Chico High School softball coach Mike May deals with the same struggles that all the coaches on campus are facing. One of the smallest enrollments in all of Class 2A, academic ineligibilities, injuries and lack of interest in sports are just four of many reasons why the athletic department is at a competitive disadvantage.
Facing all those odds and still earning the respect of your colleagues is something that May accomplished this year. His Lady Dragons finished sixth out of eight teams in District 9-2A this year after a promising beginning.
The three-month softball season came to a crashing halt in the final three weeks. The end result, however, did not matter to the competition and that's why May was selected as the Coach of the Year in the all-district awards announced last week.
The honor is quite an eye-opener considering that it almost always goes to the coach of the district championship team. This year, however, proves that hard work is not just measured by wins and losses.
The Lady Dragons were in second place during the first half of league play and appeared to be a good bet to make the playoffs. Then, as it has happened in other sports at CHS, the team fell apart in the final three weeks and missed out on being the only team at Chico to make the playoffs this year.
The softball team finished 6-8 overall. May, however, never stopped working to get the most out of his limited crew. Despite just having two substitute players in the dugout, the Lady Dragons jumped out to a 5-2 start and looked impressive doing it.
The death of Jessica Stephens, a 2007 Chico graduate and the sister of shortstop Stephanie Stephens, rocked the team emotionally throughout the final weeks of the season.
Injuries also started to mount for May's bunch that had no depth. Pitcher Jessica Coffman, outfielder Delani Long, Rachel McKinley and Stephens dealt with physical problems through the biggest part of the season.
In fact, Chico had just three players in their normal positions in its rematch with Alvord because of injuries. The group won the first meeting 5-3, but were ripped 22-6 the second time around.
The promising start ended in disappointment as the Lady Dragons lost six of their last seven games to end the year. However, May never lost hope and his girls did everything that was asked of them - it just wasn't enough to overcome all of the obstacles.
It was obvious watching the last three games of the season that this team was emotionally and physcially whipped. No one ever gave up, but the team's killer instict was gone as May tried to keep his team focused down the stretch.
The softball team is the only athletic program to make the playoffs in the last four years, and it's no surprise with a leader like May.
A good coach supports, rewards, teaches and makes a sport fun. May did all of the above this year and his reward was a pat on the back from the same guys he tries to beat every Tuesday and Friday night.
