By Joe Barnhart
A devoted fastpitch player and booster, Lee Isenhart was a co-founder and longtime president of the Midland Explorers, and was the ISC commissioner for Michigan.
A devoted fastpitch player and booster, Lee Isenhart was a co-founder and longtime president of the Midland Explorers, and was the ISC commissioner for Michigan.
To those who knew him best, the late Leland “Lee” Isenhart was an unselfish man who loved fastpitch softball and worked tirelessly to grow the game in Midland.
With his upcoming induction into the Midland County Sports Hall of Fame in a May 13 ceremony at Dow Diamond, the humble man who spent his life dedicated to helping others will be honored in a way he never would have asked for, but certainly deserved.
“I think everyone in the softball community around town thinks this is well-deserved,” said Eric Isenhart, one of five children of Lee and the late Mary Jane Isenhart, who were married for 58 years. “My dad did a lot getting fastpitch softball here. He and Lefty (Bartos) did so much for the game to keep it alive in Midland.”
Lee was a co-founder, in 1986, and longtime president of the Midland Explorers men’s fastpitch team, and was also the International Softball Congress commissioner for Michigan for 20 years, spreading the game across the state and helping to bring teams and tournaments to Midland.
“He helped to run ISC qualifying tournaments, so there was always one in Michigan, so that teams could (have the chance to) go to the national tournament,” said Midland Explorers Booster Club president Kyle Beane, who played for the Explorers for many years. “He was a go-between for Michigan and the ISC. He always wanted other teams to challenge themselves and go to that tournament.”
While he was a player for many fastpitch teams over the years, Lee was best known as an ambassador for the sport, displaying his passion to everyone he met.