It was an unbelievable ride, as the Shadyside Lady Tigers Softball team won the first softball state title in school history.
On Sunday, a victory parade was held for the Lady Tigers.
It was a heroes welcome when the 2015 state champions made their way home, a place not many people knew about, according to WTRF’s Rachael Dierkes, a Shadyside native. “If I had a nickel for every time somebody stopped me over the last two days and asked me, ‘Where is Shadyside?’ Right here, this is Shadyside,” Rachael said.
Not only did this year’s softball team helped put the little Ohio Valley town in the statewide spotlight, it also helped highlight why those living there love to call it home.
“I just want to say how proud I am of the whole community. I mean awesome. Look at this,” Shadyside head softball coach Jillian Ongley said. “This is what Shadyside has always been about no matter what it is, whether its sports, someone in need, no matter what it is, people come together and this is what you get. I couldn’t be more proud of the town I live in or want to raise my kids in.”
Although it was a senior-led team, the Lady Tigers are still young, but athletic director John Triveri says the memory will stick with them for a lifetime. “It probably hasn’t sunk in, it hasn’t even been 24 hours but as time goes by and life goes on, you’re going to remember that you were part of something so very special that will always be a part of everything that you do,” he said.
The State Title memory will stay with the team for the rest of their lives, but their lives leading up to Saturday night’s victory helped shape the team for their success.
“We’ve been playing since we’ve been little. I mean countless memories, countless ups and downs, highs and lows, there’s more than I can count,” senior Sarah Dierkes said. “But let me tell you something, out of all of that crap that we’ve been through, we just brought home the State Championship.”
On Monday, when it’s back to business in Shadyside, the first order of business will be getting a banner to help commemorate the 2015 state softball champions.
