Bio

Sara Gonzales joined AVC Softball in 2022 as the pitching coach. While also working with the Marauders, she is a full-time pitching and catching coach for softball and baseball in Southern California for all ages.

Sara graduated from Paraclete High School in 2002, where she remains as one of the tops pitchers to ever come out of the Antelope Valley. While attending Paraclete High School, Sara was a four-year varsity starter who broke several records, including innings pitched (180), shutouts (20), no-hitters (6), wins (22), era (.19 in 180 innings), and most strikeouts in a game (23). Having done this in a single season her junior year, Sara was awarded: All CIF, League MVP, All-State, AV Press Player of the Year, and LA Times All-Star Team. She led the Spirits to League Championships her first three years while also being named All Valley Press Team her sophomore year and making 1st Team All-League 3 times.

Sara played with the nationally-ranked travel ball team OC Batbusters and was recruited by many Power 5 conference schools, which include: Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Florida State. She committed to play for The University of Wisconsin and was expected to instantly make an impact on the Badgers pitching staff. In her senior year of high school, Sara started her injury journey by breaking her ankle. While having to miss her senior season with the Spirits, she was still considered a top 10 pitcher in the country. Still rehabbing her injury Sara made her way to Wisconsin. While ready to make her lasting impression at the highest level, Sara experienced a knee injury her sophomore year which influenced her to transfer to Cal State Fullerton. The fall of her junior year at Fullerton is where she eventually had her career-ending knee surgery.

Sara moved home and continued giving pitching and catching lessons, which has been her full-time job for over 20 years. She’s coached several local youth teams and some top-ranked travel ball teams, including the 14u Choppers - Faucet.

Throughout her years of being a coach, she has had several girls move on to play college softball, including some in Power 5 conferences. She specializes in sports development and continues to mentor young girls and women to become their absolute best on and off the field.