Sister Act 6 isn’t the latest installment of the Whoopi Goldberg movie, but rather a term of endearment for the Sorcerers 18U softball team based in Northern California. Head Coach Paulie Gabales’ star-studded squad was made up of 12 siblings out of the 21 girls that filled the roster.
“This season, in particular, was my most fulfilling in 15 years of coaching because of the dynamic they created,” Gabales said. “They were very competitive with each other and with their teammates as well.”

The team actually had three sets of sisters for a couple of years but brought on another three sets last year. Assistant Head Coach Joey Rodriguez adds that it makes for some interesting moments and some lasting memories for the families too.
“We see a lot more grandparents, aunts and uncles with all these siblings too. Families get to stick together on weekends, as opposed to being split up all summer.”

Each of the sisters not only pushed themselves but the entire team. The infectious energy created a special atmosphere not only on the field but in the dugout as well. Equally as interesting as the family dynamic is the fact that each of those athletes has signed to play Division 1 softball. Mya Felder, one of five seniors in the group, signed with New Mexico State. Not only was she a standout on the diamond, but in the classroom as well as the class valedictorian. Sister Taja who is headed to Louisville is also a 4.0 student.

The Hammoude's

Frankie Hammoude, a PGF All American, is one of the top softball prospects in the country and is headed to Corvallis to play for Laura Berg at Oregon State. Not to be overshadowed, her sister Nicole, a prized recruit for the Cal Golden Bears, lead the North Coast section in home runs and her team to the sectional finals.

“Playing my last travel ball game with my sister, I will remember the great team chemistry we had and playing a whole bunch of games in Colorado, the older Hammoude told us. “We have a very helpful coaching staff that cares about the girls a lot so all the young girls are in good hands.”

The Orme's & Hewitt's

The Orme sisters, Dari and Sanae, proved the pair could work together as pitcher and catcher for high school teams. On the club circuit, Dari stayed in the circle while Sanae moved from behind the plate to third base where she managed the hot corner. Dari signed with Fresno State while younger sister Sanae is going to Cal Baptist. 

The youngest of the group was Remmington Hewitt, an 8th grader, who verbally to Arizona State, took on the challenge of moving up to the 18’s in 2018. There she had the opportunity to play with her older sister Preslie, a class of 2019 Nevada commit.  

“It was tough making a lineup at times with so much talent but we were blessed here at Sorcerer to have the players and families understanding accept their roles,” Gabales noted. “The sisters together or apart could have started and played full-time anywhere else. It was also very emotional at PGF this summer because some sisters were splitting up after all these years and for the parents, it was also a bittersweet time.

Twinning

Six sets of sisters on one team is a feat in itself, but the Sorcerers also had a pair of twins in Lily and Maddie Amos’ who are fraternal. The seniors will both stay in-state and play for Cal Poly next season. The Macfarlane’s, Mazie and Kenzie, are identical. 

Trick plays anyone?

“Sometimes the other catcher asks if I am a switch hitter because I am right handed and Mazie is left-handed,” explained Kenzie Macfarlane. The other catcher thinks we are the same person.”

Their father, Matt MacFarlane, has multiple roles for the Sorcerers, serving as Assistant Manager and Recruiting Coordinator. He says the pair, who will both attend Utah State after they graduate in 2019, fight like any other siblings now and then, but on the field it’s all business, cheering for each other harder than anyone.
“I remember in a PGF Premier Qualifier in Las Vegas in 14U, Makenzie hit her first ever home run in the Championship game to give us the lead and Mazie was the first one out of the dugout to meet her at home plate, jumping all over her. It has been that way with all the siblings on our team though. “Although we still have 6 of the 12 sisters on the team this fall, I am going to miss those girls. It has been a once in a lifetime experience. 

Coach Rodriguez agrees and has fond memories from the year including the very first weekend all six sisters and the rest of the team were playing on a very cold day. The sun would peek out from time to time and the next thing you know the group was belting out Broadway hits.
“Our entire dugout was singing the Annie song “The sun’ll come out tomorrow”. They were all huddled under their big jackets, and having a blast.” Rodriguez recalled. “We had no shortage of quick wit, and it comes at you very quickly. Every time we got together as a team, there were plenty of laughs to go around.”

Family Is Everything

Blood sisters or not the Sorcerers truly defined the bonds softball can create both on and off the field. Rodriguez said the players that were non-sisters really gravitated to the siblings and as more and more girls came in the sense of family grew deeper and deeper.
“They all come from great families, and were always ready to include a teammate in whatever they were doing,” he said. “You can see the families more united, and really enjoying that journey and family experience.”