If you have attended SFC or have been to any home games on campus you probably know Ms. Beach and her daughter Liz. Ms. Sarah Beach has taught 6th grade here at SFC for 27 years. She is currently teaching 6th grade Social Studies – Ancient Civilizations, as well as Public Speaking. In her 27 years of teaching she has taught all the core classes for 6th grade; English, Science, Social Studies, Bible, and Mathematics. Ms. Beach has loved teaching and being involved in athletics as a parent and a volunteer and said, “I have been blessed beyond measure for Liz to have had the fabulous coaches at SFC pour into and inspire her to play and be the best student athlete she could be.”
Ms. Beach has also helped in athletics for four different sports. She manages the clock for JV & Varsity Football, as well as Men’s & Women’s JV & Varsity Basketball. She is also the official scorekeeper for both Men’s & Women’s Volleyball and Middle school and Varsity Softball. She can be found at mostly every home game during the year. Whether it is the gym, the football field or the softball diamond you will see Ms. Beach around at some point during each season.
If you spot Ms. Beach at a game you see her daughter Liz nearby as well. Liz, who graduated from SFC, is a big fan of SFC athletics herself. Liz was a standout softball player during her time at Santa Fe Christian, leading her team to a CIF championship in 1997. “It was amazing! I was extremely proud to be part of such an awesome team. We beat the like of Bishop’s, La Jolla Country Day, Mountain Empire, Julian, Francis Parker, Tri-City and finally Horizon” said Liz, when as asked about leading her team to a championship and now seeing her name hanging in the gym. “It makes for a very proud, yet humbling feeling.” Not only did Liz lead her team to a championship she was also named the CIF Divisional Player of the Year for Division IV. Liz is the only softball player in SFC history to win this award and that 1997 team is the last SFC softball team to win a CIF championship. According to Liz, her favorite SFC softball memory was the dogpile celebration after the CIF championship game.
There was a little buzz surrounding Liz in high school. According to Ms. Beach it started with her uncle, Lauren Pickett, a high school athletic director in Michigan. “He caught her pitches several times and he commented that she added some sting to his glove.” Ultimately it was Paul Clark that helped connect Liz to California Baptist University which launched her collegiate softball career. That career at CBU lasted for four years and was very productive. Liz can still be found in a few single season top 10 lists. Her most productive season came in 2001 when she led the team in wins, ERA, strikeouts, innings pitched and appearances. She recorded 11 wins, a 2.47 ERA, 152 strikeouts, pitched 221.1 innings and appeared in 40 games.
She graduated from CBU with a degree in Kinesiology before returning to SFC to coach Middle School and Upper School softball for 2 years. Liz then moved up north and took over the softball program at Rim of the World High school and lead the team to Back-to-Back league championships. Liz ultimately moved back home and on August 26th, 2010 when she was diagnosed with relapsing, remitting Multiple Sclerosis.
Liz's MS Walk Team, the Lizard Chasers!!, supports the annual MS fundraising walk each April at Carlsbad. Anyone interested in joining the walk can contact her through lizardchasers@outlook.com