Eric Charbonneau, coach of the Central Tree Middle School softball team, had a surprise in store for him after the team’s May 21 home game against Dudley.

Charbonneau calls the last home game of the season the Rose Game to honor the graduating students. The eighth-grade athletes line up apart from their teammates and he says a few words about each player: “I’ve coached her three years in basketball and three years in softball – she’s a fantastic athlete,” said Charbonneau about the first athlete.

Then each graduating player was recognized for her unique abilities. “It’s been a total pleasure coaching her these past two years and watching her improve year after year.” “She’s a hell of a first baseman who has been an amazing addition to this team.”

After her recognition, each girl was given a white rose by a younger teammate. Before the ceremony finished, some girls were crying as they realized this was the end of an incredible season and after a summer off, they would begin a new chapter of their lives in high school.

The coach wasn’t finished, however. He had planned this Rose Game in case the final scheduled home game was rained out. Charbonneau invited parents onto the outfield where their daughters’ numbers had been painted on the grass to have pictures taken together.

But before those pictures were taken, Charbonneau’s three daughters revealed the surprise for him. 

“Could we all come over here for a minute,” Erica Charbonneau asked the milling players and parents. Erica, along with her sisters Monica Goodnow and Sarah Shure, wanted to celebrate their father’s 24-year commitment to coaching and his announced retirement. After she read her short speech, they unveiled the bench to which parents, his family, friends, and former players had contributed. 

“Oh, I wondered why Abby was here,” Charbonneau laughed about seeing a former player in the crowd during the game. Many former players, wrapped in blankets or winter coats, had watched the game during the cold afternoon, remembering their own Rose Game at CTMS. They had come to honor the coach who means so much to them.

“I have three daughters who are my amazing family,” said Charbonneau, visibly moved by the attention. “And all these players - they’re family too.”

Jonathan Miller, former president of Rutland Little League, was at the game supporting his daughter who plays on the CTMS team. His older daughter had also been coached by Charbonneau. “I have worked with a lot of parents over the years who are dedicated to Rutland Little League and Rutland Softball, but Eric’s commitment - he takes it to a whole other level,” Miller said.

“Coach Charbonneau’s dedication and commitment to the student-athletes of CTMS over the years has left a lasting impact on our community,” wrote David Cornacchioli, Principal of CTMS. “Through his leadership of the girls’ softball and basketball programs, he consistently demonstrated care, passion, and an unwavering commitment to his players both on and off the court and field. He will be deeply missed, but the legacy he leaves behind through the relationships he built and the positive influence he had on generations of students will always remain an important part of the CTMS family.”

Between the softball and basketball teams, Charbonneau estimates that he has worked with more than 800 girls at CTMS over his coaching career. One highlight was the district win over Mountview this past February before vacation week.

Mountview always has a strong basketball program, explained Charbonneau. “They’ll get 60 girls come out for the team and I’ll get 13, 14. They’ve won I don’t know, 20 district titles? This was my 14th attempt, and we had lost the 12 previous years. Their team had won the two previous districts so they were going for their three-peat.”

At halftime, CTMS was down four points. “Mountview always has tall girls – they have a 6-foot one-inch sixth grader and my tallest is 5’ 10,” explained Charbonneau. “So, I made some changes, did the old North Carolina four corners offense, some other strategies and we held them to 12 points in the second half. And we won!”

Charbonneau said the gym was packed for that game. “There were a lot of past players in the gym,” the coach remembered. “An hour after the game I was still getting text messages, emails, and phone calls from them.”

Charbonneau said his philosophy is that school comes first before sports. That this is the time to enjoy yourself, build bonds, and possibly move on to play at the high school level. “You’re never going to be in this place at this time with these girls again. I try not to add pressure – they have enough of that already,” he said.

Charbonneau said there is not a minute that he hasn’t loved everything about coaching. “I tell them, ‘This is your story, now go write it.’” 

Summing up his 24 years of coaching, he simply said, “It’s been an amazing ride.”  W