The 1975 Parkland High School Girl's Softball Team and
Their Quest for a State Championship
It was 1973 when the sport of girls’ softball was introduced at Parkland High School under Coach Marcia Thomas who was instrumental in the success of girls’ softball at Parkland High School.
A rookie year it proved to be for all of us. It was a year of developing skills, finding the right position for each player and building confidence and it was all on the shoulders of Coach Thomas. After all, this was her first experience as well coaching and learning the game of softball. This entailed lots of reading to learn the game and some mentoring by the umpires. Let’s say that 1973 was a building year and well the record said it all…one win. In 1974 it proved to be a year that our skills and knowledge of the game were building as well as our confidence as we finished in third place, almost landing a spot in the playoffs.
In 1975 we seemed destined to qualify for district playoffs. We started the season with five wins. Game six against Southern Lehigh was a challenge and a battle of the undefeated. The game proved not only to be a battle but a thriller. We held a 4-2 lead going into the sixth inning but our battle ended with a seventh inning 7-6 loss. It was a tough and disappointing loss but we showed the confidence that our team had developed by rebounding with 2 more wins and earning a spot in the district playoffs.
We entered the districts with wins over Easton, 6-2 and North Schuylkill 9-1 and a spot in the district finals and a rematch against Southern Lehigh, the defending district titlist.
This time we battled to a commanding 11-2 win, a District 11 title and earned a birth in the first PIAA state championship tournament.
During the next week Coach Thomas continued to keep us focus and preparing us for one more tournament and a shot at a State Championship. I don’t think we realized the magnitude of what we had accomplished and what laid ahead and boarding that bus and heading to Bellefonte for the tournament we appeared to be the most relaxed team with not a worry in the world, just going to play another game.
We earned a first round bye and with wins over St. Mary’s, 15-0 and Central Dauphin
12-7 we had earned another berth in the state finals against Coatesville. Due to heavy thunderstorms the final game was postponed until the following weekend. Because of our location and Coatesville’s it was decided not to return to Bellefonte but rather it would be played at Topton, a neutral and centrally located field.
For me, I was glad to be going home and having the game being played in Topton. You see, my parents were unable to go out to Bellefonte so I was excited that my family could now attend the game in Topton.
The next week seemed to go so slow. I think we were all ready for our final challenge. We knew we were going up against a very talented Coatesville team but we were a team ready to go for one more game.
It’s May 31, 1975 and we arrived in Topton for the championship game. Little did we know that we would be playing before almost 1,000 fans. Perhaps for the first time we were experiencing some game jitters as Coatesville jumped out to a 3-1 lead. We go into the bottom of the seventh inning and needing three runs for the win and state title. One more time we needed to go out and show our determination and what we girls were made of. This was a team that had not given up all year and we weren’t going down without a battle.
What would unfold in that seventh inning was a true team effort, poised and confident and wanting that championship for Parkland High School. Inspired again by Coach Thomas encouraging us not to give up and asking us to go out and do our best, we as a team faced the challenge and indeed as a team earned a 4-3 win and the honor of the very First PIAA State Championship Softball Team.
I myself remember only feeling the excitement to have a chance to help my team. I remember just jumping for joy as the winning run scored and joining the celebration at home plate still jumping for joy. It was such an honor for all of us to have the gold medal placed around our necks.
We truly could not have achieved this honor without Coach Thomas’ dedication and confidence she had in us. She knew how to get us fired up and always told us we were better than the other team was. And we were a team of 20 girls supporting one another through this journey.
The celebration did not stop on the field. The caravan back to Parkland was great with family and friends joining us in our celebration back to the school. We were also given a day as guests to Dorney Park.
Reflecting back to May 31, 1975, I don’t know that I totally appreciated what we had done but 31 years later that changed for many of us in a reunion and recognition ceremony at Parkland High School. I now can appreciate what an amazing and awesome year we had with a 15-1 record and the challenges and pressures we overcame to become the First State Softball Champions.
A rookie year it proved to be for all of us. It was a year of developing skills, finding the right position for each player and building confidence and it was all on the shoulders of Coach Thomas. After all, this was her first experience as well coaching and learning the game of softball. This entailed lots of reading to learn the game and some mentoring by the umpires. Let’s say that 1973 was a building year and well the record said it all…one win. In 1974 it proved to be a year that our skills and knowledge of the game were building as well as our confidence as we finished in third place, almost landing a spot in the playoffs.
