USSSA is in the press again! Great coverage on USSSA Slowpitch in New Jersey, here is a great report from the Trentonian:
Written by Rick Fortenbaugh
A key member of the legendary Sweet Jersey Corn women’s slow-pitch softball teams, Sandi O’Bryan-Hibbs will be inducted in the Trenton Softball Hall of Fame at its banquet on April 27.
After getting her start in softball as a shortstop in the Ewing Women’s League from 1976 to 1982, O’Bryan-Hibbs joined a Sweet Jersey Corn squad that was the greatest team in the history of New Jersey women’s slow-pitch.
The 1982 Sweet Jersey team won the ASA state and regional tournaments and qualified for the national in Georgia. From 1982 to 1988, Hibbs was the shortstop for Sweet Jersey Corn teams that won six straight USSSA Class B state titles and won an eastern regional. In 1983 she was named the MVP of the state tournament.
In addition, in 1983 O’Bryan-Hibbs was named the MVP of the Mercer Women’s A League for her trademark outstanding defensive work at shortstop and clutch hitting.
Sweet Jersey won numerous regular-season and playoff titles, and at one point compiled a 105-7 record and won 60 games in a row. Also in 1983, Sweet Jersey won the USSSA Class B Eastern Regional championship.
O’Bryan-Hibbs received numerous all-tournament and golden glove awards and many times was honored as The Trentonian’s Player of the Night. In 1992 she made the all-tourney team in a regional in Toms River. She was also named all-tourney in the Trentonian Tourney’s A Flight in 1993.
From 1967 to 1997 O’Bryan-Hibbs wrapped up her outstanding career by playing tournament ball for Parkway Auto Body.
The banquet will be held this year at Stone Terrace in Hamilton Township. This year’s list of inductees include Tom Rockhill, Bunky Miller, Dave Ryan and Joe Vannozzi in the Men’s Player Division, and Donna Severino and O’Bryan-Hibbs in the Women’s Division.
The Player/Managers are Sean Coley and Harry Jones, while the sponsor is Lapidus Market. Other inductees include Mark Zoltanzki in the Umpire Division and Kathy Quirk as the women’s coach. Joe Marcucci will also receive a special achievement award.
The scholarship winners for softball are Robbinsville High’s Leanna Gearhart, Notre Dame’s Sarah Coyne and Ewing’s Nicole Rinaldi. The baseball scholarship winners are Ewing’s Paul Sparano, Pennington Prep’s Austin Sumners and Hamilton’s Gerardo Gomez.
About USSSA:
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!
