Category: 1948

1948 NSC Women’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1948 held at Phoenix, Arizona.

Champion – Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana
Runner Up – A-1 Queens, Phoenix, Arizona

Queens beat Jax 2-1 in the winners bracket final to put them in the losers bracket. Then the Jax eliminated Phoenix Holsum Maids 6-1 on the pitching of Nina Korgan.

Once in the finals, Lottie Jackson took it over from there as she beat the best Phoenix had to offer. The first final was a 5-1 win over Carolyn Morris. Olympia Savona drove in 2 runs with a double and later scored. In the final championship, Jackson bested Charlotte Armstrong in a 2-1 9 inning game. Freda Savona scored Nina Korgan with a triple in the top of 9th and then scored on an error.

Phoenix made it interesting in the bottom of the 9th when Nonie Thomas drove in a run to make it 2-1, but Lottie Jackson had enough left to finish out the championship game win. Jackson was voted the Outstanding Pitcher award as she was 3-1 in the 4 games she pitched for a total of 30 innings, had 28 Ks, gave up 11 hits and only 4 runs. She also hurled a no hitter.

Her teammate Nina Korgan was 3-0 with a shutout. Jackson was equally devastating at the plate as she was 8-21 (.391 average), with 5 of her hits being extra base hits (2 doubles, a triple and 2 Home Runs).

Freda Savona led the Jax offense going 9-22 (.409) with 2 triples.

For the A-1 Queens, Charlotte Armstrong and Carolyn Morris were both 2-1. Armstrong hurled a no-hitter and had 20 Ks in 24 IP. Morris had 24 Ks in 21 IP and tossed a shutout.

In the Consolation Bracket, the Downtown Sooner Queens went 3-0 behind the pitching of Alma Wilson to reach the final to face the Holsum Maids and pitcher Marge Lang. The game was called in the 3rd inning due to incoming bad weather so the Finals could be completed.  The score was tied 0-0. So the Sooner Queens and the Holsum Maids were consolation bracket co-champs.

  • MVP Award – Dodie Nelson, A-1 Queens (12-21, .571)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Lottie Jackson, Jax Maids (3-1, including both final games, 30 IP, 28 K, no hitter; 8-21, .381, 2 HR at bat)
  • Leading Hitter – Alma Wilson, Sooner Queens (9-12) – .750
  • Miss Softball Award – Lois Williams, A-1 Queens (Catcher, caught every inning of the A-1 Queens 6 games)

1948 NSC ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Charlotte Armstrong, Phoenix A-1 Queens (2-1)
P – Lottie Jackson, Jax Brewer Maids (3-1)
P – Nina Korgan, Jax Brewer Maids (3-0)
C – Lois Williams, Phoenix A-1 Queens
C – Olympia Savona, Jax Brewer Maids
1B – Flossie Ballard, Holsum Bakery Maids
2B – Hazel Gill, Jax Brewer Maids
3B – Ricki Caito, Phoenix A-1 Queens
SS – Freda Savona, Jax Brewer Maids
OF – Sis King, Holsum Bakery Maids
OF – Dottie Myers, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens
OF – Dodie Nelson, Phoenix A-1 Queens
OF – Alma Wilson, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens (4-2 Pitching)
UTIL – Kay Rohrer, Phoenix A-1 Queens

CONSOLATION TEAM

P – Marge Lang, Holsum Bakery Maids (3-2)
P – Marge Wood, Erin Brews (3-3)
P – Jerry Fiorello, Takoma Decorators (3-3)
P – Corolyn Morris, Phoenix A-1 Queens (2-1)
P – Bertha Dunn, Lorelei Ladies (3-2)
1B – Mary Pembo, Jax Brewer Maids
2B – Louise Curtis, Holsum Bakery Maids
3B – Meinecke, Jax Brewer Maids
3B – Chris Christopher, Takoma Decorators
SS – Naomi Henderson, Chevy Sooner Queens
CF – Irma Black, Takoma Decorators

