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Monday evening marked the delayed, but official, end of my softball coaching career as we celebrated the 2020 softball season at WGHS (Webster Groves High School) in two separate masked, socially distanced ceremonies in a (mostly) empty Roberts Gym, although so many parents who made coaching at Webster such a pleasure were there for their kids and represented so many who came before in previous seasons. I know that parents have sometimes created headaches for coaches, but at both programs with which I was fortunate to be connected (Hancock and WG), they were a blessing, not a bane.

I got to say goodbye to my last team, the 2020 WGHS-JV which overcame multiple obstacles and challenges to cram 13 games into 15 days, coming from behind in our last contest to defeat the JV of perennial power Lafayette 5-4 and finish with a 7-6 record. I’m as proud of that team as any I’ve had the privilege to coach in my 35 year coaching career. Going out on a win is all that any coach could reasonably ask for, and an exciting one, well, “Extra cherry on top, please!”

That didn’t end things, of course, as I joined the varsity for the state tournament that culminated with WGHS’s first-ever softball state championship and only the second women’s sport team state championship in the district’s 125 year history (of course, women’s sports don’t have that long a history [I remember when the “sporty” girls were shunted off to GAA club competitions.]). Of the 19 girls on our state championship squad, 17 had played for me in the program. Last night we unveiled the banner for the gym as well as the state championship picture. There’s also a poster in Webster’s Athletic “Hall of Fame.” 

Which means that you can find my name in the Halls of Fame in two different schools. For those who knew me back when (I started my teaching career 50 years ago), you are probably open-eyed in wonder, joining me in saying, as they do from time to time on TV, “Well, I sure didn’t see that coming!” 

I know I will miss coaching, I will miss my friends and colleagues, and, of course, the girls (as politically incorrect as the term may be, my former players will always be “my girls”), but I’m at peace with my retirement decision. It’s always a blessing to be able to control your exit from any job or stage of life, but 2020 notwithstanding, I couldn’t have scripted mine any better. 

So here’s my script (minus the inevitable ad libs) from the JV portion of last night’s ceremonies, plus  random pix from last night and the unforgettable 2020 season. 

About a year ago, and for me, if not most of us, I’m sure it seems much longer, we could have made any number of predictions about 2020, all of which would have been pure (wrong) guesses, but I’m confident that being here in Roberts Gym on April 12 to celebrate our 2020 softball seasons would not have made anyone’s list. 

But that we are here tonight to celebrate our successful 2020 seasons is a testament to the kind of young women who play Statesmen Softball. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, our dedicated players continued to not just show up, but to show up with purpose, to work hard during the seemingly interminable summer and fall. They were conscientious and mindful of the health and safety of their teammates and coaches – and as a coach of a certain age, I personally appreciated that. 

Every day they practiced as though their next game was going to be tomorrow – and then, all of a sudden, their next game WAS tomorrow. And the day after that and the day after that and…. Thanks to Jerry Collins, our JV managed to play a 13-game schedule, undoubtedly more games than any other JV team in St. Louis County. Despite essentially no time to practice between games, our athletes managed to improve daily, both individually and as a team. No team I’ve ever coached has done as much with as little opportunity, rejecting the myriad of excuses to just go through the motions, or has represented their school and community any better than our 2020 JV. 

2020 was definitely a year of transition, but thanks to the efforts of the young women here tonight, we can look forward with realistic hopes that 2021 will see Webster softball continue its tradition as a well-respected program. The young women who committed to the season that was 2020 can and should deservedly take pride in that; Coach Ashlock and I are certainly proud to have had the opportunity to work with you, and as I transition from coach to fan (although I’ve always been your fan), I know that pride will continue. Thank you.