Accident puts game in perspective

When the Riverton softball team was dealt an emotional blow last week, comfort came from some of the most unlikely places.

"We learned a lot of lessons, the most important of which is that softball is just a game," said Riverton softball coach Emily Cederholm, who spent the week helping her players deal with the loss of a fellow student.

Niki DiSera, a freshman on the squad, was injured in a car accident last Sunday and her older sister, Dani, was killed in that same accident. The loss had the entire school and Riverton community reeling, so it was especially surprising when during the team's practice on Wednesday some of the Alta Hawks showed up bearing gifts and advice.

"Softball is a game, but life is so much more important," said Hawks head coach Tiffani Airmet. "We went through this three years ago when (a player) lost her brother ... So we're foregoing some practice time to let them know we're thinking of them."

Cederholm said Airmet called her Monday night to let her know how the Hawks had supported the individual player and the entire team during their loss.

"They showed up with a care package on Wednesday, and I could tell by the looks on their faces that our team was surprised and grateful," Cederholm said. "They also learned that now we're responsible to pay this forward. It was really, really sweet."

Cederholm, who also teaches at the school, said she has witnessed many "acts of kindness" that have been very heartening during a difficult time.

Airmet told Cederholm that sometimes her players would just break down in the middle of practice and that it was always an opportunity to help the teenagers deal with their emotions and the sense of loss.

"Sometimes we just had to stop practice and cry," Airmet said.

FROM LANCER TO TITANS: Syracuse High School recently hired one of the state's top girls basketball coaches. Rob Reisbeck, a long-time Layton High assistant who took over the program as the head coach for the last two years, will be the head coach of the Titans' girls basketball program.

"It'll be a little bit weird," said Reisbeck, who will be coaching against his former players next winter. "The biggest difference will be when I look out there and see Sheila Adams on the opposite team. I might accidentally call her over out of habit."