ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Cynthia Blaschak drank in the long-awaited dream before her.
The 62-year-old stood ramrod straight near home plate. Head vacillating from foul pole to foul pole. Intermittently smiling.
She was surrounded by Cedar Crest College women softball players, college trustees, political dignitaries, family and friends.
Surrounded by so many, but so very alone in the moment.
Oh, to be a dreamer the way Blaschak dreams — big and long and undeterred.
Oh, to be at Cedar Crest College on a sun-splashed late Friday afternoon at the ribbon-cutting of its $2.5 million, all-weather turf and lighted softball field.
“This,” Blaschak said, “is breathtaking.”
The transformation from a grass and dirt field to arguably the finest college softball field in the region was made possible by $1 million in funding from the State Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program and from private donors.
But perhaps none of the wonderful day would have been possible without Blaschak, the figurative birth mother if you will, of Cedar Crest’s women’s softball program.
"This is breathtaking."Cynthia Blaschak
In the spring of 1997, the softball-loving Blaschak had tired of looking at a large, empty field on campus. So the 1984 graduate made a sizable donation to construct a softball field and launch a program.
This was done as part of her support of the new NCAA Division III varsity softball team that was beginning its season that year. Blaschak was a student-athlete herself while attending Cedar Crest. She participated in both basketball and badminton.
Two years after Blaschak's donation, the softball field was named in her honor.
Twenty-five years later, there she stood, breathless on the turf field and the scoreboard that bears her name.
“I just can't even believe that I'm standing on this field, because it does take my breath away,” Blaschak said.
“It's just outrageously impressive.”
The field includes a drainage system, designed to keep the surface playable after rain. Also new are large dugouts and light towers.
“In the past, it used to break my heart seeing our girls sitting on buckets on the side of the field,” said college President Elizabeth Meade, who presented Blaschak with home plate autographed by the current players.
“Now they have these beautiful dugouts.
“Not only is this a field upgrade, but it represents Cedar Crest’s ongoing upgrade within the community. I am humbled by the strength of this community that came together to make this happen.”
Cedar Crest’s award is part of $7.5 million in grant funding secured for Allentown improvement projects by then-State Senator Pat Browne and State Reps. Peter Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg.
“One of the requirements to get the ($1 million) grant was it had to be matched (with private funds),” Schlossberg said. “At the end of the day, we (the government) didn’t build this — you did.”
“I grew up in a very small town (in Schuylkill County). We were all taught that you go out and do whatever you can to help move forward communities you live in and love. I had that vision and a dream. And everyone around me helped make it possible.”Cynthia Blaschak, Cedar Crest alumna
Added Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk: “This will be a place to play and build phenomenal friendships and phenomenal victories.”
The Cedar Crest softball team was on hand in uniform, just itching to take the field.
“I can’t wait to play here,” said senior pitcher BB Aquila, a Whitehall High School graduate.
Cedar Crest coach Kim Begley described the new field in a word — amazing.
“This college’s student-athletes deserve this,” she said. “The support for this has been overwhelming.
“It goes to what being a part of Cedar Crest means — and not just for the four years a student is here.”
Enter Blaschak. As a student in the early 1980s, Cedar Crest didn’t have a softball program. When she became director of admissions, she understood such a program could increase not only enrollment but students who wanted to play softball.
“And now we have this field,” Blaschak said. My name is on the scoreboard; I’m humbled.
“I grew up in a very small town (in Schuylkill County). We were all taught that you go out and do whatever you can to help move forward communities you live in and love. I had that vision and a dream. And everyone around me helped make it possible.”
The softball field dedication ceremony was part of Homecoming Weekend which included the induction of four into the college’s athletic hall of fame.
The inductees are:
- Janine Perna Kishbaugh 2004, softball, volleyball.
- Amanda Swartz Sbriscia 2006, basketball, soccer.
- Karen Flaster Langer 1978, badminton, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball.
- Elizabeth Sunderhaus 2012, basketball.
