Category: ASA

1954 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1954 held at Orange, California.

Champion – Leach Motor Rockets, Fresno, California
Runner Up – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California

Carol Nelson shut out the Lionettes twice to win the title. She beat Bertha Ragan 1-0 on a 3 hitter in the Winner’s Bracket Finals and then after the Orange Lionettes squad survived a 14 inning battle with the Phoenix Ramblers, winning 4-0, Nelson once again got the better of Ragan and the Orange, defeating them 2-0 on a 2 hitter to win the championship for the Rockets. Bertha Ragan got one of the two hits Nelson surrendered This is the second straight year that Carol Nelson was pitched the final championship game for Fresno and won both of them by the identical score of 2-0.

The Lionettes had to defeat the Phoenix Ramblers in the semifinal game to get to the championship round. Bertha Ragan pitched a 14 inning shutout and won 4-0 with the Lionettes scoring 4 times in the top of the 14th off a tired Margie Law of Phoenix.

Lorene Ramsey, Kutis Funeral Home (3-1, 2 Shutouts)

Eloise Bielefeld, Buena Park Lynx (3-1, including a 16 inning no hitter)

Marge Grant, Cannerettes (.500, 6-12, 2 RBI, 2 Runs)

  • MVP – Kay Rich, Leach Motor Rockets
  • HR Leader – Dot Wilkinson, Ramblers – 1
  • Batting Leader – Marge Grant, Cannerettes – .500

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (5-2, 4 shutouts,  also 19 K in her 7 inning game perfect game)
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers (5-2, 56 IP, 65 K), she also pitched a perfect game and her ERA was 0.63.
P – Carol Nelson, Fresno Leach Rockets (6-0, 40 IP, 31 K, 0.35 ERA; 3 Shutouts, gave up only 2 runs – pitched a 2-0 shutout in the championship game)
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers (10-22, .455, 1, HR, 5 RBI, 10 Runs)
1B – Ruth Sears, Orange Lionettes
2B – Carolyn Brown, Buena Park Lynx
3B – Phyliss Drikow, Kutis Funeral Home
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Leach Rockets (6-19, .316, 2 RBI, 3 Runs) was 1-3 in the championship with an RBI single that gave the Rockets a 1-0 lead.
OF – Joanne Moore, Buena Park Lynx
OF – Yvonne Anderson, Fresno Leach Rockets
OF – Joann Kammeyer, Orange Lionettes
UTIL – Barbara Prather, Fresno Rockets

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Leach Motor Rockets, Fresno, CA (6-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (5-2) (Host)
3. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-2) (Cactus)
4. Nutrilite Lynx, Buena Park, CA (3-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Kutis Funeral Home, St. Louis, MO (3-2) (Western)
5t. Tandy Leatherettes, Fort Worth, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Cannerettes, Olympia, WA (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Crowhurst Motors, Vancouver, BC (2-2) (West Canada)
9t. Dabdoub Motors, New Orleans, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Marchant Calculators, Berkley, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. RH Hall Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (1-2) (Southern)
9t. G&W Construction, West Allis, WI (1-2) (West Central)
13t. Kalyx Cups, Toronto, ON (1-2) (East Canada)
13t. Victor’s Market, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Northern)
13t. Navy Skyraiders, San Diego, CA (0-2) (US Navy)
13t. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17t. Arians, Linden, NJ (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
17t. Bank of Denver, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)

NOTES

Central Atlantic Champ – Columbia Girls Club, Washington DC did not attend. East Central Champ – Advance Fireplace, Detroit, MI did not attend. Northwestern – Cannerettes, Olympia, WA went in place of Northwestern Champ – Portland Pennant Shop, OR, who could not attend. West Canada – Crowhurst Motors, Vancouver, BC went in place of West Canada Champ – Govins, Regina, SK, who could not attend.

1954 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1954 held at Parade One in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 18-23.

Champion – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida
Runner Up – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan

Clearwater’s Bombers, halted thrice at the very doorstep of the ASA World championship in the last six years, crashed the barrier for the second time as they gained revenge on defending champion Briggs Beautyware 4-0, before 6,100 fants on the magnificent one-hitter by southpaw-firing Johnny Hunter.

