Who We Are
Welcome to the National Softball Academy - a proud family-based company committed to growing the game of softball across the country. As a traveling national camp, we bring top-tier training directly to athletes through individual lessons, group camps, and specialized instruction in Catching, Hitting, Pitching, and Defense.
Our mission is to develop players of all levels using the latest techniques and methods in the game.
What sets us apart? Our athletes train with and learn from some of the best - top NCAA players and experienced coaches - to ensure they receive the highest level of instruction. At National Softball Academy, we’re not just building skills; we’re building a nationwide softball family.
The People Behind The Name
Owner - Bethany Jesteadt
Bethany Jesteadt, founder of NSA LLC., is a proud Penn State graduate with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. With over seven years of experience training softball catchers on a national level, she brings passion, expertise, and dedication to every athlete she works with.
Driven by a lifelong love of the game, Bethany started this company to create more opportunities for young female athletes to grow, compete, and thrive. She offers private lessons in the local community, focusing not only on physical skill development but also on building confidence, leadership, and a deep respect for the sport.
Her mission is simple: to empower the next generation of softball players by giving them the tools, training, and encouragement they need to succeed—both on and off the field.
Our Team
Julie Laubach
Trainer
Julie Laubach played softball at Randolph College and earned her BA in Coaching and Sport Performance.
She has coached and given lessons for over five years now, at the rec, travel, high school, and national levels. She currently is a National Softball Academy Trainer, as well as the assistant coach at E.C. Glass High School.
She gives lessons and holds camps, as well as makes softball content on IG & TikTok. @thoushaltnotsteall
Maddie Fine
Trainer
Maddie Fine is a former student athlete from Nova Southeastern University. She caught all four years there including the team’s first Sunshine State Conference Title and the school’s first trip to the College World Series.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Sports Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration.
She has been giving lessons and coaching for five years now.
Dave Frye
Trainer
Amber Ingram
Trainer
Amber Ingram is a former student-athlete from Pensacola, Florida. She attended the University of West Florida from 2008 to 2012, where she earned Second Team All-American honors as a third baseman.
Following her collegiate career, Amber began coaching travel ball (10U and 14U) and high school teams, while also providing private lessons. She has developed a strong passion for helping young athletes grow, and is dedicated to guiding them toward success through hard work and skill development.
David Frye has nearly three decades of coaching and instruction from High School to competitive travel organizations.
His last 10+ years has been focused on Softball, due to his daughter's playing at Marshall University (NCAA D1) and Fairmont University (NCAA D2) this year.
He stresses strong development on fundamentals for all skill levels. His experience is private instruction, group workouts and skill camp settings brought him to NSA to continue his love for the sport.
Rylie Bednar
Trainer
Rylie Bednar is currently a Division III softball player at Mount Aloysius College, where she is pursuing a bachelors degree in Echocardiography.
Primarily a catcher and utility player with 8 years of competitive experience, she is known for her versatility, game awareness, and strong work ethic both on and off the field.
Eddie Palmer
Trainer
Eddie Palmer is an incoming freshman at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She has a strong background in competitive softball, and competed with the organization Pittsburgh Passion.
Whether 1:1 or group setting, she strives to not only train, but to teach girls how to prevent injuries. She specializes in catching, and brings discipline and a love for the game.
Amy Johnston
Trainer
Founder of Circle Princess, Amy Johnston is a former collegiate pitcher and coach with over 30 years of experience developing elite fastpitch athletes.
Amy pitched at Chattanooga State Community College, where she finished with the lowest ERA in the nation, and continued her career on scholarship at Valdosta State University. She went on to coach at the collegiate level at Clark Atlanta University and Reinhardt University, building a reputation for developing high-level pitchers and competitors.
Currently, Amy serves as the pitching coach for the Jamaican National Softball Team, helping guide athletes in their pursuit of competing in the next Olympic Games.
Kiersten Plumley
Trainer
Kiersten Plumley played at Nelson University. She works full-time as a private softball instructor and owner of Plum Skill Softball! She has played softball for over 16 years, has won a college world series while in Texas, and has a passion for teaching girls!
Jamie Kelley
Trainer
Jamie Kelly is a dedicated softball athlete and trainer with proven collegiate experience and a passion for developing players. At the JUCO level, Jamie earned 1st Team All-Region 20 honors, was named to the All-Region 20 Tournament Team, and received both the Catamount Culture Award and Catamounts Climb Higher Award for leadership and commitment.
Now competing at Waynesburg University, Jamie is the starting shortstop and a competitive hitter with 18 doubles this season. With experience at multiple levels of college softball, strong defensive instincts, and a team-first mindset, Jamie brings energy, knowledge, and competitiveness to every training session.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!