Pitching Instructors
Hitting Instructors
Catching Instructors
Meet Coach MacLean
Alex MacLean
Alex MacLean started playing softball when she was 5 years old and she has been hooked ever since. She graduated from Northampton Area High School in 2009 and hold records in career wins (51) and shutouts (29). After graduating high school MacLean went on to play Division 1 softball at Bucknell University. As a freshman she was named rookie of the year and tournament MVP, she also threw the team’s first no-hitter in two decades. MacLean currently holds 9 spots on the program’s top-10 single season record lists including games played, starts, wins and strikeouts. In addition, she holds 6 spots on the program’s career lists including games, starts, shutouts and strikeouts. Alex is a certified instructor with Tincher Pitching.
Meet Coach Emmons
Taylor Emmons
Taylor Emmons began her softball career at the age of 8 and still plays today. She played at Northampton Athletic Association through their developmental and competitive leagues. After graduating she stepped away from the game but quickly realized how much she missed it. Within a year, Taylor joined a women’s softball league. Taylor says her favorite thing about coaching is the kids. “I love seeing the kids work hard to reach their goals and the happiness they feel when they do reach them”. Taylor is also the pitching coach for Freedom High School and is a certified instructor with Tincher Pitching
Meet Coach Ficara
Dominique Ficara
Dominique Ficara started playing softball when she was 8 years old and that’s when she fell in love with the game. She graduated from Kingsway Regional High School in 2011, winning a state championship, two South Jersey championships, 3 district championships, three team MVP for the year and South Jerseys Most Value Player award. After graduating high school Ficara went on to play Division 1 softball at Hofstra University. During her freshman year the team had its first ever undefeated conference season, won regionals at UCLA and went on the their first ever Super Regional tournament. Then Ficara transferred to Kutztown University where she led them to winning their first ever PSAC conference championship, as well as winning regionals, super regionals, and all the way to the NCCA National Championship game. Ficara currently holds 8 spots on the programs record lists including games in a season, wins in a season, games in a career, complete games in a career, shutouts in career, innings pitched in a career, and strikeouts in a career.
Meet Coach Buskirk
Katie Buskirk
Katie has played softball since she was 5 years old. She started playing in the recreation leagues in the Nazareth area, played tournament softball in the Lehigh Valley and played for Nazareth High School, where the team won the league championship in 2010. Following high school, she continued her softball career at Northampton Community College where she played for two years, the maximum amount of time at a junior college. After her Junior College stint, Katie got into the coaching side of the game. She was a volunteer coach at Liberty High School, Head JV Coach at Liberty High School and is the current Head Varsity coach at Palisades High School. Katie joins 7 Deadly Spins Fastpitch with a desire to further her pitching knowledge and continue to help younger pitchers reach their goals. Katie says “I always looked forward to going to my pitching lessons. My coach was like the big sister I never had. She always supported my goals and pushed me to achieve them. I want to be that idol to the pitchers I work with. I want them to look up to me, just like I looked up to my pitching instructor years ago”.
Meet Coach George
Dior George
Dior George graduated from Liberty High School in 2011 and was a two- time All State center fielder. After graduating high school, Dior went on to play at Moravian College where she appears in the record book 54 times. Dior is ranked #2 in career hits with 214, including a career batting average of .393. She had 8 doubles, 13 homeruns, 47 stolen bases and 98 runs batted in during her career. Dior was named Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and received All-Region honors all four years. In addition she holds two Landmark Championships, a Regional Championship and a Super Regional finalist appearance. After college, Dior continued her passion for the game and became the Liberty High School hitting coach for two years and outfield coach for one year. Dior bats and throws righty and was a leadoff batter throughout her high school and college careers. Dior believes that teamwork, leadership and repetition is what makes you a successful player. Dior is excited to become a part of 7 Deadly Spins Fastpitch and help young players develop the same passion for hitting and fielding she has.
Meet Coach Matos
Janae Matos
Janae Matos has been a lifetime softball lover. She graduated from Catasauqua High School and was a 4-year starter and 3-year captain. Matos went on to Moravian College to follow her dreams of playing collegiate softball. At Moravian, Janae was a 4-year starter and 3-year captain. In 2017 Matos was named the NCAA DIII National Catcher of the Year and NFCA First Team All-American. Janae was a two-time First Team Landmark Conference selection, Landmark Conference Player of the Year and All-Region selection. She holds the record for the most putouts in a game with 19, and is among the leaders in career putouts (881) and career fielding percentage (.993). While being successful on the field was important, it was equally as important to thrive in the classroom. Janae became a CoSIDA Academic All-American and was a member of the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll Team all 4 years of her career. She has continued to share her love of the game while becoming the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 18U Gold Team in the 2018-2019 season. Janae brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to 7DS.