Every time O’Malley looked into the stands, there was his father. O’Malley’s father never missed a game, never stopped supporting his son and never stopped being a role model. O’Malley eventually became a nine-year Major Leaguer and a Japanese League all-star. And his father was so vital to O’Malley living his dream.

The elder O’Malley never stopped supporting his son and Tom has spent his life trying to thank him and return the favor. That is why O’Malley is back in the area, coaching the Loyalsock softball team. His father’s health started going downhill last winter, so O’Malley opted against being a hitting instructor for a fourth straight year in Japan and returned to coach Loyalsock.

Now O’Malley is combining two loves. He is back at Loyalsock after coaching the varsity and junior high teams in 2013 and he is there supporting his father every day.

“I didn’t spend much time with him the last four years being away for 10 months at a time, so I was able to work it out and I know these girls are really good kids, so when the opportunity arose I wanted to take advantage of it,” O’Malley said. “It’s a blessing that I can stay back with my father and hopefully his health will improve. That’s what it’s all about is family. It’s nice being able to help out my mother and be there for my family and there for my father and I love being part of the game.”

NICK FIORINI/For The Sun-Gazette Tom O’Malley speaks with Juliana Cruz during a recent Loyalsock softball game at South Williamsport.

O’Malley started playing as a 2-year-old when he picked up a whiffle ball bat. A passion was born and his father helped fan that passion every way he could. O’Malley’s father bought orange balls so that when it snowed during winter he could pitch to his three sons and still find the ball. Most important, O’Malley never missed a game his son played. He altered his schedule so he could work early in the morning and then watch afternoon games.

It was never about hoping his son became an all-star. It was about showing his love and pride. It was all about being an ideal dad.

“I never had to even look whether it was baseball or basketball, he was always in the stands and very supportive,” O’Malley said. “That’s all you can ask for.”

O’Malley watched his father do great things every day that nobody writes stories about and for which nobody receives awards. His father never missed a day of work and taught his sons through example what it meant to be a fighter. Nothing kept him from work, nothing kept him away from the field.

O’Malley’s father was the ideal role model and Tom emulated him along his baseball journey. He dominated at the high school level, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1979 and made his Major League debut three years later. That began a 15-year professional career that included winning the Japan League MVP and World Series MVP in 1995. There sometimes were adverse circumstances along the way, but O’Malley kept moving forward, kept achieving and kept honoring his father the best way he could.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Tom O’Malley talks with Yakult Swallows teammate Terry Bross in this 1996 Japan Central League game.

“He had a great work ethic. That’s what we looked up to as kids. It was unbelievable and that’s what he taught us,” O’Malley said. “There might have been players who were better, but I always had that extra drive and that’s what you have to have.”

Now O’Malley is giving those lessons to a new generation. His players could not be much happier either.

O’Malley is one of the most popular people in Lycoming County and Loyalsock players were thrilled when he returned last winter. He has helped a young team perform well and Loyalsock is 6-4 despite losing current Division I standout Kendall Watkins and all-state pitcher Kayla Gee to graduation.

“He’s a great coach. He keeps everyone focused in a positive way,” first baseman Elizabeth Haller said. “Everybody loves coming to practice and games. It’s great.”

“Tom’s a great coach and he knows us personally and our swings and what to fix with them even if it’s just a minor tweak,” catcher Rhiallie Jessell said. “We heard around town that he was coming back and everyone was excited, to say the least.”

O’Malley has an encyclopedia-like knowledge of the game but he also relates to players so well, making him an ideal coach. But, really, he relates to everyone well.

Like his father, O’Malley is a people’s person who likes making those around him happier. Look at the journey O’Malley has taken from the Major Leagues to Japan, to coaching here, back to Japan and now home again. At every stop, O’Malley has been one of the most popular people around. It’s no act, it’s just O’Malley being himself.

“He’s a people’s person and his dad was the same way and he reminds me a lot of his dad. They know how to relate to people,” said South Williamsport coach Scott Stugart, who graduated with O’Malley from Montoursville in 1978 while also playing baseball together. “He obviously is able to relate to youth, whether it’s boys or girls. He’s a great guy and I love seeing him across the other dugout. That’s big for him to do that. I can’t say enough good things about Tom.”

The same goes for O’Malley’s dad. Understand this about O’Malley. As decorated a player and coach as O’Malley has been there is a perfect way to describe who he is.

Simply put, O’Malley is every bit his father’s son.

SMOOTH TRANSITION: A year after putting together one of the area’s most dominant offensive campaigns in recent memory, Loyalsock graduate Kendall Watkins is making a huge impact at Niagara. The freshman earned her second MAAC Softball Rookie of the Week Award after going 7 for 16 with three home runs, a double, eight RBIs and five runs. Watkins also hit a home run against Syracuse as Niagara won 7-6 and beat the Orange for the first time ever.

Playing second base after being a four-year starting third baseman at Loyalsock, Watkins has sparked a nice turnaround at Niagara and is among team leaders in virtually every category. The three-time all-state selection has started every game and is hitting .326 with a team-best .447 on-base percentage. Watkins also has hit a team-high six home runs, scored a team-best 22 runs and leads the team in slugging percentage (.522) and stolen bases. A hard worker and fierce competitor, Watkins also helps anchor the infield and is second on the team with 22 RBIs.

