Long Beach City College Softball has an offense that doesn’t quit. Coach Fa Leilua is a big part of their progression.
Softball is a cornerstone for Coach Fa. Her journey was more of an act of fate accompanied by hard work and dedication. There have been bumps and bruises along the way.
Her players respect her for her accolades and knowledge, which span from her early commitment to the University of Washington, her success at Arizona State, and the star-status in Starkville, at Mississippi State. But her resilience as a person is not to be overlooked. Nor should her leadership in the clubhouse.
“Coach Fa is one of those coaches that will push you beyond your limit in the best way possible,” Jade Whitman said LBCC infielder and the University of Alabama at Birmingham transfer.
A writer’s job is to give the reader a clear understanding of events and people. Real writers are meant to summarize complex topics, and people, in a succinct way. Although Coach Fa radiates good vibes and is all smiles, there is a depth to her that is difficult to penetrate.
There are many things that people have already written about Coach Fa. Many of which are worth mentioning again. She is a killer at the plate and in the classroom, with the rap sheet to prove that statement true.
Just to mention a few: 2019 First-team All-SEC, 2019 Softball America and NFCA Second Team All-American, 2021 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll; she also led her ASU team in home runs two years in a row as an underclassman. She also received a master’s degree.
But these accolades don’t capture the full scope of the hitting coach for LBCC’s 25-10 softball team.
She has faced the struggles attached to the tragedy of outliving her father, who was instrumental to her introduction to the game that has become a lifestyle, career, and a place to lead.
“Literally my first day of softball was a game. We stop by a Big 5 (her father Sio) buys all this stuff, this equipment, this clothing,” said Leilua.
When she asked, “What is this?”, her father replied, “It’s like a baseball type-a-deal.”
Shortly after he pulled up to a park and pointed the way to a softball field, then introduced her to her new life on the diamond.
“The rest was comedy, just comedy,” said Leilua.
She works at On Deck Batting Cages in Signal Hill while coaching at LBCC, and hasn’t stopped playing ball since childhood.
These are pillars in life to be proud of, but the underlying pride for Fa Leilua is felt in the legacy her father has left, receiving her masters in Science Workforce Education and Leadership, and “putting a record on for the Polynesian culture.”
Leilua is scheduled to be a guest speaker on a podcast episode hosted by LBCC Viking News in the near future.