Meet the “B.P.S.” (Black Pitching Staff)… & How They Became DI Pitchers

We’ve followed for years the successful journey of the three pitchers, friends and former teammates included in this article and thank them and their families who contributed to this story…

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At 11-years-old, the trio of standout pitchers from Southern California named themselves the “B.P.S.” for “Black Pitching Staff.” They knew they were different but all achieved their goal: to play at the college level.

Esperanza “Espy” Coe, Angelina Devoe and Sarah Willis worked hard to be treated as equals, not by their teammates—who accepted and loved them— but by those across the field or in the stands who may have had underlying feelings that black athletes aren’t smart enough, or don’t have what it takes to play at the the top levels of the game.

They sometimes wondered if they were seen as just good athletes… and not exceptional pitchers… by those who may have thought that they won because of the great hitting around them, not because of their pitching prowess.

Today, all three of them have persevered and each has received a scholarship to Division 1 schools to continue their athletic and softball careers.

Even when their pitching or hitting skills weren’t appreciated.

“Although there was never anything blatantly said to me during the recruiting process,” Sarah recalls, “the feedback my travel ball coach would receive from college coaches was, ‘She is such a good athlete but we are looking for a Rachel Garcia (two-way pitcher/hitter type).’”

Sarah grew as an athlete and young woman and today plays for Marty Tyson, the head of the Corona Angels, one of the most successful travel softball programs in the nation.

“He pushed me to understand that I was always going to have to work five times harder and be five times better than non-African-Americans pitchers,” Sarah, who was a Top 10 honoree in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, continued. “He instilled in me that I would not be able to make all the same mistakes as other non-minority pitchers on, or off of, the field.”

The Washington signee would go on to great success not just in the club world, but at the high school level as she helped lead Norco (California) High to CIF Southern Section championships.

Angelina started playing softball when she was 7-years-old and as she got older—and as the sport got more competitive—she reached the point where she realized what it was going to take it to the next level.

“I had the opportunity to be exposed to recruiting at a very young age,” recalls the Central Florida signee. “But when it came to my personal recruiting process, I had to learn more than what a typical softball coach can teach you.”

“My dad, a black man, prepared me for the truth at a young age,” Angelina says. “He taught me that I had to work even harder than most of the girls around me. As I tried to get recruited, he helped me realize that I wasn’t exactly pitcher ‘eye candy.’ I didn’t have the same opportunities as other girls. Maybe because of the color of my skin and the struggles that come with it, or because of the way other people see me and choose to treat me.”

“I stand at just 5-feet,” she continued. “I didn’t exactly have an advantage, and never understood why that was important, but when I look back now, I thank my dad for that information. He knows the struggles of a being a black man, and he taught me how to make it as a black woman.”

The 2020 grad who also plays for the Corona Angels–on Dena Tyson-Slye’s 18U team– says she’s grateful for the experiences she’s had.

“Through the struggles, I can say I’ve made it as a black pitcher. I will be playing college softball for UCF and (what some may see as) the ‘disadvantage of my blackness’ was never an excuse, it was only motivation,” Angelina believes. “In the world of sports, an athlete’s talent and work ethic should never be overlooked by their color. Everyone should be able to have the same opportunities. But at the end of the day, I am proud to be a black student-athlete because it has instilled a sense of perseverance in me.”

Espy also received a full softball scholarship, but also got academic funds as she will be attending Alabama A&M and majoring in Animal Health Science in the pre-veterinarian program.

Her father, Clark Coe, told the News Mirror when the pitcher signed last year out of Yucaipa (California) High, “Her number one quote on her profile page is from Henry Ford and states, ‘Failure is the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.’

Espy, who competes for another top club team in the nation, OC Batbusters 18U – Stith, has seen great success along with her fellow members of the B.P.S. as she competed for Team Puerto Rico in the WBSC Women’s World Cup in August of 2019.

She also helped lead the Puerto Rican 17-U team to a 4^th place finish last October at the WBSC Championship in Columbia.

The trio looks back upon the journey, which included a national title for the three at 12U,  and value their time in the early days of the “B.P.S” which led to their becoming successful student-athletes on and off the playing fields.