Full Circle: 50 Years Later, North Pocono Softball's Legacy Shines Bright
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | June 1, 2025 | Photo courtesy North Pocono Yearbook \'75
Fifty years ago, they wore bell-bottom jeans and played for medals their coach had to buy herself. Today, they wear cleats and championship gear. But what ties North Pocono’s 1975 and 2025 District Champion softball teams together isn’t just hardware—it’s heart. This is the story of two titles, one program, and a legacy built on belief, resilience, and the lifelong bonds of backing each other up.
There are moments in sports that transcend wins and losses, trophies and titles. At North Pocono, one such moment is unfolding—a legacy stretching five decades, tied together by grit, pride, and the enduring spirit of what it means to be a Lady Trojan.
In 1975, a determined coach and a team of fierce young women blazed a trail on fields that didn’t yet treat girls’ sports as equal. Joy Pilosi, then a young educator with fire in her voice and purpose in her stride, led the very first North Pocono varsity softball team to a District Championship.
She took the job as a gym teacher at North Pocono with one goal in mind: to give girls a chance to compete in varsity athletics. A true pioneer of her time, Pilosi advocated relentlessly for the creation of girls' sports at the school. Her influence extended far beyond the softball diamond. Over her 35-year career, she coached basketball for 12 years, volleyball for 27 years, softball for 18 years, and track for a decade. She helped formulate the Northeast Athletic Conference and served on the District committee to represent girls' athletics. Her groundbreaking work earned her induction into both the Northeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.
They played in the Wayne League—the only competitive outlet for girls in the region—and finished the regular season 5-1 before claiming the title in a spring postseason tournament. Equipment was minimal. Uniforms were shirts and bell-bottom jeans. Respect was earned. And, sometimes, rewards were self-funded.
"The boys got the gym time, the trophies, the praise," Coach Pilosi recalled. "After we won a championship, I went out and bought medals for the girls myself. I left the receipt on the principal’s desk. It nearly cost me my job."
But the fight was always worth it. For Coach Pilosi, it was about giving the girls their chance.
Among them was Anne Coles—now Anne Ratchford—who went on to play at Marywood University. Ratchford, a speedy outfielder who once shifted to catcher simply because her team needed it, remembers the bond that built something unforgettable.
"Coach Pilosi was fiery and determined. She believed in us, and that made us believe in ourselves. We played hard because she fought hard for us."
The 1975 team was defined by toughness. Pitchers Teri Snyder and Kathy Obaroski offered power and movement in equal parts. First baseman Kathy Dubranski was, in Ratchford’s words, "strong, determined, and a powerful leader." And while wins mattered, the camaraderie meant more.
That same spirit resurfaced 50 years later.
This spring, the 2025 Lady Trojans captured the District 2 Class 5A Championship, defeating top-seeded Abington Heights. Watching from afar, both Coach Pilosi and Ratchford felt the flood of memories—and the pull of legacy.
"All the memories came rushing back—the conversations, the friendships, the pride," said Ratchford. "I know what it takes to win one, and I know this team gave everything."
She reached out to current head coach Joe Miraglia to congratulate him—a gesture steeped in nostalgia, respect, and Trojan pride.
Coach Pilosi echoed those feelings. "Skill, will, and determination. That’s what we had. That’s what they have. And now, they get to carry it into states."
On Sunday night, at the team’s banquet ahead of Monday’s state playoff opener, both past and present came together in spirit. Ratchford stood before the team and shared a line Coach Pilosi used to tell them in the 70s:
"Reach for the stars, because you’re already on top of the world."
As Anne began to say it, she and Coach Pilosi finished the words together—proof that some messages never fade. It was a touching moment that bridged five decades of memories, echoing just as powerfully today.
It was a message that rang true 50 years ago—and rings even louder now.
Coach Miraglia spoke of bonds, trust, and how the game teaches life. So did Coach Pilosi. Despite five decades between them, their messages were nearly identical.
Ratchford echoed that sentiment, reflecting on what both softball with her teammates and baseball with her brother, longtime WNEP Sports Director Jim Coles, taught her. From a young age, Jim welcomed Ann into games with the neighborhood boys, helping show that she belonged—and that she was equal. On the diamond, backing up throws to first or covering in the outfield became more than mechanics; it became a mindset.
"You always knew someone was behind you," Ratchford said. "That let me take chances—on the field and in life—because I had the confidence that someone had my back."
It's a lesson that stuck with her, and one she sees alive in the 2025 team as well.
"The lessons you learn on this field don’t stay here," said Coach Joe. "They shape who you become. That’s why coaching matters. That’s why this matters."
And on Monday at 4 p.m., on their home field, the 2025 Lady Trojans will write their next chapter—hosting Upper Moreland in the opening round of the PIAA State Tournament.
Two titles. One program. Fifty years apart—and one united heartbeat that still echoes: Lady Trojans, together, forever.
