Dick Lippert has been coaching women’s JV softball longer than the girls on his team have been alive.  However, after 16 years, Lippert has hung his softball cap up to spend more time with his family and will be replaced by religion teacher Rachel Harkins.

Lippert and his wife took a minute to count just how large that family is, concluding with 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  Two of his granddaughters are freshmen at Bel Air High School this year, which caused Lippert to choose between refraining from coaching or watching their games.

Another one of his grandchildren, Tony, has helped him as an assistant coach. Lippert claims that he couldn’t have done it without Tony these past couple of years due to the physical demands.

Lippert began coaching at JC after seeing their ad for a softball coach in the Aegis.

“I was getting ready to retire and we had just moved here,” Lippert said. “I had always liked coaching and I had even put in our Christmas letter, ‘If I don’t coach this year, it’ll be the first time in 60 years.'”

Lippert always coached JV softball but, given the opportunity, he would have coached varsity.

“I enjoyed coaching JV because the girls want to learn, play, and enjoy themselves,” Lippert said. “There’s a lot more pressure when playing at the varsity level.”

The most challenging aspects of coaching for him were cutting girls from the team, as he could only carry 16 or 17.

“I think I did a good job with them if they improved and enjoyed the year,” Lippert said. “Nothing surpassed working with the girls.  Other schools have problems with drugs or badness, but it was just a great group of kids.”

The new addition to the softball field, as well as the JC community, is Harkins. Harkins started her softball journey in high school.

“I used to play softball for the team at Mount De Sales Academy, which is where I went to high school. We were very competitive and we won the championship every year,” Harkins said.

When asked why she decided to become the JV softball coach for JC, she simply stated that she was excited to receive the opportunity to get on the field again.

Harkins has little coaching history, but hopes to give the girls on the team more than just some wins.

“I hope that we have a lot of fun, grow together as sisters so we have a bond, but that we learn how to play the game well, especially good sportsmanship and a strong character. I want them to be physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared for the games,” Harkins said.

Though she doesn’t know the ins and outs of the JV softball team, she has an optimistic outlook on the season and hopes to bring changes.

“I don’t really know how the softball program was run before I got here and I know I can offer a positive spirit, a love of the game, and dedication.  I’m also very competitive, so I like to win. I always believe, no matter what, sports or academics, that it’s important for people to be involved in competition because it has you challenge yourself,” Harkins said.

Harkins’ hopes and expectations are positive and with that type of attitude that she hopes to rub off, winning or losing won’t play a factor in how they carry out their season.

Imani Love is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com

Cara Reilly is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com