(4-6-20) Coldwater’s softball program started in 1995 (two years before MAC started conference play), in just the 2nd year in 1996 they would go to the D III State Softball Championships and finished as runner-ups. Quite a start for the Cavs.
The first Cavs head coach was New Jersey native Don Berry, son-in-law of Celina Girls Basketball Coach Jack Clouse. In 1995 Berry, the first year for softball at Coldwater, would lead the Cavs to a 19-4 record, the next season they would top that and make the trip to Ashland and finished the season at 17-1 and as D III State runner-ups.
Coldwater’s Karla Dues was named as a member of the All State 1st team, teammate Renae Wiegel was named to the 2nd team.
Dues, who had 15 pitching wins, also twirled a no-hitter against St. Marys in a 13-0 win, on offense she had a .563 batting avg.
The Final Four
In the semifinal game…Coldwater would beat New Riegel in the bottom of the 10th inning with just one out2-1 to advance to the State Final game. Karla Dues pitched all 10 innings giving up 6 hits, 1 run and 1 walk to get the win. The Cavs would have just two hits, but did pick up 3 walks. Krista Timmerman and Amy Bruns both had a hit, Timmerman had a RBI.
In the State Final game, Hillsdale’s Hope Gardner would throw a no-hitter and was just a walk away from throwing a perfect game to pick up the State title win over Coldwater 3-0. The Falcons scored their 3 runs in the top of the 6th inning thanks to an Angie Simpson’s two run triple. The loss was the first for the Cavs in 1996.
Coldwater has not been back to the Final Four since this first trip.
1996 Hillsdale D III State Champions
Trips to the Final Four for Hillsdale –
The Falcons have been one of the top softball programs in Ohio, they have won seven state titles, 3 runner-ups in 16 trips.
Stateline Sports Network 