Bounced into the losers’ bracket when Hunter slammed the door shut on them with a ho-hitter, the Detroiters roared back by defeating State Farm Insurance of Bloomington, IL, 3-0, only to discover Hunter waiting for them again with the same diet of zero pitches in the finale.

The triumph was the fifth in a row without a loss for manager Eddie Moore’s Floridians and they won it like true championship since they twice KO’d Briggs Beautyware which had been aiming for its third consecutive title and fifth in ASA history.

En route to the championship, Clearwater defeated Naval Air Station 7-6, De Jur Amsco 1-0, Penridge Athletic Club, 3-2 and Briggs Beautyware by 1-0 and 4-0.

The Bombers previously won the ASA crown in 1950. In 1949 they dropped an 18-inning final to Tip Tailors of Toronto; in ’51 they lost a double final to Dow Athletic Club of Midland, Mich., with hunter sidelined by an arm injury, and last year Briggs Beautyware came out of the loser’s bracket to hand them a double defeat.

The Bombers was held in check for four innings before uncorking a four-run shower in the fifth against relievers Gerry Deerfield and Al Wierzbicki to bag the championship.

Until the fateful fifth the Bombers were handcuffed by Johnny Spring, hero of Brigg’s title march when he pitched three shutouts on the final day. Spring once against had sparked Briggs through the early rounds with some superb hurling and showed a 5-1 record going into the showdown game.

The umpire in chief for the tournament was George Dickstein who appointed Art Solz, Minneapolis umpire in chief, as the assistant umpire in chief.

  • MVP – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers
  • Batting Leader – Al Martin, Denver NAS (5-11) – .455
  • Home Run Leader – Tom Brown, Penridge AC (3-14, .215, 4 RBI) – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Nolan Whitlock, Clearwater Bombers – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Don Miles, State Farm Insurance- 1
  • Home Run Leader – George Adams, Briggs Beautyware – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Williams, Babbitt Realty – 1

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers (3-0, 21 IP, 33 K, no-hitter and 1-hitter in last 2 games)
P – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware (5-1, 43 IP, 60 K)
P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts (3-1, 36 IP, 59 K).
C – Marion Cook, Standard Parts
1B – George Adam, Trenton Democratic Club
2B – Don Miles, State Farm Insurance
3B – Ed Antolini, Naval Air Station Denver
SS – Nolan Whitlock, Clearwater Bombers
LF – Thomas Brown, Penridge AC
CF – Ken Sommers, De Jur Amsco
RF – Al Martin, Naval Air Station Denver
UTIL – Frank Harvey, Penridge AC

OTHERS

Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers (2-0, 15 IP, 22 K)
Ollie Johnston, DeJur (3-0, 22 IP, 29 K)
Bill Gourley, Penridge AC (3-0, 21 IP, 22 K)
Paul Hoke Wilson, Bloomington Chiefs (2-0)
Wayne Ward, Bloomington Chiefs (2-1)
Howie Wieland, Raybestos Cardinals (1-1)  set a national softball record in the North Atlantic Regionals as he hurled 6 consecutive no-hitters to win the crown.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (5-0) (Southern)
2. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (5-2) (Defending Champ)
3. State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL (4-2) (West-Central)
4. Penridge AC, Cincinnati, OH (3-2) (East-Central)
5t. Standard Auto Parts, Memphis, TN (3-2) (Southwestern)
5t. De Jur Amsco, Long Island, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Babbitt Realty, Houston, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (2-2) (Central-Atlantic)
9t. Naval Air Station, Denver, CO (2-2) (Rocky-Mountain)
9t. Renton Cowboys, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. New Bar, St. Paul, MN (1-2) (Northern)
9t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (1-2) (North-Atlantic)
13t. Broekers Cigars, St. Louis, MO (1-2) (Western)
13t. Jersey Ice Cream, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Host)
13t. Casino Espanol, Havana (0-2) (Cuba)
13t. Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX (0-2) (US-Air-Force)
17t. Roughriders, Napa, CA (0-2) (North-Pacific-Coast)
17t. S-Site, Los Alomos, NM (0-2) (Cactus)

NOTES

South-Pacific-Coast Champ – Pepsi Cola Bottlers, San Diego, CA did not attend. East-Canada Champ – Steinberg’s, Montreal, Quebec did not attend. West-Canada Champ – McLean Motors, Vancouver, British Columbia did not attend. US-Navy Champ – US Navy Patrol Squadron 22, Kodiak, AK did not attend.

