Cara Schwartz
Coach and Counselor
With over 20 years of instructional experience, Coach Cara Schwartz services communities with their growing demand for quality fast pitch softball by providing clinics and counseling through Blazing Paths with Fastpitch Softball LLC. Cara is currently involved with several leagues across the local and metropolitan areas and influences a wide range of players on multiple levels. Highly skilled and experienced as a School Counselor, Coach Cara offers distinctive qualities to her coaching style. Pitchers and players can specifically tap into their personal confidence and further develop a strong character as they grow into aspiring athletes and young women.
Growing up in Yonkers, NY Cara experienced her passion for softball at a young age as a member of the Hillcrest Lakers Community Club. With a family devoted to softball, Cara’s Father, Allan Sadovsky, was the Co-Founder of the Yonkers Federation League. During the summer months in high school, Cara was the starting Pitcher and Utility Player for the Beach Girls Gold NJ Tournament Team. In 1988, she was the only high school player selected as a member of the Open Division for the New York Empire State Games. In 1989, Cara graduated from Roosevelt High School and received a full athletic scholarship to Pace University in Pleasantville, NY. She was recruited as a Pitcher at the NCAA II Level and was quickly designated a Utility Player during her college career. After graduating, Cara was invited to become the first Women’s Graduate Assistant at Pace University’s Athletic Department and was appointed Assistant Softball Coach (1993-1996). While coaching at Pace University in 1994, she competed in a field of 3,000 players and was selected by the Colorado Silver Bullets, a Professional Women’s Baseball Team and participated in their spring training facility in Orlando, Florida
Since her days as an NCAA Coach at Pace University, Cara has coached softball at Suffern High School and The Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, both at the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels. Cara has also volunteered as a coach for New Rochelle Little League and in 2015 she was hired by YBNR 10u Bombers and led the team to winning the fall tournament season championship. Today, Cara continues to evolve as a YBNR PRO COACH within the NEW ROCHELLE DIAMOND Fastpitch Softball TRAVEL BALL program at the 10u and 12u levels.
Tournament Ball brings another level of experience as Coach Cara served as Head Coach 14u TC Futures, 16u Pro Swing Lady Pride, 16u LMLL TIGERS and Asst. 16u Total Kaos; All are distinguished Westchester based tournament teams that competed within the Tri-state area. Cara was Assistant Varsity Coach at New Rochelle High School (2016) and Co-Coordinator of the SECTION 1 Senior All–Star Game (2016 thru 2019). Cara has been a Head Coach for 10+ years as a TRI-COUNTY Summer Travel Team (Pelham 10u, 12u, 16u) and designated Junior Varsity Head Coach for the Pelham Pelicans from 2017 - 2021. With extensive experience throughout the years, Blazing Paths with Fastpitch Softball LLC was launched in 2017 and continues to impact various levels of fastpitch female players who wish to pursue their passions.
Cara earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Counseling with a concentration in Alcohol and Substance Abuse from Pace University, through a full athletic softball scholarship and full graduate stipend. She has worked as a professional school counselor in both Catholic and public high school environments for nearly a decade. In 2001, she earned NYS School Counselor Certification. Cara also thrived in two capacities simultaneously, as both Director of Admissions and Guidance Counselor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Academy High School. Cara is highly experienced working with the college application process and college recruitment. She has also assisted freshmen with the high school transition and sophomores with career exploration. Cara’s forte is creating opportunities for student leadership and character education.
Off the softball field, Cara continues to work with children. Throughout the past eight summer seasons, Cara was assigned various roles at the well-regarded Mount Tom Summer Day Camp in New Rochelle, including Communications Coordinator (2014, 2015), Director of Athletics (2016), Group Leader (2017 thru 2019) & Blazing Paths Specialist (2021; 2022).
As Cara grows with Blazing Paths with Fastpitch Softball LLC, she specializes in customizing fastpitch softball programs at various school districts, little leagues & day camps. With an array of professional experience, programs can be delivered on the most competitive levels including travel, tournament and college level ball.