The two biggest losses this week for Anne Arundel County softball had nothing to do with the final score on the field.
Longtime Glen Burnie coach Bob Broccolino announced his retirement Thursday following his Gophers 4-0 loss to Broadneck in the Class 4A East regional semifinals. Broccolino?s retirement came days after Severna Park coach Jeff Shepherd decided to step down after nine season following the Falcons loss to River Hill in the Class 3A East quarterfinals.
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Broccolino finishes his 21-year tenure as Glen Burnie?s head coach with a 303-120 record that includes seven county championships and two state titles. He said he made the decision because he wants to concentrate more on his increased teaching load while also freeing up time to see his son, Michael, play his final season of baseball at Division III St. Michael?s
“Mike would call me up and tell me he hit a home run and I thought to myself how much I wanted to see that in person,” Broccolino said. “It?s his last season and it?s just amazing how time flies by. There is nothing more important than being with your family.”
Spending more time with his family also played a factor in Shepherd?s decision to retire from coaching. He said he will really miss the players, but he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife while also getting ready to watch his daughter get married. The Falconswon five region titles, advanced to three state titles and won the 2003 Class 3A title under Shepherd?s watch.
“It can be really tough on the family when you dedicate 25 percent of your year to coaching,” Shepherd said.
Chesapeake coach Don Ellenberger said he understands why Broccolino and Shepherd decided to step down, but added that he will miss coaching against both of them in highly competitive Anne Arundel County.
“A lot of wins just left the county with those two retiring,” Ellenberger said. “They are great coaches and we will surely miss them.”
