Photo by Sue Suchyta
Allen Park Cabrini coach and Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Debbie Norman (center) shares a lighter moment with players Amber Steelman (left), 17, a senior from Dearborn, and Lillian Ranspach, 16, a junior from Allen Park.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Cabrini High School girls softball coach Debbie Norman, 2013 Michigan High School Athletic Association Softball Coach of the Year, said her induction into the Michigan Softball Coaches Hall of Fame in February frightens her.
“It scares the heck out of me,” Norman said, “because usually they don’t put people into the hall of fame until they are old or dead, huh? So now, they are thinking maybe I am old now – that doesn’t sit well.”
She said the honor was quite a shock, one she was not expecting, and modestly attributes the honor to Cabrini’s softball program, which has made it to the state quarterfinals five times in the last eight years.
“I think it is more of a reflection of the young ladies who go through the program and definitely my coaching staff who works behind the scenes and literally sees very little credit from a media standpoint,” Norman said.
Norman coached softball at Allen Park High School for five years, with a 73-38 win-loss record, and for the last 12 years at Cabrini, with a 414-72 record.
The 2007 team holds the national record for allowing the fewest runs in a season – allowing one run in 35 games. The team’s run total of 354 is a state record, as is its 29 consecutive shutouts. The 2007 team ranked among the top 10 in the nation.
The 2007 team’s 35-0 record season followed the 2006 team’s 39-0 season, with both teams taking home state titles. From 2006 to 2008 her teams posted a state record 80-game winning streak.
Norman’s other softball coaching statistics are impressive as well, winning 12 conference championships, 14 invitationals, 12 districts, nine regionals, five quarterfinals, five state semifinals and two state runners-up.
Many of her players have received college scholarship, and have continued to play and coach as adults.
Norman has won numerous coaching honors from the MHSAA and the Catholic League as well.
However, Norman has done more than lead the school softball team to championships. She serves as a role model for the young women she coaches, said James Wasukanis, Cabrini High School principal and Cabrini Parish schools president.
“It has allowed the students to grow not just as ballplayers, but to grow as assertive young women who know how to play by the rules and give their best efforts,” Wasukanis said. “So many of the lessons she teaches can carry over into so many areas of their lives.”
Norman, while tough, knows each player’s potential, and pushes them to be their best, said shortstop Lillian Ranspach, 16, a junior from Allen Park who joined the varsity team last year as a sophomore.
Ranspach said Norman (“Norm” to her players) also emphasizes teamwork.
“She’s very big about the team, which I think is a reason why we did so well last year and why Cabrini softball has been so successful,” Ranspach said. “Norm really pushes us, each and everyone on the team, to know your roles, know that you have to be there for the team. It’s not all about you, it’s about everybody coming together and pushing for the win.”
Norman also motivates each player, said Amber Steelman 17, a senior from Dearborn.
“If anyone’s down, she knows it, and she’ll pick us up,” Steelman said. “She knows how to run the practices and makes it fun. It’s a great experience.”
In addition to knowing how to motivate them and how to successfully coach, Norman builds successful teams, Steelman said.
“Being on a team with Norm we have learned how to click as a team,” Steelman said.
Steelman said the team prays before and after each practice and game. Cabrini pastor, the Rev. Joe Mallia, is supportive, blesses their bats at the beginning of the season, and leads them in prayer before each tournament.
Ranspach said what Norman has created makes younger players anxious to play for her someday.
“I remember in grade school you would go to the varsity softball games and you would see Norm and all the girls, and they were so good,” Ranspach said. “You were, like, ‘Oh, my God. I want to be on that team.’ It was always like a dream.”
Steelman said Norman brings out the best of each player in practice to bring out the best of them in games.
“At practice we will do our routine, and then we will get into our game-like situations,” Steelman said. “So Norm knows how we are and what our potential is and she will bring that out in us at practices and that shows through the games.”
Ranspach said Norman definitely deserves the award.
“She has brought a lot of players – not only us, tons of players — through her system and they have really had success and grown to their full potential,” Ranspach said. “It is good that she is being recognized for all that she has done for us girls.” Steelman said Norman is a great coach who brings out the best in her players.
“She does bring out the best in us in everything that we do, even in school,” Steelman said.
Norman said Cabrini has been very fortunate to have a consistent coaching staff.
“We didn’t have a lot of turnover,” Norman said. “We have great assistant coaches that have been with me for a number of years that unfortunately don’t get the recognition they deserve because they work behind the scenes. They have had a great input on the success and what we have done at Cabrini.”
Norman said they try to teach their players to be givers, not takers.
“In today’s society it seems like everyone is entitled to something,” Norman said. “Everybody wants this or wants that. What can we do to give back? We try to make them responsible and have ownership in what we do, and we have been very fortunate to have them believe in what we are doing, along with my coaching staff, to give back to the program, not just ‘take, take, take.’”
She said they want to prepare their players both academically and athletically.
“Some of my best memories are kids that were just good high school players,” Norman said. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but in today’s society sometimes we don’t see it that way, and that’s kind of sad, because they play because they want to have fun, they want to be with their friends and they want to be competitive. That’s all.”