FIELD DEDICATION … Pictured is the new sign, designating the Edgerton softball field as Sharon Shaffer Field. Shaffer was an assistant coach when the Edgerton softball program began in 1990. Shaffer served as head coach from 1993-1998 and again served as an assistant for a time afterwards. For at least the past 16 years, Shaffer was a bookkeeper for the softball team, keeping game scores and vital statistics for the Edgerton softball team. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF)
By: Daniel Cooley
Edgerton’s softball field is now known as Sharon Shaffer Field. A dedication was held on April 11, 2023 naming the field in Shaffer’s honor.
One would be hard pressed to find someone who had been more involved with Edgerton softball than Shaffer.
For that matter, it would be very difficult to find someone who had been more involved with Edgerton’s after school activities than Shaffer. More on those other areas, later.
Shaffer had been associated with Edgerton softball since before Edgerton softball officially became a sport.
Shaffer’s son Jeff said that his mother helped coach Edgerton softball during the summer leagues, until Edgerton softball officially became a sport in the spring of 1990.
At that time, Shaffer was an assistant coach, while Kerry Whetro was the head coach. When Whetro moved out of the area, Shaffer became Edgerton’s head coach in 1993. Shaffer served as head coach until 1998, until a shoulder injury caused her to step down.
“At that time, mom told me that her shoulder was bothering her so much that she could no longer pitch batting practice,” Jeff Shaffer said.
“She thought it best that a coach takes over who could do everything that was needed in practices.”
Shaffer served as an assistant coach again for a while and later moved into keeping the books for all Edgerton softball games and statistics.
She did that for all 16 years that she was able to help current head coach Marchetta Caryer, who is in her 17th year.
Shaffer’s last softball year was in 2022. Shaffer passed away on October 5, 2022, from complications after surgery on a broken hip.
“Sharon was an extra set of eyes regarding things on the softball team and was a very kind soul”, Caryer said.
“She was like a mother to me, and she was like a grandmother to the players. The kids loved her.”
A 1966 graduate of Edgerton High School, Shaffer, along with softball, also kept statistics for basketball and volleyball for 30 years.
She also drove a bus for various sports activities for more than 20 years. “She was a Bulldog at heart,” Jeff said.
Somehow, Shaffer found time for the business she owned, Sharon’s Beauty Shop, for more than 50 years.
Jeff said that his mom also worked for some years at the Edgerton grocery store and for a time, was president of the Edgerton Music Boosters.
Jeff said that his mom served on the music boosters during the time that all of her five kids, Jeff, Chad, Jamy, Christina and Charnel, were in band at Edgerton.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com