcher) and Brenda Haynes(Left fielder). The team members of the 1992 National Champions team were Tisha Roberts, Trish Magargee, Shuryl Margargee, Sandy Roberts, Jolynda Thompson, Sara Fernandez, Brenda Haines, Roberta Edwards, Paige Losey, Noel Geddes, Jenny Caporale, and Dee Foster, with 6 players making that ASA All American teams.
The Peppers first National trip with Tisha had been in 1982 and exactly 10 years later the the Peppers women's team won the title and their daughter Tisha was a member of that team. Both Tisha Roberts (Pitcher) and Trish Magargee Holmes (Catcher) were named to the All American teams in 1988 and 1989 as well. Coaching the National Champions were Head Coach Bill Roberts, Assistant Coach Sandy Roberts and Assistant Coach Charles Roberts.
'NOTHING OF VALUE IS EVER ACHIEVED WITHOUT SACRIFICE'
Monday, February 4
Roberts softball field in Sierra Vista, Az -named in honor of Hot Pepper coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts
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| Coaches Bill and Sandy by Hot Pepper quilt and field dedication in their honor.
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The community center 'A' field which was dedicated to the coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts (Hot Peppers) after coaching and working with the youth and area athletes over 36 years in Sierra Vista
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Softball field named after Hot Pepper coaches Bill and Sandy Roberts-after 36 yr
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Monday, March 26
See Info for Pepper Alumni update
Click on Info for more detailed information of many of the Hot Pepper alumni. If you remember someone that we have missed, or know of more current information on these players, e-mail us. Take a walk down memory lane and see how these young female athletes have matured and their contributions to both their communities and families they have made. They all have made a difference and are some great women to have coached.
Friday, April 13
Pepper Alumni-click on Information
Some of the Hot Pepper4s from years gone by can be found by clicking on the information section of my site news. There you will find many listings of Peppers we have heard from and have tried to stay up to date on. If you know of other alumni that we have missed, or that you know additional facts on-e-mail us and let us know. Enjoy reading about these athletes and the great Americans they have become.
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