The Pottsville Area School District will field its first-ever junior high softball team in the 2025 season, marking a major step forward for the district's athletics program.
This new team will consist of 7th and 8th-grade girls from the Pottsville district, who will compete against other area schools.
The team will be led by head coach Jeff Bowers, a 1994 graduate of Pottsville Area School District (PASD), and will have a robust coaching staff that includes Rodney Snowell, Bruce Hefner, and Mia Bowers—a standout four-year starter for Pottsville’s varsity Crimson Tide softball program.
For Pottsville’s varsity coach, Coach Rinaldo, the formation of this junior high team is the realization of a long-term goal. "Having a junior high team is crucial for building a strong high school program," Rinaldo explained. "When players learn the fundamentals at an early age, it creates continuity. They become familiar with our system, and by the time they reach the varsity level, they are ready to contribute to the team’s success."
Pottsville has been one of the few schools in the county without a junior high softball team, meaning that while students at competing schools were starting their softball careers in 7th grade, Pottsville athletes were not joining organized teams until 9th grade. With this new program, younger players will now have the opportunity to begin developing their skills earlier, which is expected to enhance the overall strength of the high school team in the coming years.
Coach Bowers, who brings decades of experience to the table, is well-known for his work in the local softball scene. He established the PA Synergy travel softball program, which became one of the most successful travel organizations in the region. The program operated for nearly 10 years, helping to develop many young athletes. Reflecting on the new opportunity, Bowers expressed his gratitude for the support from the district. “I cannot thank Dr. Sarah Yoder and the Pottsville Area School Board enough for going the extra mile to ensure our softball program has the support it needs. Their commitment to student-athletes is second to none, and I’m proud to be a part of this program under their leadership.” Coach Rinaldo also gave special recognition to Superintendent Yoder for her contributions to bring the team to life.
The junior high softball team will soon hold sign-ups for interested players, followed by open workouts in preparation for the 2025 season.
In addition to launching the junior high softball program, the Pottsville Area School District also introduced a junior high volleyball program earlier this year.
Varsity Coach Rinaldo has been a dedicated figure in Pottsville softball since 1998, starting as an assistant coach before becoming head coach in 2007. His influence has been instrumental in pushing for this much-needed addition to the district’s sports offerings.
The launch of the junior high softball team is expected to not only boost the future success of the varsity program but also foster greater interest in the sport among younger students.
The team will be led by head coach Jeff Bowers, a 1994 graduate of Pottsville Area School District (PASD), and will have a robust coaching staff that includes Rodney Snowell, Bruce Hefner, and Mia Bowers—a standout four-year starter for Pottsville’s varsity Crimson Tide softball program.
For Pottsville’s varsity coach, Coach Rinaldo, the formation of this junior high team is the realization of a long-term goal. "Having a junior high team is crucial for building a strong high school program," Rinaldo explained. "When players learn the fundamentals at an early age, it creates continuity. They become familiar with our system, and by the time they reach the varsity level, they are ready to contribute to the team’s success."
Pottsville has been one of the few schools in the county without a junior high softball team, meaning that while students at competing schools were starting their softball careers in 7th grade, Pottsville athletes were not joining organized teams until 9th grade. With this new program, younger players will now have the opportunity to begin developing their skills earlier, which is expected to enhance the overall strength of the high school team in the coming years.
Coach Bowers, who brings decades of experience to the table, is well-known for his work in the local softball scene. He established the PA Synergy travel softball program, which became one of the most successful travel organizations in the region. The program operated for nearly 10 years, helping to develop many young athletes. Reflecting on the new opportunity, Bowers expressed his gratitude for the support from the district. “I cannot thank Dr. Sarah Yoder and the Pottsville Area School Board enough for going the extra mile to ensure our softball program has the support it needs. Their commitment to student-athletes is second to none, and I’m proud to be a part of this program under their leadership.” Coach Rinaldo also gave special recognition to Superintendent Yoder for her contributions to bring the team to life.
The junior high softball team will soon hold sign-ups for interested players, followed by open workouts in preparation for the 2025 season.
In addition to launching the junior high softball program, the Pottsville Area School District also introduced a junior high volleyball program earlier this year.
Varsity Coach Rinaldo has been a dedicated figure in Pottsville softball since 1998, starting as an assistant coach before becoming head coach in 2007. His influence has been instrumental in pushing for this much-needed addition to the district’s sports offerings.
The launch of the junior high softball team is expected to not only boost the future success of the varsity program but also foster greater interest in the sport among younger students.
Story by J. Reed / Skook News