OBSERVER File Photo Cassadaga Valley softball coach Ken Balling talks with player Hannah Edwards after Edwards belted a triple during a regular season softball game against Panama on May 11.

SINCLAIRVILLE — For those around Cassadaga Valley High School and the Cougars’ athletic department, going into the next school year may feel like something’s missing. It may feel like they’ve lost a teacher, a coach, and even a friend. But one thing that won’t be missing is the legacy that Ken Balling has left behind.

The Lady Cougars’ softball head coach is retiring for the upcoming school year, not only from his coaching duties, but from teaching, as well.

“I’ve coached JV football and modified basketball. But softball is my love, my passion. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of fond memories and a lot of fun,” Balling said.

For those that haven’t heard Balling’s story of how he came to Cassadaga Valley, here’s a quick review.

Balling came to teaching late. He worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension for about 16 years before teaching. Then one day when he got a phone call.

“I never planned to be a teacher,” Balling said. “The school called me. I was a director of 4-H here in the county, and I was working with kids then. I had to go back and get my master’s degree (in education at Cornell University). I student taught and then I just went back to my job.”

The call came from the school’s superintendent, who asked Balling if he’d consider taking a technology position that had opened up. Balling and his wife struggled on the decision, but at the end of it, he said, “I’m going to try it.” The rest is history — as far as teaching goes. Balling has now taught for 25 years as the technology teacher at Cassadaga Valley.

As for softball, Balling started coaching in 2002 after receiving a letter about opportunities to help out coaching within the school. Diane Ellsworth was the JV softball coach, and she got promoted to head coach after Paul Cooley and Mark Peterson decided to leave. Balling wanted to help out however he could, so he took the JV softball coaching job.

Balling served as JV coach for four years, then he took two years off from coaching so he could watch his daughter play varsity ball as a junior and senior. When his daughter graduated, Ellsworth took a principal position, leaving the varsity softball head coaching job open. Balling applied, and later accepted the job. He has held the post for the last 17 years.

As far as coaching softball goes, Balling has made a lasting impact on everybody that came through the program. Balling won 238 games during his time as head coach, including his 200th victory on April 22, 2016 after a 16-0 win over Brocton. Cassadaga Valley has only had one losing season in the last 17 years since Balling took over. In addition to that, they’ve won 10 league titles and three sectional titles over that span.

Balling has coached some dynamite players over his time at Cassadaga Valley, including Alyssa Hahn, who won the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Athletic Association West II Division “Pitcher of the Year” in 2016 and 2017, and current star Brittyn LeBaron, who won this year’s “Player of the Year” in the division. Balling won “Coach of the Year” during their 2016 season as well as this 2018 season.

In recent years, Balling has enjoyed sustained success from his team. In 2016 they went 14-3, 2017 they went 14-4, and this season his team went an undefeated 15-0, until they were defeated by eventual state champion Chautauqua Lake for the Section VI Class C title.

We could talk all day about the accolades Balling had while coaching, but he was also an exceptional teacher who was respected by all. He even says it contributed to helping out his coaching.

“I think as a teacher, coaching gives you a whole new perspective on these kids, a whole new relationship,” Balling said. “That’s pretty awesome. You get to really know them and be with them outside the classroom. I know it benefits me in the classroom. The middle school students know you as a varsity coach and you can talk different stuff besides classroom.”

Looking ahead, Cassadaga Valley is poised to compete next season. With LeBaron coming back to the circle, Balling fully expects her — and the team — to take the next step.

“It’s not just Brittyn — they have a lot of seniors and pieces coming back to surround her.” mentioned Balling. “She’s devoted to softball and I know she’ll work hard this offseason to be even better.”

In addition to LeBaron, three other Lady Cougars were selected to the first team this season — catcher Hannah Edwards, shortstop Bella Ruiz and left fielder Holly Crandall. All four Cassadaga Valley players on the first team are juniors, setting the Lady Cougars up for success next year.

The Lady Cougars played this season in the Division II West, but next season, they are jumping to Division I, and Balling thinks that is going to make a big difference.

“As a team, I thought we were disciplined all season,” added Balling. “That loss to Chautauqua Lake hurt. We didn’t get to play a lot of close run games until then. I think the jump [to Division I] will help tremendously with that.

“I’ll miss the kids, the girls,” stated Balling. “A lot of people can’t believe I coached girls as long as I did. And people forget I was a teacher too. We’ve had a great 17 years. I really loved my job.”

Balling has left a lasting impression on plenty of students, parents and teachers that have come through Cassadaga Valley. But one thing’s for sure, he won’t ever be forgotten for the lives he mentored for the last two decades.

“I’ve been so lucky coaching,” Balling said. “I couldn’t have done this without successful teams… I had the pleasure of coaching some really, really good athletes and some really, really good girls.”