“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, has an impressive background in softball. 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.
Pitching • Hitting • Defense
Cutting Edge Social Media Director
Teri Danenberg
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.
Aubrie Thomas
Hitting • Defense
Coach Aubrie's journey at Cutting Edge began when she was 10 years old. After graduating from Valley Christian High School in 2021, Aubrie accumulated a remarkable collection of accolades. These included being named the Valley Christian Female Athlete of the Year, earning All-West Catholic Athletic League Team recognition four times, receiving the Valley Christian Scholar Athlete award four times, and being selected as Second-Team All State in 2019.
Aubrie is presently dedicated to both her academic pursuits and her softball career at San Jose State University. As a valuable member of the Spartans, she demonstrates her versatility on the field by playing Shortstop, Second Base, Third Base, and Outfield. She is majoring in Psychology and plans to graduate in the spring of 2025.
Coach Aubrie works with our students on developing their hitting and fielding skills and assists with our pre-season clinics and summer camp. She is a true example of dedication and high standards, holding herself accountable for delivering top-notch lessons and setting a strong expectation for her students to strive for excellence.
Pitching • Hitting • Defense
Lacie Ham
Coach Lacie, a native of Murrieta, California, brings her talent and passion to the world of softball. She graduated from Murrieta Mesa High School in 2021 where she left an indelible mark and earned numerous accolades including consecutive team MVP titles, Second-Team All-League honors two times, and achieved a remarkable school-record of 0.89 ERA in 2019-2020. Lacie also led the D1 CIF South Section with 91 strikeouts in only nine appearances and was named runner-up National Player of the Week in March 2020, boasting a remarkable 4-0 record with 42 strikeouts in 27 innings. Currently, Lacie continues her academic and softball journey at San Jose State University, showcasing her pitching skills in the circle for the Spartans.
Coach Lacie guides our students in pitching, hitting, and fielding, while also contributing to our pre-season clinics and summer camp. Her coaching and mentorship abilities are revered by our students.
Kacey Zobac
Catching • Hitting • Fielding
Coach Kacey's softball journey is filled with remarkable achievements. As a student at Valley Christian High School she earned numerous accolades, including being named the WCAL Player of the Year four times, CCS Player of the Year twice, and securing spots on the All-State First Team three times and CCS First Team four times. Kacey also played travel ball for The San Jose Sting, further developing her skills.
Continuing her softball career at the University of California, Berkeley, Kacey excelled as both a catcher and outfielder. Her senior year was particularly noteworthy as she held the position of starting catcher, impressively batting .346 throughout the season and was awarded the Pac-12 Third Team-All Conference and NFCA All-Pacific Region Third Team honors. In 2023, Kacey graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology.
Coach Kacey is here to offer her expertise in catching, hitting, and fielding. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your skills or develop a solid foundation, Kacey is here to guide you.
Alicia Montiel
Office Manager - Cutting Edge Softball
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!