Meet the coaches
Coaching staff
Owner:
Frankie
Rios
USC & Boston Red Sox A 3-year starter at USC, he earned honorable mention honors as a sophomore and was named 1st Team All-Pac-12 before being drafted in the 17th round by the Boston Red Sox. After two years playing professionally, he spent three seasons coaching in the Red Sox minor league system at the A & AA levels. Now an assistant varsity coach and baseball/softball instructor, he’s passionate about developing the next generation. He’s gravitated toward the fast, exciting environment of softball and loves the energy it brings to player development.
Coach
Leilani
Melendez
University of Utah Coach Leilani Melendez brings Division I and Pac-12 experience from the University of Utah, where she competed as a catcher and outfielder. Before Utah, she starred at La Mirada High School, earning Suburban League MVP, All-CIF, and Whittier Daily News Player of the Year honors. A former Firecrackers athlete, Coach Leilani brings firsthand experience of what it takes to develop from travel softball into a Division I player. She is a current varsity coach at La Mirada HS.
Coach PriscillaÂ
Martinez
George Washington University At Mater Dei High School, she helped lead her team to its first CIF-SS Division I title since 1998. She was named the 2016 LA Times Southern Section Division I Player of the Year, selected to the CalHiSports.com All-State Super Elite list, and earned First Team All-League honors three times. She batted .462 with 33 RBIs her senior season and was recognized as Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year during her time there. She also won a PGF 16U National Championship in 2014 with the So Cal Athletics. At George Washington University, she played all four years and became one of the program’s most consistent and impactful hitters. She earned A-10 All-Conference Second Team, A-10 All-Rookie Team, and NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors, finishing her career with a .340+ batting average, 71 RBIs, and 29 doubles—ranking among GW’s all-time leaders. She graduated in 2020 with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate.
Head Coach
Anessa
Cepeda
Hope International & UCR A standout in high school, Anessa was named First Team All-Moore League, earned multiple Team MVP honors, and competed at the highest club level. She went on to play Division I softball as a pitcher and utility player, leading her team with a 2.22 ERA. After two seasons at UC Riverside, she transferred to Hope International University, where she made an immediate and lasting impact. There, Anessa was a multiple-time NAIA and GSAC Pitcher/Player of the Week, finishing with a stellar 1.83 ERA and .398 batting average. Most notably, she became the first-ever softball All-American in HIU history. Coach Anessa’s high-level experience, leadership, and commitment to excellence make her the perfect mentor for our young athletes. Now she’s here to lead the next generation of athletes!
Head Coach
Jasmine
Hernandez
Washington Adventist University With over 18 years of softball experience and 13 years as a pitcher, Jasmine brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and passion to every athlete she coaches. She played collegiate softball at Washington Adventist University (NAIA – Maryland), where she honed the competitive edge and leadership that define her coaching style today. For the past 5 years, she has worked as a private pitching coach, offering personalized 1-on-1 training, group lessons, and clinics tailored to each athlete’s development. Her coaching résumé includes work with highly respected organizations such as the Dodgers Foundation, Washington Nationals Youth Academy, and the Natasha Watley Foundation. Jasmine has also coached at the high school level, leading programs at Spencerville Adventist Academy and St. John’s College High School. She is committed to developing confident, well-rounded pitchers—both on and off the field.
Coach
Alyssa
Armijo
Campbell University From Orange County, Alyssa Armijo was a standout Short Stop in High school and collegiately. She won multiple awards throughout her career. She finished her career at Campbell University where she completed her degree in Marketing. She brings immense knowledge to our groups and coaches for our 12u team.
Coach
Valerie
Joaquin
Jackson State University A standout in high school, Valerie was a SS winning plenty of league honors for the Artesia Pioneers. She went on and played collegiately at Jackson State University, where she competed at the Division I level and gained valuable experience playing against top competition. Throughout her playing career, she built a reputation for her work ethic, leadership, softball IQ, and passion for player development. As a coach, Valerie is committed to helping young athletes build a strong foundation in the fundamentals while developing confidence, discipline, and a love for the game. Her experience as a collegiate player allows her to bring a high-level perspective to practices while creating a positive and encouraging environment for young players. Coach Valerie's focus is not only on developing better softball players but also helping young athletes grow as teammates, leaders, and competitors.
Coach
Charlene
Torres
University of Notre Dame, MD Coach Char is an Artesia High School alumni. She continued and finished her playing career at University of Notre Dame of Maryland. She was a Catcher with a great bat. She finished her last season with a .346 BA, 2 HR and 8 2B. She brings lots of knowledge to our group. She will be joining coach Val as the lead assistant for our 2026-27 10U group. Coach Char is committed to helping the next generation of softball players to reach their softball goals.
Stephanie Jimenez Pitching consultant
Coach
Angel
Mann
Coach
Danny Lumberas
Coach
Mikey Silva
Cal State Dominguez Hills Coach Steph brings an elite level of playing and coaching experience to our organization. A Cal State Dominguez Hills All-American and one of the most accomplished pitchers in CSUDH history, she finished her collegiate career with: 84 career wins, 662 strikeouts, 23 shutouts, 17 saves, 232 strikeouts in a single season, and a career no-hitter! She was named the 2012–13 CSUDH Female Athlete of the Year, earned NFCA All-America Third Team honors, and was a two-time All-West Region and All-CCAA selection. Following her playing career, Coach Steph returned to CSUDH to lead the Toros pitching staff, helping develop collegiate pitchers and build the staff into one of the top pitching groups in the CCAA. Now, Coach Steph will work with both FR Futures 14U groups, overseeing our pitching development and working alongside our coaches to create a consistent developmental system for our pitchers.
Utah Valley University Coach Angel originates from the Sunshine State, FLorida. She held it down for the Wolverines in the outfield. She played every inning in center field in her last 2 seasons … named to WAC All-Defensive team.
FR Futures Cepeda Coach Danny has 10 plus years in the softball space, including on the baseball side. He is passionate about the game and enjoys giving back to the players. His strong background in travel ball has allowed for much success. Coach Danny is an assistant coach to FR Futures Cepeda 12s.
FR Futures Zavala Coach Mikey brings immense knowledge to the organization, with 15 years of coaching experience.
Head Coach Johnny Zavala
Coach
Gilbert Joaquin
Coach
Bobby Carrillo
FR Futures Zavala Coach Johnny Zavala brings a lot to the table. His hard work ethic has helped him become one of the strongest coaches in OC. With both baseball and softball experience over the last 15 years, he brings a bunch of knowledge to his team and our entire organization.
FR Futures Joaquin Coach Gilbert is the assistant coach to coach Val. He is a great help to their early successes. He has helped pioneer this year's 10u group.
FR Futures Cepeda Coach Bob "THE BOSS," is an assistant coach and father of coach Ness Cepeda. He brings a lot of knowledge and energy that our program thrives on. He has coached travel softball for over 15 years with multiple organizations.
FR Futures Cepeda Coach Bobby is an assistant coach to FR Futures Cepeda. He has baseball playing experience at the powerhouse Gahr HS, and ran by coach Gerardo Perez. Coach Bobby has 6+ years of experience coaching the game.
Coach
Bob
Cepeda
"How you do one thing, is how you do everything."