1954 Clearwater Bombers

1953 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1953 held at Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Champion – Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, California
Runner Up – Orange Lionettes, Anaheim, California

The Rocket’s Carol Nelson pitched the 2-0 championship game victory behind the hitting of Betty Schlegal who went 2-2. Kay Rich drove in the first run with a single and then Terry Urrutia’s deep fly to Center Field scored Gloria May to gave the Rockets an insurance run. Nelson gave up four hits and struck out 6. The Lionettes were gunning for their 4th straight championship which would have set a record. The Rockets had a strong pitching staff as Joan Alsup (2-1, shutout), Carol Nelson (3-0, 2 shutouts) and Vera Miller pitched very well in relief

Nonnie Hoehn, Orange Lionettes (2-0, 16 IP, 13 K)

Joy Collicut, Gartens (5-11, .455, 1 RBI)

Jeanne Contel (3 run HR)

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
  • HR Leader – Bobby Jordan, Orange Lionettes (7-29, .241, RBI, 7 Runs) – 2
  • HR Leader – Bev Mulanet, Raybestos Brakettes (4-15, .267, 3 RBI, 4 Runs) – 2
  • HR Leader – Ann Edmondsen, Raybestos Brakettes (5-14, .357, 4 RBI, 3 Runs) – 2
  • Batting Leader – Mary Baker, Canadian Legion (8-16, 1 RBI, 3 Runs) – .500

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Joan Alsup, Betsy Ross Rockets
P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (6-2, pitched a 1-0 11 inning shutout in the first final and then lost 2-0 in the final game, she struck out 10 in that game, she had 29 K in 24 IP on final day and 91 K total in 58 innings pitched. Ragan also struck 20 batters in a 7 inning game, falling just one strikeout short of a striking out every batter.)
P – Marion Fox, Gartens Furniture, (3-1, 30 IP, 19 Ks)
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers (7-18, .389, 2 Runs)
1B – Ruth Sears, Orange Lionettes (12-35, .343, 1 RBI, 4 Runs)
2B – Mildred Dixon, Orange Lionettes
3B – Jeanne Contel, Betsy Ross Rockets
SS – Kay Rich, Betsy Ross Rockets (6-18, .333, 3 doubles, 2 triples) and
OF – Gloria Barnes, Denver King Soopers
OF – Dena Kuczo, Raybestos Brakettes
OF – Laura Malesh, Regina, Canada Legion
UTIL – Mary Archer, Kalyx Cups

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (5-1) (North Pacific Coast)
2. Orange Lionettes, Anaheim, CA (8-2) (Defending Champ)
3. King Soupers, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain)
4. Garten’s Furniture, Tornoto, ON (5-2) (Host)
5t. Raybestos Brackettes, Stratford, CT (2-2) (North Atlantic)
5t. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (2-2) (Cactus)
7t. Canadian Legion, Regina, SK (3-2) (West Canada)
7t. Dabdoub Motors, New Orleans, LA (2-2) (Southwestern
9t. Kalyx Cups, Toronto, ON (2-2) (East Canada)
9t. Arians, Linden, NJ (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Greenwood Electric, Des Moines, IA (1-2) (Western)
9t. G&W Construction, West Allis, WI (1-2) (West Central)
13t. Green Jackets, Bremerton, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. Construction Hornets, Fort Worth, TX (1-2) (Texas)
13t. Advance Fireplace, Detroit, MI (0-2) (East Central)
13t. Nutrilite Lynx, Buena Park, CA (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
17t. KIHO Cubs, Sioux City, SD (0-2) (Northern)
17t. Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (0-2) (Southern)
17t. Garvin’s Grill, Washington, DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)

NOTES

Dabdoub Motors, New Orleans went in place of Southwestern Champ – Baton Rough Solitaires, who could not attend. U.S. Navy Champ – Women Marine Recruit Depot, Pearl Harbor, HI could not attend. U.S. Air Force Champ – Lackland AFB Women Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, San Antonio, TX could not attend.

