OUR STORY
Softball has been my PASSION since I was 5 years old. I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN and begin playing softball for my dad. Several years late he founded the Country Place Illusions. He coached me until I went on to play at the collegiate level at Georgia Southern University. During my travel ball play I attended 8 ASA National tournaments.
As my passion for Fast Pitch Softball grew, it became my dream to coach with my dad. Unfortunately, he died with a brain tumor before I got the opportunity. When my husband and I moved to Nashville I shared my dream with him. Millard’s response was “let’s do it together.”
We began to scout 12U players and had a team tryout in the Fall of 2004. A team was selected and we named it the Tennessee Illusions in
memory of my Dad- Country Place Illusions.
After sixteen years over seeing the TN Illusions organization, we merged with two other organizations (Kraze and American Freedom) to
become VEXUS Softball Organization. Phillip Rogers, Tom McCluskey and I have over 40 years of experience coaching girl’s fastpitch softball.
Three years later…TNI IS BACK and we are 9 teams strong in our organization.
My desire is to develop each player to her potential and work towards her dream of playing at the collegiate level while getting an education.
Today, every player that graduated with us has gone on to play in college-100% committed and signed. The Tennessee Illusions has 100+
players that have played, are playing and will sign during the November signing period. The VEXUS organization has helped approximately 200
young ladies go on to college to pursue their education while giving them an opportunity to play the game they love.
Colleges we have sent players to:
University of Tennessee, Austin Peay, University of North Alabama, Trevecca, University of Tennessee at Martin, Lipscomb University, Belmont, Chattanooga State, MTSU, Campbellsville University, Tusculum College, Carson Newman, Lindsey Wilson, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Berry College (GA), Bethel University, Union University, Union College (KY), Rhodes College, East Carolina University, Memphis University, Vol State, Cumberland University, Ohio Dominican University, Florida South Western, University of the Cumberlands, Jackson State CC, Centre College, Bellarmine University, Morehead State University, TSU, Milligan University, Martin Methodist, King University, Walters State.
After 16 years, my passion for this game still lingers in my heart and drives me to develop young ladies into superior softball players. Although I’ve been coaching older teams the last several years, I want to drop back to a 12U team and develop these players and teach them the basics and techniques that I’ve learned the last 16 years.
-Tonia Martin
Current Head Coach of Illusions 2026 and Organization Founder
As my passion for Fast Pitch Softball grew, it became my dream to coach with my dad. Unfortunately, he died with a brain tumor before I got the opportunity. When my husband and I moved to Nashville I shared my dream with him. Millard’s response was “let’s do it together.”
We began to scout 12U players and had a team tryout in the Fall of 2004. A team was selected and we named it the Tennessee Illusions in
memory of my Dad- Country Place Illusions.
After sixteen years over seeing the TN Illusions organization, we merged with two other organizations (Kraze and American Freedom) to
become VEXUS Softball Organization. Phillip Rogers, Tom McCluskey and I have over 40 years of experience coaching girl’s fastpitch softball.
Three years later…TNI IS BACK and we are 9 teams strong in our organization.
My desire is to develop each player to her potential and work towards her dream of playing at the collegiate level while getting an education.
Today, every player that graduated with us has gone on to play in college-100% committed and signed. The Tennessee Illusions has 100+
players that have played, are playing and will sign during the November signing period. The VEXUS organization has helped approximately 200
young ladies go on to college to pursue their education while giving them an opportunity to play the game they love.
Colleges we have sent players to:
University of Tennessee, Austin Peay, University of North Alabama, Trevecca, University of Tennessee at Martin, Lipscomb University, Belmont, Chattanooga State, MTSU, Campbellsville University, Tusculum College, Carson Newman, Lindsey Wilson, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Berry College (GA), Bethel University, Union University, Union College (KY), Rhodes College, East Carolina University, Memphis University, Vol State, Cumberland University, Ohio Dominican University, Florida South Western, University of the Cumberlands, Jackson State CC, Centre College, Bellarmine University, Morehead State University, TSU, Milligan University, Martin Methodist, King University, Walters State.
After 16 years, my passion for this game still lingers in my heart and drives me to develop young ladies into superior softball players. Although I’ve been coaching older teams the last several years, I want to drop back to a 12U team and develop these players and teach them the basics and techniques that I’ve learned the last 16 years.
-Tonia Martin
Current Head Coach of Illusions 2026 and Organization Founder