Last year the Central Columbia girl's softball team finished with a record of (21-4) and won the District IV title. In the PIAA State playoffs the Lady BlueJays lost to Christopher Dock 6-4 in the quarterfinal round to end their season.
The district 4 AA champions from Central Columbia are practicing again in Columbia County hoping to claim another softball title.
Going into this season the Lady Blue Jays from Central Columbia are without 6 starters from last years team, but they do have the mastermind in girl's softball returning Duane Ford starts year 43 as the girl's head coach.
"If you go up and look at our dugout the imprints on there tradition never graduates here, and that's the way our kids feel. We have a first team all-state player coming back in Brook Clark at shortstop, all conference players 1st team in Brianna Taylor a pitcher and Lindsey Johnson as a catcher. I'm very optimistic." said Duane Ford.
"He obviously knows what he's doing. Like I said he has 700 wins (719 all time) and he's been around a long time so whatever he has to say we take it to heart and we listen to him and we do what he says. He knows what he does and he coaches good players and good teams." said Brianna Taylor.
After coaching the football and basketball programs here at Central Columbia in 1969 Duane Ford took over this Central Columbia softball team his first season, but it only lasted one year. The administration wanted a female as a coach so duane ford was out.
"She wanted it the job. Then she took it. Then she didn't want it anymore after the season. So they are left without a coach again. Same situation-so they ask me now would I be willing to take it back. The idea was "yes" but I stated that we are going to build a program here or we're not. If your going to build a program I don't want to be playing musical chairs with this job. So let's make a committment." again said Duane.
Ford taught social studies for 36 years and retired in 2002, but he hasn't given up the love for the game and the pursuit for a second state title.
"You go back your talking about the early years from 1972 to 1974. We had a girl win 33 straight games(39 out of 40)and that's continued here. The difference is other teams now have good pitching. What do I take out of it? Just a tremendous amount of enjoyment and satisfaction and watching kids grow from the time they come here as freshman to the time they leave as seniors. There's a tremendous growth there." again said Duane.
