Up until the fall of 2004, OBGC played slowpitch softball. At that time, Olney girls who wanted to play fastpitch had to play in a modified fastpitch county league or travel for other organizations. In the fall of 2004, we began an experimental fastpitch program. In spring 2005, we converted the house program to machine pitch for 8Us and fastpitch for 10U, 12U and 14Us. We also started our interleague play with Burtonsville.
The Cougars program began in the spring of 2005 as a Rec Travel program with a 10U and 14U team. Players were also required to play house softball. This was done because we were just starting out and we didn't want to reduce the number of house players. In our first year, the 10U Cougars team won the Central Maryland League (CML) 10U Championship.
2006, we had three teams - 10U, 12U and 14U. Cougars still had to play house but continued to play in the CML as well as beginning tournament play.
2007 was Bob Boyd's first year as a head coach. His 10U team played house but in the 12U league. Cougars won their first state championship - ASA 12U B championship and played in their first World Series.
In 2008 we removed the requirement for Cougars playing house and the Cougars program exploded.
The Cougars program began in the spring of 2005 as a Rec Travel program with a 10U and 14U team. Players were also required to play house softball. This was done because we were just starting out and we didn't want to reduce the number of house players. In our first year, the 10U Cougars team won the Central Maryland League (CML) 10U Championship.
2006, we had three teams - 10U, 12U and 14U. Cougars still had to play house but continued to play in the CML as well as beginning tournament play.
2007 was Bob Boyd's first year as a head coach. His 10U team played house but in the 12U league. Cougars won their first state championship - ASA 12U B championship and played in their first World Series.
In 2008 we removed the requirement for Cougars playing house and the Cougars program exploded.
Who is Coach Bob?
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By Rob Dejter:
I’ve had the honor and the privilege to stand before gatherings like this one today to talk about Bob Boyd. When we honored him in person on May 27, 2014 right here at these fields, at his memorial service a few weeks after that, at the USSSA World Series opening ceremonies, and at the dedication of the dugouts at Blake earlier this year. Many of you have been at all of those events and have heard me before but please indulge me just one more time, for those that may have heard his name but don’t know the story.
His work began 10 years ago when he began coaching a group of 10 year old young girls in the OBGC travel softball program. In his first full year as head coach, he brought his team to the A level USSSA State Finals and lost to the Lake Shore Lightning. He always believed in playing the best competition and often entered the Cougars in tournaments in a higher age bracket. As the years went on, his teams became stronger and went on to record multiple USSSA Maryland State Championships, ASA Maryland State Championships, a 7th place finish in the NSA World Series, and countless tournament wins. He brought National recognition to a team that was comprised of players primarily from Olney but were able to compete with elite teams from all over the country that drew players from an entire state.
I’ve had the honor and the privilege to stand before gatherings like this one today to talk about Bob Boyd. When we honored him in person on May 27, 2014 right here at these fields, at his memorial service a few weeks after that, at the USSSA World Series opening ceremonies, and at the dedication of the dugouts at Blake earlier this year. Many of you have been at all of those events and have heard me before but please indulge me just one more time, for those that may have heard his name but don’t know the story.
His work began 10 years ago when he began coaching a group of 10 year old young girls in the OBGC travel softball program. In his first full year as head coach, he brought his team to the A level USSSA State Finals and lost to the Lake Shore Lightning. He always believed in playing the best competition and often entered the Cougars in tournaments in a higher age bracket. As the years went on, his teams became stronger and went on to record multiple USSSA Maryland State Championships, ASA Maryland State Championships, a 7th place finish in the NSA World Series, and countless tournament wins. He brought National recognition to a team that was comprised of players primarily from Olney but were able to compete with elite teams from all over the country that drew players from an entire state.
People often ask me why I credit Bob with any of the success of Montgomery County High School softball since he didn’t coach a High School team. Bob created a new culture in Olney. There’s no other way to put this but he was brutally tough on his players and he didn’t play favorites. Many years ago, when Meggie was about 10, she was playing shortstop and a ball went right through her legs. Bob called time walked out and unceremoniously escorted her back to the dugout explaining the importance of getting your glove all the way down in the dirt. She cried. The next inning he put her back in and she played flawlessly. I could count on one hand how many times that happened again. Too tough? Maybe, but it’s really hard to argue that when you talk to any of his players now.
Anyone who has followed High school softball in Maryland for anything but the last few years will tell you that the sport was dominated by the teams from Calvert, Anne Arundel, and Frederick Counties. High School Softball in Montgomery County when you consider that prior to 2012, only 2 teams from Montgomery County had ever won a Maryland state softball championship. Sherwood has since won 5 straight and set a Maryland state record along the way by winning 103 consecutive games. During the first few years of this incredible run, 7 players on the Sherwood team were coached by Bob in the Olney travel program. His impact was further exhibited by the recognition his players received during their High School careers. Three of his Olney Cougars were Washington Post First Team All Metropolitan selections, including 2 who were chosen as player of the year, and one as Gatorade player of the year. In looking at the rosters of his teams dating back to 2007, he coached more than 50 girls. Amazingly, 24 of his former players went on to play at the Collegiate level, including 7 in Division I.
Anyone who has followed High school softball in Maryland for anything but the last few years will tell you that the sport was dominated by the teams from Calvert, Anne Arundel, and Frederick Counties. High School Softball in Montgomery County when you consider that prior to 2012, only 2 teams from Montgomery County had ever won a Maryland state softball championship. Sherwood has since won 5 straight and set a Maryland state record along the way by winning 103 consecutive games. During the first few years of this incredible run, 7 players on the Sherwood team were coached by Bob in the Olney travel program. His impact was further exhibited by the recognition his players received during their High School careers. Three of his Olney Cougars were Washington Post First Team All Metropolitan selections, including 2 who were chosen as player of the year, and one as Gatorade player of the year. In looking at the rosters of his teams dating back to 2007, he coached more than 50 girls. Amazingly, 24 of his former players went on to play at the Collegiate level, including 7 in Division I.