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)

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..

  By Matt Hickman
Herald/Review

Published on Sunday, December 30, 2007

Number 2 Area Coaches of the Year-----

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.

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!

A few photos from the banquet at the Embassy Suites North in Phoenix on Aug 18.