PHILIPSBURG — The Philipsburg-Osceola and Bald Eagle Area softball teams played a special game on Wednesday, May 8, at the Phillipsburg High School softball field.
Besides being an important Laurel Highlands Conference game in its own right, the game was also set aside as a commemoration for P-O softball player Zoey Bryan.
Bryan, who was a cheerleader and homecoming queen as well as a softball player, passed away this spring just before the beginning of the new softball season, and the game was set aside as a remembrance of her as a teammate and as a person.
Both teams wore the same white uniform tops, with Zoey Strong printed on the back, and both took part in the ceremony that celebrated Zoey’s life and that culminated in the placing of a permanent banner on the right field wall of the softball field.
Philipsburg-Osceola head coach Jack Williams, who spoke at the ceremony, had nothing but praise for Zoey and her positive effects on the P-O softball team and its players.
“Zoey was a great kid,” Williams said. “She was always positive no matter what she was going through with treatments or anything. She was always upbeat, always positive. She always put the team first, no matter what was going on. She was just a great person.
“And Bald Eagle and our team have been doing things like this for years. We are such rivals, but we have respected each other and supported each other.
“They have been very supportive of us through this — they all even attended Zoey’s viewing. BEA is a class act and wanted to help us out however they could.”
During the ceremony, P-O softball players read a statement that partially said, “We are so proud of everything that Zoey accomplished. We are so thankful for the times that we had with her on and off the field and the memories, laughs and endless enjoyment that we had with her throughout the season.
“We are so glad to dedicate this game to her. We will forever be Zoey Strong!”
The game ended in a 4-1 BEA win, but beyond that it was inspiring to see the coaches, players and everyone else involved united in remembering the life of Zoey Bryan.
