by Bud Hart Prior to the home game between the Mules and Conestoga Valley on Monday, May 8, the varsity baseball field was rededicated the Harold “Pete” Suter Memorial Field with former players and family present. Mike Saylor, the nephew of Suter, was on hand with his wife Dee. The couple now owns the Noble Road home last occupied by Suter and his wife. “My sister from Virginia would have been here as well, but since the event was moved from Friday to Monday, she had to decline,” said Saylor. “Her son is playing baseball and they’re already in the playoffs.”
A permanent black and gold sign is attached to the backstop, and a plaque will be displayed on the door of the concession stand. Both the sign and the plaque were designed and ordered by former player Ken Brown, a 1960 alumnus. Suter, also a Driver’s Education teacher, was the baseball coach from 1950 through 1978 and his teams won both the county championship (1961) and numerous Section titles. He was the coach when Don Wert entered high school. Wert is the only Solanco player to reach the majors, playing for the Detroit Tigers. The former Solanco player and his teammates earned a World Series ring in 1968, defeating the St Louis Cardinals with Mayo Smith managing. The ceremony was organized by Solanco Athletic Director Anthony Hall. On hand to accept the plaque were Solanco superintendent Dr. Brian Bliss and high school principal, Stephanie Lininger. Members of eight graduating classes who played for the Solanco Hall of Fame coach were on hand for the ceremony. They were Bob Shissler (1957), Barry Girvin (1958), Ken Brown and Dan McCardell (1960), Herb Girvin and Bud Hart (1961), Phil Fisher (1962), Ron Fichtner (1964), Jack Sensenig (1967) and Dave Wimer (1973). Both Wimer and McCardell are former Solanco varsity baseball coaches. Wimer is the only coach to lead Solanco to a District III championship (2007). McCardell addressed the spectators and players recalling some of Coach Suter idioms, wool uniform, soda crackers and a worn brown jacket. One of the more humorous incidents occurred when Sensenig was a student driver. Following a game Sensenig was in the car with the coach during a driver training session. Thinking the coach was referring to the game played the previous afternoon, Sensenig said, “Yeah, I thought I hit that curve pretty solidly.” To which the coach replied, “I said you hit the curb.” Sensenig said he’s humbled to this day. Solanco student Dylan Hastings operated the sound system prior and during the event and Coach John Girvin sang the National Anthem. “My uncle would have had a fit if he thought music was to be included during one of his games,” said Saylor. “His focus was always on the baseball game.” The Solanco Baseball Booster Club provided refreshments for the former players and Suter family. The event was a fitting tribute to a coach who set the standards for baseball and life high, and positively influenced the vast majority of his players. Comments are closed.
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