Science Hill High School

Diane Snook Marable

Diane Snook Marable 1979

Softball wasn't offered at Science Hill and basketball wasn't offered until her junior year, but Diane Snook-Marable parlayed abbreviated basketball, track and volleyball careers at Science Hill into a four-year softball scholarship at North Carolina State.

Snook played basketball for Vicky Barrett her junior year and Gwen Walsh her senior year at Science Hill. The Lady Toppers played six-man basketball then, which was essentially a game of 3-on-3 at each end of the court.

Her senior season, Science Hill played both half-court and full-court games. Marable was all-conference and honorable mention all-state.

She also played volleyball two years and ran track one year at Science Hill.

Science Hill's fledgling programs couldn't conceal the skill. East Tennessee State women's basketball coach Susan Yow was scouting Marable, and ultimately mentioned her to her sister Kay at North Carolina State.

Although she was the basketball coach, Kay Yow also helped with the Wolfpack softball program. Marable, a local slow-pitch legend, said Kay Yow pitched for a while with Rubi-Otts out of Greensboro, one of the best softball teams in the Southeast.

North Carolina and N.C. State ended up bidding for Marable. North Carolina offered her a four-year scholarship for everything but her meals, so the Wolfpack countered by throwing in the meals. N.C. State quickly utilized its mealticket.

In her debut in Raleigh, Marable pitched a shutout and won both games of a doubleheader against defending state champion North Carolina A&T. She was a four-year starter, also playing in the outfield and first base.

Marable is quick to credit softball/basketball coach Dwight "Greasy" Leonard with some of her development, as well as summer-league softball coach Jim Small.

"Greasy was one of the best coaches around," Marable said. "Whatever he was coaching, he was going to work at it and do whatever it took to win."

Marable also enjoyed the camaraderie of a competitor like 'Toppers teammate Brenda Evans.

"Brenda was our leader on defense," Marable said. "She was a very good volleyball player too."

Marable was in Raleigh while Jim Valvano's Wolfpack was winning the national championship in '83. March Madness had the campus glowing. She said they built a bonfire on the main four-lane on campus after the first win, so the school erected a massive brick firepit so students could light up after each win.

"That was some experience just to be on campus for that," Marable said. "The whole thing, right down to Lorenzo Charles' (stuff) against Houston, was just such a shock."

Marable has been one of the area's top female slow-pitch softball players for 35 years. She pitched a perfect game in July 11, 1982, which is recognized at the USSSA Hall of Fame in Petersburg, Va.

Playing for Leonard's Ladies First with the likes of Gale Scott and Pam Leonard, Marable continued to "pack" 'em in beyond her days at N.C. State.

"Snook set the tone for area women's softball," Herb Greenlee said. "She can play. Girls like her and Gayle Scott -- when you went to watch them play at Old Kiwanis you were watching with a crowd.

"Snook could play anything. She's still a good basketball player too."