Men’s fastball greats in the women’s collegiate coaching ranks

Editor’s note: My favorite Facebook post of the day, from former USA team member Thomas Crouch of DeKalb, Illinois:

Do you think the ladies commentating the Oregon vs NC St game have any idea that the two coaches are arguably one of the best 4-5 pitchers in history and the best American hitter ever in men’s fast pitch?

He’s referring of course, to Oregon’s head coach, pitcher Michael White, and North Carolina State’s hitting great Shawn Rychcik.

Travis Wilson is another that comes to mind. (Add other men’s players in comments below)

Update: Greg Hicks reminded me of Team USA’s Blake Miller at Virginia.

Former Long Beach Nitehawk great (and teammate of mine) Steve Miner was an assistant at San Diego State until this year when he return to a head coaching spot at a local San Diego area high school. Miner was among the pioneers of the “slap hitting” technique that is seen nowadays more in the women’s game than the men’s.

The post underscores the growing number of men’s fastballers coaching women’s fastpitch teams in the collegiate ranks.

The post also touched off the inevitable “who was the greatest” discussion, which brought plenty of commentary, shared here in case you readers can’t view directly.
Thomas Crouch

Do you think the ladies commentating the Oregon vs NC St game have any idea that the two coaches are arguably one of the best 4-5 pitchers in history and the best American hitter ever in men’s fast pitch?

Jon Selchert I guarantee they have not a clue.

Jennifer Vachon They knowwww


John Reed yes they just talked about it


Jon Selchert They might know that they played, but not their level of skill.


Derek Mayson White and ?


Thomas Crouch Rycheck (sp?)…. Hear he was one of the best.


Derek Mayson Cool. Did u see that 1992 ISC final vid I posted?


Brad Johnson He was the best left handed American born hitter of my era

Thomas Crouch Derek Mayson yes…very cool.


Lane Bender Yep Rychick was a stud. I believe he and Whitey were teammates with All Car when they finished 2nd at the ISC in 96(?). Won the first game lost their 2nd then won like 11 straight


Brad Johnson Also teammates in 2001 when Decatur won the ISC!!


Thomas Crouch Brad Johnson do you know who win the 2006 ASA bc I can’t remember.


Ron Brinkman From an umpire who had the opportunity many times, I have to agree. Shawn was the best American born hitter I ever worked for and Mike White was the Worlds best pitcher, of his time, I ever umpired for. Wish everyone would have had the chance to see both at their best.


Kris Kiefel replied • 2 Replies
Chad Huebner Dog (Shawn Rychcik) WAS the best US born lefty hitter and probably the best US hitter of all time. Mike White, top 3 pitchers I have ever faced, watched. Simply crafty, a grinder, and brain brilliant in knowing how to pitch to hitters. These announc…See More


Chad Huebner Brad Johnson, I got ya a lil earlier. 1994 ISC Champs. All-Car Roadrunners with Dog. Beat the Gators. (seems
yesterday)


Thomas Crouch I’m still trying to figure out who won the 2006 ASA and who got eh GWRBI in that game?


Brad Johnson Might have been circle tap, not sure who got the game winning RBI as I was in the other dugout that game. Pretty sure someone had 18 hits that tournament to set the ASA hitting record, can’t remember who that was though!!!


Chad Huebner Men who love mens fastpitch softball…..are cool! Prove me wrong. Dare ya!


Thomas Crouch Haha…….you were on fire.


Adam Perkins Tom Couch? http://m.teamusa.org/…/ASA-National…/ASA-Prior-Championss
m.teamusa.org


Thomas Crouch See….I couldn’t remember but now that u mentioned it I guess I did have the GWRBI in that national final. Hey—-yOOOOO!


Eric Legge bold statement Chad- Hicks, Rothrock, Day, Carl Walker, no way I would say that


Thomas Crouch Chad Chad Huebner….do u know if Rychick ever batted 1.0000 off Folkard for the year? Just checking.


Zack Lach I honestly think they know but dont want to acknowledge it


Chad Huebner Bold, yes. But just an (my) opinion. I hope I didn’t offend anyone on (FB) Fragilebook….I mean Facebook wink emoticon


Bob Otto Every era has its own class of “best ever.” Out west in California, Hice Stiles, ISC Hall of Famer (2001), and a star with the Lakewood Jets and Long Beach Nitehawks in the fabled Western Softball Congress could certainly be included with Shawn Rychcik, also an ISC Hall of Famer (2012) and one of the best players I ever saw play. A story I wrote about Stiles (one of the most gracious and humble players I’ve ever met). http://www.iscfastpitch.com/index.php?page=38
Hice Stiles
He Plays With Style By Bob Otto/Yucaipa, CA If not for the tugging of an older brother, Hice Stiles and fastpitch…