Our Mission
The Oakland Bandits Fast Pitch Softball Association is dedicated to helping girls excel on and off the softball field.
Our History
Paul Keener has dedicated endless time and energy to helping the girls of Oakland learn to love the game of softball. He has served as President of the Oakland Girls Softball League and has coached at all levels, including guiding the Skyline High Titans to league championships while his own daughters starred across town at Bishop O’Dowd.
When Paul announced, in his usual soft spoken manner, that he intended to build an elite class softball program in Oakland, he stated his goal in simple terms, “The girls of Oakland should be going on to play Division I college softball. We should be producing the next Natasha Watley.”
The Oakland softball community responded immediately with their support and the Oakland Bandits Fast Pitch Softball Association was born.
Our Coaches
Eugene Denard will be leading the 12U Bandits in their first season. Eugene has extensive experience in coaching at the youth and high school levels, including a remarkable run coaching football and baseball at Fremont High in Oakland, where he turned the program into a powerhouse. He also has run a highly successful program youth baseball program and has been instrumental in the recent success of the OGSL 10U Viper summer program.
Our Board
While the board of directors of the Oakland Bandits has yet to be finalized, the organization has to date received significant support from numerous long-time supporters of Oakland girls softball, including:
Paul Keener
Eugene Denard
Sydney Firestone Schimmel
Mysti Knight
Rob Koplowitz
