 |
 It
started innocently enough—a phone call from a neighbor to help coach
the Daisies, a youth team in North Sewickley Township in 1977, has
blossomed into an award-winning, Hall of Fame career for Pam
McCarty.
So taken aback with the love of the game and the relationships with
the players that ensued, Pam got heavily involved. She co-founded
and became the first President of the Riverside Girls Athletic
Association in 1978, and also became the head coach of the Riverside
Girls Softball Traveling Team. She headed the travel team for ten
years. In 1988, she began her duties with the Riverside High School
team, serving as assistant coach to fellow Beaver County Hall of
Famer
Pete Pietrandrea.
When Pietrandrea left the program, it was rightfully turned over to
Pam. The results have been staggeringly successful.
From 1997 through the 2010 season, the Riverside girls under her
direction have posted an overall record of 234 wins against just 47
losses. Even more impressive, the section record during that time
shows 158 victories, with only 13 defeats. Four of those defeats
occurred in the 2006 season, which means she and her Panthers have
absorbed just nine losses in the other 13 years. Overall, she and
her Panthers have won 12 section titles in her 14 years as head
coach.
Class AA WPIAL championships were won in 2001, and back-to-back in
2008 and 2009. Three other teams (1999, 2000 and 2004) finished as
district runners-up.
The 2001 squad advanced to the PIAA state championship game. In one
of the most thrilling games in PIAA history, Riverside was edged out
by Fleetwood, 1-0, in 14 grueling innings. The game was played in
100 degree temperatures, with one of the umpires having passed out
due to the extreme heat.
The Panther nine made the PIAA semi-finals three times. Along with
the 2001 season, they also were in the Final Four in 2000 and 2009.
The success has been shared by her family. Husband Paul has served
as Pam’s assistant, being responsible for pitching and third base
coaching duties. Daughter Tammy was an outstanding pitcher for the
program while Pam was an assistant. Pam and Paul also have a son,
Paul Jr., and three grandchildren.
The relationships have been many and enduring. And it all started
off with her stint with the Daisies. That team, by the way, won the
league championship that season: a sign of good times to come for
Riverside softball!! |
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