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When all-state isn’t really all that creditable Dave Konopki Opinion

Friday July 03, 2009 | 01:00 AM

I was trying to come up with a witty, comical opening to this column about the recent selection of the Pennsylvania Softball Coaches Association all-state team.

But the truth of the matter is, the joke is on us.

The PSBCA, an organization recognized by the PIAA, recently announced its inaugural all-state team. And you can’t help but laugh when you learn how the team was chosen.

It turns out the “statewide” association is comprised of approximately 25 softball coaches mostly from District 6, located in the central part of the state.

And it gets more laughable.

PSBCA president Jim Gonder, who is also the head coach of Philipsburg-Osceola High School, put the selection process of the all-state team into the hands of one person – Gavin Hoban, a part-time sports clerk at the Centre Daily Times. He’s also Gonder’s assistant coach.

“He sent out massive numbers of questionnaires,” said Gonder.

Really? So why can’t I find any coach or media member who received one?

When the names of the players were released, the organization stated the team was selected by the PSBCA, as well as from input by members of the media statewide.

I’m still trying to find a member of the media in Luzerne County who was contacted during the selection process. I can’t find any. Why? There weren’t any.

I figured if a state coaches association was choosing an all-state team, it would certainly want to get the input of longtime successful coaches, such as 26-year coaching veteran John Vesek of Hanover Area and 19-year Nanticoke Area coach Gary Williams.

“I’m not aware of any coaches association,” said Williams, when asked if he was a member of the PSBCA.

“I didn’t even know one existed,” added Vesek.

Amazing.

Trust me, if this was an all-state team selected by a newspaper or a Web site, I wouldn’t care less. But this team – selected based on the research of one person – was chosen by an organization that has a place on the PIAA Coaches’ Advisory Committee.

“We are recognized by the PIAA,” said Gonder during our conversation Thursday evening.

If that’s the case, the all-state team needs to have some credibility.

It doesn’t.

During the selection process, Hoban contacted a Scranton Times sports writer and asked him to asked to supply a list of local players worthy of all-state recognition. I haven’t seen the list. But judging by the outcome, I have a good idea of who was on it.

There were 17 players from District 2 selected to the all-state team. Of those players, 15 were from the Lackawanna League – a league covered by the Scranton Times. Only two were from the WVC, which captured the D2 championships in 4A and 3A, and had a finalist in 2A.

The all-state team was divided into the four classifications with first-team, second-team and honorable mention selections in each. In all, more than 280 girls were named to the all-state team. That’s right, more than 280.

I’m willing to give Gonder, Hoban and the PSBCA credit from trying to promote the sport, which sometimes receives little or no recognition.

The end result, however, leaves you shaking your head and you almost have to laugh.

But for the softball players in the WVC, it’s no laughing matter.