Mario Hernandez - Head Coach
Coach Mario Hernandez graduated from St. Joseph High School in Westchester IL in 1996 where he played baseball all 4 years and was named captain his senior year. Coach Hernandez many awards during his time at St. Joseph, one of which was the prestigious Super Charger Award which he earned both his junior and senior year.
After high school Coach Hernandez played Semi-Pro for the Westchester Silver Soxs where he was the starting catcher and held a .415 batting average and a .990 fielding percentage. Coach Hernandez went on to attend Triton College where as a walk on, was 1 of 22 players who made the team of 150 players who tried out. Coach Hernandez’s collegiate career was cut short due to a shoulder injury later that fall.
While struggling and dealing with the pain of his injury coach Hernandez went and played semi pro for two seasons with the Chicago Titans. While with the Titans, Coach Hernandez was named a two time All-Star, held a .635 batting average and was named Batting Champion his first year with the club. In his second year he held a .520 batting average and was name Runner Up in the Homerun Contest.
After realizing that his shoulder was never going to be the same, Coach Hernandez turned his focus to his little sister and started to share his wealth of knowledge with her. This was when Coach Hernandez first became aware of his passion for coaching and began his coaching career coaching his sister at the 12u level. While at the 16u level Coach Hernandez was coaching the Bloomingdale Thunder and attended F.A.S.T Nationals in Florida where the team finished 9th out of 42 teams. In the fall after nationals, Coach Hernandez moved from Illinois to Arizona with his family. His sister tried out and played for Pure Speed Gold where Coach Hernandez was quickly added to the coaching staff. Half way through the year Coach Hernandez took over responsibility as Head Coach.
Since coaching in Arizona, Coach Hernandez has been a JV coach for Westview H.S as well as Varsity coach for Xavier College Prepatory. He coached for the Arizona Vipers for a summer season and the Lil Saints for a fall season before coming over to the Arizona Outlaws Organization in 2005, where he has been ever since. Coach Hernandez coached the AZ Outlaws GOLD from January of 2005 – August of 2010 and was President of the organization from 2008 to 2010 when he left the organization due to a hectic travel schedule for work.
Coach Hernandez brings 14 yrs experience in coaching girls fastpitch softball (7yrs at the Gold level). In that time he has been blessed to coach many girls that have gone on to become National Champions, All Americans, MVP’s of National tournaments and All Americans in HS.
After high school Coach Hernandez played Semi-Pro for the Westchester Silver Soxs where he was the starting catcher and held a .415 batting average and a .990 fielding percentage. Coach Hernandez went on to attend Triton College where as a walk on, was 1 of 22 players who made the team of 150 players who tried out. Coach Hernandez’s collegiate career was cut short due to a shoulder injury later that fall.
While struggling and dealing with the pain of his injury coach Hernandez went and played semi pro for two seasons with the Chicago Titans. While with the Titans, Coach Hernandez was named a two time All-Star, held a .635 batting average and was named Batting Champion his first year with the club. In his second year he held a .520 batting average and was name Runner Up in the Homerun Contest.
After realizing that his shoulder was never going to be the same, Coach Hernandez turned his focus to his little sister and started to share his wealth of knowledge with her. This was when Coach Hernandez first became aware of his passion for coaching and began his coaching career coaching his sister at the 12u level. While at the 16u level Coach Hernandez was coaching the Bloomingdale Thunder and attended F.A.S.T Nationals in Florida where the team finished 9th out of 42 teams. In the fall after nationals, Coach Hernandez moved from Illinois to Arizona with his family. His sister tried out and played for Pure Speed Gold where Coach Hernandez was quickly added to the coaching staff. Half way through the year Coach Hernandez took over responsibility as Head Coach.
Since coaching in Arizona, Coach Hernandez has been a JV coach for Westview H.S as well as Varsity coach for Xavier College Prepatory. He coached for the Arizona Vipers for a summer season and the Lil Saints for a fall season before coming over to the Arizona Outlaws Organization in 2005, where he has been ever since. Coach Hernandez coached the AZ Outlaws GOLD from January of 2005 – August of 2010 and was President of the organization from 2008 to 2010 when he left the organization due to a hectic travel schedule for work.
Coach Hernandez brings 14 yrs experience in coaching girls fastpitch softball (7yrs at the Gold level). In that time he has been blessed to coach many girls that have gone on to become National Champions, All Americans, MVP’s of National tournaments and All Americans in HS.
Felicia Cruz - Assistant Coach
After a 2 seasons spent with the 16u and 14u teams, Coach Felicia Cruz has chosen to make the move to the AZ Outlaws GOLD team.
