Instructors
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Bella Matthias
Pitching Instructor
Bella grew up in Greenfield, WI and played at Greenfield High School where she was a three-time All-State, All-Division, All-Conference (POY), Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area selection, and had a record-breaking 1,004 career strikeouts.
After her remarkable high school career, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and graduated in December 2020 with an Elementary Education major and Mathematics minor. During her three seasons as a Warhawk, she was a part of three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championships, two WIAC tournament titles (2017, 2018), and three NCAA Tournament appearances. She was named WIAC Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and 2019, a three-year National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Great Lakes Region selection, a three-time first team All-WIAC selection, WIAC Pitcher of the Week eight times in her career, and is in the UW-Whitewater program record book in nine different categories. She was also the recipient of the 2020 WIAC Judy Kruckman Softball Scholar-Athlete Award and named UW-W Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete for the 2019-20 year.
Bella is very passionate about growing fastpitch softball and developing athletes to compete at a high level. She has been giving pitching lessons to ages ranging from 6-18 for five years.
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Cheyenne Sowinski
Pitching, Hitting & Fielding Instructor
Cheyenne grew up in New Berlin, Wisconsin, where she attended New Berlin West High School and played varsity softball throughout her career. She earned four First Team All-Conference honors, was named Conference Player of the Year three times, and received both First and Second Team All-State recognition. She was also selected to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area Team. During her sophomore year, she played a key role in leading her team to a WIAA Division 2 State Championship.
After high school, Cheyenne attended the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she competed for one season as a member of the pitching staff. She graduated in December 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics.
Cheyenne has coaching experience at the high school level, with Ethic, and through private lessons. She is passionate about giving back to the sport she loves and is committed to helping athletes develop their skills and compete at a high level.
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Courtney Ermisch
Catching, Hitting & Fielding Instructor
Courtney graduated from Robert Morris University with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Health Science. She is a dedicated and experienced softball coach who brings both passion and a strong playing background. A proud alumna of Mukwonago High School, she earned First Team All-Conference and All-Region honors in 2015 during a standout senior season.
She enjoys working with catchers as catching was her main position until becoming a utility player. As a utility player, she has gained a deep understanding of every position on the field, giving a unique ability to coach players in all aspects of the game—whether it’s infield, outfield, hitting, or base running.
She now serves as the Head Varsity Softball Coach at her alma mater, where she is committed to building a culture of excellence, discipline, and growth—both on and off the field. She is passionate about helping players grow not just in their skills, but in their love and respect for the game.
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Crystal Apfel
Catching & Hitting Instructor
Raised in Oak Creek, Crystal began playing softball at the age of five with Oak Creek Little League and quickly developed a passion for the game. Around age 11, she discovered her calling as a catcher—a position she embraced throughout her career at Oak Creek High School and at the collegiate level.
Crystal continued her softball journey on scholarship at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts (2012–2014). During her time there, she also began pursuing a career in public service by volunteering with the Iowa Falls Fire Department.
She went on to compete at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice (2015–2016). Crystal had an accomplished collegiate career, earning All-Tournament Team honors at the SIAC Crossover Tournament during her junior year, finishing the 2015 season with 163 putouts and a .959 fielding percentage. In her senior season, she was recognized as a SIAC First Team All-Conference catcher.
After graduating in 2016, Crystal transitioned fully into her professional career and was hired as a firefighter/EMT with the West Allis Fire Department, where she continues to serve her community today.
Crystal returned to the softball field as a coach from 2024–2025, bringing energy, leadership, and a team-first mindset to the game. She currently resides in Waukesha with her significant other and daughter and is excited to contribute to the Ethic organization. Crystal is passionate about developing athletes both on and off the field—helping them build confidence, sharpen their skills, and grow into strong, disciplined competitors.
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Jessica Keesler
Hitting & Fielding Instructor
Jess grew up in Cudahy, WI, where she played for the Cudahy High School varsity softball team throughout her entire high school career. She was a driving force behind the team’s success, leading them to multiple WIAA Sectional finals and Regional games. Her outstanding performance earned her numerous accolades, including Honorable Mention All-Woodland East Conference Outfielder in 2013, Second Team All-Woodland East Conference Outfielder in 2014 and 2015, and First Team All-Woodland East Conference Outfielder in 2016. During her 2014 season, Jess hit an impressive .529 batting average and was named Player of the Year for the Cudahy High School team. In 2016, she set the state record for stolen bases with 27 and maintained a .386 batting average.
After an outstanding high school career, Jess continued her softball journey at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where she competed for two seasons. Unfortunately, an injury ended her playing career early, but it opened the door to a new passion—coaching. Jess graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Criminal Justice. Soon after, she began a career as a first responder in Milwaukee, serving as an Advanced Emergency Technician and Firefighter.
Since stepping away from playing, Jess has coached athletes of all ages. During her three years in California, she led a 14U team to a championship game. Her love for the game and commitment to developing players shine through in everything she does. Jess is passionate about helping athletes achieve their goals and reach their fullest potential on and off the field!

