Cortney Madea will always remember Ty Stofflet’s demeanor as her pitching coach.

“I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders,” recalled Madea, who was a dominating pitcher for Northampton’s during its 1996 state championship run. “He always told me that it is going to be OK.

“He just had this amazing presence. You knew he was in your corner, and he gave you a different and calming perspective.”

Stofflet, who was the pitching coach for eight seasons at Northampton, passed away in Allentown January 23 at the age of 79.

A Coplay native and Whitehall High graduate, Stofflet was recognized as one of the best softball pitchers in the world. He was an inductee into the American Softball Association, the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame, and the Lehigh Valley Softball Hall of Fame.

Stofflet, who also served as head softball coach at Freedom High School, also was recognized for his local prowess in men’s leagues by drawing standing room only crowds at Allentown’s Patriot’s Park. He also was prominent with the Reading Sunners men’s team.

His talents gained him national and international fame, but he left an indelible mark in the Lehigh Valley.

“He taught me a change-up, which was my knuckleball,” added Madea. “He showed me how to work it and it became my go-to pitch. He was just a wealth of knowledge with pitching.

“He had confidence in us. It was more mental with pitching, and that was the most important factor.”

Debbie Anthony, who was the head coach at the time, realized her program raised itself to a new level with him.

“(Former head coach and the late) Jin Kinter had him (Stofflet) work without pitchers and out on a demonstration,” noted Anthony. “Once you know (Ty), you knew him forever. I wanted him to work with us.

“It was sad to hear of his passing, and really how young he was. He always was in great shape and still had a lot to offer people. He was such a good, kind person and always even-keeled and a great teacher.”

Anthony also was touched by Stofflet’s personality.

“He would talk like Donald Duck and tell jokes to make us laugh,” she added. “He did things to break the stress and the monotone. He would throw batting practice and you never saw his change-up coming.

“Ty was the great teacher and he was not only good for Cortney, but also for everybody. He would go over and talk to the opposing pitcher after games to try and help her get better.

“He was just that type of guy.”

Anthony saw Stofflet’s benefit as a mentor to Madea.

“One of the reasons he joined us was because of Cortney,” she said. “She was just so good, but she would take it upon herself. I know Ty would know how to deal with those things.

“Ty had the calming presence and made her an even better pitcher.”

Former Catasauqua head coach Bobby Thomas, who has played in men’s softball leagues over the years, felt humbled by Stofflet’s presence.

“It was a great privilege to face him even toward the end of his career,” said Thomas. “I was 19 or 20 and even then he was overpowering with speed, movement, and a great change-up.

“People don’t talk much about him offensively, but he was a very good hitter. I believe people in the league respected him greatly, and he was well liked. My limited at bats against him were not very productive, but I appreciated the opportunity to have at bats against possibly the greatest softball pitcher who ever played the game.”