Coach Felicia Cruz graduated from Central High School in 2004, where as a freshman, she was captain of the undefeated freshman team. During her sophomore year, she moved up to varsity and stayed there till she graduated in 2004. Felicia received 1st team All Region for 5A both junior and senior years. As well as having a batting average of .500 and above. Felicia was a utility player all throughout high school while hitting in the top of the lineup.
Coach Cruz went on to play for Glendale Community College in 2004 where she was recruited as a catcher and batted again at the top of the lineup. During her second season she received 2nd Team All Region as well as a full scholarship to Fort Lewis College.
In 2006, Coach Cruz went to play for a DII school, Fort Lewis College, in Durango, Colorado. She was recruited as a catcher but due to team injuries, she was moved primarily to 1st base but shared the catching duties during her 1st year. That same year, her team took the Region Championship and Coach Cruz received Honorable Mention for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Coach Cruz’s 2nd year at FLC was the best of her career as it was for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks Softball Program. Coach Cruz started 54 games, averaging over .350 in batting, while moving over primarily to 3rd base; Coach Cruz was awarded 2nd Team All RMAC, with a fielding percentage of .994. 2008 was first team ever in the history of FLC Softball program to make it to the National Tournament held in San Angelo, Texas.
After her collegiate career, Coach Cruz returned to Arizona, to take a job at Independence High School as a Special Education Assistant. In addition, she was also awarded the Head Coach position for the Freshman Softball Program. Due to a new job and time constraints, she was unable to return to coaching the following year.
When asked for her insight on why she likes coaching, Coach Cruz responded, “I have always made time to give softball lessons on the side for anything any of my girls needed, anything from fielding, catching, and hitting. I have volunteered many times to help with various softball programs as and have taken on the Assisting Coach title in my free time. My love for the game and my love for teaching has kept me involved with the game of softball and will forever keep me interested in seeing the success of the players. Drive, dedication and passion is something I myself continue to learn and something that I teach every day I coach. I strive to become a better coach and mentor for my girls, so in the future they may have those tools I taught them to better themselves and their followers.”
We would all like to welcome Coach Cruz to the Arizona Outlaws GOLD team. We look forward to working with you.
Coach Felicia Cruz graduated from Central High School in 2004, where as a freshman, she was captain of the undefeated freshman team. During her sophomore year, she moved up to varsity and stayed there till she graduated in 2004. Felicia received 1st team All Region for 5A both junior and senior years. As well as having a batting average of .500 and above. Felicia was a utility player all throughout high school while hitting in the top of the lineup.
Coach Cruz went on to play for Glendale Community College in 2004 where she was recruited as a catcher and batted again at the top of the lineup. During her second season she received 2nd Team All Region as well as a full scholarship to Fort Lewis College.
In 2006, Coach Cruz went to play for a DII school, Fort Lewis College, in Durango, Colorado. She was recruited as a catcher but due to team injuries, she was moved primarily to 1st base but shared the catching duties during her 1st year. That same year, her team took the Region Championship and Coach Cruz received Honorable Mention for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Coach Cruz’s 2nd year at FLC was the best of her career as it was for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks Softball Program. Coach Cruz started 54 games, averaging over .350 in batting, while moving over primarily to 3rd base; Coach Cruz was awarded 2nd Team All RMAC, with a fielding percentage of .994. 2008 was first team ever in the history of FLC Softball program to make it to the National Tournament held in San Angelo, Texas.
After her collegiate career, Coach Cruz returned to Arizona, to take a job at Independence High School as a Special Education Assistant. In addition, she was also awarded the Head Coach position for the Freshman Softball Program. Due to a new job and time constraints, she was unable to return to coaching the following year.
When asked for her insight on why she likes coaching, Coach Cruz responded, “I have always made time to give softball lessons on the side for anything any of my girls needed, anything from fielding, catching, and hitting. I have volunteered many times to help with various softball programs as and have taken on the Assisting Coach title in my free time. My love for the game and my love for teaching has kept me involved with the game of softball and will forever keep me interested in seeing the success of the players. Drive, dedication and passion is something I myself continue to learn and something that I teach every day I coach. I strive to become a better coach and mentor for my girls, so in the future they may have those tools I taught them to better themselves and their followers.”
We would all like to welcome Coach Cruz to the Arizona Outlaws GOLD team. We look forward to working with you.
Kevin Helton
Kevin has been involved with coaching over 20 years, starting with free style wrestling in San Diego at the age of 18 to High school students. He started coaching softball 10 years ago in San Diego for his daughter Jordan, most currently in Arizona with Bat Attitude and The Arizona Outlaws, working with the 12u and 16u teams.
Kevin is now working with Mario and Felicia on the AZ Outlaws 18u GOLD coaching staff.
Kevin is now working with Mario and Felicia on the AZ Outlaws 18u GOLD coaching staff.