1953 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1953 held at Miami, Florida.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

John Spring, Briggs Beautyware (5-1, 41 IP, 47 K, 3 shutouts on final day, including 1-0 losers bracket final victory over State Farm and then; 2-0 and 1-0 shutouts over Clearwater in the finals, Spring only surrendered 5 hits total in the two championship games. He pitched 5 games in 24 hours). In the final 2 games, he defeated two of the greatest pitchers in the game in John Hunter and Herb Dudley.

Paul Hoke Wilson led State Farm Insurance to a third place finish, lost a 1-0 losers bracket final to John Spring and the Briggs team.

  • MVP – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
  • Batting Leader – Joe Morecraft, Trenton Democrats (6-16, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 Runs, the 6 RBIs were in one game) – .375
  • Home Run Leader – Joe Morecraft, Trenton Democrats – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers (3-1, 35 K, lost 1-0 one-hitter in the final for first defeat in national play after 10 straight wins)
P – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
P – Paul Hoke Wilson, State Farm Insurance (4-0, 27 IP, 24 K) – led them to a third place finish, lost a 1-0 losers bracket final to John Spring and the Briggs team. Howie Wieland was 1-1 for State Farm with a no hitter.
C – Jack Sweeting, American Industrial Flyers
1B – George Adam, Trenton Democratic Club
2B – Joe Everett, Clearwater Bombers
3B – Knobby Rosa, American Industrial Flyers
SS – Otto Salzman, State Farm Insurance
OF – Al Linde, Dow Chemical (5-14, .357, 1 Run)
OF – Dave Sayyae, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Bobby Forbes, Clearwater Bombers
UTIL – Jerry Zarick, Briggs Beautyware

OTHERS

Howie Wieland, State Farm Insurance was 1-1 with a no hitter.
Arno Lamb, AIS Miami Flyers was 3-1.
Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers hurled a 3-0 no hitter and then lost a 2-0 game to finish 1-1.
Rocco Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware, solo HR in 4th inning of final championship was only hit off John Hunter to give Briggs a 1-0 win and the title.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (6-1) (Defending Champs)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (4-2) (Southern)
3. State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL (5-2) (West Central)
4. American Industrial Sales (AIS), Miami, FL (4-2) (Host)
5t. Dow Chemical AC, Midland, MI (2-2) (East Central)
5t. Jersey Ice Cream, Minneapolis, MN (2-2) (Northern)
7t. Elmendorf AFB Rockets, Anchorage, AK (2-2) (US Air Force)
7t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Kenny Poe Plumbers, Boise, ID (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Gators, Lake Jackson, TX (1-2) (Texas)
9t. Phillips 66 Oilers, Okmulgee, OK (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Kroszer’s Restaurant, Bridgeport, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Chapel-of-the-Oaks, Oakland, CA (0-2) (North Pacific Coast)
13t. Rochester Radio, Rochester, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Heart-of-America Tobacco, Kansas City, MO (0-2) (Western)
13t. Naval Air Station, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)

NOTES

Kenny Poe Plumbers, Boise, ID went in place of Northwestern Champ Tacoma, WA, who could not attend. Cactus Champ – Peterson Brothers, Mesa, AZ who could not attend. South Pacific Coast Champ, Palemar Foods, San Diego, CA did not attend. US Army Champ, Green Hornets, Fort Lee, VA could not attend. US Navy Champ – US Navy Patrol Squadron 42, Kodiak, AK could not attend. East Canada Champ – Northern Electric, Verdun, Quebec could not attend. West Canada Champ – Giorday Fruits, Vancouver, British Columbia could not attend. Casino Espanol, Havana, Cuba did not attend.

1953 ASA Men’s Open Slow Pitch Nationals

1953 held at Deer Creek Common in Cincinnati, Ohio and Newport Recreation Field in Newport, Kentucky on September 3-5.

Champion – Shield’s Contractors, Newport, Kentucky (45-3)
Runner Up – Pittsburgh Fruit Merchants, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Shield’s Contractors beat Pittsburgh Fruit Merchants 13-12 in winners bracket finals, Myron Reinhardt was 4-5, HR, double, and 4 RBI. Also leading Shield’s attack were Ted Stegeman (3-5, 3 doubles), John Henry (3-5), Al Rinehard (3-5, HR, 2B, and 4 RBI) and Don Heilman (double, triple, 3 RBI). The Merchants came back and beat Wolf’s Cafe of Cincinnati 6-1 in the loser’s bracket final to get another crack at the Kentucky squad.

Shield’s then beat Pittsburgh 13-1 in the championship game. Myron Reinhardt’s HR and 4 RBI led the way for Shield’s to capture the very first ASA Slow Pitch National Championship. Shield’s pitcher Roland Vorhees gave up only 5 hits and one run. Al Rinehard  (2 Doubles) and Bo Stuntebeck each had three hits in the title clincher.

Most of the teams entered were from the Ohio River Valley and Northern Kentucky. For the Merchants, Mike Sabbio was 4-8 with a HR and 3 RBI in the final two games Pittsburgh played, both losses to Shields.

The MVP was not awarded by many say Myron Reinhardt would have won easy, leading the tournament in average, home runs, and leading Shield’s to the title by going 11 for 16, .688 with 4 home runs.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – Myron Reinhardt, Shield’s Contractors – 4
  • Batting Leader – Myron Reinhardt, Shield’s Contractors – .688

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Shield’s Contractors, Newport, KY (4-0)
2. Pittsburgh Fruit Merchants, Pittsburgh, PA (3-2)
3. Wolf’s Café, Cincinnati, OH (4-2)
4. D&G Café, Newport, KY (3-2)
5t. Baldwin Piano, Cincinnati, OH (2-2)
5t. Club 42, Louisville, KY (2-2)
7t. Soddy Daisy Merchants, Chattanooga, TN (1-2)
7t. Prestonia Athletic Club, Louisville, KY (1-2)
9t. Homestead Café, Hamilton, OH (0-2)
9t. Schwedes Furniture/Charley Geigers, Lakewood, OH (0-2)

1952 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1952 held at Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Champion – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California
Runner Up – PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona

The Lionettes became the first team since the famous New Orleans Jax Maids to win 3 consecutive world championships. The Jax Maids performed the feat in 1945-1947.

The Rambler’s Amy Peralta-Shelton highlighted the first inning with a run scoring double and later scored. Dot Wilkinson and Locha Diaz also had hits and scored runs in the inning as well. This ignited the fireworks over the Fresno Rockets in the semi-final game. The Ramblers scored 4 in that first inning and won the game 8-2 behind the pitching of Margie Law to advance them into the finals against the Lionettes. The Rockets finished third as they lost their first game, then won 5 straight before the loss to the Ramblers. The Ramblers then defeated the Lionettes in the first final 3-2 behind Margaret Dobson’s 2-run homer. Bertha Ragan then came through with the 2-0 pitching gem in the final game, despite 2 hits by Amy Peralta-Shelton. Margie Law hurled the final two games for the Ramblers winning the first and losing the final. Amy May-Peralta-Shelton was 3-6 in the final two games to lead the Ramblers offense. Dot Wilkinson batted .360 for the Ramblers during the tournament.

Amy Peralta Shelton (9-23, .391, 2 RBI, 4 Runs, 1 2B, 2 3B)

Jean Contel, Fresno (9-21, .429, 4 RBI, 1 Run)

Vera Miller, Fresno Rockets (3-0, pitched 2 shutouts and gave up 1 ER in 27 IP)

Carolyn Broady, Buena Park (7-15, .467, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 Runs).

Bea Sanderson, Nortowns (10-22, .455, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 Runs).

Loretta Chushuk, Kansas City Dons (5-10, .500, 1 RBI, 1 Run) – .500

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
  • HR Leader– Carolyn Broady, Buena Park – 1
  • HR Leader  – Bea Sanderson, Nortowns – 1
  • HR Leader  – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets – 1
  • HR Leader  – Carolyn Thome, Dieselettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Fortune, NY Pandoras – 1
  • HR Leader – Breen, Nortowns – 1
  • HR Leader – Richmond, Rockets – 1
  • HR Leader – Ray, Buena Park Lynx – 1
  • Batting Leader – Loretta Chushuk, Kansas City Dons – .500