In 1975 we seemed destined to qualify for district playoffs. We started the season with five wins. Game six against Southern Lehigh was a challenge and a battle of the undefeated. The game proved not only to be a battle but a thriller. We held a 4-2 lead going into the sixth inning but our battle ended with a seventh inning 7-6 loss. It was a tough and disappointing loss but we showed the confidence that our team had developed by rebounding with 2 more wins and earning a spot in the district playoffs.
We entered the districts with wins over Easton, 6-2 and North Schuylkill 9-1 and a spot in the district finals and a rematch against Southern Lehigh, the defending district titlist.
This time we battled to a commanding 11-2 win, a District 11 title and earned a birth in the first PIAA state championship tournament.
During the next week Coach Thomas continued to keep us focus and preparing us for one more tournament and a shot at a State Championship. I don’t think we realized the magnitude of what we had accomplished and what laid ahead and boarding that bus and heading to Bellefonte for the tournament we appeared to be the most relaxed team with not a worry in the world, just going to play another game.
We earned a first round bye and with wins over St. Mary’s, 15-0 and Central Dauphin
12-7 we had earned another berth in the state finals against Coatesville. Due to heavy thunderstorms the final game was postponed until the following weekend. Because of our location and Coatesville’s it was decided not to return to Bellefonte but rather it would be played at Topton, a neutral and centrally located field.
For me, I was glad to be going home and having the game being played in Topton. You see, my parents were unable to go out to Bellefonte so I was excited that my family could now attend the game in Topton.
The next week seemed to go so slow. I think we were all ready for our final challenge. We knew we were going up against a very talented Coatesville team but we were a team ready to go for one more game.
It’s May 31, 1975 and we arrived in Topton for the championship game. Little did we know that we would be playing before almost 1,000 fans. Perhaps for the first time we were experiencing some game jitters as Coatesville jumped out to a 3-1 lead. We go into the bottom of the seventh inning and needing three runs for the win and state title. One more time we needed to go out and show our determination and what we girls were made of. This was a team that had not given up all year and we weren’t going down without a battle.
What would unfold in that seventh inning was a true team effort, poised and confident and wanting that championship for Parkland High School. Inspired again by Coach Thomas encouraging us not to give up and asking us to go out and do our best, we as a team faced the challenge and indeed as a team earned a 4-3 win and the honor of the very First PIAA State Championship Softball Team.
I myself remember only feeling the excitement to have a chance to help my team. I remember just jumping for joy as the winning run scored and joining the celebration at home plate still jumping for joy. It was such an honor for all of us to have the gold medal placed around our necks.
We truly could not have achieved this honor without Coach Thomas’ dedication and confidence she had in us. She knew how to get us fired up and always told us we were better than the other team was. And we were a team of 20 girls supporting one another through this journey.
The celebration did not stop on the field. The caravan back to Parkland was great with family and friends joining us in our celebration back to the school. We were also given a day as guests to Dorney Park.
Reflecting back to May 31, 1975, I don’t know that I totally appreciated what we had done but 31 years later that changed for many of us in a reunion and recognition ceremony at Parkland High School. I now can appreciate what an amazing and awesome year we had with a 15-1 record and the challenges and pressures we overcame to become the First State Softball Champions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A REUNION AND RECOGNITION
A usual trip to the mailbox one day turned out to be more than bills and junk mail. Instead I found a letter from Parkland High School dated April 18, 2006 with in part the following announcement.
Date: May 29, 1975
Location: Topton, PA
Opponent: Coatesville High School
Score: 4-3
A usual trip to the mailbox one day turned out to be more than bills and junk mail. Instead I found a letter from Parkland High School dated April 18, 2006 with in part the following announcement.
Date: May 29, 1975
Location: Topton, PA
Opponent: Coatesville High School
Score: 4-3
Winning Team and PA State Champion
Parkland High School Girl’s Softball
. . . and Parkland Softball history has been written from that point forward.
