The 2015 St. Aloysius softball season was, in a nutshell, all about family, both by blood and extension.

“Aunts” and “uncles” pitched in. The kids pulled their weight. A soon-to-be grandfather stepped in to coach.

It’s no surprise, then, that the father-daughter tandem of Howard Park and Candice Reeder are the recipients of the Vicksburg Post’s softball Coach of the Year award.

While Reeder was on maternity leave for most of the regular season, her father Park — the team’s assistant coach for the past 15 years — filled in.

Between them, they guided St. Al to a 14-9-1 record and the third round of the Class 1A playoffs. It was the program’s deepest postseason run since 2002, when Reeder was a senior catcher.

“I love my dad. My best memories with him are out here playing ball,” Reeder said. “For me to still be able to do that with him, I feel extremely blessed. Who else gets to say they coached with their dad?”

Both Reeder, who is in her second season as St. Al’s coach, and Park deflected credit for the team’s success like a determined hitter spoiling tough two-strike pitches.

This season, they both said, was a collaborative effort on every front.

Reeder was on maternity leave until just before the playoffs began, but was handling a lot of the behind-the-scenes activity from home. It was her job to reschedule numerous rainouts and practices, and handle some administrative duties.

While she was out, Park took care of the on-field action. Having a group of self-motivated players made that easy, he said.

Despite having only two seniors, the team showed poise and maturity beyond their years, Park said.

“We were cheerleaders. They did what they had to do. We didn’t do anything. We scheduled practices,” Park said. “We didn’t have to coach this year. Our biggest struggle was the weather.”

The support network surrounding the team also played a huge role.

St. Al football coach BJ Smithhart, who is also the school’s athletic director, volunteered to serve as an assistant coach.

Smithhart was a novice when it came to the ins and outs of softball, but took pressure off of Park by handling administrative duties at the ballpark. He also drove the team bus to away games.

Chris McDonald, father of third baseman Jordan McDonald, served as the team’s statkeeper and batting practice pitcher.

“Every chance he got, he was there to throw live batting practice,” Park said. “That was the difference in how far we went this year. Seeing live pitching versus using a pitching machine helped a lot.”

All of the other parents and classmates of the players who showed support for the team provided a lift, Reeder said. The Lady Flashes had large crowds at nearly every home game.

“When they see their peers cheering them on, that pushes them to the next level. The faculty and student body support this year was awesome,” Reeder said.

The team wasn’t bad, either.

The Lady Flashes finished in third place in a tough division that included defending state champion Bogue Chitto and archrival Cathedral. They then ripped off five consecutive playoff wins before losing Games 2 and 3 of a quarterfinal series on the road to eventual Class 1A runner-up Nanih Waiya.

Park served as head coach for the regular season, the Reeder returned to the dugout for the stretch drive in which St. Al won eight of its last 10 games.

“This bunch, they hated to lose,” Reeder said. “If they made a bad play, they just shook it off. They were upset, but they just moved on to the next pitch.”

Most of those players will be back next season. Pitcher-infielder Avery Parman and center fielder Allie Willis were the only seniors on the roster.

Reeder will be back, too, but Park wasn’t as sure.

He’s been associated with Warren County softball since helping found the Vicksburg Girls Softball Association in the mid-1990s, and in St. Al’s dugout for as long as it’s had a fast-pitch program. After all this time, however, he said he’s thinking of finally stepping away. St. Al’s players have already tried to get him to stay.

“Every year the seniors have begged him not to leave,” Reeder said. “We don’t have any seniors next year, but the juniors have already said something.”

Whether Park stays or not, he’ll likely be around to provide wisdom and guidance for his daughter and her players.

That is, after all, what family does.

“I’ve enjoyed my years in softball,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of fantastic kids — starting with my own.”

Vicksburg Post Coaches of the Year

2015 – Candice Reeder and Howard Park, St. Aloysius

2014 – Dana McGivney, Warren Central

2013 – Dana McGivney, Warren Central

2012 – Gene Rogillio, St. Aloysius

2011 – Amanda Yocum, Vicksburg

2010 – Dana McGivney, Warren Central

2009 – Dana McGivney, Warren Central

2008 – None

2007 – Amanda Yocum, Vicksburg/Porters Chapel

2006 – Chris Etheridge, Porters Chapel

2005 – Lucy Young, Warren Central

2004 – Kevin Griffin, Porters Chapel

2003 – Kevin Griffin, Porters Chapel

2002 – Gene Rogillio, St. Al and Lucy Young, WC

2001 – Gene Rogillio, St. Aloysius

2000 – Josh Harper, Vicksburg