There's No Place Like Home By: Mikaela Johnson
APPLETON--Having a great family from the beginning lead Janel Batten to becoming the Softball star she is today.
The player, the teacher, the coach; Mrs. Batten was friendly, caring, hard working, dedicated, and a passionate person who once was part of the Appleton East staff and is now in The Hall of Fame.
Playing softball for Appleton East until she graduated in 1991; Janel Batten went to college to become a teacher. After returning in 1998 she became a math teacher and the Appleton East head softball coach.
Growing up Batten’s dad would take her out to the diamond and pitch batting practice and throw ground balls. “My mom would catch my pitching practice and still has battle wounds to …show more content…
Also being able to work alongside the talented and compassionate math teachers was another reward that made her sixteen years at East memorable.
Mr. Zachow thought very highly of Mrs. Batten, “As a classroom teacher she went above and beyond what we would expect teachers to do, she had time for kids outside the classroom to help them in math and was always a good role model.”
As a coach at East for many years she took the softball team to the state tournament seven years in a row. Tim Zachow believes, “Most coaches are good average coaches and they know the game, but she pays close attention to those little details. That's the difference between a coach who can take their team to the state tournament 7 years in a row and a coach who might make it there once in awhile.”
“You almost wondered if she lived on the field, she was there all of the time,” said current athletic director, Tim Zachow.
“A coach does not receive accolades without great players and great assistant coaches. If you want to be the best you need to surround yourself with great people,” said Batten. This level of confidence lead her to become named coach of the year six
APPLETON--Having a great family from the beginning lead Janel Batten to becoming the Softball star she is today.
The player, the teacher, the coach; Mrs. Batten was friendly, caring, hard working, dedicated, and a passionate person who once was part of the Appleton East staff and is now in The Hall of Fame.
Playing softball for Appleton East until she graduated in 1991; Janel Batten went to college to become a teacher. After returning in 1998 she became a math teacher and the Appleton East head softball coach.
Growing up Batten’s dad would take her out to the diamond and pitch batting practice and throw ground balls. “My mom would catch my pitching practice and still has battle wounds to …show more content…
Also being able to work alongside the talented and compassionate math teachers was another reward that made her sixteen years at East memorable.
Mr. Zachow thought very highly of Mrs. Batten, “As a classroom teacher she went above and beyond what we would expect teachers to do, she had time for kids outside the classroom to help them in math and was always a good role model.”
As a coach at East for many years she took the softball team to the state tournament seven years in a row. Tim Zachow believes, “Most coaches are good average coaches and they know the game, but she pays close attention to those little details. That's the difference between a coach who can take their team to the state tournament 7 years in a row and a coach who might make it there once in awhile.”
“You almost wondered if she lived on the field, she was there all of the time,” said current athletic director, Tim Zachow.
“A coach does not receive accolades without great players and great assistant coaches. If you want to be the best you need to surround yourself with great people,” said Batten. This level of confidence lead her to become named coach of the year six