Club News: Kansas-Based Peppers Teams Partner with Homefield & BC Fastpitch Academy… Rebranded as “BC/Peppers – Wallace”

News out of the Sunflower State as Jeff Wallace’s Peppers 16U and 18U teams are about to be renamed and rebranded… by one letter.

Previously known as the KC Peppers – Wallace, the new teams will now be known as BC/Peppers – Wallace as the long-time coach is joining forces with Homefield and Building Champions Fastpitch Academy beginning in the Summer of 2023.

Wallace announced this week that his two nationally competitive travel ball teams are “joining forces” with the new partners in what should make his players better individually and as teams.

“I am excited for what this merger provides to our athletes, coaches, and families,” he said this week. “The investment in player development in a 360-degree approach fits the objectives of our coaching staff and what we want to do going forward. BC and Homefield’s resources take a back seat to no one, which will benefit our young ladies that aspire to be college student-athletes.”

The facilities that the BC/Peppers – Wallace will have access to include:

• a primary facility that is 230,000 square feet,
• two other facilities in the Metro area,
• construction of the $170 million Baseball/Softball complex in Kansas City, Kansas.

Over the past 15 years, Wallace has built a reputation as one of the elite fastpitch coaches in the Midwest and across the nation. He and his staff have helped over 70 student-athletes gain college scholarships to continue their athletic and academic goals at institutions across every level all over the country.

“I am very excited to welcome the Peppers-Wallace players, families, Jeff Wallace, and his coaching staff to the Homefield/BC Fastpitch family,” added Travis Huenfeld, Director of Building Champions Fastpitch Academy.

“We want to develop players and help grow the game here in Kansas City. This is a giant step for us at Building Champions Fastpitch Academy and with the addition of the Peppers-Wallace teams it will give us a well-known national presence in the fastpitch arena. In addition to these National 16 and 18U teams, our goal is to add a 14U National team this Fall.”

Huenfeld says he’s excited to work with Wallace and that it will benefit everyone’s game.

“Jeff and his teams have a great reputation of developing players on and off the field and now with Homefield’s resources, it will elevate these players’ potential to a whole new level. Jeff has put together nationally ranked teams year after year. He has also done a great job of providing opportunities for his players to showcase their skills against elite competition across the country, as well as providing them opportunities to play at the collegiate level,” Huenfeld added.

In addition to the state-of-art facilities that Homefield provides, the BC/Peppers-Wallace teams will have access to a host of resources including in-house instruction; certified trainers for structured strength and conditioning including biomechanical screenings; cutting-edge training technology such as Rapsodo, Blast Motion and Hack Attack machines (“technology that trains all aspects of the offensive side of the game,” says Eric Flores, Associate Head Coach); and world-renown national partners like Rawlings, Easton, Under Armour and New Balance.

“We know how important it is to train not only the skills of our student-athletes, but to give them the tools to succeed on and off the playing field at the next level,” Wallace continued.

“As coaches and leaders of young women, we want to give them every opportunity to develop and showcase their talents. Having a partner now like Homefield will elevate what we do for our past, present and future players.”

The BC/Peppers-Wallace 16U and 18U National teams will begin their summer tournament schedule in Kansas City over Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29. 2023.

Click HERE to go to the Building Champions softball website to learn more; also to see the video on DARI Motion, click HERE.

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball