1975 Newspaper Articles
The following is the article by Walt Horn, Call-Chronicle Sports Writer, on June 1, 1975.
1st state softball champs
Parkland rallies to win crown 4-3
Poise is an essential quality for winning and Parkland showed plenty of it yesterday as it rallied for three runs in the bottom of the last inning to defeat Coatesville 4-3.
Donna Spence’s two-out single drove in the run which gave the Trojanettes the very first PIAA girls’ softball championship before close to 1,000 enthusiastic spectators at Ferrari Field in Topton.
The Trojanettes became District 11’s second team this year, along with Dieruff’s girls basketball team, to garner state laurels and provided a fitting farewell gift for Athletic Directory Henry Gernerd, who is retiring after this school year.
Heroes were abundant in the Parkland lineup, which Coach Marcia J. Thomas said “exhibited great balance and team play the whole season”.
LaRue Moser opened the seventh inning for Parkland (trailing 3-1) by driving a pitch over the leftfielder’s head for her second hit, but she was thrown out attempting to stretch her double into a triple. The Trojanettes came right back as Joanne Geiger singled and advanced to second when Jane Mann reached base on an error. Miss Mann, who made some fine defensive plays at third base, was injured sliding back to first and pinch-runner Vicki Smoyer then stole second.
Mary Beth Schmoyer tied the ball game at 3-3 when she drove in her second and third RBI of the day with her second single. Miss Smoyer made her brief appearance significant as she slid under the catcher’s tag to tie the game. Joanne Knerr singled Miss Schmoyer to third and Miss Spence, a junior, put Parkland in the state record books with her game-winning single.
After two scoreless innings for both teams, Coatesville scored in the third. Becky Davis hit an opposite-field triple to right for her second hit with two down. Sue Ahern, the Raiderettes fine catcher, singled in Miss Davis.
Coatesville made it 2-0 in the fourth. Amanda Bake and Mary Lou Amole singled. Pitcher Debbie Marshall singled in one run but Parkland’s Miss Knerr made the defensive play of the game by throwing out Miss Amole at the plate to end the rally.
The Trojanettes finally got to Miss Marshall, who held them scoreless through the first four innings while yielding only two hits, in the fifth. Miss Mann singled and with two down, scored on a double by Miss Schmoyer.
In the sixth RoseAnne Labiak, Coatesville’s leading hitter at .632 stroked her second single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Jody Collyer drove in Miss Labiak with a single to make the score 3-1.
Parkland (15-1) reached the finals postponed from last Saturday at Penn State because of rain, by downing Central Dauphin in the semifinals 12-7. In round 2 the Trojanettes trounced St. Mary’s 15-0 after a first round bye. Coatesville defeated Mifflinburg in the semifinals 6-1. The Raiderettes shutout Moon Township in the second round 1-0 after a first round bye.
Mary Jane Delp, tournament director, lauded the girls for “the heads-up play, skill and sportsmanship which they displayed. The tournament couldn’t have two finer teams playing for the state championship.”
Each girl received a medallion and plaque and the schools were presented trophies in the post-game ceremonies which were concluded by the players, with tear-stained faces on both teams, shaking hands at home plate.
Coatesville………………..001 101 0-3 10 1
Parkland…………………..000 010 3-4 11 1
Marshall and Ahern; Christman and Spence
The following is the article by Jack Lapos, Chronicle Sports Editor on June 2, 1975
Parkland girls’ thrill
of championship lingers
It was like winning the World Series, Super Bowl or Stanley Cup.
Today two days after the big game – the thrill of winning the first PIAA girls softball championship is no less intense for Parkland coach Marcia Thomas.
“A tremendous thrill…I am so proud of this squad…they never quit…battled all the way…just a great bunch of kids.”
Moments after Parkland rallied under tremendous pressure to score three runs in the last inning to nip Coatesville 4-3 in the title game at Topton, the Trojanettes received the team trophy and individual medallions. However, the celebration did not end there.
An auto caravan was quickly formed for the journey back to Parkland. Horns blared and the girls screamed with joy as the players and their parents wanted to tell the whole world who the champs were.
“As soon as I got back to my apartment in Allentown my phone started ringing,” Miss Thomas commented. “It was the same thing all over again after people read about our victory in the Sunday paper.
“It is something I will never forget.”
This is Marcia’s third year at Parkland. A native of Binghamton, she is a graduate of Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. She teaches aquatics.
Her parents now live in St. Louis, and she phoned them Saturday night to tell them of the state championship. Naturally, they were delighted to hear the news.
Parkland had 20 girls on its softball roster, and 15 of them will be back which immediately establishes the Trojanettes as contenders for the state title in 1976.
The departing seniors are first baseman Karen Leh, shortstop Mary Beth Schmoyer, third basemen-pitcher Jane Mann, left fielder Joanne Knerr and right fielder Denise Scherr.
Other starters were catcher Donna Spence, the team’s leading pitcher Sheri Christman, second baseman Joanne Geiger and center fielder LaRue Moser, all of whom will form the strong nucleus of next year’s team.
Parkland won 15 of 16 games, losing only to Southern Lehigh early in the season. That defeat was avenged when the Trojanettes stopped Solehi in the District 11 final.
“It was after the district showdown that we started thinking about a possible state crown” the coach recalled. “Until then, we really had not given it much thought at all.”
Parkland had a first-round bye in interdistrict competition and then defeated St. Mary’s of District 4, Central Dauphin of District 9 and Coatesville of District 1 to capture the whole wonderful ball of wax.
“I must say that Coatesville was a gracious loser, showing excellent sportsmanship,” Miss Thomas said. “They (Coatesville) had a state title banner made up in advance and after they lost they let us have it.”
Parkland’s stirring triumph over Coatesville was the Trojanettes 12th win in a row and perhaps it did surprise Marcia just a bit.
“I knew Coatesville had a veteran, talented team which had been pointing toward a state title for a couple of years,” she noted.
“But oh how our girls did it when they had to. I must admit I really was nervous. Now the dream has come true and we can relax and enjoy the championship.”
“Oh yes, before I forget,” the coach added, “I want to thank all the players’ parents and the fans in general for their magnificent support.”
Incidentally, it is interesting to note that Parkland is the third Allentown area high school to cop a girls state title in three years.
In 1973, Central Catholic captured the PIAA championship in girls basketball – and that crown was the first of its kind as well. This past winter, Dieruff won the state title in girls basketball.
1st state softball champs
Parkland rallies to win crown 4-3
Poise is an essential quality for winning and Parkland showed plenty of it yesterday as it rallied for three runs in the bottom of the last inning to defeat Coatesville 4-3.
Donna Spence’s two-out single drove in the run which gave the Trojanettes the very first PIAA girls’ softball championship before close to 1,000 enthusiastic spectators at Ferrari Field in Topton.
The Trojanettes became District 11’s second team this year, along with Dieruff’s girls basketball team, to garner state laurels and provided a fitting farewell gift for Athletic Directory Henry Gernerd, who is retiring after this school year.
Heroes were abundant in the Parkland lineup, which Coach Marcia J. Thomas said “exhibited great balance and team play the whole season”.
LaRue Moser opened the seventh inning for Parkland (trailing 3-1) by driving a pitch over the leftfielder’s head for her second hit, but she was thrown out attempting to stretch her double into a triple. The Trojanettes came right back as Joanne Geiger singled and advanced to second when Jane Mann reached base on an error. Miss Mann, who made some fine defensive plays at third base, was injured sliding back to first and pinch-runner Vicki Smoyer then stole second.
Mary Beth Schmoyer tied the ball game at 3-3 when she drove in her second and third RBI of the day with her second single. Miss Smoyer made her brief appearance significant as she slid under the catcher’s tag to tie the game. Joanne Knerr singled Miss Schmoyer to third and Miss Spence, a junior, put Parkland in the state record books with her game-winning single.
After two scoreless innings for both teams, Coatesville scored in the third. Becky Davis hit an opposite-field triple to right for her second hit with two down. Sue Ahern, the Raiderettes fine catcher, singled in Miss Davis.
Coatesville made it 2-0 in the fourth. Amanda Bake and Mary Lou Amole singled. Pitcher Debbie Marshall singled in one run but Parkland’s Miss Knerr made the defensive play of the game by throwing out Miss Amole at the plate to end the rally.
The Trojanettes finally got to Miss Marshall, who held them scoreless through the first four innings while yielding only two hits, in the fifth. Miss Mann singled and with two down, scored on a double by Miss Schmoyer.
