It all began on April 22, 1970 with a win against Allentown Central Catholic. The Rovers won 19 to 3. Lead off batter Pam Richards singled for Easton’s very first hit, and then stole second for the first stolen base in Easton history. Patty Heilman drove in Pam for the first RBI, while Pam scored the first Rover run. The first extra base hit was a double by Terry Erhardt. Karen Meyers picked up the first victory, striking out six and walking only two. The first homerun was hit by Marge Simmons against Bethlehem Catholic on April 28, 1970.  Softball was played with ten players until the 1975 season.  The tenth player was a fourth outfielder called the "short centerfielder" or "short fielder".

Coach Pat Fisher 1970 - 1977

     Easton Area High School first fielded a softball team in the spring of 1970 coached by legendary Rovers’ coach Pat Fisher. The inaugural team was 8-1. Pat Fisher coached eight seasons from 1970 through 1977; she finished with a record of 88 wins and 24 losses. Coach Fisher led the Rovers to their only league and District XI championships in 1971 capturing the East Penn League and in 1973 winning the Rovers only District XI championship (the very first District XI championship held).
     Some of the top players during the Coach Fisher era were: Judy Kovacs (72) career record holder batting average .647 and RBI’s 80, Kathy Ziegenfuss (72) top pitcher in the early days had a record of 13-2 and a career strike out mark of 62, Pam Richards (71) scored the very first Rover run in 1970, Terry Ricker (73) was a stolen base record holder with 73, Kelly Cornish (76) career RBI’s 109 and hits 101, Sue Reese (76) career win by pitcher with 13, Renee LaPrete (74) Diane Henley (73) runs scored in season 30 Val Wheeler (77) and Debbie Nunes (74) one of the most feared power hitters of any era. The following earned All League Honors under Coach Fisher: Diane Henley (73), Terry Ricker (73), Kim Zigenfuss (73 & 74), Debbie Nunes (73 & 74), Beth Harron (74 & 75), Renee LaPrete (74), Kelley Cornish (74), Laure Newhard (74) and Lynn Wilson (75).

Coach Judy Kovacs 1978 – 1982

Coach Kovacs took over for Coach Fisher in 1978 and posted a 51 and 28 record over the next five seasons. Top players during coach Kovacs’ era: Charis Innerella (78), Barb Kress (82) held career wins record with 24 once pitched back to back no hitters in district XI play-offs, Laura Pudloski (82) two time all conference player, Pam Stackhouse (81), Barb Matase (81), Ann Symia (81) and Jill Purdy (82). The following players were named to the All League team under Coach Kovacs: Jill Styers (78), Laura Pudloski (80 & 82) and Ann Symia (80).

Coach Ed McIntyre 1983 – 2008

Coach McIntyre became the third softball coach in 1983. In the past twenty-six seasons his teams have posted a record of 310 wins, 243 losses and 1 tie. The 2006 team captured Easton softball's first league championship in thirty-five years.  The Rovers were crowned LVIAC Champions in 2006.  The 1986, 2005 and 2007 teams played in the District XI finals, losing to Northampton 9-8 in 1986, 8-1 to Parkland in 2005 and 3-0 to Emmaus in 2007.   The Rovers were 59-81 during the 80’s under Coach McIntyre. Some of the stars from coach McIntyre’s early years were: Carol Kinnaman (83), Julie Reed (84) top hitter during coach McIntyre’s era with career batting average of 411, Cindy Powell (84), Liz Edwards (86) two time all conference player at two different positions, Tracy Zarbatany (86), Sue Weller (86), Diane Xander (86), Jamie Bennett (87), Allison Riffert (88) most hits for a career 101, Julie Fogt (89), Kim Carr (89), Tara Encarnacion (88) and Ashley Emory (89).

     It wasn’t until the mid 90’s that Easton softball rose to the top. These teams were a sparkling 117-42 from 1993-1999. The 1993, 94, 96, 98 & 99 teams won or played for league or division titles. The 1996 team, right in the middle of our great teams of the 90’s, set a school record with 20 wins. The players who turned things around during these years were among the best to ever wear an Easton uniform. Sisters, Maureen (96) and Shennon (99) McIntyre both pitchers, combined for 107 of the 117 wins over the seven seasons and spear headed our attack on division titles. They held or shared virtually every pitching record there is, while contributing offensively as well. Other important players of this time were Nicole Julian (93), Jen Keiber (93), Michelle Duckworth (94), Marcia Cavanaugh (94), Kim Dalrymple (95), Karen Gulini (96), Amy Chisesi (96), Cara Corona (96), Amy Cavanaugh (96), Tiffany Hosmer (97), Lori Blanchfield (98), Alyssa Cortez (98), Alicia Good (98), Jeannine Ostrander (98) and Ashley Farmer (99).

