In 1962, AL DEWALL was pitching for St. Paul Whitaker Buick at the age of 22. Photo Courtesy / Jeff Collins
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL – In 1984, men’s fastpitch was still robust and thriving in the Twin Cities, featuring several of Minnesota’s top teams and ‘players to watch’ as featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Bud Olson, left, was inducted into the NAFA Hall of Fame in 2014 and was presented by NAFA Vice President Mike Watson (2015 NAFA Hall of Famer). Photo By BOB OTTO
LA CROSSE, Wisc. – Most managers are quick to down play their contribution when their team has a winning season.
They usually spin it like, “I was fortunate to have great players,” or “we played well together,” or “we had good leadership on the field,” or “everybody knew their job and went out and did it.”
You get the point. Taking credit for winning is not in most manager’s character. And that includes Bud Olson of La Crosse Animal House, who was selected Wisconsin NAFA 2016 Manager of The Year.
“Over the years, I’ve learned managing is easier when you get runs and your pitcher shuts them down,” said Olson, 72. “It takes good players and I’ve been very fortunate to have players that have stayed around a long time.”
Click to continue reading “Bud Olson, Wisconsin NAFA Manager of The Year”
BOB MOORE pitching in the 1991 ASA Masters National Tournament in Las Vegas for Bank of Melrose of Wisconsin. Photo By BOB OTTO
By BOB LAMB / Sports Writer
La Crosse Tribune
July 22, 1974
“Moore (40-9) is always tough and it’s hard to get runs if you don’t get any hits.” – Keg Bar Manager Gary Betz
LA CROSSE, Wisc. – Question: How do you describe Bob Moore?
Answer: He’s the veteran ironman left-hander who throws no-hitters at his opponents.
Moore, a school teacher at Eau Claire North high school, pitched Eau Claire’s She-Nanigan’s to a 3-0 victory over the Keg Bar of La Crosse in the championship of the (1972) ninth annual La Crosse Invitational fastpitch softball tournament at Carroll Park last night.
And Moore was superb once again, tossing his second no-hitter in two weeks while facing the minimum number of Keg batters.
Moore lost his bid for a perfect game in the sixth inning when Keg left fielder Paul Dunham drew a walk on a three-two count.
A double play erased the mild threat, however.
Moore drew praise from both his manager Bill Roulette and from Keg field boss Gary Betz.
“Bob does everything,” said Roulette, whose club improved to 50-17. “He hits, pitches and does everything except drive the bus…and sometimes he does that.”
PETER MEREDITH pitching for the USA Men’s National Team. Photo By BOB OTTO
Green Bay Press-Gazette
Aug. 23, 1981
SAGINAW, Mich. – The Farm Tavern of Madison lost to All-American Bar of St. Paul, Minn. 3-2 Saturday and was eliminated from the International Softball Congress (ISC) World Tournament.
The Farm was among the final six teams left in the 41-team tournament and finished with a 4-2 record. That equalled the best mark ever by a Wisconsin team.
(The Farm went on to win ISC World Tournament championships in 1997, 1999 and 2007.)
All-American Bar scored its three runs in the fifth.
Losing pitcher Peter Meredith walked Les Dittrich. He then gave up singles to Jim McDonald and Tim Egan before being replaced by left-hander Bob Moore.
TY STOFFLET pitched for several national championship teams, including 1979 York (Pa.) Barbells. Photo By BOB OTTO / 1991 ASA Masters National Championship
By Bob McGinn / Green Bay Press-Gazette
Aug. 14, 1979
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – The ISC World Tournament. The fastpitch softball faithful in the Fox Valley speak of it in almost reverential tones.
It conjures up images, always, of a week or two on the West Coast, in places like Sun City, Ariz., Long Beach, or even Bakersfield, Calif., where this summer’s version of the International Softball Congress’s national tournament is scheduled to begin Friday.
SANTEE, CA – If you’re a men’s fastpitch fan living in southern California, there’s not much in the way of top-flight tournaments to watch. Except the California Classic. It’s the only big-time tourney being offered south of Santa Barbara where Clyde Bennett hosts the Best of The West.
Now concluding its fourth consecutive year, the Classic offers good competition. This year the Sooke Loggers of British Columbia, CA stopped the California A’s from claiming its fourth consecutive title with a 9-6 victory on Sunday.
Some thought California was heavily favored. That the A’s – loaded with international stars – were a superior team. Especially with Argentine and ISC All-World pitcher Lucas Mata toeing the rubber.
Shortstop Kevin Schellenberg is one of several international stars who play for the California A’s. He’s been a member of Team Canada that finished fifth in the 2013 ISF World Championships.
Click to continue reading “Wrapping up the 2013 California Classic Men’s Fastpitch Tournament”
By RONN KOPP / Wisconsin Fastpitch
NAFA Vice President
RICE LAKE, WISC – Ronn Kopp, tournament director of the Rice Lake Invitational Aquafest Men’s Fastpitch Tournament, has 35 years of great memories of one of the longest running and most popular tournaments in Wisconsin and the Midwest.
Looking back, five memorable moments stand out, but one in particular is a classic:
Click to continue reading “Great Memories of the Rice Lake Invitational Men’s Fastpitch Tournament”