SOFTBALL TRAINING

Valley Sports Academy will be offering a comprehensive softball program that will elevate athletes of all ages. The goal of the softball program at VSA is to provide opportunities for athletes to improve their individual skills while learning valuable teamwork skills. Athletes will have the opportunity to grow their game through individualized instruction, small group instruction, camps, clinics, skill programs, travel teams and mental training programs. VSA is set to offer an invaluable experience through their quality instructors and next level training with programs such as HitTrax and Rapsodo. Be sure to come check out the state-of-the-art facility with a fully turfed Major League Infield plus 4 pitching tunnels, and 7 batting cages. Don’t Wish For It, Work For It!   

Be sure to follow our VSA Softball Training Pages on Social Media!

Private Training

PROGRAMS
CAMPS/CLINICS

Guardians Teams

Meet our Softball Staff

LAKYN WAGONER

Director of Softball

Lakyn.Wagoner@valleysports.academy

Lakyn Wagoner is originally from Springfield, IL. For her college career, she committed to the University of Illinois at Springfield and left as the program’s all-time leader in batting average, slugging percentage, doubles, triples, and total bases, while also collecting First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-GLVC accolades in 2018 as well as winning the GLVC Conference Title and a NCAA Regional Title. After Lakyn’s four years, due to two redshirt years, she grad-transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During her time at UIUC, her team finished 3rd in the Big Ten, made a regional appearance, and she graduated with her Master’s Degree in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism. Before moving to Eau Claire, she coached two years at the University of Evansville where she increased almost every offensive statistical category during the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) season: batting average, on-base percentage, finished 2nd in the MVC in doubles, and reduced strikeouts by ninety over the course of the season.

 

Shelby Acker

Pitching Coach
 
Shelby (Crank) Acker is a Chippewa Falls native. Part of the Chippewa Falls 2012 state championship team, Shelby holds the school record for most wins in her four years. Post-graduation, she pitched collegiately for four years at Division II Southwest Minnesota State University. After her career finished, Shelby pursued her Masters in Sport and Performance Psychology to bring awareness and elite mental skills to athletes all over.
Currently, she is the owner of Acker Mental Performance, a mental skills training organization. She utilizes this to bring mental performance skills to youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes across the country. Shelby is also a private pitching coach and high school softball coach in Madison, WI.
 

Melissa Litke

Pitching Coach
 
Melissa Litke is a Holcombe native who now resides in Chippewa Falls, WI. Coach Litke was a 4-year starter in high school for Holcombe where they attended the WIAA State tournament. Coach Litke was offered a spot on the Senior All-Star Statewide tournament. When Coach Litke wasn’t in the circle you would find her playing shortstop. Coach Litke has experience coaching players of all ages and levels. Most recently Coach Litle coaches the VSA 12U travel ball team and works mainly with youth pitchers to help them build up their mechanics, along with the confidence to pitch in a game.
 
If you are a young or new pitcher Coach Litke wants to work with you!
 

Mikayla Hogan

Skills Instructor

A Chippewa Falls native, Mikayla was the starting catcher at Chi-Hi for 4 years resulting in four 1st team All-Conference awards with 2 BRC POY designations, and three 1st team All-State nods while leading the Cardinals to 3 state tournament berths with 2 runner up finishes. Mikayla is also the all time leading scorer for the Chi-Hi women’s hockey team where she was 2x 1st team All-Conference & BRC POY, and 3x 1st team All-State bringing the Cards to state twice with another silver trophy. There was also a much less successful 3 yr Varsity tennis career in there too.

After a successful high school career, Mikayla went off to Division II St. Cloud State University where she was a 4 year captain and starting catcher for the Huskies. There she was a 2x NSIC  All-Conference player and currently ranks 1st all time in runners thrown out & pick offs. As well as top 3 in home runs, doubles, RBI, slugging %, and total bases.

Mikayla has been coaching softball and hockey for 18 years ranging from learn to skate kiddos through college athletes. She is thrilled to be joining the VSA staff to continue giving back to the community!

Emma Sather

Skills Instructor

Emma is originally from Chetek, WI. but is currently a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where she is pursuing an Exercise Science degree and is a Pitcher/1st baseman for the Blugolds. She just transferred from the College of St.Scholastica, and is very happy to be back in the area. Emma has been coaching back home for 2 years, and is looking forward to coaching lessons here at Valley Sports Academy. Emma will also be receiving a coaching minor while completing her undergrad, and will continue her education to get her Master’s in Athletic Training. Emma is excited to continue spreading her love and expertise for the game!

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