Berkeley Bears Softball

Welcome to the Bears 14U team
We are very excited to offer a 14U team this year and appreciate your interest in our up and coming program. The goals of our organization and teams are to guide the improvement and growth of each of our young ladies in order to instill passion for the game for years to come. It is our strong and continuous desire to have our teams represented at Nationals.

14U Garcia/Smith

14U 2008 Spring/Summer Roster

Garcia/Smith Morano

                                               Nia Ceasar                                                        Hayley Anderson
                                               Alex Corbett                                                     Kayla Bufardeci
                                               Shannon DeVries                                             Erin Cathey
                                               Perri Griffin                                                       Kayla Hancock
                                               Taylor Hendrickson                                        Annaliese Herren
                                               Celina Lafrades                                               Shannon Low
                                               Jeanna Leavit                                                 Rebecca Oestreich
                                               Micki Loveridge                                              Andrea Pulido
                                               Tiffany Nordman                                             Nicole Santos
                                               Krissy Ormsby                                                 Carly Savin
                                               Kylee Perez                                                     Kayla Simonson
                                               Alex Ridling                                                    Shalimar Zierman
                                               Alisia Selden
                                               Chelsea Shipley
                                               Ashlee Sills
                                               Mariah Suitos

14U Morano

Kiko Garcia kghitter@aol.com
Kiko played in the Major League for 8+ seasons (1976-1985) and professionaly for 15 years (1971-1985) and is now coaching for the Bears Softball Association.

Kiko started coaching baseball in 1989 and switched to girls softball once his own daughters started to play. He coached his eldest, Becca, throughout her high school and ASA years.

Kiko's accomplishments include winning two consecutive 18U ASA National Championship titles (2002, 2003). Kiko continued coaching at the 18U level through 2005.

Kiko has also coached at the high school level taking his teams to the NCS Playoffs each year from 1999-2005. His 2001 College Park team won the 3A NCS Championships with a 27-1 record. Kiko was named the Contra Costa Times "Coach of the Year" as well as earning the "All State Coach of the Year" title for 2001.

After taking some time off, Kiko is looking forward to resuming his coaching career with the 14U Bears.

Michelle Smith meeshelly3@aol.com

Born on February 12, 1985 to Mark Smith and Noreen Grubb and has one younger brother, Kevin and one older sister, Jenelle.

Michelle spent much of her teenage years playing for Kiko, and started on three of his championship teams. Her development during high school was largely due to Kiko’s mentoring, culminating in back-to-back selections to the CIF All-State softball team. Michelle went on to become a three-year starter for Arizona State University, highlighted by two appearances in the NCAA Women’s College World Series. Michelle joins the Bears with the unique experience of having played at the highest levels of high school, ASA and NCAA competition.

As a speedy left-handed slapper, Michelle led the Pac-10 Conference in stolen bases in her junior year as ASU reached the Women’s College World Series for the first time in 5 years. Michelle capped her senior year by leading the Sun Devils in hitting at ASU’s second straight appearance in the Women’s College World Series. During each of her four seasons Michelle was remarkably successful on the basepaths, being thrown out just four times on the way to finishing third in the ASU record book for career stolen bases. Following each of her final two seasons, Michelle was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team. In spring, 2007, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Kinesiology.

Mike Morano
Was Born October 19, 1969... Started playing little league baseball at 5 and stop playing around 22.. Stop playing high school baseball freshman year to start playing volleyball in high school and in junior college... Started playing football at age 8 and played youth, high school, junior college and received a scholarship to Bethel College In Kansas for football...Numerous achievements in high school and in junior college and at Bethel college..1st team all league in volleyball, football in high school.. 1st team in volleyball and football in junior college and won MVP in nor-cal for volleyball..Athlete of the year in junior college...While at Bethel was an all American 1st team defense, and kick returner... Started playing slow pitch softball at 25 at the A / Major level for about 10 years traveled around the country playing softball at the highest level...Coach two years at Clayton valley high school volleyball JV and varsity both boys and girls...

Has been with his wife for 20 years and have three children Marisa 10, Macey 7, and Michael 5...They all play sports softball, basketball ,and soccer and he coaches all three..Loves coaching sports and watching children be successful and having FUN!!!! Some motto's- Give 120% to 130% because every body else is just giving a 100%!!!! Practice hard so the GAME is easy!!! Lived in Clayton/ Concord all his life. Clayton Valley Grad.