Published: May 10, 2008 11:11 pm            

HS SOFTBALL: At long last, it's Lash Field

There he was kneeling on the gym floor, a black marker in hand and dry erase board resting on his shoulder. His players seated, listening intently as the veteran hoops coach explained play after play for his girls.

Move the scene outside to the softball diamond and it’s eerily similar. Players resting comfortably in the dugout with their ears perked up as he stands in front going through scenario after scenario.

It’s this kind of interaction with kids that makes this figure so unique in this day and age. It’s also a big reason why this Saturday, the Wilson Central School District in conjunction with the Wilson All-Sports Booster Club will dedicate its varsity softball field in the name of the program’s only coach, Lawrence Lash.

The all-day event will begin with a matchup between Lash’s Lakewomen and good friend T.K. Murphy’s North Tonawanda squad at 10 a.m. The dedication ceremony and unveiling of a new sign with Lash’s namesake beyond the fence in center field is planned for noon with an alumni softball game or two to begin immediately following the ceremony. As of last week, Lash said he expects upwards of 100 former players in attendance with some coming in from as far away as South Dakota, North Carolina and Florida.

Lash began softball at Wilson in 1975 and since that time has won seven Niagara-Orleans League titles, six Section VI championships and one state title. He has more than 440 wins during his career, which is second all-time in state history behind only Murphy.

But his contributions to the game go far beyond the playing fields. Up until this spring, Lash compiled the New York State Sportswriter’s Association softball rankings from throughout the entire Empire State and is currently the co-chairman of Section VI softball along with Medina’s Mark Kruzynski.

Lash has also won countless awards for his work in interscholastic sports, but none more important to him than his team’s state scholar-athlete championships. The reason being that Lash wants his kids to succeed not only athletically, but academically as well. Wilson, widely-regarded as one of the top academic schools in all of Western New York, uses its abbreviation, WCS, to describe its student-athlete motto: Where Children Succeed.

It’s safe to say that there’s never been anyone that donned the orange and black that has believed in that message more than Lash. He also obviously knows a little something about softball, not to mention his 290-plus wins in basketball.

So, whether Lash will retire from coaching after this season or not — he’s still not saying — Saturday will be a great opportunity for one of the greats of our area to receive his due.

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262 or beuteln@gnnewspaper.com.

        

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