Among all the local high schools around the Coastal Bend, softball and baseball teams have historically proven adept at making headlines and winning state championships. Most recently, the Calallen Wildcats softball team brought home a second straight state title. The talent in the area is undeniable.
Now, softball players have a local opportunity to expand their careers beyond high school and college. The Gulf Coast has ushered in a new era of professional sports with the Women’s Professional Fastpitch League and the introduction of the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave.
That opportunity is exactly what happened for Veterans Memorial High School alumna Rock Benavides, who was a part of the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave inaugural season. After high school, she played at Florida State before finishing her college softball career at the University of Houston. She had been retired for two years before getting recruited to play for the Tidal Wave.
“I got a call from Coach Morabito with an opportunity to play professionally here in my hometown, a full circle moment,” she said. “I never thought I would [have the opportunity to] dust off my cleats and come out of retirement.”
Benavides is just one of the many talented players on the Tidal Wave, each of whom has numerous accolades that have brought the team together for a successful season. The roster includes players from across the country who have competed in collegiate-level softball programs in major conferences like the Pac-12 and SEC.
In addition to talented players, the coaching staff brings impressive experience and knowledge to the team. Head Coach Blake Miller is no stranger to the Coastal Bend, or professional softball. Fastpitch softball fans are familiar with Miller as he was an 11-time selected member of the USA Men’s National Team. Through Miller’s coaching career, he has coached college softball programs across the country, including stops here in the Coastal Bend at Texas A&M University–Kingsville and Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Coaching alongside Miller is Joe Morabito, who has crossed paths with Miller over the years by competing and coaching against each other. Now, they are co-coaching their first season of professional softball.
The Coastal Bend Tidal Wave concluded the season with the championship series in August after facing the Texas Smoke, Texas Monarchs and Hub City Adelitas during the regular season.
The community can continue its support by keeping up with the team on Instagram and Facebook for updates about the upcoming season, tryouts, training camps and meet and greets. It is not too early to help the team prepare for the 2025 season—and sponsorship opportunities are available.
“We had a lot of help from the community that was instrumental in getting this moving forward,” said Morabito.
The team highlights the athleticism of women’s sports, and brings a new energy to the community. As Miller said, “It’s fun to see young girls come to the game and see that it’s not just a dream, it’s right in front of them.”
Contact: cbtidalwave@gmail.com | @coastalbendtidalwave
