Meet our All-Star Line Up

of Professional Fastpitch Softball Instructors

Cathy Smith – Softball Pitching, Hitting & Slapping Instruction

Coach Smith, a 1991 graduate and four-year starter at Schaumburg High School, pitched her team to the 1990 Regional Championship while contributing as a good hitter and team leader.  Cathy went on to play at Grand Valley State University in Michigan for two seasons while earning her degree.  Coach Smith has become a very successful coach drawing the best out of players over the past 17 seasons. As the Varsity Softball Coach at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, she has guided the program to a 27-3 record in 2011 on their way to an MSL Conference Championship.  Her teams have won multiple Regional Championships to go along with six 20-plus win seasons.  In addition to pitching and hitting, Coach Smith has taught the art of slapping to many of her players.  The Conant program has graduated 11 players that have gone on to play at the collegiate level, four of those playing at the Division I level with an additional three committed to Division I schools.  She was recently honored by the Suburban Umpires Association with the Coach of the Year award for the 2011 season!

Danielle Schmidt – Fastpitch Softball Pitching Instruction

Coach Schmidt is currently pitching at Wheaton College where she threw a no-hitter in her 2nd start of the year in 2010.  She has been a standout pitcher throughout her travel career having played in Nationals in every year since she was 12 years old.  Coach Schmidt was a major contributor to teams including 12u State Champions and Summer National Champions, 14u State Runner-ups before beginning her high school career in Minnesota playing under Coach Mook.  She was a four-year Varsity starter and earned All-Conference honors in each year. Her high school team appeared in four straight State Championships, winning back-to-back titles her junior and senior years.  She holds school records for the most strikeouts in a season and career and also two state records for the most no hitters in the state tournament and most strikeouts in one game.  She appeared in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" feature and enjoys sharing the technical and mental aspects of fastpitch pitching she has learned.

Natalie Zalud – Fastpitch Softball Hitting, Fielding & Catching Instruction

Coach Zalud, is a 2005 graduate and four-year starter from Conant High School.  During her standout high school career Coach Zalud was a three time All-Conference and All-Area Shortstop and Catcher.  As an integral part of the Conant MSL Conference Championship program and having played at a high level for Coach Cathy Smith, Natalie went on to play at Kankakee College where she earned Rookie-of-the-Year honors. Coach Zalud is an outstanding and passionate instructor of the fundamentals and is currently an Assistant Coach at Buffalo Grove High School.

Chris Wilmot - Catching & Hitting Instruction

Coach Wilmot is a 2000 graduate of Conant High School in Hoffman Estates. He was a catcher, outfielder, and 1st baseman for the Cougars during his varsity years. Chris was a member of the 1999 MSL Champion team that also set the school record for wins in a season and was awarded the Unsung Hero Award for the 99’ season.  Chris holds a degree in Fire Science Technology and is currently a Lombard Firefighter/Paramedic. While in college, Chris played semi-professional baseball with the Chicago Lugnuts for two seasons.  In 2005, he was asked to attend an open tryout as a catcher with the Schaumburg Flyers.  Coach Wilmot spent two seasons with the Flyers including their playoff run in 2006. While catching in the Northern League, Chris worked with various levels of pitchers from former major leaguers, AA/AAA level pitchers and players right out of college.  Coach Wilmot is an experienced hitting and catching instructor for both baseball and softball of all levels and is available for private and group instruction.

Lauren Wydra – Fastpitch Softball Pitching Instruction

Coach Wydra is a 2008 graduate and four-year pitching starter from Bartlett High School.  She earned unanimous All-Conference and All-Area honors 2006, 2007 & 2008.  As a key member of the Bartlett team making a run at the State Title in 2007, she earned All-State honors and was names the Elgin Courier Pitcher of the Year.  In addition to being Bartlett High School Varsity MVP in 2006, 2007 and 2008 she was named the Daily Herald All-Star Game MVP.  Coach Wydra holds numerous Bartlett High School pitching records including, lowest ERA, Season and Career Strikeouts (with more than 800 Varsity Strikeouts) and Most Career Shutouts.  Currently a Junior attending Northern Illinois University, Coach Wydra elected not to play in college in order to focus on her studies and work as a pitching instructor during the school year and summer breaks.

Please Note:  Lessons booked with The Hitting Zone are not guaranteed with a specific instructor.  We will make every effort possible to provide consistency, but are not obligated to due to the fact our instructors are independent contractors and not employees of The Hitting Zone.  No refunds will be granted for any unused portions of a lesson package.