Ridgewood girls’ softball celebrating 30th anniversary
Ridgewood High School is celebrating a big milestone this spring. This is the 30th year for the girls’ softball program at the school.
Robin Hire was the head coach of the first girls’ softball team. “I started the fast pitch program in the spring of 1993. I was to take 13 dedicated athletes who had never played a game of fast pitch softball and compete against programs that had varsity teams that were well established and successful.”
Hire remembers having to be very creative in ways to develop skills, as funding was a challenge. There was no pitching machine, so she, Chuck (Rinkes) or her husband, David, would stand at half distance and throw “sling shot” pitches for batting practice. She had five-gallon buckets full of old socks wrapped with athletic tape or duct tape for soft toss practices. “We used those same buckets to fill with rocks we removed from the infield after practice,” Robin said.
“We had no home run fence for the first portion of the season,” she said. “When we did, it was orange ‘snow fence.’ The lack of a nice facility and fancy equipment did not deter my athletes. If anything, it made them work harder. They worked very hard at everything I asked them to do. They were incredibly dedicated to succeeding.”
Robin said the program was started because Gary Dolick wanted to have equal opportunities for girls’ athletics at Ridgewood. “Because of his dedication to getting the program started, many Ridgewood students have been impacted for the last 30 years,” she said. “Many have gone on to play college ball.”
“The life skills that extra-curricular activities supply our students is critical. I believe the students learn the incredible value of hard work, goal setting, doing what is necessary to be successful, pushing oneself, pushing and supporting a teammate to overcome together,” Robin said.
Chuck Rinkes was Hire’s assistant coach for the first year. “I had coached baseball at the previous school I taught at the year before I came to Ridgewood. I had played college baseball and wanted to coach in the spring, but they had a full baseball staff. Robin was hired as the head coach, and she was looking for an assistant.”
Rinkes said he has great memories of the team, the girls and the season. “I still see many team members around the community. Robin and I have remained friends over the years. She did an outstanding job with a group of girls that had never played high school softball to have a full varsity schedule against teams that had been playing for many years.”
“This is my 32nd year in education and I still recall doing drills on the stage at the old junior high building,” Rinkes said. “The relationship between players and coaches is really built during practice time. I recall our sectional tournament game against Strasburg. They were really good, and we had been playing well. We did a couple of things defensively to confuse them and had a few girls make great plays. We were tied late in the game before they went on to beat us. I was really proud of our players that day. They gained a lot of confidence in their ability and the work they put in to stay with a strong program throughout most of the game.”
Former player Jorryn Wentz started playing coach pitch softball in 2008 after finishing t-ball. “I always went to my dad and sister’s softball games, and I wanted to be just like them. I played three years on varsity and graduated in 2020, so unfortunately, my senior season was canceled due to COVID. My coaches, Kirby Shivers and Tina Parmiter, are probably what I miss most about high school softball. They were always encouraging, worked with me after hours on things I knew I could do better at. They have always been in my corner and have never given up on me. I have many special memories from all the friendships I made through softball. Some girls, I grew up with, some girls I just met in high school, but on the field, we were all like sisters and had each other’s backs.”
Jaedyn Allen started playing ball when she was 5 and played softball through high school. “I wanted to be like my bigger cousins and my dad. My favorite memory of playing softball is finding out I made varsity my freshman year. I earned 2nd Team IVC my sophomore year. Softball taught me many things but the biggest lessons I learned were self-resilience, responsibility and how to be a team player. I am motivated to be the best version of myself every day and to get the job done, whatever that may be.”
Allen graduated in 2016 and said she loved everything about softball. “Walking out on the field made me forget about everything else going on in the world. It was my own kind of therapy. I loved the feeling after a great play, having a nice hit or stealing a base. I love the friendships I made, the memories and traveling to different ball parks all over Ohio.”
Amber Bates was a star player from 2001-2005 and is now the head coach for the team. She currently holds the batting average record. “This was my sport, the one that was near and dear to my heart. I played all four years under Kirby Shivers. I am so glad to be coaching and part of the program that has helped me become who I am today.”
“To me, softball teaches the girls how to work hard and responsibility. When the girls put in the work and see where that takes them, they will keep working hard. I can say from experience that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my past coaches and being hard on me. I think this program has lasted as long as it has because it’s had a great foundation of coaches and past players. This program wasn’t built overnight – this has taken years of players and coaches putting in time to make this program good. This has been the most rewarding job I have had. I get to share my passion for this sport with the girls.”
Sophomore Maggie Shannon started playing ball when she was 5 but was around the game before that because her grandpa was a coach. “This game has given me a place to be myself and escape from hard things happening in my life. Softball brings me so much joy. If it wasn’t for my parents, grandpa, and coaches through the years, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. They taught me to push through my struggles in the game and to keep my head up and to never get down. This game has caused me to grow lifelong friendships and push myself.”
Shannon shared one of her favorite memories was of her first home run and seeing the joy on her family’s faces.
Ava Kulbacki is another sophomore playing for Ridgewood. “Softball has taught me multiple lessons with not only the game, but real life, too. I’ve been in love with the game for as long as I can remember. Each year, softball pushes me to get stronger, more consistent, and mentally stronger. It’s taught me to never give up and even with mistakes, there is always a shot at redemption. It taught me to take my dreams and run with them because nothing is ever too hard to accomplish.” She is very appreciative of her parents being at her games and always being her biggest supporters. “I am extremely thankful for the softball program and my coaches who believe in me, no matter what.”
Freshman Kaydence Lahna has a funny moment she will never forget. “I was running to first in a practice. I happened to collide with our first baseman and ended up tripping and I flew through the air about six feet. It was hilarious.” She said she enjoys the competitiveness of softball. “I enjoy building strong bonds with my teammates and the feeling of having a nice hit or striking someone out. It has taught me that you need to believe in yourself before others can believe in you.”
Junior Tarryn Morris has been playing ball since she was 4 years old. “I enjoy softball because it’s where I feel most like myself. I have the most faith and confidence when I’m on the softball field, and ever since I was a little girl, it has been my escape. Playing softball brings me peace and makes it feel like nothing could go wrong – it’s pure bliss.” She shared the softball created a special relationship between her and her dad, B.G. Morris. “He’s always been my biggest supporter. He believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. My dad was also my hardest critic but I’m so thankful for it now because it made me the person and player I am today. I would not be where I am without him.” Morris hopes to continue her softball career in college, too.
Category: High School, Sports
