Meet OUR softball INSTRUCTORS

Hitting & Fielding

  • Sam Polk competed as an NCAA student-athlete for six years with stops at Baylor, Saint Louis University, and Washington University in St. Louis. At SLU in 2023, he contributed to a record-setting offense that established new program records in runs and RBIs, finishing among the top 50 offenses nationally. During his final season of collegiate summer baseball, Sam posted a .345/.493/.491 slash line over 143 plate appearances with a wood bat in the New York Collegiate League, and later captured a prestigious Northwoods League Championship with the Green Bay Rockers.

    Sam began his college career as an infielder before transitioning to the outfield, giving him a well-rounded defensive background across multiple positions. As a switch-hitter, he understands the unique needs of hitters from both sides of the plate.

    Sam’s coaching style centers on personalization and enjoyment. He believes in teaching foundational swing principles, like direction, plane, and efficient mechanics, while tailoring instruction to each athlete’s strengths, tendencies, skill level, and learning style. Sam sends each player home with a note card of key takeaways and cues to carry into their next practice or game.

    Ready to train? Fill out the form below to book a hitting or defensive private or semi-private session with Sam.

Pitching INSTRUCTORS

  • Lauren is a collegiate-level pitching instructor who was a starting pitcher for four years at Northwestern University. She played professionally in Europe for two seasons following her college career. Lauren has been providing pitching lessons since 2008, including one year of instruction at Webster University.

    A first session will consist of an analysis of the player to assess their skill level and go over basic drills and what to expect from future lessons. Typical lessons will go over drills as well as quality reps in either pitching/hitting/fielding. Older players will also get coached on the mental aspects of the game and game situations. With younger players we will usually play a more game like drill during the lesson to keep it fun and go over basic rules to enrich their understanding of the game. All lessons finish with a recap of what the player needs to work on before the next session. I expect players to practice on their own between sessions. You should plan on having someone to catch, if you cannot do this please let me know ahead of time and we will likely be able to make it work without a catch.

  • Don Copple is a highly respected fastpitch pitching instructor with decades of playing and coaching experience and a lifelong passion for softball. He began his softball career in 1972 and went on to become an accomplished pitcher with nearly 600 career wins, 18 league championships, and three Metro St. Louis titles.

    Don was inducted into the St. Louis Softball Hall of Fame in 2016 for Meritorious Service. His coaching background includes work with St. Louis Fire 16U, St. Louis Chaos 18U (National Runners-Up), and as pitching coach at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

    Known for his patient, positive, and encouraging teaching style, Don helps athletes develop confidence, improve mechanics, strengthen fundamentals, and enjoy the game. He works with players of all ages and skill levels in a supportive learning environment.

Interested in Private Coaching?

If you are interested in getting more information about private coaching at the Kirkham Fieldhouse, fill out the form below and the coach will be in touch shortly.