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, LA (6-1)
2. Phoenix A-1 Queens, Phoenix, AZ (4-2)
3. Phoenix Holsum Bakery Maids, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (4-2-1 overall)
4. Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (3-2)
5t. Takoma Decorators, Washington DC (3-2) (3-3 overall)
5t. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (3-2) (3-3 overall)
7t. Teagues Used Cars, Fort Worth, TX (1-2)
7t. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (2-2) * (5-2-1 overall)
9t. Stamford Nutmeg’s, Stamford, CT 0-2 (0-3 overall)
9t. Seattle Skylarks, Seattle, WA (1-2) *
9t. Knight Insurance Company, Roxboro, NC (1-2) *
9t. Sal’s, West Allis, WI (1-2)
13t. Burbank Merchants, Burbank, CA (0-2)
13t. Del’s Sports, Syracuse, NY (0-2) forfeited second game
13t. Kansas City All Stars, Kansas City, MO (0-2) forfeited both games

* includes 1 forfeit win

CONSOLATION BRACKET

1. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (3-0-1) *
1. Holsum Maids, Phoenix, AZ (0-0-1)
3. Takoma Decorators, Washington DC (0-1)
4. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (0-1)
5. Stamford Nutmeg’s, Stamford, CT (0-1)

* Consolation final halted after 3 innings with score tied at 0-0.

1948 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1948 held at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Champion – Merchants, Taft, California
Runner Up – Clark Smith Autos, Phoenix, Arizona

Kenny Law struck out 27 batters in a 15-inning game. Wes Priest (Merchants) struck out 19 in a 7-inning game. Les Haney (Merchants) threw a no-hitter against Acme Glass.

Kenny Law and Don Westfall combined to do the same vs Cochituate Motors. In that game, Law went 4 innings & had one baserunner on his own error. Westfall also had a baserunner through an error in the 6th inning. But in the 7th with 2 outs, Westfall intentionally walked the next batter so that 15 year-old Rollie Welchel (relief pitcher) could get a chance to bat. He grounded out.

Wheeler Realty who finished with a 2-2 record had 1-hit losses to both Kenny Law and Wes Priest. Clyde Woods (Anderson Sporting Goods) also threw a 1-hitter against Greeley but lost, 1-0!

Goody Rosen of Levy Auto Parts (ex-Brooklyn Dodger) had 4 hits in one game and two triples in the same game.

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Kenny Law, Clark Smith Autos
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – Les Haney, Merchants
  • Leading Hitter – Delmar Wade, Anderson Sporting
  • Most RBI – N/A

1948 ALL WORLD TEAM

IF – Johnny Burkhart, Merchants
IF – Bob Adams, Clark Smith Autos
IF – Delmar Wade, Anderson Sporting Goods
IF – Norb Burkhardt, Acme Glass
OF – Roy Butler, Bluebonnet Laundry
OF – Lefty Bevington, Clark Smith Autos
OF – Goody Rosen, Levy Auto Parts
OF – Herman Hoff, Wheeler Realty
UTIL – Vance Adams, Clark Smith Autos
UTIL – Charles Morris, Merchants
C – Willis James, Bluebonnet Laundry
P – Les Haney, Merchants (2-0)
P – Kenny Law, Clark Smith Autos (5-2, 86K)
P – Pat Peeples, Merchants (2-0)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Merchants, Taft, CA
2. Clark Smith Autos, Phoenix, AZ
3. Bluebonnet Laundry, Lubbock, TX
4. Wheeler Realty, Greeley, CO
5t. Levy Auto Parts, Toronto, ON
5t. Anderson Sporting Goods, Oklahoma City, OK
7t. Cochituate Motors, Natick, MA
7t. Acme Glass, Cincinnati, OH
9t. Drugstore Cowboys, Pawhuska, OK
9t. All-Stars, Elmira, NY
9t. Grever Truck Lines, Tulsa, OK
9t. Scott’s Market, Oklahoma City, OK

1948 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1948 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Erv Lind Florists, Portland, Oregon

Amy Peralta May came through big time in the finals as the Ramblers came from the losers bracket and had to defeat the Florists twice. Peralta twirled two straight shutouts, winning 2-0 and 3-0, defeating a tough and confident Portland squad who had just rolled over four good teams with Bullet Betty Evans on the mound. Margie Law went 1-0 and won the other game for the Ramblers. Peralta led Arizona to 85 wins this season as she pitched 55 of them. Virginia Dobson of the Ramblers had 3 hits in the final game. Margie Law and Amy Peralta had an RBI each.

Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy went 4-2, 3 shutouts, perfect game, 42 IP, 51 K, lost both final games to Amy Peralta. Evans defeated Peoria and Marie Wadlow 1-0 in a pitcher’s dual.

Ginny Busik, Fresno Rockets went 3-2, with shutouts.

Marie Wadlow, Caterpillar Dieselettes, went 2-2, 28 IP, 42 K, a shutout and only gave up 4 runs and 10 hits.

Ann Kmezich, Walker-Shay Realty went 3-2 pitching with 2 Triples and 2 RBI.

A young lady playing with Monrovia Day and Night Company Owls named Bertha Ragan-Tickey made her first all-America team as an outfielder. Louise Davis was 2-0 for the Monrovia squad, but when they put Bertha in to pitch, It was the start of something amazing that would last almost 30 years. She pitched 4 games for the Owls’ went 2-2 and struck out 37 batters in the 27 innings she pitched, She also had 2 shutouts and only gave up 4 runs and 10 hits in the 4 games she pitched. She beat Peoria and Marie Wadlow 2-0 to eliminate the Dieselette squad.

Amy Peralta-May of Arizona Ramblers went 5-1, 3 shutouts, gave up 6 runs in 6 games, 20 K, 48 IP. She also batted 7-23, .304, triple and 5 RBI batting and would have won the MVP.

Margaret Dobson of Lind & Pomeroy went 8-22, .364, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 hits in the final.

Joan Wallace of Raybestos Brakettes went 2-6, .333, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Helen Yakabusin of Raybestos Brakettes had 1 HR and 1 RBI.

Imogine Pipes of Walker Shay Realtors went 6-18, .333, with an RBI.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – Margaret Dobson, Lind & Pomeroy – 1
  • HR Leader – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers – 1
  • HR Leader – Joan Wallace, Raybestos Brakettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Helen Yakabusin, Raybestos Brakettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Imogine Pipes, Walker Shay Realtors – 1
  • Batting Leader – Mary Rider, Fresno Rockets – .429

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Amy Peralta, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers (3B, HR, and 5 RBI)
1B – Peggy Friends, Walker-Shay Realtors
2B – Jerry Burroughs, Lind & Pomeroy
3B – Jean Hull, Day and Night Company Owls
SS – Chris Meyer, Lind & Pomeroy
OF – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers
OF – Mary Rider, Betsy Ross Rockets (6-14, 3 RBI)
OF – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Day & Night Company Owls
UTIL – Jessie Glassock, Phoenix Ramblers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (6-1) (Awarded Defending Champ Spot)
2. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (4-2) (Host)
3. Day & Night Company Owls, Monrovia, CA (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
4. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast
5t. Walker-Shay Realtors, Des Moines, IA (3-2) (Western)
5t. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (2-2) (West Central)
7t. Nehi Beverage Orphans, Dayton, OH (1-2) (East Central)
7t. Statesman Newsettes, Boise, ID (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Cardinalettes, Pottstown, PA (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Russer Girls, Rochester, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Southern Chevrolet, Alexandria LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

NOTES

Jax Maids, New Orleans, LA – Defending Champs – Chose not to defend, played National Softball Congress instead. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Raglan Ramblers, Nashville, TN (withdrew – could not attend). Sinny Lees, Toronto, Ontario (withdrew – could not attend).

1948 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1948 held in Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan (41-1)
Runner Up – Standard Parts, Memphis, Tennessee

Clarence Miller shutout Briggs Beautyware 2-0 to force the final championship game, which Briggs won 1-0. He only surrendered 8 runs (7 of which came in the very first game). Miller threw 3 consecutive no-hitters in the Regional Tournament that Standard Parts won to gain the national berth. One was an 8-inning perfect game. He had 78 K in the 34 innings he pitched in the Regionals going 5-0. Combining the Nationals, he was 10-2 with 179 K in 93 IP.

