Passing of Tim Hunt – Services this Saturday

We are saddened to report that Tim Hunt, longtime So Cal fastball player was killed in an ATV accident on Saturday night, April 26, 2014. News story here. Tim was 39.

Tim is a former member of Team USA, and played at the ISC level for many years, for teams including Team Rainey and Portland, and was widely known, respected and liked by teammates and opposing teams alike.

Funeral Service will be (this) Saturday, May 3, 2014:

Norco Family Funeral
2645 Hamner Ave
Norco Ca 92860

(Flowers may be sent there)

PDFs from Memorial Service:

Memorial.Service.Tim.Hunt.May.3.2014
In.Memory.of.Tim.Hunt.baseball.card.May.3.2014

Below is a clip of Tim hitting a home run (@ the 2:15 mark) at the Best of the West tournament in Santa Barbara in 2011, which shows the type of hitter Tim was …patient and professional. A former pro baseballer, Tim was a hitter in the style of a Todd Budke or Fred Hanker. He was the kind of hitter that pitchers respected. Even those times when you were lucky enough to get him out, before he was back in the dugout, he’d be making a mental note of how he’d get you next time. A fierce competitor, he carried himself with dignity and class, two reasons that he had so many friends in the game. He crosses the plate in this clip like he’d been there before — because he had, many times.

Editor’s note: I had a chance to watch Tim play over the past decade, starting with his days with Team Rainey in 2003, when they were the up-and-coming ISC team from Southern California. They became “our” team, and Tim and his brother Chris were among the stand-outs that we rooted for. When USA Softball announced that Tim and Chris had made the National team, we enjoyed his accomplishment and pride. No surprise that Tim listed his parents as the people he admired most. His dad Bob was a fixture at fastpitch games, who always a good word or something kind to say, a trait that he passed on to his boys. The respect and true friendship that Tim had with so many people is written up and down his Facebook page, where people have shared their memories of him, and condolences to the family. We will miss you Tim.

Tim’s bio from the USA Softball site:

2007
Finished second at the World Cup of Softball with the USA Softball Men’s
National Team – Batted .222 with four hits, an RBI and a stolen base
One of five rookies on the USA Softball Men’s National Team roster

2006
Played with Team Rainey at the ISC World Tournament
Played Minor League Baseball from 2000-2004
Played baseball at Briarcliff University in Iowa from 1998-2000
Played baseball at Fullerton Junior College from 1996-98

• Favorite Food – Steak
• Favorite TV show – Sopranos
• Favorite Professional Team – San Diego Padres
• Who do you admire the most – Parents
• Dream Job- Playing Pro Baseball
• Good Luck Charms – Whatever Works
• Favorite Olympic Sport (besides softball) – Curling
• Hobbies – Fishing and golf
• Born on August 4, 1974 in Anaheim, CA

Tim Hunt is not only a new face to the USA Softball Men’s National Team but also to the sport of men’s fast pitch softball. Hunt played collegiate baseball until 2000 when he transitioned into professional baseball. He spent four years playing in the minor leagues before giving up his dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Even though his baseball career came to an end, his desire to compete and play at a high level still existed. That’s when he found the sport of fast pitch softball and has quickly moved up the ranks and into the USA Softball Men’s National Team program. His brother Chris was also selected for the 2007 USA Men’s National Team but had to withdraw after he suffered a broken hand.

Readers are invited to post notes of their memories of Tim below.

Below is a bat that was specially made by the Briar Cliff University in Sioux City IA, where Tim played college baseball. Said his coach, Boyd Pitkin,
“Tim was the type of individual who always kept you upbeat. It was a privilege to have him in our program and it was a privilege to have him as a friend.”

Click here to read an article from the Sioux City Journal about Tim’s passing.