Thirty-one years have passed since this event. In retrospect, even though it may not have seemed so at the time, this win represented quite an accomplishment. At a point in time when women’s sports programs were just beginning to bud and blossom at the scholastic and collegiate levels across our country, you chose to excel. You chose to be better than the rest. You set the bar exceptionally high for all future softball players in the Parkland community.
Thirty-one years later, the Parkland softball community would like to recognize your efforts and achievements. This letter is being sent to you as an invitation. The students, staff and administration of Parkland High School would like to invite you to attend a recognition ceremony for the Parkland High School 1975 PA State Championship Girl’s Softball team. (the details continued)
It was signed by Mr. Richard T. Sniscak, Principal and Mr. Michael Dobil, Athletic Director.
Parkland High School Girl’s Softball
. . . and Parkland Softball history has been written from that point forward.
Thirty-one years have passed since this event. In retrospect, even though it may not have seemed so at the time, this win represented quite an accomplishment. At a point in time when women’s sports programs were just beginning to bud and blossom at the scholastic and collegiate levels across our country, you chose to excel. You chose to be better than the rest. You set the bar exceptionally high for all future softball players in the Parkland community.
Thirty-one years later, the Parkland softball community would like to recognize your efforts and achievements. This letter is being sent to you as an invitation. The students, staff and administration of Parkland High School would like to invite you to attend a recognition ceremony for the Parkland High School 1975 PA State Championship Girl’s Softball team. (the details continued)
It was signed by Mr. Richard T. Sniscak, Principal and Mr. Michael Dobil, Athletic Director.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A sentimental moment it was. The thought of finally being honored and recognized as the PIAA’s first state softball championship team was long overdue. You see, for years we went unnoticed. Reading in the newspaper of other Lehigh Valley teams garnering the title of State Champs and the 1975 Parkland team never being acknowledged as a team that had also earned this title was heart breaking. It was 20 years later before Parkland would earn a state champion title in 1995 and again in ‘98 but our ‘75 team was never mentioned of having also earning this title.
It was Mel Stinner, a 1980 graduate of Parkland and softball player, who felt this recognition was long overdue. She found this to be a great opportunity not only to have the event, but to also give our group a chance to meet, have a reunion and to finally be recognized for our state title. Determined to make this night special for us she convinced all parties involved that this reunion should take place. She became the contact person and through connections she made contact with 17 players and managers and Coach Thomas. There were 20 players, 5 managers and Coach Thomas, so to have reached 18 out of 26 people was a tremendous feat. After the reunion night, two more players and a manager were found and eventually joined us in a reunion picnic in August.
Her biggest obstacle was finding Coach Thomas who left the district and the area so long ago. Through her connections she did locate her in Wisconsin. “I said well, the first thing I need to do is see if I can get air flight that’s reasonably priced at the last minute. And so I said to myself if I can get air flight that is under $500, I’m coming no matter what…I was not going to miss this…no way was I going to miss this.” said Coach Thomas
Many of us were still living in the Lehigh Valley but others were living in Virginia, Maryland, California and Seattle. One player, JoAnne Geiger, who only days before the reunion came home from Costa Rica where she had been living for years, to find a single piece of mail that made it to her home, the letter from Parkland High School regarding our reunion and recognition ceremony.
On the day of our recognition ceremony we were told that the PIAA’s offices, which were located in Harrisburg, had been flooded out a couple of times and it appeared that our records from 1975 were lost or destroyed. So May 10, 2006 the PIAA was going to make things right and we were going to have a reunion and a proper recognition ceremony. As we gathered together outside the new High School we reacquainted ourselves and marveled how great we all looked thirty-one years later. Coach Thomas brought with her, all the way from Wisconsin, her scrap book with articles and stats and everyone sorting through them and reminding ourselves of what we had done in 1975. It was a “do you remember this” or “remember when” kind of conversation going on. Everyone had their own memories from that year and some of the things you didn’t remember until someone else described the moment and then it came back to you. And even if you didn’t remember the moment it was great to hear the story.
We entered the gym together as a team and shared a special moment of seeing our 1975 plaque hanging on the Hall of Fame wall and a banner hanging commemorating our state championship. “It meant so much to us in our hearts and again being there as a team to experience it. Not just walking into that gym by yourself and seeing the plaque and so forth…it was a team; it was a team again that was there.” I said that night.
