UNIVERSITY PARK — Welcome to Philipsburg, East.
A throng of 1,400 mostly blue & white fans crowded into Beard Field for Friday’s PIAA opener between the Lady Mounties and Brandywine Heights.
PIAA official Melissa Mertz said in passing that the crowd may be the largest in final history. The PIAA moved the softball and baseball finals to Penn State for the first time this season.
The crowd of 1,400 was about half of the 2,806 that officially attended Friday’s four games and well above the listed capacity of 1,084 seats at Beard Field.
The line for tickets began queing up before 9 a.m. and eventually lengthened to more than 100 yards. First in line was Penns Valley coach Don Lucas, one of Gonder’s close friends in the coaching fraternity.
The throng, of which many traveled the 25 miles from Philipsburg, impressed the Lady Mounties, who knocked off the Bullets 1-0.
“When we came out here, they were lined up at 9 a.m.,” shortstop Mackenzie Wilson said. “They’ve been so awesome. I don’t think we could have done it without them.”
P-O coach Jim Gonder said he was worried about the effect of seeing the stands packed (Brandywine also brought a sizable crowd) would have on his players.
“I just hoped they didn’t get too nervous about it,” he said. “Holy smokes.”
Gonderville
Originally, the Philipsburg-Osceola fans planned to set up a Gonderville — a la the tent city known as Paternoville that Penn State students set up before football games — for the area near the softball stadium but opted to have it at their own field Friday night. Rain dampened that event, but not the enthusiasm.
To commemorate the occasion, 200 T-shirts bearing the name “Gonderville” were printed. They sold out in 15 minutes.
Gilbert the Goose
Anyone who has been around the P-O dugout this season has seen Gilbert the Goose, the decoy the Lady Mounties used as a reminder of team togetherness and the importance of rebounding from adversity.
Gilbert had a busy evening planned at the victory parties and parade later Friday.
“He was a big part of the team,” catcher Carly Gonder said. “We had the Steeler helmet last year and it went missing. Hopefully, Gilbert doesn’t go missing.”
Her uncle said he knew exactly where Gilbert would land.
“Gilbert is going to my house,” Jim Gonder said. “He’s going to be in my bedroom tonight. He’s staying with us next year. He’s not a one-year wonder.”
Familiar faces
That Lucas was at the head of the line should be no surprise to the coaching fraternity in Centre County.
Bellefonte’s Gregg Kohlhepp also attended P-O’s title game, while Lady Red Raider assistant Shawn Barbrow was decked out in full Mountie garb.
“That’s why this area is so good in softball,” said Jim Gonder, who won his second PIAA title and 514th career game Friday. “We are good friends. We challenge each other. We kid each other and we want to kick each other’s butts.”
No surprise
Carly Gonder said she expected Chelsea Rex to come out and throw a great game on Friday. Rex tossed a four-hitter, struck out 11 and became the first pitcher to shut out Brandywine Heights (26-3) this season.
“I think putting on the jersey for the last time and knowing it was the last time to ever win for the Mounties pushed her a lot,” Gonder said of her batterymate. “She did really well in warm-ups so I knew she was going to do fine.”
Back to PSU again
Several Lady Mounties, plus several other Centre County standouts will play in the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association’s annual senior all-star game on June 25 at Beard Field.
Senior players from District 6 schools will square off in one game at 5 p.m., while District 6 and District 4 all-stars will battle in the featured contest at 8 p.m. In between games, the PSBCA will induct its Hall of Fame Class. Rosters for the game will beannounced early next week.
