Shipley steps down at Linn-Mar

MARION -- Mike Shipley has resigned his post as softball coach at Linn-Mar High School, citing a desire to spend more time with his family."My kids are getting older and are becoming involved in their own activities," Shipley said Thursday. "I felt I was missing too many games and practices. Those are things you can't get back."Shipley coached one year at Linn-Mar, posting a 16-22 record.Before coaching softball, Shipley was a baseball assistant at Linn-Mar for 13 years."The transition from baseball to softball, boys to girls, was exciting," he said. "We started off slow, but worked through some injuries and finished 11-7 through our last 18 games. We were playing much better in July than we were in May."I am thankful for the opportunity I was given."Linn-Mar has posted an

opening for the position, as well as that for an assistant.