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SANTEE (2-22-13) — As a young lady growing up loving and excelling in softball, in her mind there was always one distinctive difference.

Kimmi Hayden

Hayden owns many Memphis hitting marks...

...defense, too!

"Whether it was travel ball or my high school teams, we always had male head coaches," noted Kimmi Hayden, the 2005 East County player of the year out of Valhalla High. "I didn't have my first woman head coach until I was in college."

Aiming to become a mentor to the next wave of girls who share a similar vision for the sport, Hayden is opening a training facility for athletes in both softball and baseball.

On March 10, Hayden will open the doors to Power Alley Training Complex, a comprehensive development program to advance young talent in both sports. More importantly, Hayden believes her facility offers more than being simply batting cages.

Along with the basics of six dual-purpose hitting areas (three each for both sports) and an additional pitching tunnel, Hayden's Power Alley will feature strength and conditioning, recruiting consulting, private instruction, plus weekly camps in both sports. The staff will also be available for on-site clinics or they can visit team sites.

For softball training, all of the instructors will be women, like Hayden, who excelled in the sport.

"Some of my best memories are being part of the new softball program at the University of Memphis," noted Hayden, who continues to hold dozens of hitting records at the school. "I'm proud to be the person that hit the first home run in school history, then the first to hit a homer at Memphis’ Tiger Stadium. Moments like that can never be taken from me."

Another of Hayden's best memories was facing Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott, one of the best pitchers this country has ever produced and hitting a home run against the 2008 Arizona State University National Champions at the Sun Devils’ stadium. And two of Hayden's contemporaries at Valhalla -- Savannah Brown and Carri Leto (Martin) -- went on to play pro ball in Pro National Fastpitch.

So it came as no surprise when, following her graduation, Hayden became the youngest head coach in NCAA Softball at Division II Christian Brothers University. The Buccaneers played in the rugged Gulf Coast Conference, where Hayden further developed as a coach.

"We had some of the best teams in the country. Valdosta State won last year's national championship, beating UCSD, and the year before, Alabama-Huntsville made it to the championship final, but fell to UCSD.”

"Still, even with all those great teams, the coaches took the time to talk to me, teach me what they've learned and mentor me. That's what Power Alley is going to be all about."

With life there is change, so Hayden made a choice to return to San Diego.

"Family is extremely important to me," she added. "I needed to come home and wanted to pursue my dream with my family by my side."

"So my father, Warren, along with my mom (Ileana) and step-dad (Dennis) are helping me put this all together."

Each of her relatives are assisting in areas of specialization, be it making a business plan, construction, or whatever is needed to become successful. “I could not have done this without them and I am so grateful to have all of my family’s support, especially my mom, dad, and step-dad.”