“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.”
JOHN WOODEN
Pitching for San Jose StateLeann Emery
CEO / Founder - Cutting Edge Softball
Lead Pitching
Coach Leann, the founder of Cutting Edge Softball®, has an impressive background in the sport. She was a standout pitcher for San Jose State University, where she played for the Spartan's top 20 Division 1 NCAA team from 1987 to 1991. Considered one of the Bay Area's top producing softball pitching instructors, Leann is currently Level 1 Star NFCA Certified. She actively pursues further education and knowledge in softball pitching through the NFCA and her collegiate connections, and provides Coach’s Pitching Clinics, empowering recreational coaches throughout the Bay Area with a strong understanding of pitching technique and mastery.
Leann’s reputation as a pitching instructor is renowned, and the abundant achievements of her students serve as evidence of her expertise. Many of her students have received coveted Division I and II athletic scholarships to prestigious universities such as Stanford, Michigan State, Texas A&M, Canisius College, Penn State, UC San Diego, Sonoma State, Puget Sound, Brown University, San Francisco State, Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northwest Nazarene, University of Santa Barbara, Hawaii Hilo, Ball State, Humbolt State, Dominican, Sonomo State and Santa Clara.
Collectively, Leann’s pitchers have won 11 CCS Championships, 4 Cal High Athlete Player of the Year Pitchers (Tori Nyberg, Jerrica Castagano, Jackie Hill and Kate Munnderlyn) and 4 All-State 1st Team Pitchers (Tori Nyberg, Jerrica Castagano, Kate Munnderlyn, and two-time Alex Pingree). Katie Obbema, Cutting Edge student from 2013-2015 was nominated into the Morgan Hill Hall of Fame in 2017 for her pitching performance at Humbolt State, taking her team to the Division II College World Series. In 2011, Tori Nyberg was inducted into the San Mateo Hall Fame for her outstanding pitching career at Carlmont High and Stanford University. Tori is currently the pitching coach at Stanford and was named National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.
Before starting Cutting Edge, Leann opened Little Movers, an elementary physical education program for both public and private Bay Area schools, with a focus on the development of motor skills through enjoyable and age-appropriate physical activities. To this day, she remains actively involved in running and teaching at Little Movers (now known as Gymsters), ensuring the continued positive impact it has on young students.
Leann has coached softball at all levels: club travel teams, high school and community college. Our students greatly appreciate the opportunity to work alongside Coach Leann, benefiting from her exceptional skills and immense dedication.
Ron Eugene
Hitting • Defense • Catching
Coach Ron has been an integral part of our softball community for more than twelve years, coaching at the Gold 18 Level for seven and then supporting the Milpitas team to take a run for CCS. He made the move to Cutting Edge in 2016 and we are beyond thrilled to have him.
Ron has built an exceptional reputation as an instructor for hitting, catching, and utility skills. He diligently works with our students, focusing on perfecting their overall skills, refining their hitting and defensive techniques, and providing specialized training for our new and advanced catchers. Moreover, he takes charge of essential aspects of our program such as serving as our lead instructor for pre-season clinics, supervising summer camps, and conducting instructional team practices for many teams in the South Bay. His approach to coaching is highly regarded by our students, as he seamlessly incorporates strength-training exercises and mechanics into his lessons, ensuring comprehensive development on and off the field.
Coach Teri is one of our own, a Cutting Edge alumna (2008-2016). She graduated from Leigh High School in 2016 and was named Blossom Valley Athletic League Senior of the Year. She went on to play Division II at Sonoma State, pitching for the Seawolves from 2017-2020. While there, Teri earned 2017 Female Freshman of the Year, 2019 CCAA Tournament Champion, CCAA All-Tournament Honoree and pitched 267.4 innings finishing with a 2.72 career ERA. She graduated from SSU in Business Administration and Marketing, Cum Laude. Following her undergraduate career, Teri graduated with her Master's of Science in Marketing (MSM) from Santa Clara University in 2021.
Coach Teri instructs in the areas of pitching, hitting, and defense. She actively contributes to our pre-season clinics and summer camp, providing invaluable assistance and manages our social media program. Our students respect her exceptional guidance and unwavering support and love working with her.
Pitching • Hitting • Defense
Cutting Edge Social Media Director
Teri Danenberg
Bella Sandoval
Catching • Hitting • Defense
Coach Bella brings a strong competitive background and a passion for helping young athletes build their skills and confidence. A San Jose, California native, Bella was a standout infielder at Saint Francis High School, earning WCAL All-League honors from 2023-2025 while helping her team compete at the highest levels of Bay Area softball.
Bella continued her career at San José State University as a Division I infielder. During her freshman season in 2026, she appeared in 20 games with 11 starts, recorded her first collegiate multi-hit game against Saint Mary’s, and collected her first collegiate RBI against UNLV. She also had a seven-game on-base streak and recorded her first collegiate extra-base hit against No. 22 Grand Canyon.
Coach Bella specializes in catching, hitting, and defensive fundamentals. She is passionate about helping athletes develop strong fundamentals, confidence, and a competitive mindset while sharing the knowledge and experience she has gained as a Division I student-athlete.
Sarah Deplitch
Catching • Hitting • Defense
Coach Sarah brings high-level playing experience and a passion for helping young athletes develop their skills and confidence. A Livermore, California native, Sarah was a standout catcher at Granada High School, earning EBAL First-Team All-League honors in 2022 and 2023 before continuing her career at San José State University as a Division I Spartan.
At SJSU, Sarah has competed as a catcher at the Division I level. In 2026, she appeared in 40 games with 30 starts, recording a career-high four doubles and a home run against Cal. She also earned Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-Mountain West, and Mountain West Scholar-Athlete honors.
Coach Sarah specializes in catching, hitting, and defensive fundamentals. She is passionate about helping athletes build confidence, strong fundamentals, and a competitive mindset while sharing her experience as a Division I student-athlete.
Alicia Montiel
Alicia is our outstanding Office Manager, and has been a vital part of our team for the past five years. Her front desk consistency, thoroughness, and seamless interaction with our Cutting Edge parents is truly commendable. Alicia's dedication to our entire program is evident, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have her as our right hand at Cutting Edge!
Office Manager - Cutting Edge Softball