His credentials as a player have long-since been established.
Salamanca native John Dry not only is a member of the National Fast-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame, but also the Western New York version.
He’s a 6-time All-World Fast-Pitch team member and last season, Dry, a 55-year old supervisor at Allegany State Park, played in the International Softball Congress Legend’s Tournament in Grand Rapids, Mich.
In a sport dominated by pitching, Dry, a first baseman, made his reputation as an extraordinary hitter, and displayed it last August in that tourney, earning a berth on the Legend’s All-World team.
But Dry also has a love of coaching, having served as an assistant on the baseball staffs at both Ellicottville and Salamanca Central Schools.
And, most recently, he worked first under Bobby Bell, last season for Jay Weitzel and this coming campaign with Brian O’Connell as an assistant coach for the Olean Oilers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
“This will be my sixth season with the Oilers,” said Dry, who played for Canisius College. “I’ve been involved every year since the first.”
But he’s also never lost his love for softball, a game he’s played for over 30 years.
“I was checking out the USA Softball newsletter,” Dry recalled, “and there was an item about applying to be part of the U.S. National Coaching Pool for the Men’s National and Junior National Fast-Pitch teams.
“It got down to the last day and I put together a resume and sent it out in December. I didn’t hear anything and figured nothing would come of it. But (in March) I got a letter from USA Softball congratulating me for being selected to the Coaching Pool.”
Sixteen coaches were named, eight to the Junior Nationals and eight, including Dry, to the Men’s Nationals.
His appointment is supposed to be for four years, though only the 2018-20 season are specifically were mentioned.
According to the letter, “pool coaches could be required to participate in international events, player evaluations, selection camps and other specified events as part of the evaluation process.
“Pool coaches may also be eligible for selection as a member of a National Team Coaching Staff for a variety of international events, including the Olympic Games, World Baseball-Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Championships, Pan American Games, World Cup of Softball, etc. Coaching staffs are selected in accordance with procedures to be approved by the United States Olympic Committee.”
Dry admitted, “I haven’t gotten any information about my role, as yet. In fact, I’m not sure how much the National Team will play this year, other than in the Pan Am Games. But in 2019 the World Championships are in Czechoslovakia and I’d live to spend three weeks over there coaching in such a major tournament.
“But, all I know is that I’m flattered to have been chosen and am anxious to find out what will be involved for me.”
(Chuck Pollock, a Times Herald sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)
