Veteran coach commends Cobden on history-making softball season

To the editor,

Cobden has accomplished something that nearly 100 percent of all schools just dream about. It may be an accomplishment that may never be repeated.

Think about it. Here's a very small school nestled in a closeknit hill country where pride and community are the ultimate. They believed and they achieved, not just one year but three years.

It truly is one of the most amazing accomplishments in IHSA sports history. I know of no other community the size of Cobden that can say they had had four amazing teams: The current teams in softball and the men's basketball team of 1964.

I know back in the 1940s and 1950s Mt. Vernon and Centralia won several basketball championships. However these schools had very large enrollments of at least 1,200 to 1,400 students.

Peoria Manual and East St. Louis both won four consecutive AA basketball championships a few years ago with enrollments that would dwarf Cobden's.

What makes a team like Cobden? These girls feared no one. They were also very successful against 2A teams the past three years. The teams they defeated in these larger classes also represented Southern Illinois is in the IHSA state softball tournament the past two or three years.

The Lady Appleknockers defeated Johnston City 3-1 and Johnston City finished second in the 2010 2A state championship.

The Lady Appleknockers had true grit. I was privileged to see them play five or six games this year and came to the conclusion that what made them so effective was their passion for the game, their discipline, their selflessness, they had leadership and resilience.

A couple of games that I saw they were on the ropes, but one just knew they would make a run and they did.

Praise should go to the many who worked with these girls over the years. The parents, the junior high coaches, the fan support and much credit to the current coaching staff who, one could tell had a great working relationship.

As a coach I know how much time it takes to develop athletes. One can dream all they want, but it takes hours upon hours of work and tremendous commitment to accomplish what Cobden has achieved.

I've always had a great relationship with the Cobden coaches, parents and athletes. I enjoyed coaching against the legendary Jack Lamer. During Jack's tenure the Cobden boys excelled in basketball. Many of Jack's former players are good friends of mine to this day.

All of our schools and Union County are proud of the Lady Appleknockers success.

Congratulations, Ron Fulenwider, Jonesboro