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Laase Returns To West Liberty As Softball Assistant Coach

By KIM NORTH

For The Intelligencer

WEST LIBERTY — Carrie Laase’s softball career — both as a player and coach — has come full circle.

The 2002 graduate of West Liberty University is returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach under head coach Herb Minch, who is also returning to the Hilltoppers this year.

“To be able to coach for a coach you played for and coached with is truly a blessing,” Laase said. “We have a lot of mutual respect for each other.”

She said she would be working with the hitting aspect of the game, as well as working with the infielders. Working with the conditioning program and field maintenance are also included.

“Coach Carrie brings back an unmatched level of intensity and passion for the game to the West Liberty program,” Minch said. “She possessed this as a college player 17 years ago and there has been no drop-off in her career pathways of becoming a coach.

“The university is excited to have her back in this role and the student-athletes are anticipating her bringing a vast array of knowledge to the program.”

Laase, a standout at Buckeye Local (1995 alum) where she was a four-year regular and a multiple all-OVAC honoree, originally went to Division I Georgia State after graduating high school.

She was a two-year starter at second base for the Panthers, but the death of a close friend brought her back to the Ohio Valley.

“My best friend passed away, so I came back home and took a year off,” she recalled. “I transferred to West Liberty and we won the conference (WVIAC) championship in 1999. That was the first time West Liberty had ever won the conference title. We finished second the next year.”

She credits her success to Minch.

“When I came back here to play, he kind of took me under his wing,” she said. “I fell in love with the campus and the program. We had a stellar team that year. We went 4-0 against West Virginia Wesleyan and I don’t think West Liberty has ever done that before or after. I’ve got some good memories of West Liberty and the people there.”

Laase, who was a second baseman, was named the MVP of the WVIAC Tournament that season. She played overseas in Germany for the U.S. National Team before returning to the coaching ranks. Her first job was, ironically, at WLU where she spent two seasons. She also served as an assistant at Bethany College for a year before returning to Buckeye Local for two seasons.

The Hilltoppers have experienced a couple of down seasons, but Laase is prepared to restore the pride and tradition.

“I’m glad to be back in the Black-and-Gold,” she stressed. “The program was hurt a little when Herb left. He’s a dinosaur of softball coaches at West Liberty. When he left, a part of the program left. The pride wasn’t there.

“This means so much to me,” she added. “When you get to coach at your alma mater, you have a lot more pride than if you didn’t go to school there. We’re going to build the program back up to where it once was. We should be a contender in the next few seasons.”

Laase, 39, still plays in the Wheeling Recreational League’s Ben Taylor Memorial College League.

“I’m proud that I’m still blessed to be able to play the game,” she said. “I love softball.”

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