In the sixth RoseAnne Labiak, Coatesville’s leading hitter at .632 stroked her second single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Jody Collyer drove in Miss Labiak with a single to make the score 3-1.
Parkland (15-1) reached the finals postponed from last Saturday at Penn State because of rain, by downing Central Dauphin in the semifinals 12-7. In round 2 the Trojanettes trounced St. Mary’s 15-0 after a first round bye. Coatesville defeated Mifflinburg in the semifinals 6-1. The Raiderettes shutout Moon Township in the second round 1-0 after a first round bye.
Mary Jane Delp, tournament director, lauded the girls for “the heads-up play, skill and sportsmanship which they displayed. The tournament couldn’t have two finer teams playing for the state championship.”
Each girl received a medallion and plaque and the schools were presented trophies in the post-game ceremonies which were concluded by the players, with tear-stained faces on both teams, shaking hands at home plate.
Coatesville………………..001 101 0-3 10 1
Parkland…………………..000 010 3-4 11 1
Marshall and Ahern; Christman and Spence
The following is the article by Jack Lapos, Chronicle Sports Editor on June 2, 1975
Parkland girls’ thrill
of championship lingers
It was like winning the World Series, Super Bowl or Stanley Cup.
Today two days after the big game – the thrill of winning the first PIAA girls softball championship is no less intense for Parkland coach Marcia Thomas.
“A tremendous thrill…I am so proud of this squad…they never quit…battled all the way…just a great bunch of kids.”
Moments after Parkland rallied under tremendous pressure to score three runs in the last inning to nip Coatesville 4-3 in the title game at Topton, the Trojanettes received the team trophy and individual medallions. However, the celebration did not end there.
An auto caravan was quickly formed for the journey back to Parkland. Horns blared and the girls screamed with joy as the players and their parents wanted to tell the whole world who the champs were.
“As soon as I got back to my apartment in Allentown my phone started ringing,” Miss Thomas commented. “It was the same thing all over again after people read about our victory in the Sunday paper.
“It is something I will never forget.”
This is Marcia’s third year at Parkland. A native of Binghamton, she is a graduate of Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. She teaches aquatics.
Her parents now live in St. Louis, and she phoned them Saturday night to tell them of the state championship. Naturally, they were delighted to hear the news.
Parkland had 20 girls on its softball roster, and 15 of them will be back which immediately establishes the Trojanettes as contenders for the state title in 1976.
The departing seniors are first baseman Karen Leh, shortstop Mary Beth Schmoyer, third basemen-pitcher Jane Mann, left fielder Joanne Knerr and right fielder Denise Scherr.
Other starters were catcher Donna Spence, the team’s leading pitcher Sheri Christman, second baseman Joanne Geiger and center fielder LaRue Moser, all of whom will form the strong nucleus of next year’s team.
Parkland won 15 of 16 games, losing only to Southern Lehigh early in the season. That defeat was avenged when the Trojanettes stopped Solehi in the District 11 final.
“It was after the district showdown that we started thinking about a possible state crown” the coach recalled. “Until then, we really had not given it much thought at all.”
Parkland had a first-round bye in interdistrict competition and then defeated St. Mary’s of District 4, Central Dauphin of District 9 and Coatesville of District 1 to capture the whole wonderful ball of wax.
“I must say that Coatesville was a gracious loser, showing excellent sportsmanship,” Miss Thomas said. “They (Coatesville) had a state title banner made up in advance and after they lost they let us have it.”
Parkland’s stirring triumph over Coatesville was the Trojanettes 12th win in a row and perhaps it did surprise Marcia just a bit.
“I knew Coatesville had a veteran, talented team which had been pointing toward a state title for a couple of years,” she noted.
“But oh how our girls did it when they had to. I must admit I really was nervous. Now the dream has come true and we can relax and enjoy the championship.”
“Oh yes, before I forget,” the coach added, “I want to thank all the players’ parents and the fans in general for their magnificent support.”
Incidentally, it is interesting to note that Parkland is the third Allentown area high school to cop a girls state title in three years.
In 1973, Central Catholic captured the PIAA championship in girls basketball – and that crown was the first of its kind as well. This past winter, Dieruff won the state title in girls basketball.
