by Kate Shunney
Morgan County Schools officials heard strong support for the Berkeley Springs High School softball program and some frustration from members of the public about what they felt was a lack of attention and investment in the sport at the high school.
During a school board meeting on Tuesday, August 11, three people signed up to make public comments, all centered around the softball program.
Jan Didawick opened the comments with references to Title IX, the federal law that requires women’s athletic programs get equal funding and support as male sports in publicly funded schools.
She said she was “saddened to see the state of the softball fields” near Widmyer Elementary, pointing out that the “condition of athletic facilities must remain equitable” for softball and baseball.
The softball infield is currently growing in with grass and hasn’t been visibly maintained this summer beyond mowing.
Didawick said the school athletic department also failed to mark the 50th anniversary of the softball program at the school this last spring.
She said the failure to recognize the 50th anniversary looked like an indication of the program’s lesser importance than other sports at the school.
Didawick also asked about the status of the athletic Hall of Fame, which hasn’t been held for two years. she said.
“Is it being planned? Our student athletes deserve nothing less than excellence. School pride begins with you, the board members,” Didawick said.
Mary Hansen also spoke in support of the softball program and for the field to get better upkeep. She coached the school’s softball team and took a team to state competition.
“I coached for almost 10 years and a lot of my players went on to collegiate sports,” said Hansen.
“The new coach needs to be made aware we have a great history of softball accomplishments in the past behind them,” said Hansen. “I’m here to say there’s support here in the community the softball team needs to be kept up.”
Little League board member Hobart Delph also spoke about the softball program, asking about the process used to hire a new coach from among several applicants.
Delph was integral to bringing softball to Morgan County Little League.
“In 2024 started our first softball program – first year we had 40 players, this last spring we had 90 players,” he told board members.
Delph posed a series of questions about how a new high school coach was selected for the softball team and requested that school officials share the process by which candidates were rated by their experience, certifications and other qualifications.
He said doing so would give members of the community and sports programs a sense of confidence in the selection of coaches and in the future of the softball program at Berkeley Springs High School.
Superintendent Banks briefly answered the comments about the condition of the softball field. He agreed the field is not maintained to the level he would like and said the field maintenance contract wasn’t funded enough for the athletic field needs.
“Last year, for the first time ever, we hired someone to take care of our fields. We were working on a tight budget and we found that money ran out quickly,” said Banks. “We ran out of money about February, March. I’m just being honest with you.”
Banks said the field will be fixed and the maintenance contract funds will be adjusted.
“As far as hiring process for coaches, I suggest I or high school principal make a presentation about the process – it’s very straightforward,” Banks said.
Board member Pam Hessler also spoke in support of the high school softball program and the growing youth softball program, which restarted interest that was strong during an earlier Pigtail/Ponytail League locally.
She said she recently “came out of retirement” to help support the new Little League softball program.
“It’s about preserving and expanding the program to give our athletes the same opportunities that we had. We should expect better for them,” Hessler said. “I played and 20 years of players played on the baseball field until we even got a softball field.”
“Some ask why athletics generate so much passion when academics is what we’re support to be doing, but like John [Rowland] said, athletics might be the reason a kid stays in school and keeps their grades up,” Hessler said.
Later in the school board meeting during personnel actions, Hessler made a motion to table the hire of a new Berkeley Springs High School softball coach that was on the agenda, pending more information about the hiring process. The motion passed, with only board member Laura Smith voting against the motion to hold back on that hiring decision.
The school board agenda included the hire of Joey Luttrell as Head Softball Coach, Berkeley Springs High School.
School officials said the matter will be on the agenda for their next regular meeting.
