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After a decade of serving as a top club coach in Southern California for elite travel ball organizations such as the So Cal Choppers and Firecrackers, Kim Ensey has started her own organization with seven teams across Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties.
And the coach, who has consistently fielded Power Pool teams in major national tournaments, says she doesn’t expect the expansion to just stay local in the Southland.
“We are also talking with teams in Arizona, New Jersey, and Texas about possible expansion,” says Kim, who took the 18U Choppers team to a Top 10 finish at PGF Premier Nationals in 2018.
She has also served as a recruiting director for dozens of players who have gone on to the collegiate level, including athletes who’ve competed at schools in the Pac-12, SEC, ACC and across DI to NAIA.
Click HERE to see the complete list of college-level players Kim has worked with
This summer, the Empire Fastpitch 18U Premier team based out of Anaheim will be competing in the Power Pools at Zoom Into June and Colorado Fireworks as well as at Triple Crown Nationals, Champion’s Cup, and PGF Nationals.
“As in my previous years, my recruiting-aged teams will focus heavily on balancing competing at the highest levels and recruiting,” the coach adds.
So why create a new program in talent-rich Southern California (and possibly beyond)? Coach Kim says it comes down to philosophy.
“Our goal,” she explains, “is to create an environment where all athletes can be part of a positive culture geared towards development and growth on and off the field. As coaches, we will strive to be competitive at the highest levels of play while continuing to be positive role models and support for our young ladies without compromising integrity.”
Development will be key, she stresses, but getting the players to find the right fit at the next level is also paramount.
“With college softball as a goal,” Kim continues, “we will educate our players and families about the recruiting process and encourage them to think with both short-term and long-term goals in mind when choosing a school to compete.
The Empire Fastpitch organization currently has teams at all levels—from 10U up through 18U—and is looking for leaders who can help take the program to the next level.
“We hope to bring in more coaches who believe and support our philosophy to compete with their teams under the Empire name,” she states.
The former All-Conference player at Adams State University is well-established in softball at many levels. After getting her Masters in Sports Management, she has coached at the high school levels (Santa Fe and Chino Hills in Southern California) and been an Event Director for College Sports Evaluations as well as serving as a Player Liason and Coordinator for the PGF High School All-American Game.
So what’s in a name? Why did she choose “Empire Fastpitch” to build her surging new travel ball brand?
“We chose Empire because we feel that our young ladies can run the world and make their names known in their communities as positive figures of leadership,” Coach Kim explains. “We are creating an ‘Empire’ of empowered and beautiful women who will be future leaders!”
Scroll down to get a player-by-player look at the 18U team which already has eight upperclassmen signed or committed.
Comments are from Coach Kim…