Trojans are building for future, too

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April 19, 2009

BY MIKE MASTOVICH The Tribune-Democrat Sun Apr 19, 2009, 12:03 AM EDT

Randy Romesberg has watched his Johnstown High girls softball team evolve into one of the region’s top programs during the past four years.

A glimpse back reveals that Johnstown is the defending District 6 Class AAA champion with 56 wins in the past three-plus seasons. A district runner-up finish and two LHAC section titles also are on the resume.

“They expect to win now,” Romesberg said. “The first couple of years, when they were freshmen and sophomores, we preached to play as well as we can and whatever happens, happens. Now they’re confident enough that they expect to win. They don’t get nervous, especially (pitcher) Megan McMillen. They feel they can come back even if we get behind. I always preach one game at a time. It’s a cliche, but I hate to give anybody any extra incentive to beat us than they already have.”

Johnstown is 7-0 with six shutouts. The Trojans have outscored the opposition by a cumulative 58-1 count. Senior McMillen has six shutouts this season and 617 career strikeouts.

What has impressed Romesberg is that despite their high expectations, the Trojans aren’t a brash or overconfident bunch.

More importantly, he’s heard confirmation of as much from umpires, opposing coaches and teachers at school.

“I’ve had so many compliments from umpires,” Romesberg said. “The girls are not cocky at all. That’s one of their good qualities. It’s just such a great group of girls. I couldn’t ask for better kids. You walk through the halls and the teachers say, ‘You guys are like a hidden gem. People don’t realize how good you guys are and how well behaved the girls are in school.’ It makes my job a heck of a lot easier.”

And, the future?

The Trojans will have a tough LHAC schedule to complete and an even more challenging road in the postseason.

Further down the figurative road, Johnstown will lose seven talented seniors who’ve helped build this winning model. Normally, that’s a sign of an upcoming “rebuilding” year.

But Johnstown’s newfound tradition should help set the foundation. Plus, a proactive step by Romesberg and a group of Trojans coaches – as well as the Johnstown School Board – resulted in some constructive measures that should help the program continue to develop quality student-athletes.

Johnstown started a middle school girls softball team and a middle school baseball squad this year. While the two fledgling programs sometimes have to travel to find opponents, the experience will benefit the softball and baseball teams.

On the softball side, Tim Lindrose is the middle school coach with assistance from Kim McKee and Ken Szczur.

All three were instrumental in starting the program, which relies on a lot of players who got their starts in the Greater Johnstown Youth League.

“We were kicking it around for a couple years. This year (Trojans baseball coach) Dee Dee Osborne and I went to the school board and the board jumped on board and was really happy with the proposal,” Romesberg said. “I found some real quality coaches at that level, too. There is some talent down there. With our success, I’m sure it helps with kids wanting to come out and be a part of this.”

The younger kids want to pitch like McMillen. They want to hit like Lindsay Lovrich, who’s batting over .400, or Kassie Sabo, who has a high average and power enough to blast a two-run homer against previously unbeaten Bishop Guilfoyle on Thursday. Romesberg said players such as Katelin Lindrose, McMillen and Steph Szczur also are batting in the .350 to .400 range.

“For the past four years ... I don’t see how this record could be broken at Johnstown,” Romesberg said. “It’s going to be hard for anybody to match, but with this feeder program it gives you some hope.”

Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.

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