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Randy Gale is wearing a lot of hats these days.
Based out of Firestone, Colorado (in the Denver metro area), the cyber security engineer also serves as the Rocky Mountain Fastpitch League Commissioner as well as the Colorado Firecrackers Operations Director. He even coaches varsity softball as an assistant for Frederick High
And then comes his more grassroots role as the head coach of his young, but very promising, Firecrackers 12U team that in Fall League play has gone 10-0 with 110 runs scored while allowing just nine.
After graduating three classes of Firecrackers—including the 2021 group that included his daughter, Peyton Gale, an Extra Elite 100 infielder who is now a freshman at Northern Colorado—the coach has decided to step back into the Juniors level again to bring another group of young ball players up through the competitive national club ball scene.
Gale has also expanded the Firecrackers to five local teams with age groups of 10U, 12U, 16U, 16U Gold and 18U Gold.
After having the experience of taking his first group of Firecrackers from 12’s to 18’s the coach/director/commissioner feels the need to drop back down for another challenge and help ensure kids are coming up with the correct fundamentals, thus why he’s working hands-on with the younger team.
“This group of young ladies is impressing me already,” he begins. “After only a few short weeks of working with them they are 10-0 in the Fall league and have scored 110 runs, while allowing a mere nine runs with only two earned. They want to be coached, and they simply love the game!”
It’s not just local domination the coach and crew are seeking—they’re looking to go across the country and play the elite teams to get better.
“It is important to me that we continue to teach our young players in Colorado the culture of the Firecrackers and what it takes to be an exceptional athlete,” Gale says. “Our schedule plans to have us playing some 14U this year locally and traveling to Texas, Arizona, and Oklahoma City, too. We will also play in the Sparkler weekend in Colorado.”
For this next year, it’s no surprise, that the team will shoot to play at the Alliance Nationals (AFCS), being that Gale is a commissioner of one of the eight leagues across the country.
“We are registered as an RMFL team and will be battling to earn a 12U berth to the AFCS for 2022,” he explains.”
One reason being that the players, young though they may be, are sponges when it comes to absorbing the instruction needed to play at a higher level.
“It is interesting how quickly these young players have been able to pick up the coaching,” the coach marvels.
It’s a pretty impressive staff, too, that the young talent is learning from.
His consists of Nicole Gale, a former collegiate player; Mitch Martinez, a 20-year vet of coaching travel ball and at Holy Family High (Broomfield, Colorado) where he has won two state championships in the last three years, and whose daughter Anna Martinez played for coach Gale and now attends Northern Colorado.
The assistant coaches are Miggy Hernandez and Rian Conradie, who also have multiple years coaching travel ball as they have seen their daughters play at that next level as well.
Young though the players on the Firecrackers may be, their coach sees a bright future for these pre-teens from the Rocky Mountain State.
“This roster is made up of very talented athletes who are finding the ability to play at a new level,” Coach Gale adds. “I can’t wait to get these girls ready to play the best of the best in the coming years.”
Meet the 12U Firecrackers Gale team:
- #1 Ella Stromberg (2B, OF)
- #2 Savannah Cardenas (RHP, Utility)
- #3 Keyanna Reeves (IF, OF)
- #4 Chaela Johnson (IF, OF)
- #5 Stephanie Davis (IF, OF)
- #7 Naleyah Armijo (Neli) (C, OF)
- #13 Brynlee Taga (C, Utility)
- #16 Addie Sulley (RHP, Utility)
- #21 Sam Simmons (2B, OF)
- #33 Kady Coysns (RHP, 1B)
- #42 Deja Jackson (IF)
- #77 Julianna Alfaro (RHP, C, Utility)
To follow Firecrackers Gale 12U, visit them at firecrackers-gale.com.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball