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The Canby Cougar softball team will honor a former star and longtime supporter with a brief ceremony and moment of silence before Wednesday’s game against Lakeridge.
Alissa Netter, née Meeuwsen, led a talented Canby softball program that ran the Three Rivers League in the late 1980s, earning first-team all-state honors as a utility infielder in 1989 and helping lay the groundwork for the Cougs’ state title run five years later — the first in any girls’ sport in school history.
Netter later was a beloved secretary at Canby High School and a staunch supporter of Cougar athletics. Her own children — two sets of twins — went on to star in several sports.
Dominic and Danielle, Class of 2020, were a standout wrestler and a member of the 2019 Canby volleyball squad that finished third in the state tournament, respectively, while current seniors Zach and Theo are finishing out their athletic careers on the golf and baseball teams.
Alissa Netter passed away suddenly Thursday at the age of 51.
To honor Netter and her contributions to the school district and athletic community, head softball coach Ty Kraft announced the team would share some brief remarks and a moment of silence 15 minutes before their first pitch against Lakeridge Wednesday. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
Kraft said he first met her while serving on the community’s youth softball board, and that she was also active in coaching. She was somewhat unusual among parents in that she volunteered in, supported and attended many sports and athletic events in which her own children did not participate.
“She was just a huge supporter of Canby athletics,” Kraft said. “We’ve been talking to the team about the type of player she was and how we can best represent and honor her. She was a fierce competitor in athletics and in life. She was not afraid of anything, but she was always a great person to work with.”
The team will honor Netter and her number — 12 — in other ways the rest of the season, Kraft said. They will wear stickers bearing the number on their batting helmets and will celebrate base hits by holding up one finger on one hand and two on the other to represent 12.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds’ Main Pavillion. A large crowd is anticipated and overflow may be outside. Attendees should dress for inclement weather.
Photo courtesy Tracey Tatum Shimmin.
