Musical Chairs for Area Softball Coaches
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There are seven public high schools located in Belmont County -- Barnesville, Bellaire, Bridgeport, Martins Ferry, Shadyside, St. Clairsville and Union Local. All of them, with the exception of Shadyside, were slated to have new head softball coaches this season, but due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, those debuts have been postponed, if not canceled for this spring.
A trio of the new coaches were first-timers, while the other three merely switched from one dugout to another.
Kelly Hanlon was set to take over at Barnesville in her first head-coaching duties for the Shamrocks. She had served as an assistant under Leslie Skinner the last couple of seasons. She does, however, have head coach- ing experience after a successful stint as the Union Local girls basketball coach.
Dave Menendez was ready to assume the duties at Bellaire after a year of assisting Melissa Lahna and John Jaskowiak was replacing Rob Gallentine at St. Clairsville after serving as his aide a season ago.
As for the three -- Jerry Magiistro, Paige Williams and Melissa Lahna -- that have moved on to fresh starts, all have won Ohio Valley Athletic Conference championship banners
Magistro turned in his Green- and-White of now-closed St. John Central for the Purple-and- White of Martins Ferry. The veteran head coach was to begin his 20th season in 2020. His Irish teams won 347 games, 10 OVAC Class A titles, 14 Ohio Division IV sectionals and one district crown..
"It's hard to say what could've been, should've been," Magistro said. "I was excited. It was a fresh start for me. The girls were excited and we were making progress in our workouts.
"I was bringing in a new system that the girls were picking up on. We were changing their habits and their mindsets."
Like every other coach, he feels for his entire team, but he is especially sad for his four seniors.
"This was their last year. They won't get another chance if the season is canceled," Magistro said. "It's a shame, but what are you going to do? It's tough on everyone, but when their are lives being lost and people getting sick, it's not only about sports and athletes."
Williams had spent the last 10 seasons coaching the Purple Riders. She led them to three Division III regional tournament berths and an OVAC Class 3A title before accepting the Bridgeport position over the summer.
"I was pleasantly surprised the very first practice we had," she explained.
"All I had heard was Bridgeport lost its ace pitcher. I hadn't heard anything about the offense or defense, so my expectations going into the season weren't that high. However, after that practice I told my coaching staff that we were going to be alright."
She said the Purple Riders had about three weeks of practice prior to the postponement of schools which forced the shutdown of all interscholastic sports activities across the Buckeye State, as well as the nation.
"We were just starting to figure out who was going to play where and then this happens," she said.
The Bulldogs are two seasons removed from winning an OVAC Class 2A championship under Donnie Cash. They were runnersup last spring.
Lahna had spent her entire 17-year head coaching career with the Big Reds. Her teams claimed a pair of OVAC Class AAA titles and advanced to the Division III regional semifinals in 2018 after upsetting top-ranked Sandy Valley for the district crown.
"The hardest part is not being able to be on the field together. Other than that it's been business as usual," she explained. "The girls have been working out on their own in small groups. They send me videos every day as what they have done.
"The transition has been so easy because of the girls. I am truly blessed to have this group."
The Jets have two seniors.
"I would love to see them play some games. I don't care how many, I just want to see them get to play some their senior year."
Lahna, who also serves on the Eastern District Softball Board, praised the work of Ohio High School Athletic Association Executive Director Dr. Jerry Snodgrass.
"I think he has done a great job of keeping all options open. You have to keep a positive outlook. This is my passion."
Jaskowiak inherits a Red Devils squad that won the OVAC Class 4A championship last season. They had three seniors among the seven returning starters.
"It's very disappointing because I thought we were going to have a really nice team," Jaskowiak offered. "I've told the girls they can work out on their own with their parents. We're trying to keep them busy."
St. Clairsville advanced to the Division II district finals two years ago and made the regionals in 2016.
Hanlon was ready for her first season.
"It's very frustrating. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions from angry to sad," she stressed. "I've been trying to keep in contact with the girls, but it's hard."
Barnesville had a veteran lineup returning this season, which included Hanlon's daughter, Regan, a senior pitcher.
"That makes it even more frustrating … disappointing," she added. "I took each of the six seniors out individually and made a video so they will have something to remember this season by."
The Shamrocks won a Division III sectional title in 2018.
Menendez has coached travel ball for several summers but was looking forward to his first varsity head coaching gig.
"It's disappointing, not just for me being a first-year head coach, but for all of the coaches," he said. "I've talked to the girls a couple of times, but you can't force them to keep working out. All I can do is hope they are. This group is pretty goal-oriented."
The Big Reds had nine seniors on the roster.
"That makes it even harder for them. They are a good group of girls that have had pretty good careers so far," he added. "I'd like to see them get a chance at one more season."
However, like all of the other head coaches, it's all about safety.
"I'd like to think we'll get to play some games this season, but it doesn't look good," he said of Gov. Mike DeWine's keeping schools closed until at least May 1. "It's their last chance along with going to prom and graduating."
Ironically, Shadyside, under the leadership of veteran head coach Jillian Ongley, is the lone team in Belmont County to win a state championship. The unranked Tigers prevailed in 2015.