     The 2000’s find the Rovers twenty-two games over the 500 mark.  The 2006 team bettered  the 2005 team's 20-4 record going 20-3.  The 2006 team also captured the first Easton league title since 1973.  The record of 97 wins and 73 losses is sure to improve over the next couple of years. The 2006 team tied school record of 20 wins in a season.  The top players of the 2000’s have been Frances Marte (00), Lori Scheets (00), Jessica Miller (01), Lauren Assise (01), Danielle Gentile (02), Richelle McWilliams (02), Priscilla Michaud (02), Leslie Barrows (04), Kim Hartzell (05), Kate Lissi (05), Sarah Elliott (05), Erica Kostura (06), Ryanne Perio (06), Allison Arnold (06), Amanda Paulus (07), Michelle Grundhauser (08) and Alison Hartzell (08).   Some players who seemed destined to put their mark on Easton softball are Morgan Neel (10), Meghan Brown (10), Sarah Rasley (11) and Audra Heilman (11).

     The following players were named to All League Teams under Coach McIntyre; Julie Reed (84), Theresa Melhem (84), Liz Edwards (85 & 86), Sue Weller (86), Staci Matlock (86), Allison Riffert (87), Julie Fogt (88), Karen Gulini (94 & 95), Alicia Good (96, 97 & 98 Easton’s first three time All Conference Player), Alyssa Cortez (98), Ashley Farmer (98 & 99), Shennon McIntyre (99), Lauren Bolmer (99), Lori Scheetz (00), Leslie Barrows (02), Kim Hartzell (05) Ryanne Perio (06) Amanda Paulus (07), Alison Hartzell (05, 06, 07 & 08 first four time All Conference player) and Audra Heilman (11).

The following players received special awards during their careers; Maureen McIntyre was named The Express Times Softball Player of The Year 1995. Alicia Good was named The Express Times Softball Player of The Year 1998. Maureen McIntyre was named Outstanding Pitcher of the Carole Weil All Star Classic 1996. Amy Cavanaugh was the Kyle Miller Courage Award winner in 1996.  Shennon McIntyre was named Outstanding Pitcher of the Carole Weil All Star Classic 1999. Lori Scheetz was named Scholar/Athlete by the Lehigh Valley PIAA Softball Umpires Association.  Alison Hartzell was named The Morning Call Rookie of The Year 2005.  Ryanne Perio and Alsion Hartzell were named "Co-Players of the Year" by The Morning Call.  Ryanne Perio was also named LVIAC Softball Scholar/Athlete, Scholar/Athlete by the Lehigh Valley PIAA Softball Umpires Association and Carole Weil Award winner.  Alison Hartzell was named to the NFCA Second-Team All Region for the North Region in 2006 & 07.  Amanda Paulus joined Alison on the All Region Second Team in 2007.

     Easton Area High School has fielded a softball team for the past 39 years, during that time we have a record of 449 wins and 295 losses. Our pitchers have thrown 3 perfect game, 13 no hitters, 14 one hitters, 98 shutouts and allowed 3,645 runs. We have scored 5150 runs and been shut out 58 times. We have appeared in eight league championship games winning in 1971 and 2006. We have appeared in 19 District XI Play-offs and have a record of 19 wins and 17 losses. In the late 80’s we hosted five tournaments to raise funds for diabetic research. We won three of the five tournaments going 8-2 in these tournaments. We donated over ten thousand dollars to the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Diabetes Association from the proceeds of the tournaments.

     The teams that stand out above the rest would be the 1970, 1971, 1973, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006 and 2007 teams. These teams stand above the rest because of their contributions to EAHS softball history. The 1970 team was the first softball team. The 1971 team was the first league champion. The 1973 team was the first and only District XI Champion. The 1986 team was the first team in thirteen seasons to reach the District XI Finals. The 1993 team ended a four-year streak of losing records and tied for the EPC East Division Title. The 1994 team won the first EPC Division Title in over twenty years. The 1996 team set a school record for wins with twenty that season. The 1998 team won the EPC City Division Title. The 1999 team won the Mountain Valley, Valley Division Title. The 2005 team won its first LVIAC Northampton Division Championship and finished second in the LVIAC and District XI Tournament.  The 2006 team captured LVIAC league championship, the first under coach McIntyre.  The 2007 team played in District XI finals against Emmaus.

I hope this information is helpful, insightful and interesting.