Ex-Brewer coach made field best in state

I read the letter regarding the state softball tournaments at Coffin Field (BDN, June 27) with a mixture of emotions -anger, sadness and amusement. I had driven by the field the afternoon prior to the games and it struck me that there were no additional bleachers around the softball field for the state games.

The Brewer School Committee and superintendent made the decision not to rehire Brewer’s softball coach this year, Kelly Cookson, and instead took the direction of hiring simply adult supervision for the varsity softball program. Those close to the program fully understood what this meant and what had been offered to Brewer by the coach far beyond coaching our girls.

My daughter played softball while in high school, graduating in 2005. I was a member and officer of Brewer Athletic Boosters from 1994 until 2005. During that period of time Coffin Field was the premier softball field in the state. The coach took it upon herself to organize volunteers to take care of the field long before the season started and was at the field every day checking on conditions and planning improvements for batting, pitching and viewing.

In the years under her tenure, additional bleachers were always brought in for championship games that lined both first and third base. I am surprised that the Boosters did not provide a concession for the games as we always assisted with this in the past. If the Boosters were not able to fully staff concessions, the coach always saw to it that parents of softball players and the players themselves were there providing refreshments to fans.

She made sure that every detail for these games was attended to whether or not Brewer was playing. It was always about the competing players and making it a special time for them and their fans as well as pride in Brewer’s facilities.

Without a leader who cares and is willing to expend an inordinate amount of their own time getting things done, things usually fall apart or get overlooked. It is sadly evident that is what has happened in Brewer.

As a Brewer resident, former softball parent, and former booster, I would like to apologize to all the state tournament spectators for the conditions they endured watching their teams compete at Coffin Field-especially my apologies to Bucksport since we have always enjoyed such a close relationship and enjoyed a good-hearted rivalry with them over the years. All I can say is, none of this would have happened prior to 2006.

Nancy Hanlon

Brewer

Note to readers: The BDN reserves the right to edit submissions for libel, taste, clarity, and to fit available space. Letters should include a signature, full name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters may be mailed to: P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, or e-mailed: bdnsports@bangordailynews.net