By Kendall Patterson
Editor
Chester County Dixie Softball Coach and league administrator Casey Martin was recently inducted into the Dixie Softball Hall of Fame.
Martin follows Chester County Dixie Youth President Mike Neisler as an inductee with Neisler being inducted in 2021.
He considers himself lucky to be associated with people like Neisler who have given a lot to Dixie Softball.
“Our President Mike Neisler was inducted last year for several years of dedication to our children in Chester County. Here I am a year later lucky enough to be added to that same group of dedicated, kind, and giving people,” he said.
Neisler said that Martin deserves the recognition though.
“He’s well-deserving of that Hall of Fame,” Neisler said. “He’s a real asset to the park. He’s just not out there coaching; he’s a valuable member of the board.
The Chester County Dixie Softball program has grown over the recent years, and Martin attributes it to Neisler and the rest of the Chester Co. Dixie Youth Softball board that him and Neisler are on.
“In the last few years we’ve set records with the number kids in our park. That’s a testament to the work our President and board have put in,” Martin said.
Martin’s impact has not only been as a league administrator but also as a coach. Martin competed in several district championships and five state championships and coached the Belles to win the World Series in 2021.
Both Martin and Neisler stated that they would not be in the Hall of Fame if it was not for the support of the community.
“Our local girls have had quiet a bit of success in Dixie Softball in the last 5 or 6 years. A lot of people ask, ‘What’s behind the success?’ The kids, parents, and our community is what’s behind it. We’ve got great kids with great families and a ton of support from a great community, and I want to say thank you,” Martin said.
Neisler added, “To get in the hall of fame, you have to have a lot of help, and me and Casey have had a lot of help. The main thing is we have a bunch of good kids with a bunch of good parents and that makes it easier.”
At the end of the day, Martin says it is not about him - it is about the kids.
“It’s pretty cool to get recognized for some of that, but in the end it’s about the kids,” Martin said.
Martin became involved in Dixie Softball after watching his daughters. It started with the experience of watching his oldest daughter, Sydney Martin, play 13 years ago. A couple years later, he was asked to coach and “was hooked at that point.”
From there he continued to coach two teams a year in regular season and one All-Star team in the post season. He also acts as a commissioner for an age group or two a year. Then, since 2015, he has served on the CC Dixie Youth Board and keeps getting more and more involved running the local leagues.
