Spring sports are starting this month and the Tyrone varsity softball team is welcoming a new face in the dugout. Assistant Coach Paul Erb is the newest Tyrone varsity softball coaching staff member under Head Coach Hilary Soellner.
Erb brings a lot of coaching experience to the team at the youth, high school, and college levels.
His most recent experience was at Juniata College, where his primary responsibility was working with the pitchers and catchers as well as their offensive small ball game.
During his time at Juniata the pitcher’s ERAs dropped by 1.90 runs per game and opponents’ batting averages dropped by .060 each.
The girls have already had an opportunity to meet Coach Erb during off-season workouts and games.
Erb said he is excited about this new opportunity at the high school level.
“I love coaching our junior and senior high student-athletes here in Tyrone. This is so awesome. And our young ladies are terrific,” Erb said.
He also stressed that his goal as a coach is to teach the athletes more than just softball.
“[I want them] to learn about life through playing the sport we all love. And that in some small way, we create a positive experience that helps our players to become the leaders of tomorrow,” Erb said. “Seeing our players blossom into productive, contributing adults in our world has been my most cherished time. And our own Cate Baran is a shining example of that.”
Baran graduated from Tyrone in 2020 and was a standout pitcher for the Juniata College Eagles for four years. The star pitcher said Coach Paul’s coaching style was unique and effective.
Baran believes that Paul will have much to offer to the program, adding, “Coach Paul’s coaching style is very scout-based. He did a lot of scouting for Juniata and would tell us what to expect during offense and defense from the teams we were playing. When working with pitchers, he would focus a lot on technique and location of the pitches,”
“I think he will help Tyrone softball by bringing a lot of knowledge to the program and a new and different mindset to the team,” Baran said.
Head Coach Hilary Soellner said that having another experienced coach will bring much to the program.
“Coach Paul is very positive and encouraging. He brings college coaching experience and a wealth of pitching knowledge to our program. I feel his addition to the staff will have an immediate positive impact on our program,” Soellner said.
Erb spent the first sixty years of his life in Hollidaysburg before moving to Tyrone in 2018. His wife Sharon is the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tyrone.
Erb has three grown children, two daughters and a son. His daughters both played softball for Hollidaysburg, and both started on the varsity team as freshman. In his spare time, Erb is also a D2 college volleyball referee.
