The Team Hustle Story

My name is Steve LaDrigue. I am the founder and President of Team Hustle Fastpitch as well as the coach of a Team Hustle 14U - LaDrigue. I also coach Junior High Softball and Varsity High School softball for Heritage Academy in Laveen, Arizona.

In 2013 I created a program called Team Hustle. This program was designed to help at risk youth play sports. It actually had nothing to do with softball. I am a firm believer that sports can teach kids many life lessons as well as build confidence and helps keep kids active in something positive. Growing up as a kid in California I lost alot of friends and family to drugs and violence which led many to prison or worse. I knew that sports could be used to help change lives for the better. We have helped kids play all different sports in different cities from Phoenix, Arizona to Sacramento, California and back to my hometown area of the Monterey Bay in California.

I believe that everything happens for a reason and that God puts people in our lives for a reason. In 2016 the head coach at Heritage Academy was Kerrey Hunt. She brought me aboard to help her with her program that she established. I told her that God brought us together for a reason and I don't know exactly what it is it. Come to find out I think God brought me there to be inspired. I had an extremely talented and athletic student athlete that could have went far with softball if she had proper coaching earlier in her life. I asked her why she never played club ball and she said my mom couldn't afford it. At that moment I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to take 8 and 9 year old girls and teach them the game of softball while making a positive impact on their lives. So, I started Team Hustle Fastpitch and never looked back. 

In my years of being around softball here in Phoenix, Arizona I have developed some great relationships with coaches, players and parents. So, when I decided to start this fastpitch program with a Team Hustle 10u team we had tremendous support from the softball community here in Arizona. Every year our fastpitch program has expanded. Our softball program teaches the importance of effort and attitude and family. We have created a competitive culture. We do not quit, We are not scared of anyone. We look to develop these girls not only as softball players, but as students and as people. We now have 300+ athletes, 25+ teams in 3 states and 50+ coaches that do this for the right reasons. I want to thank all of our Coaches, athletes, families and friends that have trusted me and supported me and this program. #TeamHustleFamily

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         - Coach Steve LaDrigue