Wyalusing names softball field after former coach Charlotte Anderson.
By: Chris Manning | Towanda Daily Review | April 16, 2016 | Photo courtesy Chris Manning
2016 NTL and District 4 News
WYALUSING — There's no crying in softball unless its in memory of a favorite coach.
On an emotional afternoon in Wyalusing the hill was packed as the Rams' community dedicated their softball field to longtime coach Charlotte Anderson before a league game against rivals Towanda.
After several speakers the current coaches of the Wyalusing softball team unveiled the new sign for "Anderson Field."
Then several former players took to the field behind Anderson's family members as they threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
"It's just so great," said former player Kellie Goodman-Shaffer, who also spoke at the event, after the ceremony. "It's been a long time coming and she really deserved it so it's wonderful. To see all these former players here to honor her, it's just a really great day."
Anderson coached 29 years, from 1970-1999, amassing 298 wins, 10 league titles, four undefeated regular seasons and one District IV title at the Quad-A level despite Wyalusing traditionally being a AA school.
She died in 2013.
"When you think about it she started as a volunteer in the 70s," said Goodman-Shaffer. "She would be so excited today to see how far women's athletics has come. How many scholarships are available to players today. When we started we would borrow the boys' Little League uniforms when we played in the summer time. She would just love to see what this sport has become."
Anderson became Wyalusing's own Pat Summitt, the longtime Tennessee women's basketball coach and somebody Anderson admired.
"She was so groundbreaking here," Goodman-Shaffer remarked. "For her to recognize what athletic scholarships could me to girls in the 70s when Title IX was just getting started so absolutely, I could see parallels between her and Pat Summitt. She knew what sports could mean to girls, not just boys."
And the Rams haven't missed a beat on the field, winning two district titles since Anderson stepped down and continually in the hunt for the NTL title year in and year out.
"It's fantastic," Goodman-Shaffer said. "I just said 'I love seeing there is a Booster Club for softball at Wyalusing Valley High School.' I think she would be really happy today."
