J.D. McCurdy has been involved with softball far more years than he played baseball. Yet Eastern Mennonite University’s head softball coach was once a regular All-Star first baseman and clean-up hitter in the Rockingham County Baseball League (RCBL) from 1968 to 1984.
For both his athletic prowess and his coaching contributions to the Shenandoah Valley, McCurdy was among 13 inductees into the RCBL Hall of Fame on Saturday evening [June 27, 2015] at the Weyers Cave Community Center.
“I’m honored and humbled to be among such a great class of athletes and managers, many of whom I remember seeing play or hearing about as I was growing up,” McCurdy said. “I was blessed to have outstanding coaches and mentors that not only taught me the game of baseball but also instilled character, class and mental toughness. They are the ones who really deserve the credit.”
In his acceptance speech, McCurdy said that his best memories of the game are “the lifetime friendships with coaches, players and fans.”
McCurdy also noted the honor of being inducted with former teammate and coaching colleague Donnie Fulk, who retired in 2014 as head softball coach at cross-town rival Bridgewater College. McCurdy’s first collegiate softball coaching experience came as an assistant coach during Fulk’s first two seasons at Bridgewater College in 1991 and 1992.
This is the second Hall of Fame induction for McCurdy, who was similarly honored at his alma mater Turner Ashby High School in 2010.
“J.D.’s extensive experience with both baseball and softball in the valley has been the foundation upon which he has built the EMU softball program,” says Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) athletic director Dave King. “He has used his experience as a player to develop teams that get the most out of what they have and seem to peak at tournament time. His connections in the softball community provide valuable contacts for the recruiting process. A student of the game for a long time, J.D. is now one of the premier teachers of the game. He has a good eye for talent and potential and develops players through the four-year experience of college softball.”
Daughters brought him to softball
McCurdy grew up around baseball, and primarily turned to softball after his baseball playing days were over because of his three daughters. Arin, Jody and Brittany each and were coached by their dad. Jody was an All-Conference and academic All-American selection as a pitcher and outfielder at Pfeiffer University.
Brittany McCurdy Caricofe played four years for her dad at EMU. As a senior in 2010, she was an All-ODAC tournament selection on one of the most competitive squads to ever take the field. The 2010 team was the first eighth seed in any sport to win the ODAC tournament, winning four straight tournament games to clinch just the second conference championship in program history. They also earned the first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
That year, McCurdy earned his second of two ODAC Coach of the Year awards. He’s been consistently successful since his arrival in 2004, when he took over a program suffering from 11 straight losing seasons (their record was 5-20 the previous year).
From batboy to first baseman
But McCurdy first grew to love baseball watching his dad play and being the batboy for the local team. “I remember those big rivalries and the mammoth homeruns,” he says.
His first season with Bridgewater was in 1968. “Father, Son Share Bridgewater Win” was the Daily News-Record headline: the 16-year-old making his first start on the mound and his dad, Pete, entering left field in the eighth.
After helping Turner Ashby to their first state championship in 1971, McCurdy went to Bridgewater College, playing two seasons (including one in the Valley League) and helping his senior year as an assistant coach with Jim Reedy when the Eagles won their first ODAC title.
He eventually played all but one of 18 seasons with the RCBL team in Bridgewater. McCurdy’s bat was a big part of the Reds’ success (career stats aren’t available). At first base, he was known for his great footwork.
“I practiced handling bad throws,” he said, “and was always expecting one, not that my infield was always going to make one, but I wanted to be ready if they did.”
After his last season in 1984, McCurdy, who was a Nationwide insurance agent for years, went back to coaching. He coached his daughters in Little League and started the Smashing Apples, a summer team that drew area high school athletes – “travel ball before there was really travel ball,” he says.
In 1998, he took over the Turner Ashby High School junior varsity team, and then in 2000, was named varsity coach. Three seasons later, EMU came calling.
“This has been a great place to be,” he said. “My first question to athletes is ‘What do you want to do after college?’ and I tell them about the school and its fine academic programs and where that degree can get them. And yes, we have softball, but you won’t do that for the rest of your life. What you gain from this university is far more than that.”
He says this knowing full well that playing the game is a big draw to some prospective student-athletes, and if they come to EMU, they’ll make more memories and great friendships on the diamond, just as he did in the County League.
“I’ve got seven weddings to go to this summer, all former players getting married,” he said, looking both delighted and a little weary at the same time. “It’s amazing how the game brings you together.”