By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Throughout the years, many students who roamed the halls of Niles High School knew of Mr. Arnold.
He was a teacher, a coach, an advice giver, a joke teller, he can be described in so many ways.
But what he is most known for is being a coach and on Wednesday evening, Jim Arnold stepped off the softball diamond for his last game ever as head of the varsity team.
Before the start of the game against Coloma, Arnold was presented with a plaque and a signed softball from all members of the team. Arnold was also awarded a plaque at Saturday's game against Hartford, where athletic director John Danaher also presented him with a plaque.
"I just want to thank the players for their efforts, hard work and their desire to be the best players that they can be," Arnold continued. "A special 'thank you' to the parents for the P.A. and concession stand, not to mention the food for our away games as well as beautifying Vella Park and raking down the infield between games."
Arnold led the Niles softball team for 17 years. He will coach the girls' basketball team for one last season, and will exit the hallways of Niles High School for the last time today.
For his last softball game, the Lady Vikes took an 8-6 win over visiting Coloma.
Niles got out to an 8-1 lead and thought the game was out of reach until five runs, four hits and three errors later, the Comets were back in the game.
"We were struggling for our lives. Fortunately, Jenna had just enough energy left to strikeout the last two batters in the seventh inning," Arnold said.
Ignowski ended the season with a 24-10 record in the circle. She struck out 14 batters and allowed just one walk. Lindsay Veal suffered the loss for Coloma.
At the plate, Niles got two hits from Heather Daniels, Karly Kennedy and Frannie Semrinec. Singles came from Demi Schrader, Shelley Aurand, Erica Gordon, Patty Anton and Ignowski.
"It was a great learning season with seven juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen that battled some of the top teams from Indiana as well as Michigan and played them down to the wire. We improved and were very competitive and will be much better next year as they'll be a year stronger, wiser and more experienced," Arnold added.
Niles ends the 2007 season with a 25-11 overall record.