1956 held at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Florida on September 3-8.
Champion – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California
Runner Up – Nutrilite Lynx, Buena Park, California
The Orange Lionettes won the championship for the second consecutive year and 5th time overall as they defeated the Buena Park Lynx 1-0 in the Championship game. Teddy Hamilton hurled a perfect game for the Lionettes, striking out 3 batters. She and Nonie Hoehn split the pitching duties for the Orange as former Lionette, Bertha Ragan left after year to join the Raybestos Brakettes. The Lionettes ended the tournament unbeaten and it ended just like it started for them, with a no-hitter. Nonnie Hoehn opened up the tournament hurling a no-hitter for the Lionettess’ first win. In the final game, Thelma Eisen smacked a base hit and then was sacrificed to second by Ricki Caito. Snookie Doyle then doubled home Eisen with the run that would prove to be the only one of the game for either team. Losing pitcher, Pat Snellings of the Lynx gave up only 5 hits in the game, two by Eisen. Eloise Bielefeld tossed a 3-0, 2-hit shutout for the Lynx over the Kansas City Dons in the semifinal to propel the Lynx into the title game. The Hamilton-Hoehn pitching combo for the Orange hurled 5 shutouts in the 6 games, surrendering only 1 unearned run.
Nonie Hoehn, Orange Lionettes (3-0, 3 shutouts, perfect game, 4 hits, 0 Runs).
Teddy Hamilton, Orange Lionettes (3-0, 2 shutouts, perfect game, 3 hits, 1 unearned run) Pitched a 1-0 perfect game in finals to beat Lynx.
Buena Park Lynx Pitchers – Pat Snellings (4-1) and Eloise Bielefeld (2-1) – combined for 5 shutouts and surrendered only 5 runs in 8 games.
Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Raybestos Brakettes was 4-2 pitching, pitched every inning for the Brakettes, 66 IP, 53 K, no hitter, eliminated by Buena Park 1-0 in 17 innings pitched.
Inez “Chick” Long of Lancaster IBEW Girls was 6 for 10.
- MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Raybestos Brakettes
- HR Leader – Pat Snellings, Buena Park Lynx – 1
- Batting Leader – Inez “Chick” Long, Lancaster IBEW Girls – .600
- Sportsmanship Award – Margie Law, PSBW Ramblers
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Nonie Hoehn, Orange Lionettes
P – Pat Snellings, Buena Park Lynx (4-1 pitching, 1-13, .076, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 Run)
P – Marion Fox, Toronto Dawes Furs
C – Joy Collict, Toronto Dawes Furs
1B – Robbie Mulkey, Orange Lionettes
2B – Estelle (Ricki) Caito, Orange Lionettes
3B – Carol Spanks, Buena Park Lynx
SS – Snookie Doyle, Orange Lionettes
OF – Jerry Summers, CIO Dons
OF – Hap Beryl-Piper, Erv Lind Florist
OF – Annabelle Lockabey, Orange Lionettes
UTIL – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets
HONORABLE MENTION
P – Eunice Futch, Bardin Rockets
P – Teddie Hamilton, Orange Lionettes
C – Dot Wilkinson, PSBW Ramblers
C – Pat Rock, CIO Dons
C – Mickie Machetti, Raybestos Brakettes
1B – Zada Bole, PSBW Ramblers
1B – Glorida May, Fresno Rockets
2B – Muri McKenzie, R.H. Hall Girls
2B – Terri Urrutia, Buena Park Lynx
3B – Jeanne Contel, Fresno Rockets
3B – Bobbie Jordan, Orange Lionettes
3B – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florist
SS – Beverly Cox, Erv Lind Florist
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets
SS – Kathy Bielefeld, Buena Park Lynx
SS – Hazel Gill, Water Maids
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (6-0) (Defending Champs)
2. Nutrilite Lynx, Buena Park, CA (6-2) (South Pacific Coast)
3. CIO Dons, Kansas City, MO (3-2) (Western)
4. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (4-2) (North Atlantic)
5t. Garten’s Furniture, Toronto, ON (2-2) (East Canada)
5t. Erv Lind Florist, Portland, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. IBEW Girls, Lancaster, PA (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
7t. Hacienda Rockets, Fresno, CA (2-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. PSBW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (1-2) (Cactus)
9t. Water Maids, New Orleans, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Construction Hornets, Forth Worth, TX (1-2) (Texas)
9t. RH Hall Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (1-2) (Host)
13t. Bardin Rockets, Ashboro, NC (1-2) (Southern)
13t. Anchor Fence Anchorettes, Indianapolis, IN (0-2) (West Central)
13t. Pandoras, New York City, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. NW Phantoms, Toledo, OH (0-2) (East Central)
17. El-Car Fences, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
NOTES
Northern Champ – Dave’s Comets, Minneapolis, MN (could not attend). South Atlantic Champ – Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (could not attend).
1956 Raybestos Brakettes. L-R, top row- unidentified, Kathy Ries, Marie “Jo-Jo” Ottaviano, Joan Kammeyer, Mary and Madeline Hartman (behind trophy presentation), Bev Mulonet, unidentified, Brenda Reilly, Joan Wallace, Bertha Ragan, Joan Joyce, Micki Macchietto, John E. Lindquist, Connecticut ASA Commissioner. At trophy presentation- Manager Bernie Kaplan, unidentified, William S. Simpson, General Manager Raybestos Division. Bottom row- Joyce Keatley, Ann DeLuca, Ann Gregorini, Edna Fraser
