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Cheryl Reeves, 19, of Rambler Lane in Levittown, also alleges that her personal pitching coach, Roy Jenderko, of Warminster,not only taught her an illegal style of pitching but also used "favorite players" which resulted in demoralizing the teen
The lengthy lawsuit, filed in Bucks County court last week, goes on to implicate the Middletown Magic softball team’s parent organization, the Middletown Athletic Association, along with MAA board president Maureen Schoettle, and board members Diane Moyer, Joey Altman and Maureen Ferland.
Reeves’ lawsuit claims that Jenderko, known for taking a group of young girls and coaching them through the high-stakes tournament play in their older teen years, caused her loss of future earnings capacity, reputation, and possible scholarship opportunities.
Jenderko, who offered his players private pitching lessons at his Warminster homefor $40 an hour, required his players use only him as pitching coach, the lawsuit claims.
Specifically, the suit saysJenderko, beginning back in 1994, taught Reeves an "illegal" style of pitching in which she would do a slight crow hop while releasing the ball.
The suit goes on to outline details of seasons between 1995 and 1998 which allegedly culminated in a falling out between Reeves and Jenderko.
The lawsuit goes on to infer that Jenderko knew his technique to be wrong, but continued because it produced victories which he used to further promote his home-based instruction business.
It also claims MAA and its board members knew, or should have known, of the alleged turmoil surrounding the team.
"Jenderko promoted himself as an expert in teaching softball skills for non-pitchers and represented that playing on his MAA team would lead to eligibility to play in college, likely on scholarship," the lawsuit claims.
In defending the MAA organization, board president Maureen Schoettle yesterday said she had no problems with Jenderko.
"This is ridiculous," Schoettle said.
"Their lawsuit will do nothing but hurt a lot of innocent people who volunteer their time to try and help kids."
She noted that people come from miles around to join MAA’s girls softball teams because of the excellent coaching.
Schoettle’s attorney, Timothy Kolman, also called the lawsuit frivolous, and said he would seek to have the Reeves’ attorney withdraw the petition prior to the defendants filing preliminary objections in county court.
Kolman said he also represents Jenderko, MAA and the three board members.
"The people who’ve been sued are volunteers and, in our opinion, they are immune from lawsuits of this kind under Pennsylvania statues,’’ Kolman.
"The real danger of lawsuits like this is the desperately chilling effect on volunteers who each week do yeoman’s work, giving their time, expertise and love to youngsters."
A self-proclaimed accomplished fielder, base runner and batter, Reeves began taking lessons from Jenderkoat age 11, and continued until age 16.
During one incident, Reeves and the Magic were playing at a tournament in New Jersey when the umpire ruled her pitching style to be illegal, and Jenderko withdrew from the tournament, the suit says.
In another tournament, at Newville, Pennsylvania, Jenderko began using "favorite" players, which prompted Reeves to call for a "players only" team meeting.
Jenderko retaliated by removing Reeves from the team, the lawsuit charges, adding that Reeves suffered emotional and psychological stress, effectively ended her career at an elite level of softball.
"(Reeves) high school career and her play at the elite level ended, all to her great detriment and loss for which the defendants are individually and jointly liable," the lawsuit says.
Each of seven counts in the lawsuit seeks damages of $100,000 or more.
Neither Reeves nor Jenderko could be reached for comment yesterday.
