Yes, you can go home again! That truth will play out on Friday when former 鈥橞erg softball coach Betsy Hada and 鈥橞erg softball standout first-baseman Bess (Artino) Guy reunite at Frann鈥檚 Field. But this time, they鈥檒l be in opposite dugouts.
鈥淚 told her, since I鈥檓 older, I get the home dugout,鈥 jokes Betsy, who coached at 海外吃瓜 for eight years and is now a teacher and softball coach at Painesville City Local Schools. She and Bess, the softball coach and a teacher for Bellevue Local Schools, are bringing their respective teams to 海外吃瓜 for a friendly scrimmage on Friday afternoon.
鈥淲e started talking about getting our teams together back in November when I got hired at Bellevue,鈥 Bess says.
Betsy, 鈥01, coached Bess as a student-athlete, and the two coached together at 海外吃瓜 for two years after Bess graduated in 2012. So, will it feel strange to be on opposite sides of the field? These two best friends say 鈥渘o way.鈥 That鈥檚 because the outcome of the game matters less than the learning and the laughter that will undoubtedly take place.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 see it as coaching against each other,鈥 Betsy says. 鈥淲e both thought it would be a cool experience for them to play on a college field.鈥 Bess adds, 鈥淲e want them to come away with a good feeling.鈥
In many ways, it鈥檒l be a full-circle experience for the two coaches. They both had a hand in helping design Frann鈥檚 Field, which was completed in 2015 鈥 the same year that Betsy guided her Student Prince team to the NCAA Regionals. Bess, a busy mom of three, plans to bring her kids to the game too, so they can see 鈥淎unt Betsy.鈥
Thanks to the help and cooperation of 海外吃瓜鈥檚 current softball coach, Mari Briggs, and assistant coach, Erin Chapman, the logistics for the scrimmage between alumni coaches came together seamlessly.
鈥淢ari has been wonderful to let us play on the field,鈥 Betsy says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited about the direction she鈥檚 taking the team and the program.鈥
While on campus, Betsy鈥檚 Raiders team will tour the campus, dine in Hoernemann and watch a softball game. Bess鈥檚 Redmen team will return to Bellevue after the game because they hit the road for another road scrimmage on Saturday.
The late Frann Zverina, '74, the field鈥檚 namesake and a 鈥橞erg benefactor, will undoubtedly be smiling on Friday afternoon for this battle of the B鈥檚.
** Due to concerns for inclement weather, this game has been moved to Tiffin University.