Springfield College Women's Softball Team at Schipol Airport (Summer 1971)

During the summer of 1970, at the request of the Dutch National Softball Association and the Italian Softball Federation, Dr. Diane Potter traveled to Holland and Italy to conduct clinics. In 1971, the Dutch officials invited Dr. Potter and her team to return to Holland. In 1974, Dr. Potter hosted the Dutch National Team in Springfield, conducting a training camp to help prepare them for the World Championship held at Raybestos Field in Stratford, Connecticut. During the 1982 trip, Dr. Potter became the first woman to receive the “Silver Medallion,” the highest honor awarded by the Dutch National Softball Association. Dr. Diane Potter was Springfield College’s first gymnastics and softball coach. She coached the softball team for twenty-one years (1965-1975, 1977-1985), compiling a 227-123 record that includes four undefeated seasons. In 1989, she became the second woman inducted into the Springfield College Athletics Hall of Fame, and during that academic year, she served as the Springfield Distinguished Professor of Humanics.

Top and bottom edges are missing on the right side.

This photograph shows the Springfield College Women's Softball Team holding bouquets of flowers at the Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) during the summer of 1971. From left to right, the people are: Mrs. C. Klein-Desta, Mr. Willem de Ruiter, Miss Janke Nijdam, Dr. Diane Potter (coach of Springfield team), Karen (Mahar) Smith, Debbie Clum, Jan Luchsinger, Pam Prentiss, Judy Bridges, Debbie Morgan, Charlotte (Phelps) Wright, Claire Taylor, Sheila Bewsee, Mr. A. S. “No1” Houtkamp (coach of Dutch National team), and Joanne Palumbo.