Retired Marysville High School softball coach Chris Shirer holds his state Hall of Fame plaque. He is pictured with current NU coach Dawn Draper, left, and retired MHS coach Larry Fox. Draper and Fox are also members of the Hall of Fame, along with the late Dan Stillings, who formed the Fairbanks softball program back in the mid 1980s.
(Photo submitted)
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Shirer adds to county’s presence in state softball coaches Hall of Fame
Union County has had a rich high school softball tradition for many, many years.
The five schools that encompass the Journal-Tribune’s coverage area each spring have a wealth of conference, district and regional championships on their resumes.
With those regional titles have come numerous trips to the state Final Four, either in Ashland or Akron.
We’ve been fortunate to have such outstanding softball that at one time or another Marysville, Fairbanks, North Union, Triad and Jonathan Alder have each represented the area at the state tournament.
Union County has had a plethora of outstanding softball pitchers, which is always needed for success in fast-pitch softball.
The standout pitchers I’ve had the privilege to cover are too numerous to mention…. I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.
We’ve also been fortunate to have a number of outstanding coaches for the sport.
When a coach has had a standout career, it usually means statewide recognition.
Retired Marysville High School co-head coach Chris Shirer is just the latest of our area coaches to receive a statewide honor.
Late last week, Shirer was inducted into the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Hall of Fame.
He is the fourth local coach to have earned that honor.
Shirer joins retired MHS coach Larry Fox, current North Union coach Dawn Draper and the late Dan Stillings (who started the program at Fairbanks High School) in the Hall of Fame.
Draper, Fox and Stillings each took teams to the state tournament. Fox’s run to the state came in 1993, while Stillings accomplished a state runner-up finish in 1990.
Draper has taken several Lady Cat teams to the state Final four (and earned runner-up spots), including last spring.
She eclipsed the 400-victory milestone in 2018 and is the county’s all-time winningest softball coach.
Shirer, who retired after the 2018 season, posted a 375-105 record as the Lady Monarchs’ head coach or co-head coach with Jennifer Segner Maxwell.
Stillings’ record was 365-183, while Fox went 288-94.
Thanks to Tim Davidson, my stat guru, for providing me with Fox’s and Stillings’ won-loss records from years ago.
Under Shirer’s guidance, MHS won six district titles and finished one game shy of a state tournament berth a couple of times, if memory serves me correctly.
The four local coaches who are currently in the Hall of Fame combined to win more than 1,000 games during their careers.
That’s an impressive number in my book.
Shirer’s induction into the Hall of Fame may not be the last one for the Union County area.
I can see the day when long-time Triad coach Shari Dixon is inducted. She led the Lady Cardinals to state runner-up finishes for three consecutive years in the mid-2000s.
Retired Triad coach Bob Davidson, who led Triad to a state title in 1992, should – I feel – be in there as well.
Current Jonathan Alder coach Dave McGrew could very likely find himself in the Hall of Fame someday, as he’s led the Lady Pioneers to the state Final Four a couple of times.
For many years, I’ve said that I’d match Union County high school softball against those who play the sport in any other part of the state.
The Hall of Fame inductions of Shirer, Draper, Fox and Stillings certainly support my opinion.