Ida softball book compiles records
Former Ida High School varsity softball players and Bluestreak sports fans will be fascinated by the new book, "Ida Varsity Softball History and Records: 2001 edition," combined and published by the Ida softball program. The book is especially timely because the upcoming season is Ida's 25th softball season.

Most of the work was done by Jeremy Potter, an Ida Middle School teacher and former freshman softball coach— and lifelong fan of baseball and softball. He also has been a Little League baseball coach for 12 years, and has scorebooks for that dating back to 1990. He hopes to run the Monroe County Fair Tournament this year with Jim Kitchen and has run the River Raisin Conference a traveling league for 13-14-year old players.

"I like coaching both baseball and softball," said Mr. Potter. "I have more camaraderie with the boys, but the girls seem to be easier to coach. They seem to listen a little better. I coach girls in spring and boys in summer."

This spring, the 26-year-old is one of two assistant coaches under Head Coach Brian Cousino for the varsity team.

"We plan to come out with a new edition each year, with updated statistics," said Mr. Potter. "It will be easier now to update it, since the main work is done. This is the result of a five- or six-month project."

Mr. Potter said that Coach Cousino always wanted to compile some of the softball records, but didn't have a lot of extra time to do it.

"About a year and a half ago, I got the idea to find out the record holders. After I got 40 to 60 pages together, I thought I might turn it into a book and see if we can sell it."

The softcover book sells for $10 and will be offered for sale at the softball concession stand this spring, or call Mr. Potter at 734-269-9927; quantities are limited. All proceeds benefit the Ida Softball Club.

"We have every season included, except 1982. Coach Cousino misplaced his, and he doesn't think he passed out stats that year. If we find them, they will be included in future editions," said Mr. Potter.

Incredibly, all the stats were available. Even the coach prior to Brian Cousino, Sue Carter, who coached until 1981, had kept the scorebooks.

In the book are: "Best of the Best," "Top 10" in each category, the best season and career stats.
"The fun thing is that even though the stats are printed, you can still debate it," said Mr. Potter. "You can say, a player from 1977 played in a different time period with different rules, had a different defense behind them. Would they be as good today?"

There also are stories on the two state championship teams, and Coach Cousino, who was inducted into the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Hall of Fame.

The book also includes a story about Ida's gift to the All-American Girls' Professional Baseball League, Betty Whiting. She played first base for the Grand Rapids Chicks.

"This book is the most complete history of any Ida sport, and probably of any softball program in the state," he added.

Every single stat is available, from every single game Ida ever played (except for 1982). Every player who ever played, and their individual stats are all included, even those who only played one game.
Mr. Potter's favorite feature of the book is the "Bluestreaks v. All-Time Foes" page. It lists the overall record of Ida against every team it has ever played, even those like Grandville Calvin Christian, which it has only played in the state tournaments.

"I like stats," said Mr. Potter. "I'm beginning to know a lot of these by heart. There were so many names I didn't know, but now I fell I know them. I really do."

Mr. Potter said that if it weren't for coaching baseball for so many years, he probably wouldn't be a teacher now.

"I worked around kids coaching, and found that it was something I could do. It's sort of like classroom management in the field," Mr. Potter said.

The softball book includes the "famous and infamous" of Ida teams. Ida has had only four losing seasons in 25 years.

Ida has always been a team apart. In addition to its winning tradition, and highly committed coaching staff, there has always been an underlying element of team pride in the players.
Part of that could be due to the fact that the coaches always try to make Ida distinct from its opponents. This year, the grass is back in the softball infield. Last year it was all dirt, like all of the other teams.

"I think when the players look at our sport and see how the coaches work on the field in and out of the season, I think they realize what it means to be an Ida player," said Mr. Potter.