Our Coaches
Our coaches bring a tremendous amount of playing and coaching experience to the Jr. Cougs organization. We focus on strong fundamentals, a positive and competitive mindset, and building leaders both on and off the field.
Hannah Turner - 18U
We’re excited to announce Hannah Turner as the Head Coach of our 18U Cougars!
A former Oregon State University Division I softball player, Coach Hannah brings high-level playing experience, a strong understanding of the game, and a passion for developing athletes. Her leadership and competitive mindset make her a great fit to lead our 18U team.
Coach Hannah’s experience will be a tremendous asset to our athletes as they continue to grow and compete at the next level.
Coach Sarah - 16U
We’re excited to welcome Coach Sarah back for another season with Jr. Cougs Softball!
A part of Jr. Cougs since the beginning, Coach Sarah has helped shape the culture of our program through her passion for developing athletes and her love of the game.
Known for her energy, game strategy, and the occasional BP session, Coach Sarah challenges athletes while creating a supportive environment. She emphasizes high softball IQ, versatility, and a team-first mindset.
Coach Sarah will lead our incoming freshman team, helping athletes prepare for the transition to high school while continuing to grow their skills and confidence.
We’re excited to announce Shawndé Russell and Luke Cox as our 14U Co-Head Coaches!
Coach Shawndé brings years of coaching experience, including her role as the JV and Varsity pitching coach at Mountain View High School. Her passion for developing athletes and positive leadership have made a lasting impact on our program.
Together, they’re committed to helping every athlete reach their potential while building a culture of hard work, growth, and teamwork.
Shawndé Russell - 14U
Luke Cox - 14U
We’re excited to announce Shawndé Russell and Luke Cox as our 14U Co-Head Coaches!
After serving as Coach Shawndé’s assistant last season, Coach Luke steps into a co-head coaching role. With Lukes coaching experience, great energy, and a natural ability to connect with players, he’s ready to help lead this talented group.
Taylor Roy - 12U
We’re excited to announce that Taylor Roy has agreed to join EJ Aponte as a co-head coach for our 12U team!
Taylor played college baseball in Kansas and Louisiana as a starting outfielder and brings a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to the Jr. Cougs program.
After several seasons coaching Little League, including being part of the Bend North All-Star staff. and being an assistant coach on the Jr. Cougs 10U team last year, Coach Taylor is looking forward to taking on a bigger role in the Jr. Cougs organization.
EJ Aponte - 12U
We’re excited to welcome Coach EJ back as a co-head coach for our 12U team.
Coach EJ played collegiate baseball at Concordia University before serving 14 years as a medic in the U.S. Army. He earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Oregon State University in 2024, strengthening his expertise in athletic development and performance.
Beginning with Bend North Little League, EJ has coached athletes from 10U through 18U. He joined Mountain View High School's softball program in 2023, serving two seasons as an assistant before becoming head varsity coach. In his second season leading the program, he guided the Cougars to their first playoff appearance in nine years. He has also spent approximately five years coaching with the Jr. Cougs program.
EJ's coaching philosophy goes beyond wins and losses. He emphasizes fundamentals, effort, confidence, softball IQ, and accountability while teaching athletes to learn from failure. His goal is to develop not only better players, but stronger teammates, leaders, and confident young individuals who carry those lessons beyond the field.
Sonny Dudoit - 10U
We’re excited to welcome Sonny Dudoit to the Jr Cougs Softball family as our new 10U coach!
Sonny was a starting middle infielder at Chemeketa Community College and played for Western Oregon University.
His vast coaching experience includes serving as the Head Coach for the Blacksox Baseball Club (14u - 18u), an infield and hitting coach for Rijo Athletics, and most recently led the Bend North Little League Minors All-Star team deep into the State Tournament.
Throughout his coaching career Coach Sonny has focused on player development, strong fundamentals, discipline, and building a competitive mindset while helping young athletes grow both on and off the field.