AROUND THE AREA: Montgomery is turning its season around and making a playoff push following a 2-6 start. The Red Raiders (5-6) won three straight last week and won a 10-9, 9-inning thriller Saturday against St. John Neumann. Montgomery is a young team that lost several early-season close games but is playing better each game. Shea Strouse delivered four hits in the Neumann win while Abby Stryker hit two triples, including the walk-off triple and Gabby Shreck went 7 for 11 in the three wins … Neumann right fielder Breanna Minnier went 3 for 5 against Montgomery. Pitcher Anne Weller threw a 1-hit shutout and struck out eight while also going 3 for 3 with an RBI in an 8-0 win over Benton … North Penn-Liberty (9-3) put on an offensive show in a 17-0 win against Sayre. Liberty delivered an area-high 23 hits with seven players producing two or more hits. Lauren Smith went 4 for 5 and both Abby Heatley and Jillian Berguson had three hits and two RBIs … Loyalsock (6-4) cored 35 runs while pounding out 44 hits in three games last week. Catcher Rhiallie Jessell went 6 for 11 with eight RBIs and Sam Stopper went 7 for 13 with four RBIs … Muncy (8-2) won a first-place Mid-Penn showdown against Bucktail, winning 5-2. The Indians are undefeated in league play and Kat Ebner threw a 4-hitter while going 2 for 3 with four RBIs.

Dr. Masse’s top five in high school softball

(Records and information entering Monday’s Games)

1. Milton (8-1): The Black Panthers did not get to play for the Williamsport Tournament championship last weekend due to a storm that never happened, but made quite a statement there, outscoring 6A St. Hubert’s and 5A power Lower Dauphin, 15-2. Milton handed Lower Dauphin its worst loss in 15 games, battering the Falcons 5-2 as Chloe Perrin hit two doubles and drove in four runs. A night earlier, Kacee Reitz homered and Taylor Gessner ripped three hits as Milton finished with 12 hits in a 5-0 win over St. Hubert’s. Kylie Brouse threw her sixth shutout in that game and Milton is starting to hit its stride.

2. Central Mountain (9-2): Junior pitcher Caitlyn Brush is having an outstanding season. Brush has won nine games in the circle and allowed just one run in 11 innings of a double header sweep against Shamokin last week. She also is leading the team in batting average, hitting .471 with a team-high 14 RBIs and seven doubles. The Wildcats had a nine-game winning streak before losing 1-0 to Bellefonte last Thursday.

3. Wellsboro (9-1): The Green Hornets have won eight straight and are atop the NTL-I for a third straight year. A district champion and finalist the last two seasons, this young team is coming on strong, complementing strong pitching with balanced hitting. Wellsboro scored 40 runs in four wins last week and has topped 10 hits in five of its last six games. Freshman Ryann Adams is adjusting quite well to varsity softball and delivered three multi-hit performances last week, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs in a 12-1 win against Cowanesque Valley.

4. Warrior Run (9-2): The Defenders are having their best season since 2013 and won a 5-4, 10-inning thriller against Muncy, overcoming deficits in the seventh and 10th innings. Warrior Run has scored five or more runs in all but one game, is tied for first with three other teams in the HAC-III and battered Southern Columbia, 18-3 last Friday. Catcher Haley Miller is one of many dangerous hitters in the Defender lineup and has two hits in three straight games.

5. South Williamsport (9-2): A young Mounties team featuring five freshmen starters proved it was mighty talented early this season. Last week, South proved it is mighty tough as well. South produced one of the more thrilling comebacks in recent memory last Thursday, scoring six seventh-inning runs, erasing a five-run deficit and edging rival Loyalsock, 7-6. The Mounties avenged Monday’s loss to the Lancers and delivered five clutch hits after being held to three through six innings.

“That was the hallmarker of our 2014 (District 4 champion) team in the playoffs, but they never came back from five down in the seventh so that was pretty special,” South coach Scott Stugart said. “It is big because you never know when you’re going to get that opportunity to establish that confidence before the playoffs, especially at their age. To know we can point that out now helps us a lot going forward.”

Players of the week

Emily Snyder, Montgomery and Elizabeth Haller, Loyalsock: Snyder was an offensive and pitching force last week, going 9 for 13 with two doubles. She had four hits against Neumann and also stole five bases. Snyder struck out eight in five innings of work, earning the win and also threw a 4-hitter with 11 strikeouts in an 8-3 win over CMVT. Haller was an offensive force and sparked Loyalsock’s hard-hitting attack. The senior first baseman went 8 for 12 with nine RBIs and had at least two hits in all three games. She also went 4 for 4 with two RBIs in a 12-10 win against South.

Game of the week

Loyalsock at Williamsport: It is tough to beat two neighborhood rivals meeting under the Elm Park Friday Night lights. Loyalsock and Williamsport face off Friday night in the opening round of the Williamsport Tournament. These rivals have played exciting games in two of the last three tournaments, splitting those games. Williamsport handed Loyalsock one of its two regular-season losses last year, winning 4-3.