Pennsylvania Liberties

Eastern Division

2732 Kutz Town Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19605

215.921.2008

Director: Dianne Reed

General Manager: Joan Althouse

Field Manager: Bernice Mohn

Home Field: Reading Municipal Stadium, Reading, Pennsylvania

Starting Time: 7:00 p.m. Weekdays, 6:00 p.m. Saturdays and 2:00 p.m. Sundays

Team Colors: white, blue, gold

The Liberties played only the first year the league was in existence. They finished the 1976 season with a 44-69 record which was good for fourth place in the Eastern Division. Diane Reed, owner of the team, wanted to continue running the team for the 1977 season but in a different location. The team was unable to find a suitable site in time to meet the league's deadline. At the December 1976 league meeting it was annouced the Pennsylvania team did not meet their financial obligations (league assessment fee) to IWPSA and forfeited their franchise rights. The team was hopeful to return in 1978 once a suitable location was found but as history shows, that didn't happen.

The following are excerpts from the 1976 San Jose Sunbirds (Reprint 1) and 1976 Santa Ana Lionettes (Reprint 2) programs.

Reprint 1 – The Telford Wanderers labored in the shadow of the great Brakettes for many years, and many of the best Wanderer players eventually found their way to the Brakette roster. Now many of the Wanderers are reunited under the Pennsylvania banner. Former Brakettes Pat Whitman and Joan Moser are two of the players who figure to make Pennsylvania perhaps the top challenger to the Falcons for Eastern honors. Other Wanderers now in Reading are first baseman Pat Dierking and second baseman Ronnie Maurek. Edwina Bryant, Pat Willis, and Toni Swartout, a veteran of 14 national tournaments and a three-time All-American with the Orlando Suns, should give the Liberties experience and depth.

Reprint 2 – The Liberties have a core of proven, quality softball players on their roster. Pat Whitman, Veronica Maurek, Toni Swartout and Joan Moser have all been on A.S.A. All Star teams for their National Tournament performances. Pat Whitman, their number 1 pitching choice, has played most of her career for Pennsylvania teams but also performed 1 year for Orange and the past several seasons for Stratford. Joan Moser also comes from Stratford while Orlando standout, Toni Swartout and Pennsylvania “Ronni” Maurek add stability to the infield and outfield. Additional signees include Donna Runyon, Pat Willis, Susan Benfield and Linda Bensing.

1976 Highlights

Pennsylvania's Liberties were betrayed by the weather and the lack of consistent hitting to backup the pitching duo of Pat Whitman and Pat Willis in their first IWPSA season. Much of the Liberties' schedule was washed out in June, and that left a heavy burden of makeup dates that kept Whitman and Willis, both 20-game winners, busy.

The Liberties played above .500 into July when they went into a tailspin winning just 10 of 38 games. Behind Whitman, who ranked in the top five in strikeouts, and Willis, the Liberties made a run at second with a 13-13 showing over three weeks in late July and early August before faltering.

Willis also had the distinction of being on both ends of a no hitter. She no-hit Connecticut on August 15 to beat Cathy Neal and Neal came back to no-hit Pennsylvania and Willis 3-0 on August 26.

Third sacker Toni Swartout, the only Liberties' player selected to the All-Star game, along with Joan Moser and Veronica Maurek were leaders in the long -- and wet -- season.

To view the 1976 Liberties Official Program and to read news articles from the Liberties 1976 season, see below.