We proceeded to the field where the actual recognition ceremony would take place on the field before the start of the game. We continued to share our stories and update where our lives had taken us 31 years later. One by one our names were called as we took our place out on the field, high fives from the current Parkland softball team and applause from family, friends and fans. The story was told of the seventh inning in 1975 and the historic moment of being crowned the first PIAA state champions. It was one memory that we all remembered.
Mr. Sniscak and Mr. Dobil then presented our trophy to Coach Thomas and she was joined by a representative from the 1995 and 1998 Parkland state champs with their trophies.
“There are certain days in your life which are mountain tops and this is one of them. Without a doubt”, Coach Thomas said. “To see a team go from nothing to a state championship in three years…is a remarkable feat.”
“It seemed so long ago but it’s real. We stuck together and we did it”, said Joanne Knerr.
Jane Mann added, “It’s difficult to come out for each and every game and keep losing but she kept us on target and when we did win she made a big deal about it and every year just built on the next and it finally happened in ’75 and it felt real good”
For myself “when I hit that ball…that whole way to first base it was jumping for joy. It was an awesome experience…one that I'll never forget and it’s a lifetime memory.”
The stories and memories continued as we sat in the stands watching the legacy that we started. Proudly we displayed our medals and jackets.
“I don’t think there is a coach anywhere tonight that’s more proud of my team. It’s a great feeling…it’s just an awesome feeling.” Coach Thomas proudly said.
We were invited as guests to the Paddock restaurant where we were welcomed and congratulated by the Parkland Alumni. We didn’t want the evening to end and although eventually the night did end what has since continued is ongoing reunions and friendships, each one just as special as the night we were all reunited after thirty-one years.
Thirty-one years later it is a different era but it doesn’t change or take away what we accomplished in 1975. The bottom line is we were the first state champs and I believe we were pioneers that laid the path that girl’s softball would take in the Lehigh Valley.
Although Mel was not a part of our ’75 team she wanted so badly to have our team finally recognized for our title even after 31 years. She made us all proud that night and we are ever so grateful to Mel for her perseverance in bringing us all together for a special night and reunions that have gone on since May 10, 2006.
I think Vykie (Smoyer) Whipple summed up what our reunion meant to all of us, “We experienced things as a team that forged such a bond that after 30 years we're still friends..... and we're still a team. What I learned as a member of this team helped define my character and became an integral part of how I conduct my personal and professional life. We learned more than just softball, and our coach deserves great credit for her vision and determination in training and motivating us to be the best. She accomplished this all on her own at a time when women's sports had very low priority and little support. My teammates are some of the finest people I've ever met, and it continues to be a privilege to have them as friends. After 30 years they're still so much fun to be with.... the laughing never stops!
--------------------------
Once a team... always a team!!
It was Mel Stinner, a 1980 graduate of Parkland and softball player, who felt this recognition was long overdue. She found this to be a great opportunity not only to have the event, but to also give our group a chance to meet, have a reunion and to finally be recognized for our state title. Determined to make this night special for us she convinced all parties involved that this reunion should take place. She became the contact person and through connections she made contact with 17 players and managers and Coach Thomas. There were 20 players, 5 managers and Coach Thomas, so to have reached 18 out of 26 people was a tremendous feat. After the reunion night, two more players and a manager were found and eventually joined us in a reunion picnic in August.
Her biggest obstacle was finding Coach Thomas who left the district and the area so long ago. Through her connections she did locate her in Wisconsin. “I said well, the first thing I need to do is see if I can get air flight that’s reasonably priced at the last minute. And so I said to myself if I can get air flight that is under $500, I’m coming no matter what…I was not going to miss this…no way was I going to miss this.” said Coach Thomas
Many of us were still living in the Lehigh Valley but others were living in Virginia, Maryland, California and Seattle. One player, JoAnne Geiger, who only days before the reunion came home from Costa Rica where she had been living for years, to find a single piece of mail that made it to her home, the letter from Parkland High School regarding our reunion and recognition ceremony.
