By Angela Magee
S
ix years ago, Patrick Geary was the
softball coach for a group of 10-yearold girls who were ready to take their
play to the next level. The group included
his daughter, Kayleigh.
“The 10 and under MYAA girls softball
team was a competitive bunch. They knew
they were winning by a lot, even though we
weren’t keeping score,” says Geary.
Their drive to compete prompted
him along with Tom Berendt and Fred
Amendola, who also have daughters in
the program, to start the Erie Cheetahs
Girls Softball Program, a nonprofit athletic
organization that gives female athletes the
chance to play travel softball.
“I love playing travel softball because
of all that we learn about that game. More
importantly, the friendships we develop,
people we meet and interesting places we
travel to,” says Kayleigh Geary, who plays
third base for the Cheetahs on the 14 and
under team and the 16 and under team.
The Cheetahs have five travel teams. The
18 and under team is coached by Mark
Conklin; the 16 and under team is coached
by Joe Martucci; the 14 and under team is
coached by Jason Morell; the 12 and under
team is coached by Mike Ortun; and the 10
and under team is coached by John Jones.
As president of the organization, Geary
devotes a lot of time to overseeing the
league, registering teams for tournaments
and managing schedules.
Parents pay for the girls to travel, but
the Cheetahs also do fundraisers and have
corporate sponsors in the community
to help fund the team’s travels and
competitions.
The Erie Cheetahs compete in western
Pennsylvania, New York and throughout
eastern Ohio in fast pitch softball
tournaments. The girls have to qualify for
some of the tournaments, but Geary says
they try to keep the Cheetahs as close to
home as possible so parents and players
don’t have to travel far during the season.
Erie Cheetahs Catcher, Kayla,
of the 16U Team, in action.
Typically the team does off-season
workouts in winter, and some of the
teams will play in a handful of indoor
tournaments before the weather turns
nice enough to play outside.
The season officially starts in May for
the non-high school players. The 14, 16,
and 18 and under teams usually start
after the McDowell High School junior
and varsity school softball season is over.
Each team plays 25 to 45, and even up to
60, games with the Cheetahs, depending
on the age group.
Centerfielder Maria Amendola says, “I
have played for the Erie Cheetahs softball
organization since I was eight years old.
I have gained a lot of softball knowledge
and experience that helps me compete
at the high school level and hopefully
beyond.”
Practices are held around the region.
Generally, the 18 and under team
practices at Villa Maria. The 16 and
14 and under teams use the fields at
Mercyhurst College, and the 12 and 10
and under teams practice out of Northeast.
The travel leagues compete at a much
higher skill level than recreational leagues
and require more of a time commitment
from the players. Their dedication has paid
off. The Cheetahs have made it to the finals
and semifinals in various tournaments,
and the 18 and under team has qualified
for nationals.
Geary says he has been coaching now
for 28 years and has had quite a few girls
go on to play at the collegiate level, many
of them at Division I and Division II
schools.
Tryouts are open to all players in the
area. The teams are always looking for
players to fill open roster spots, even
in the off-season. Geary adds that the
number-one thing they are looking for is
coachability and a willingness to listen and
learn. n
Millcreek | Fall 2016 | icmags.com 63