ABOUT ME
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| ABOUT ME |
My name is Brenda Quinn and I was born on September 27, 1979 in Orange County, CA. I started playing softball when I was
7 years old for Westminster Lil Miss Softball. I started out as a pitcher when I was 7, but didn't begin taking lessons until I was 9.
My first pitching coach was Tom Auger, who showed me the basics of pitching including how to "snap" the ball. He will always
be my favorite pitching coach because he made lessons fun and kept me interested in learning all I could about the game.
When I was 13 years old, I switched to Fountain Valley Lil Miss Softball and I also switched pitching coaches. Conway De Sha
taught me how to throw a rise ball and a drop ball and also refined my curve ball, screw ball and change up. I owe a lot to Conway
for dedicating his time to me not only as a pitching coach, but also as my high school and travel ball coach. I played for Conway's travel team,
the Southern California Wrecking Crew until I was 17 years old and enjoyed much success doing so. One of my best softball memories
was winning the Turkey Tournament
in 1993 with the Wrecking Crew. Most of the girls on the travel team also played for my high
school team at Westminster High School. We were a very competitive team and set new records for WHS while we played there.
After graduating from high school in 1997, I switched travel teams and played for the USA Athletics for one season while taking
pitching lessons with legendary pitching coach, Ernie Parker. The head coach of the USA Athletics was Steve McKnee and he was
kind enough to set up a time for the head coach from the University of Florida to watch me pitch in a tournament.
Shortly thereafter, I was offered a pitching scholarship to the University of Florida.
I left for Florida the following August but quickly grew home sick. I decided that even though I had accomplished my dream of
earning a college softball scholarship, I didn't want to be away from my friends and family for 4 years. I came home for Christmas that
same year and did not return to Florida, but I began giving lessons in January 1999 to a girl my aunt knew just to help her out.
I realized how much I truly enjoyed teaching and began advertising at local parks for others who might be interested in taking some lessons.
However, I knew that finishing college was still an important goal in my life, so I worked full time
so I could attend Cal State Fullerton part time. I held lessons part time as well.
In 2002, I helped coach a 10 & under winterball team for Cypress Girls Softball with head coach, Ron Lawrence. I knew Ron because his
daughter, Dominique, was taking lessons with me and he asked me to help out. It was an awesome experience watching a group of girls
develop and improve throughout the season, and take third place in the Thanksgiving tournament. By then, I was giving lessons
to about 10 girls weekly and 6 months later, I had as many as 25 lessons weekly.
In August of 2003, I decided to quit my day job and stick to giving lessons while still attending Cal State Fullerton part time. I graduated with
a B.A. in Advertising in January 2005 (when I was 5 months pregnant) and by May, I was holding as many as 80 pitching and hitting lessons
weekly. As you can imagine, I began to get very tired during my 8th month of pregnancy, so I took maternity leave in May and gave birth to
my beautiful daughter, Isabella, on June 5, 2005 while watching the Women's College World Series on ESPN.
One month later, I was back doing what I love the most...teaching girls how to play softball.
I hope to continue teaching for as long as possible and watch my students succeed in softball and in life.