From 12 Players to 150+: San Francisco Girls Baseball Coach Jandro Alcantar Named 2026 “GameChanger of the Year”

SAN FRANCISCO (October 6, 2026) — GameChanger, the #1 rated youth sports app for scorekeeping, livestreaming, statistics and team management, today announced Coach Jandro Alcantar as the recipient of the 2026 “GameChanger of the Year” award. Announced on National Coaches Day, the annual award recognizes individuals making an extraordinary impact on their communities through youth sports. GameChanger revealed Alcantar as this year’s honoree through THIS video shared across its digital and social channels.

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For the past decade, Alcantar has helped create something that did not previously exist for many girls in San Francisco: a community and pathway to keep playing baseball. Since he joined the San Francisco Bay Sox Girls Baseball Program in 2016, the publicly funded program has grown from a single team of 12 players into a thriving, year-round community serving more than 150 girls ages 7-18.

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For many of those athletes, the barriers extended beyond simply finding a team. Girls playing on co-ed teams have often found themselves as the only girl on the field, faced questions about why they play baseball instead of softball and lacked a clear pathway to continue playing the sport as they got older. The Bay Sox have helped change that, creating an environment where girls can learn the game together, compete at a high level and see a future for themselves in baseball.

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As interest in the program has grown, so has Alcantar’s commitment. While working full-time as an assistant principal, he has continued to take on additional teams, practices and players, refusing to turn away girls who want to play. 

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“Great coaches do so much more than teach a sport. They give young athletes confidence, create a sense of belonging and help them see what’s possible,” said Sameer Ahuja, President of GameChanger and Senior Vice President at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “Jandro has spent a decade creating those opportunities for girls in San Francisco, and the growth of this program speaks volumes about the impact he has had. On National Coaches Day, we’re proud to recognize Jandro as our 2026 GameChanger of the Year.”

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Alcantar was nominated by his wife, Annie Jupiter-Jones, who has seen firsthand the impact of his coaching and mentorship. His ability to teach players at every level, from girls picking up a baseball for the first time to experienced athletes competing nationally, has helped generations of players develop their skills and confidence while fostering a lifelong love of the game.

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In 2025, that commitment culminated in a national championship for a group of girls Alcantar had coached since they were seven years old. But his influence extends well beyond wins and losses. By continuing to show up year after year, Alcantar has helped build a program where girls can start playing baseball, continue developing as athletes and see a future for themselves in the sport.

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“Jandro has never said no to another team, another practice or another player,” said Jupiter-Jones. “He believes girls deserve the same opportunity to learn baseball, compete at a high level and dream about where the game can take them. What he has helped build here isn’t just a successful program. It’s a community, and generations of girls in San Francisco will have opportunities because of his commitment.”

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Now in its fifth year, the GameChanger of the Year award celebrates the coaches, volunteers, parents and community members who go above and beyond to make youth sports possible. Previous honorees include Cleveland Guardians RBI coach Cory Douglass, Glenwood Baseball and Softball Club volunteer Christopher Abbott, Coach Michael Dewayne Long Jr. and Triple Play Foundation founder David Meng.

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MEDIA NOTE: An official advisory with full details on a special recognition moment will be distributed later in the month. In the meantime, feel free to contact GameChanger Head of Communications, Zack Yohman, using the information below.

About GameChanger: GameChanger empowers youth sports coaches, families, organizations, and athletes to stay connected through live streaming, highlights, scheduling, statistics, and scorekeeping. Available on iOS, Android, and the web, GameChanger covers nearly 10M games annually and 1M+ teams a year. The live streaming and team management technology is available for all youth sports, with deep stats and scorekeeping capability for baseball, softball and basketball. GameChanger is based in New York City and is owned and operated by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

MEDIA CONTACT:

GameChanger:

Zack Yohman, Head of Communications: zachary.yohman@gc.com

Eric Nemeth, EricPR: nemeth@ericpr.com