The softball program at Williston, originally founded by Sue Curry Barnett, had many successful seasons, but the 1981 team was one for the record books. The team compiled an impressive 11-1 record, still the best softball record by percentage in school history! Only two Williston softball teams have won more games in a season than this one. The team opened the season with six straight wins against Berkshire, Westminster, Stoneleigh-Burnham, Wilbraham & Monson, Miss Hall’s, and NMH before dropping a hard-fought game to Choate. They then won their final five games against Loomis, Kingswood, Worcester, Suffield, and Stoneleigh-Burnham. In that era, there were no championship tournaments for spring season teams as there are today.
During the 1981 season, Leslie Harrison was the head coach as Sue was on sabbatical. However, Sue continued to have an impact on this team, remaining very involved. Her players can still picture her coaching third base with sleeves rolled up and giving the batters signs. At the end of the season, in true Coach Barnett fashion, Sue wrote and read a poem, including a line for each player, at the spring athletic awards assembly.
The 1981 softball squad was a very talented team filled with outstanding three-sport athletes. Eight of the team’s 13 players were three-sport varsity athletes that year. The team was led by pitcher Sue White ’81, who was also the leadoff hitter and the team’s Most Valuable Player. Sue won the Alumane Award that year, given to the top senior girl athlete in the school. Harriet Tatro ’81 played second and was well known for her outstanding bunting ability. Sue, Harriet and teammate Sarah Stevens ’83 are repeat inductees into the Hall of Fame, having already been inducted for their performance on the 1980 ski team. Junior Glenna Clark ’82, who led the infield from her shortstop position, would receive the Alumnae Award at the end of her senior year. Finally, sophomore catcher/centerfielder Lisa Lake ’84 would also be a future Hall of Famer, as she was inducted in 2019 for her contributions in softball, soccer, and basketball! Quite a collection of outstanding athletes to say the least! One other thing noteworthy of mention—at any one time, one third of the nine Williston players on the field were members of the Couch family, as sisters Laura ’81, Molly ’82, and Sarah ’83 played various infield and outfield positions! This remarkable season made the 1981 softball team one for the ages, and it is fitting that they are the first softball team inducted into Williston’s Hall of Fame!
- Sue (White) Clifford ’81
- Harriet (Tatro) DeVerry ’81
- Laura Pendley ’81
- Laura (Couch) Towles ’81
- Susan (Carter) Bass ’82
- Glenna (Clark) Clapp ’82
- Molly (Couch) Ward ’82
- Diana Schryver ‘82
- Sarah Couch ‘83
- Jackie Hunter ’83
- Karen Whitaker Kovacs ’83
- Sarah Mitchell ’83
- Heather Clark ’84
- Lisa Lake ’84
- Coach Leslie Harrison
