Jessica (Simpson) Long
Softball Pitching Instruction
The most decorated softball pitcher in the history of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Jessica (Simpson) Long is a legend and native of North Canton, Ohio. She first made a name for herself as a dominant high school player before cementing her legacy in the NCAA. Named the 2007 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year, she led the Hoover Vikings to Division I state titles in both 2006 and 2008 before continuing her career at Miami University RedHawks (Oxford, OH) where she won back-to-back MAC Pitcher of the Year awards in 2011 and 2012, and led the RedHawks to MAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament berths in 2009 and 2012. Jessica (Simpson) Long holds the Ohio High School record for career shutouts (69), second all-time in wins (103) and holds numerous MAC career records for wins (102), strikeouts (1,021)innings pitched (1048.2), and shutouts (46). Recognized for her dominance, she was inducted into the Miami RedHawks Hall of Fame, class of 2017 and the MAC Hall of Fame, class of 2024. Following her standout college career, Jessica stayed involved in the game as a mentor and coach. She returned to her roots briefly serving as a high school varsity assistant coach, and later spent the 2014 season as the pitching coach for the University of Akron softball staff, where she coached the eventual MAC Pitcher of the Year before joining the Diamond Dreams Team.
Payton Gottshall
Softball Pitching Instruction
A professional pitcher and 2024 signee of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, Payton Gotschall broke the single-season AUX record with three saves before being drafted by the Portland Cascade in the 2026 AUSL Expansion Draft. As one of the greatest Ohio athletes of all time, Payton Gottshall established herself as one of the most dominant high school pitchers in Ohio history, culminating in a 2018 OHSAA Division I State Championship. During her standout career at Perry High School (Massillon, Ohio), Payton was a 2-Time Federal League Player of the Year and a 2-Time First-Team All-Ohio honoree. After High School, Payton split her five-year collegiate career between Bowling Green State University (2020–2022) and the University of Tennessee (2023–2024), accumulating 1,078 career strikeouts and a 94-37 record, before her professional playing career. Some of her collegiate honors include 2024 1st Team All American, 2024 Academic All American, 2024 SEC Champion, 2024 1st Team All SEC, 2023 SEC Champion, 2023 SEC All Tournament Team, 2022 MAC Pitcher of the Year, 2022 MAC 1st Team, 2022 MAC All Tournament Team.
Steve Gambone
Softball Hitting Instruction
Steve’s approach to hitting has helped dozens of his students go on to play at the Division I level. As a coach, he is one of the most successful in the state of Ohio. As coach of the Ohio Lasers Red, Steve became the first Ohio coach to win a national championship. Steve has also coached at Canton Central Catholic High School and Notre Dame College in Cleveland. Both of Steve’s daughters played at the Division I level: Lauren for the University of Buffalo and Caitlyn for the University of Akron. Steve has taught hitting at Diamond Dreams since 2015. #SteaksforSteve!