Editor's note The "Game Changer" story below was posted during the ISC World Tournament in August, and is bumped back up for those who may have been at the tournament in Quad Cities or elsewhere and missed it. As mentioned in today's post about the release of Bob Otto's new book, "We Play it Fast", we are honored to have the "Game Changer" feature story about Dave … [Read more...]
Passing of Jake “The Stat Man” Andreas (Memorial Service this Saturday)
Updated with obituary and memorial service information: A Celebration of Jack's life will be held at Affordable Funeral Care (AFC),500 West Prospect Way, Moxee, WA 98936, Tel: 509-457-1232 on September 24, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Editor's note: The address posted in the obituary says Prospect Place, but that will not yield the location on a map. Use 500 West … [Read more...]
US tour pays off for Nick Shailes
Cap tip Dave Blackburn Nick Shailes is one of the best men's softballers in the world but for him to stay at the top involves sacrifices. The 26-year-old Easts Redbirds second baseman has just returned from the International Softball Congress series in the United States where his Jarvis Travellers team won the championship for the second year in a row. It is about as … [Read more...]
The Farm Tavern’s Rod Peterson, he’s a good farmer (Otto in Focus)
Editor's note: Don't miss this feature story by Bob Otto. Bobby says: Today is Rod Peterson's birthday (an age he adamantly refused to divulge, actually fibbed about), so I gave him a call and we talked fastpitch about the good old days of his Farm Tavern team. From Bob Otto/Otto in Focus MADISON, WI - Rod Peterson sponsored and managed the Farm Tavern men’s … [Read more...]
Bench Talk / Off The Wire (Fred Wallace)
Editor's note: Some good stories from the Sr. Canadians, shared by Fred Walllace of Bayshore Broadcasting, in the context of athletes as role models for youngsters. If you listened to the Ballpark Radio broadcasts of the Sr. Canadians last week, that booming voice you heard over the PA system was Fred's. A great supporter of men's fastball. I especially liked the idea of … [Read more...]
Put keys on home plate and turn out the lights
By Claude McIntosh, The Standard Freeholder The final program was sold. The uniforms were packed away for the final time. And the keys to the van were placed on home plate before the stadium lights were turned off. The King and His Court, the world's greatest barnstorming softball team, played its final game Saturday night where it all started 65 years ago . . . in Walla … [Read more...]
Lanny Rupp – 2011 ISC Hall of Fame inductee
By Bob Otto, Otto in Focus LONG BEACH, CA – In the 1970s and '80s, great players, great teams and great managers abounded in southern California’s Western Softball Congress. But when it came to recruiting, no one was as great as the late Lanny Rupp. Rupp was the general manager and manager of the Lakewood Jets. If Rupp wanted to sign a top-caliber player, he went after … [Read more...]