On the day of our recognition ceremony we were told that the PIAA’s offices, which were located in Harrisburg, had been flooded out a couple of times and it appeared that our records from 1975 were lost or destroyed. So May 10, 2006 the PIAA was going to make things right and we were going to have a reunion and a proper recognition ceremony. As we gathered together outside the new High School we reacquainted ourselves and marveled how great we all looked thirty-one years later. Coach Thomas brought with her, all the way from Wisconsin, her scrap book with articles and stats and everyone sorting through them and reminding ourselves of what we had done in 1975. It was a “do you remember this” or “remember when” kind of conversation going on. Everyone had their own memories from that year and some of the things you didn’t remember until someone else described the moment and then it came back to you. And even if you didn’t remember the moment it was great to hear the story.
We entered the gym together as a team and shared a special moment of seeing our 1975 plaque hanging on the Hall of Fame wall and a banner hanging commemorating our state championship. “It meant so much to us in our hearts and again being there as a team to experience it. Not just walking into that gym by yourself and seeing the plaque and so forth…it was a team; it was a team again that was there.” I said that night.
We proceeded to the field where the actual recognition ceremony would take place on the field before the start of the game. We continued to share our stories and update where our lives had taken us 31 years later. One by one our names were called as we took our place out on the field, high fives from the current Parkland softball team and applause from family, friends and fans. The story was told of the seventh inning in 1975 and the historic moment of being crowned the first PIAA state champions. It was one memory that we all remembered.
Mr. Sniscak and Mr. Dobil then presented our trophy to Coach Thomas and she was joined by a representative from the 1995 and 1998 Parkland state champs with their trophies.
“There are certain days in your life which are mountain tops and this is one of them. Without a doubt”, Coach Thomas said. “To see a team go from nothing to a state championship in three years…is a remarkable feat.”
“It seemed so long ago but it’s real. We stuck together and we did it”, said Joanne Knerr.
Jane Mann added, “It’s difficult to come out for each and every game and keep losing but she kept us on target and when we did win she made a big deal about it and every year just built on the next and it finally happened in ’75 and it felt real good”
For myself “when I hit that ball…that whole way to first base it was jumping for joy. It was an awesome experience…one that I'll never forget and it’s a lifetime memory.”
The stories and memories continued as we sat in the stands watching the legacy that we started. Proudly we displayed our medals and jackets.
“I don’t think there is a coach anywhere tonight that’s more proud of my team. It’s a great feeling…it’s just an awesome feeling.” Coach Thomas proudly said.
We were invited as guests to the Paddock restaurant where we were welcomed and congratulated by the Parkland Alumni. We didn’t want the evening to end and although eventually the night did end what has since continued is ongoing reunions and friendships, each one just as special as the night we were all reunited after thirty-one years.
Thirty-one years later it is a different era but it doesn’t change or take away what we accomplished in 1975. The bottom line is we were the first state champs and I believe we were pioneers that laid the path that girl’s softball would take in the Lehigh Valley.
Although Mel was not a part of our ’75 team she wanted so badly to have our team finally recognized for our title even after 31 years. She made us all proud that night and we are ever so grateful to Mel for her perseverance in bringing us all together for a special night and reunions that have gone on since May 10, 2006.
I think Vykie (Smoyer) Whipple summed up what our reunion meant to all of us, “We experienced things as a team that forged such a bond that after 30 years we're still friends..... and we're still a team. What I learned as a member of this team helped define my character and became an integral part of how I conduct my personal and professional life. We learned more than just softball, and our coach deserves great credit for her vision and determination in training and motivating us to be the best. She accomplished this all on her own at a time when women's sports had very low priority and little support. My teammates are some of the finest people I've ever met, and it continues to be a privilege to have them as friends. After 30 years they're still so much fun to be with.... the laughing never stops!
--------------------------
Once a team... always a team!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are the articles that were in the Morning Call newspaper that tells the story of this championship team.
TROJAN TRIUMPH REMEMBERED
Thanks in large part to the efforts of Parkland High grad, Melodie (Schumaker) Stinner, the mother of Trojans freshman pitcher Deanna Stinner, the school will honor its 1975 stat championship softball team before the season’s final home game against Emmaus Wednesday night. Stinner has been able to get in touch with 11 of the 20 team members and Coach Marcia Thomas.
The ’75 team will gather at 5:45 p.m. and will see its picture and plaque as part of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame inside the gym. At about 6:30, the ’75 team will go to the field to participate in a recognition ceremony before the Parkland-Emmaus game and then will head to the Paddock where the Parkland Varsity Alumni will also pay tribute.
