Outstanding player on 4 CAL undefeated teams 3 in Softball and 1 in Field Hockey
Earned 10 Varsity Letters
Diane Butland Hall was an integral member of arguably the best sports class in the history of girls sports at Amesbury High School. She did it all! She was the premier type of coach’s player. According to Coach Gail Kelleher, Diane was an intense competitor, had excellent speed and stamina, always considered her teammates as the top priority, and had an athlete’s sense of the game.
Diane earned 10 varsity letters, was captain of 2 sports, was a Cape Ann League All League and All-Star player in 3 sports, and was a 4-year starter for the record setting softball team during the span of 1986-89.
In her first year of playing organized field hockey, Diane was one of two freshmen who was a starter on the 1985 team. During that time she was second on the team in scoring and first in assists. In just her sophomore year she scored 14 goals, had 6 assists, and was a Player of the Game on two occasions. That year the team finished with a 17-0-1 record. Both her junior and senior years Diane was chosen as a Co-Captain, was named as a CAL All league Player, and during the summer was chosen to play in the Bay State Games. As a senior Diane was switched to the midfield position to take advantage of her significant overall athletic prowess. Her stick skills, finesse, and stamina were instrumental in solidifying an already strong defensive team. Amazingly, she was still able to finish 3rd in the CAL in scoring with 11 goals and 15 assists. Diane finished with 36 career goals.
During the winter months Diane played basketball and her strength to the team was in her fierceness. She ruled deep in the paint and was a monster at collecting rebounds and tossing perfect outlet passes to her teammates Kristy Gleason and Jill Gagnon. She was, once again, recognized by the CAL basketball coaches as an All-Star Player.
During his long rein in the CAL Coach Chris Perry’s softball teams were amazingly talented. His teams during the era of 1986-89 set records that will, quite probably, never be broken. Diane started for his team her freshmen year and progressively became stronger in every phase of the game. She had terrific range in the outfield and could be counted on to make long running catches and complete strong, accurate throws. In addition, she finished her senior year with a .456 batting average.
Well known sports writer Jack Bowes called Diane “Dutch the Clutch” and claimed that, in his own words “she had no blood in her veins”. Diane’s own favorite play was pulled off during the 10th inning of the North Sectional Finals against Pentucket when she took off for home plate on a throw back to the pitcher. Coach Perry’s praise for Diane was that she was a fierce competitor, and indeed she was.
By the time Diane and her softball teammates graduated from AHS in 1989, they had won 4 CAL championships and two state championships. They were undefeated in the 1988 and 1989 seasons with a total of 49 consecutive wins. By this time their CAL record had stretched to 58 games without a loss. This record will, in all likelihood, stand for eternity.
In looking back over her incredible high school career, Diane is most fond of her time spent with her exceptional friends and teammates. No matter what sport they played, this group molded together. The seasons spent with her “best friend of all times, Kristy Gleason,” brought out the best in each of them. Diane and Kristy were able to raise the bar for their teammates, and this talented group of very special teammates was able to respond at every opportunity.
Congratulations to inductee Diane Butland, Class of 1989.
