By Wayne Witkowski
Lisa Schutt-Smith took an unexpected career turn before she was named successor to Hall of Fame coach Tom Erbig for Middletown High School South’s softball team.
After accumulating 10 years of experience coaching varsity softball at Holmdel High School and Middletown High School North, she accepted a position as head coach of Middletown South’s freshman softball team four years ago. Schutt-Smith had been away from coaching for a year on family leave after having her third child and was transferred as a teacher from Middletown North to Middletown South. She thought it might be best to come right back into coaching there.
Middletown North won two section titles, two Shore Conference Tournaments and two division championships during her six seasons as coach.
She coached Middletown South’s freshman team for the past three seasons before Erbig announced his retirement from coaching after 35 years following the Eagles’ NJSIAA Group III championship game loss. Erbig had a 743-231-1 career coaching record in softball, including 17 section titles and nine state championship appearances.
But Schutt-Smith felt coaching freshmen gave her a fuller perspective to building a program, much like Erbig did when he began his coaching career.
Schutt-Smith played shortstop on the first of five Middletown South state championship teams in 1995 before embarking on a college career at the University of Georgia, where she played second base and was the captain the last three seasons. Georgia twice reached the Southeast Conference Tournament while Schutt-Smith played there. She was the defensive MVP in her freshman year.
“I’m grateful for what Georgia did for me,” Schutt-Smith said.
She was open to the idea of returning to her high school alma mater.
“Coach Erbig asked me to be the freshman coach and at first it was questionable to me to go from [coaching] varsity to freshman,” she said. “But now I’m so thankful he gave me the opportunity. You teach [players] and keep things light but competitive, and it helped my coaching résumé. It was great to see the girls grow and develop and be part of that experience. I could see and understand how the freshmen would want to be on the varsity.”
In her three seasons as freshman coach, Schutt-Smith’s teams had two unbeaten seasons and went 25-3.
And it reinforced the credo Schutt-Smith added to her coaching knowledge that she learned from Erbig: keep it simple. That and Erbig’s disciplined approach keynoted Middletown South to its second straight trip to the state finals in June and a trip to the Shore Conference Tournament championship game in May, which was won by repeat champion Middletown North.
Now many of those returning players Schutt-Smith once coached as freshmen again will be under her guidance.
“I’m extremely excited to be taking over the program as a Middletown South softball alumna,” Schutt-Smith said. “I hold it dear to my heart, and it will take a priority in my life.”
But many people were surprised when Erbig announced his retirement after a 28-5 season that exceeded expectations, although only two season-long starters return in Jillian Bigos, a second baseman last season who will be a senior, and Jill Martin, a senior who was moved from the infield to the outfield last season and may be moved back to the infield. Sarah Corey, another senior this fall who played in the infield, and Sophie Wilson, a sophomore who did some pitching and was the designated player, also return.
“He has continued to be a mentor for me,” Schutt-Smith said of Erbig. “He gave me some lineups, some scouting reports and some equipment [after being named coach]. He has kept me confident but deep down inside, it was heartbreaking to see him leaving. He has built Middletown South softball.”
No candidates for assistant coaching positions have yet been interviewed, and Schutt-Smith did not have a chance to meet with the players as a group, as classes were over for the summer when she was appointed in late June. She has contacted some players via text message. She was also able to speak to the middle school students, and she will have a chance to meet with the incoming freshmen and returning players face-to-face in a few informal workouts before school resumes and again in the fall when they work out individually and in the weight room.
Schutt-Smith will implement some of her experiences from her previous head coaching years, with only a few changes planned at the outset.
“Philosophy-wise, [there will] not really [be any changes],” she said. “We’ll play good, traditional solid softball as we have [at Middletown South]. The defense will be a little bit different.”
Schutt-Smith said, with all of the inexperience, she and her staff will focus on the players’ mental approach to the game — about players feeling good about themselves and to execute the game plan.
“A lot will be new to the varsity, and there will be a challenge to keep their confidence up and to play for each other,” she said. “No matter what happens, they’ll focus on the next pitch when things don’t go right and to be smart on the ballfield.”
Maddie McMahon, an outstanding pitcher headed to Siena College this fall; Ciara Sullivan, who led the state in 16 home runs; shortstop Julia Blarr; first baseman Ally Massa; left fielder Jordy DelllaValle; and catcher Hannah Wisialko graduated and leave behind big shoes to fill.
But Schutt-Smith said the feedback she has encountered has been favorable.
“It’s been pretty positive so far,” she said. “People are excited, supportive, looking forward to the future. I’ll do my best to keep the tradition going and create an environment to being focused and enjoying the challenge of softball.”