The ’75 team was the first of the school’s three state title team. The Trojans also won state gold in 1995 and ’98.
The first champs beat Coatesville 4-3 for the crown in Topton on May 31, 1975, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Donna Spence singled in the title-winning run in the last of the seventh after Mary Beth Schmoyer singled in two.
************************************************************************
The following article was written by Keith Groller Of The Morning Call…
Once forgotten, PIAA to recognize Trojans’ 1975 softball champs
When members of the 1975 Parkland softball state championship team gather to be honored Wednesday night before the current Trojans play Emmaus, they will have one more reason to celebrate.
The PIAA will finally recognize the 1975 team’s title.
For years, players, parents and fans connected with the team wondered why the PIAA never listed the 1975 championship, either in the game program sold at Shippensburg’s Robb Field during the state championships or on its Web site.
As it turns out, the PIAA lost the records from the 1975 tournament, the first time a state softball champion was crowned.
“The PIAA’s old offices, which were located on Second Street in Harrisburg, were flooded out a couple of times,” District 11 softball chairmen Betsy Wilson said. “And they evidently lost records from the first softball tournament. Their record only went back as far as the 1976 tournament.”
After a reporter brought the situation to the attention of Wilson Sunday night, she immediately contacted Bob Lombardi, one of the PIAA’s associate executive directors.
Lombardi said that as long as Parkland has the ’75 championship trophy or other proof of its state title – which was earned with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Coatesville in Topton – the PIAA would update its records and appropriately recognize the first state softball champs in PIAA history.
“I’m not quite sure why no one brought this to the PIAA’s attention before this because sometimes all it takes is a phone call,” Wilson said. “But I’m glad that we were able to do it now and give these ladies their proper recognition. They should be happy when they hear the news.”
************************************************************************
TROJAN TRIUMPH REMEMBERED
Thanks in large part to the efforts of Parkland High grad, Melodie (Schumaker) Stinner, the mother of Trojans freshman pitcher Deanna Stinner, the school will honor its 1975 stat championship softball team before the season’s final home game against Emmaus Wednesday night. Stinner has been able to get in touch with 11 of the 20 team members and Coach Marcia Thomas.
The ’75 team will gather at 5:45 p.m. and will see its picture and plaque as part of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame inside the gym. At about 6:30, the ’75 team will go to the field to participate in a recognition ceremony before the Parkland-Emmaus game and then will head to the Paddock where the Parkland Varsity Alumni will also pay tribute.
The ’75 team was the first of the school’s three state title team. The Trojans also won state gold in 1995 and ’98.
The first champs beat Coatesville 4-3 for the crown in Topton on May 31, 1975, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Donna Spence singled in the title-winning run in the last of the seventh after Mary Beth Schmoyer singled in two.
************************************************************************
The following article was written by Keith Groller Of The Morning Call…
Once forgotten, PIAA to recognize Trojans’ 1975 softball champs
When members of the 1975 Parkland softball state championship team gather to be honored Wednesday night before the current Trojans play Emmaus, they will have one more reason to celebrate.
The PIAA will finally recognize the 1975 team’s title.
For years, players, parents and fans connected with the team wondered why the PIAA never listed the 1975 championship, either in the game program sold at Shippensburg’s Robb Field during the state championships or on its Web site.
As it turns out, the PIAA lost the records from the 1975 tournament, the first time a state softball champion was crowned.
“The PIAA’s old offices, which were located on Second Street in Harrisburg, were flooded out a couple of times,” District 11 softball chairmen Betsy Wilson said. “And they evidently lost records from the first softball tournament. Their record only went back as far as the 1976 tournament.”
After a reporter brought the situation to the attention of Wilson Sunday night, she immediately contacted Bob Lombardi, one of the PIAA’s associate executive directors.
Lombardi said that as long as Parkland has the ’75 championship trophy or other proof of its state title – which was earned with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Coatesville in Topton – the PIAA would update its records and appropriately recognize the first state softball champs in PIAA history.
“I’m not quite sure why no one brought this to the PIAA’s attention before this because sometimes all it takes is a phone call,” Wilson said. “But I’m glad that we were able to do it now and give these ladies their proper recognition. They should be happy when they hear the news.”
************************************************************************
