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Mario “Mo” Vela, President/Founder

(530) 680-0394

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Mario “Mo” Vela, ATC begins his 13th year as President/Founder of NorCal Mavericks Athletic Development in Chico, CA. A native of Northern California, Vela is a junior college product from Napa Valley College who received a baseball scholarship to the University of the Pacific, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree.

After earning his degree from UOP, Coach Mo transferred to Fresno State University as a graduate assistant in Athletic Training working with the football and baseball programs, respectively. During his time at FSU, Vela had the opportunity to work and study pitching under the expertise of Hall of Fame Baseball Coach, Bob Bennett. After earning his postgraduate degree, Vela worked at the college level as a Sports Medicine Director, Coordinator, and Athletic Trainer for over two decades.

Mo Vela’s success as a coach is a result of his own experience on the field as a player and coach, extensive training under Bob Bennett, expertise in biomechanics and injury prevention through sports medicine, and his educational background in talent development. Vela has worked with athletes from every level of competition from youth to professional and has coached athletes through the Division I level. He founded NorCal Mavericks to focus on instilling life skills and values in young athletes through baseball, thus enhancing life opportunities through sport.

Coach Mo enjoys instructing on all aspects of the game but primarily focuses on hitting, infield, game strategies, and biomechanical analysis. To speak directly regarding lessons, programs or for more information, please call or email.

Shanna Vela, Softball Coach

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Coach V is a native of Southern California playing High School at Bonita Vista High School before moving onto Junior College. Shanna played two years of Junior College as a catcher and outfielder earning two All-Pacific Coast Conference Awards, as well as an All-State and All-American honors with Palomar College playing for the Hall of Fame Coach Mark Eldridge.

Shanna continued her playing career as an outfielder with the Tigers at the University of the Pacific coached under Head Coach Brian Kolze and Assistant Coach Kristy (Howard) Schroeder with the 1998 team making it into the post-season falling short at University of Arizona. Shanna ended her playing career after a season-ending injury.

Since moving to Butte County in 2002, Shanna coached the Butte College Roadrunner softball team from 2002 thru the Spring 2014 season where her teams have had multiple playoff appearances as well as sending players on to all levels in NCAA and NAIA schools.

Shanna is now focusing on the Lady Maverick Softball program instilling life skills and values in young athletes through softball, thus enhancing life opportunities through sport. Shanna is available for lessons and workouts.

Reece Borges, Coach

The Mavericks are fortunate to have Chico Heat Pitching Coach, Reece Borges available to our organization. Coach Borges runs Mavericks camps and clinics throughout the year and is available for private lessons.

Chico baseball fans should already know Reece well – for three seasons he was one of the anchors of the Chico Heat pitching staff, and for two years Borges was the pitching coach under Anthony Ferro at Butte College. As a player, the Florida Marlins drafted Reece, a right-hander from Reno, Nevada into the major leagues in 1996 after starring at Lassen Junior College. Borges spent two seasons in the Miami Marlins system and another in the Houston Astros organization.

In 2000, Reece came to Chico and immediately became the workhorse of the Heat pitching staff and was a key member of Chico’s 2002 WBL championship team. Reece retired following the ’02 season with the third most career victories (19) in Heat franchise history and ranked second all-time among Heat pitchers in innings pitched (275), third in complete games (4) and fourth in strikeouts (174).

-Per Chico Heat Website