Briggs had a trio of hurlers, Gil Weslowski started things off with a no hitter on the first day of play. He finished 2-1, with 35 K in 21 IP. Roger Maceroni was 1-0 with a shutout and a couple of relief appearances. He totaled 12 IP with 13 K. Ed Purroll pitched two games in relief and won both. He was 2-0 with 11 K in 7 IP. After Buck Miller had blanked Detroit 2-0 in the first final, he lost a heartbreaker in the final championship game. Miller had 19 perfect innings until Walt Butkowski doubled in Jerry Zarick with the winning run in a 1-0 finale. Buck Miller got one of the 2 hits that Standard Parts had in the game. The Detroit staff hurled 40 innings and struck out 59 batters. They also had the highest team batting average of any team (.225). Jerry Zarick led the Briggs squad with a .400 average (8-20, including 3 doubles and 4 RBI). Ed “Tyranski” Tyson batted .391 (9-23). Incidently, it was Roger Maceroni who hurled the final game for Detroit. He pitched a 1-0, two-hit shutout and struck out 10.

Grumman from Long Island, NY came into this tournament as the favorite with two of the best pitchers in the country, Roy Stephenson and Jim Chambers. But things didn’t go their way. The pitchers split many of their games. Stephenson (2-0, pitching in all 4 games, he totaled 21 IP, including a no 7-0 hitter with 19 K, and had 45 K total and gave up just 3 total hits and 3 runs), Chambers pitched in 3 games, totaling 22 IP, with 34 K, he only surrendered 4 hits and 4 runs, but was 0-2). Stephenson did however, hit a home Run for the Grumman Yankees.

Al Young, White Front Caseys of Springfield (3-0 pitching with 23 K in 21 IP, leading the Missouri team to a 4th place finish)

  • MVP – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts
  • Batting Leader – Ray Stewart, Chiksan Club – .417
  • HR Leader – Roy Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware – 2
  • HR Leader – Ashley ‘Monk’ Joyner, Memphis Standard Parts – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts (5-2, 101 Ks in 59 IP – 5 consecutive shutouts-52 consecutive scoreless innings, including a no-hitter)
P – Roy Stephenson, Grumman Aircraft
P – Al Young, Casey’s
P – Roger Maceroni, Briggs Beautyware
C – Ray Stewart, Chicken Company (5-12, 1 RBI)
1B – Jerry Zarick, Briggs Beautyware
2B – Larry Savage, Casey’s
3B – Homer Durden, Grand Prize Beer
SS – Eddie “Tyranski” Tyson, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Roy Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware (6-20, .300, 6 RBI, grand slam, 2 triples)
OF – Ashley “Monk” Joyner, Standard Parts (9 RBI)
OF – Bob Moers, Grand Prize Beer

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (5-1) (East Central)
2. Standard Parts, Memphis, TN 6-2 (Southern)
3. Grand Prize Brewery, Houston, TX (3-2) (Southwestern)
4. White Front Caseys, Springfield, MO (4-2) (Western)
5t. Chiksan Club, Brea, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Friberg Electric, Portland, OR (2-2) (Host)
7t. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Caribbean Dairy, San Juan, Puerto Rico (1-2) (Atlantic Ocean)
9t. Smithway Rippers, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Turner’s, Inc., Lafayette, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Stockton Eagles, Stockton, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Draper Dodgers, Marion, IN (1-2) (West Central)
13t. 20th Century Signs, Bismark, ND (0-2) (Northern)
13t. Vancouver Firemen, Vancouver, BC (0-2) (Canada)
13t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

*  Won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

Thrifty Beverage, Washington DC (Central Atlantic) did not show up. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN – Defending Champ – chose not to defend their title, they played in the National Softball League. 20th Century Signs, Bismarck, ND went in place of Manchester Biscuits, Fargo, ND, who could not attend. Thrifty Beverage, Washington DC (withdrew, could not attend). Mexico did not send a team to Nationals.