Long Beach State University Athletics
Kim Sowder Announces Softball Staff Changes
8/16/2018 3:44:00 PM | Softball
Kevin Castillo earns a promotion, Mariah Ramirez also joins the staff.
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               LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Softball head coach Kim Sowder has announced two changes to her staff, elevating Kevin Castillo to Assistant Coach and hiring Mariah Ramirez as the program's volunteer assistant.
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               Castillo has spent the past two seasons as a Volunteer Assistant with the team, and will take over duties as the team's pitching coach for the 2019 season. Castillo helped guide Long Beach State to an NCAA Regional Appearance one season ago as the hot-hitting 49ers set school records in batting average, hits and doubles and won 43 games, sixth-most in school history.
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               "I'm excited to have Kevin on full-time as our pitching coach," said Sowder. "Kevin has a great passion for our sport and is very knowledgeable in every area of the game. He has had a great connection with our players over the past two seasons as our volunteer and really excels at teaching the game."          Â
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A graduate of Long Beach Poly, Castillo attended both Long Beach City College and Bacone College, playing baseball at both schools as well as golf at Bacone, but throughout was gaining experience in fastpitch softball.
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Playing for the USA Junior Men's National team in 2005, Castillo broke into the Senior National Team in 2008, where he has played ever since. A member of team USA for the 2013 and 2016 ISF World Team championships, Castillo was previously named an ASA All-American and continues to play at the international level, twice earning ISC All-World honors.
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Joining the staff as a volunteer assistant coach will be Mariah Ramirez. Ramirez comes to Long Beach State from Cal State Dominguez Hills, where she served as an assistant coach with the Toros program. Ramirez played collegiately for four years at Utah and served as a SAAC Council Member during her time with the Utes.
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"I'm fired up that Mariah will be joining our staff," said Sowder. "Mariah had great success both as a pitcher and as a hitter competing for Utah, and will help coach in both areas. Her strong work ethic and excitement to coach at the Beach will be valuable assets to our program."
