Attached is the original letter that I presented to the school board regarding the Lincoln High School Varsity and Junior High softball teams on Thursday evening.
Dear School Board Members,
My name is Bill Garroway. I come to you today as a borough resident, property owner, and taxpayer. I attended Wayne School at the elementary level and am a proud member of the Lincoln High School Class of 1987. I am also the leader of the summer youth fastpitch softball program, Junior High School Softball Head Coach, and Varsity Softball Assistant Coach.
My question is can someone tell me why the Junior High and Varsity softball teams, the most successful sports programs in our school, are playing games at the worst facility in the district when we SHOULD be playing at Freidhoff Field.
Before answering this question, I’d like to give you some background information on our program. As already stated, I have been the leader of the summer program since 2009. Our program develops players from kindergarten through their senior years of high school. 2016 was the first season that every player on the varsity softball team was developed by our summer program. It is no coincidence that we have won two WPIAL Championships in the three seasons since 2016. More importantly, we are poised to win championships at both the WPIAL and STATE levels for at least the next TEN Years.
Through the talent, hard work, and dedication of our female student athletes, they are bringing attention and notoriety to our great town and Lincoln High School. Should we really be showing them off in the dismal confines of Stiefel Park?
I have been coaching the Junior High ladies since 2013 and we have been playing our home games at Stiefel Park. Every year I am told that we will be getting improvements but am sorry to report that the field is no better than it was 6 years ago. Enough is enough, it is now time for action.
The school district owns both Sanders and Freidhoff Fields. We also played softball at Freidhoff through the 1994 season. When new dugouts were not ready for the beginning of 1995, both softball teams were sent to Stiefel Park and have yet to return to our rightful home in Ewing Park. If the varsity and jv baseball teams can play at Sanders, our junior high and varsity teams should be playing at Freidhoff.
I am personally inviting each board member to visit our Stiefel Park complex as seeing truly is believing. Before doing so however, please initially visit Ewing Park to view the tennis courts, Helling Stadium, Sanders field and Freidhoff field. On your way from Ewing Park to Stiefel, please stop to check out the recently renovated Lincoln High gymnasium, the home of our volleyball and basketball teams. Here’s the kicker: over the last 7 years, our softball team has won more playoff games and WPIAL championships than all of our other programs COMBINED!!
Freidhoff Field is a state of the art facility. It is also a perfect fit for softball as Little League Baseball has the same field dimensions as fast pitch softball. The field also has all of the amenities including a press box, large dugouts, public address system, lights, great drainage, electronic scoreboard, batting cages, a level playing field, concession stand, good viewing sightlines, as well as ample seating capacity and parking. Only two low cost modifications would be required to have the field softball ready. We would simply have to remove the infield grass and the pitcher’s mound. The mound would simply be replaced by a portable mound when the softall season ends in early May.
In summary, we are not looking to reinvent the wheel. Our teams can continue to use Stiefel Park for practice and the summer season. Our first class softball program deserves a first class field. Especially one that is already owned by the district. We only need access to Freidhoff field for a 45 day period running from mid March to early May for games ONLY.
Thanks in advance for your support and understanding!! I look forward to a more thorough discussion in the near future.
Sincerely,
Bill Garroway
bgarroway@zoominternet.net
Bill I believe your biggest obstacle is the Mancini family. They seem to think they make the rules for both the Sanders field as well as Freidhoff field. I wish you better luck than the rest of us have had as they chase anyone trying to play on either field away with a threat of trespassing charges.. Unless of course, you are involved in the boys high school baseball program.
I don’t live in EC anymore so I’m out of the loop. On the other hand, during the last 7 years, the softball team has won more playoff games and WPIAL championships than all of our other programs COMBINED winning some of those games on the field at Stiefel Park! Don’t mess with a wining formula!