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (6-1, 51 IP, 65 K, 4 shutouts, including a 2-0 championship game win in which she struck out 6)
P – Terry Hiltz, Toronto Nortowns (4-2, 37 IP, 50 K)
P – Margie Law, PBSW Ramblers (5-2, 47 IP, 58 K, 3 Shutouts, no-hitter and two 1-hitters)
C – Dot Wilkinson, PBSW Ramblers
1B – Newlyn Greer, Carpenters Local 1098
2B – Jake Duncan, KC Dons
3B – Lu Mahoney, Buena Park Lynx
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets (8-20, .400, 7 RBI, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 Runs, 17 Total Bases)
OF – Carolyn Thome, Caterpillar Dieselettes (4-18, .222, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4 Runs)
OF – Irene Huber, Fresno Rockets
OF – Elaine Harris, Orange Lionettes

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Orange Lionettes, Anaheim, CA (6-1) (Defending Champ)
2. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-2) (Cactus)
3. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (5-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Nortowns, Toronto, ON (4-2) (Host)
5t. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Merchants, Metamora, OH (2-2) (East Central)
7t. Phoenix Clothier Rockettes, Allentown, PA (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
7t. Nutrilite Lynx, Buena Park, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Carpenters Local #1098, Baton Rouge, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Goss ON Ross, Dallas, TX (1-2) (Texas
9t. KC Dons, Kansas City, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Pandoras, New York City, NY (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Kalyx Cups, Toronto, ON (1-2) (Canada)
13t. Hanes Hosiery, Winston-Salem, NC (1-2) (Southern)
13t. King Soupers, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13t. Green Jackets, Bremerton, WA (0-2) (Northwestern)
17t. Victor’s Market, Minneapolis, MN (0-2) (Northern)
17t. Wallingford Owlettes, Wallingford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

1952 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1952 held at Stratford, Connecticut.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan
Runner Up – American Industrial Sales Flyers, Miami, Florida (113-11)

John Spring of Briggs Beautyware was 5-0, 35 IP, 57 Ks, the 22 year old Spring pitched a perfect game in the winners bracket-finals to defeat Buck Miller and his Memphis squad and then came back with a 2-1 three-hitter in the finals.

Buck Miller of Memphis Corbitt Motors Independents went 3-2, 44 IP, 55 K.

Al Linde of Dow AC was 5-14, .357, 1 RBI, 4 Runs.

George Adam, Briggs went 7-17, .412, 3 RBI, 1 Run.

Miami Flyers Eddie Feigner went 3-1, 30 IP, 47 Ks, 3 shutouts and Arno Lamb 2-1, shutout, lost final game 2-1. Eddie King also pitched for the Flyers in relief.

Eddie Feigner and the Miami Flyers shutout Memphis 3-0 in the semi-finals. The win allowed Miami to play Briggs in the Championship game. Miami started the scoring as Mike Meilecke doubled into left center and scored when Joe Lewis ripped a sharp single to left field to lead 1-0. Raybestos came back as Dave Sayre (2 hits in the game) beat out an infield single. Roy Palmieri hit a sharp grounder that Miami’s second basemen let go off his leg into the outfield, allowing Sayre to score. Palmieri, who went to third on the error, then scored when Miami catcher Jack Sweeting let a pitch go through him for a passed ball in what proved to be the winning run in the 2-1 championship game. Johnny Spring struck out 6 and gave up 4 hits to get the win. Losing Pitcher Arno Lamb struck out 5 and surrendered only 3 hits.

  • MVP – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
  • Batting Leader – Joe Overfield, Lackland AFB (6-11, 2 Runs) – .545
  • Home Run Leader – Johnny Marsden, Lackland AFB – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Independents
P – Harvey Sterkel, Denver Public Service
C – Ernie Bertolini, Trenton Democratic Club
1B – George Adam, Briggs Beautyware
2B – Whitey Campbell, American Industrial Flyers
3B – Dick Duzik, Dow Chemical
SS – Albert Gaub, Mt. Carmel Guild
OF – Dave Sayyae, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Loren Dinkle, Dow Chemical
OF – John “Buster” Ziegler, American Industrial Flyers
UTIL – John Marsden, Warhawks (5-13, 5 RBI, 5 Runs – also went 1-0 pitching 11 IP, 12 K)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (6-0) (East Central)
2. American Industrial Sales (AIS), Miami, FL (5-2) (Southern)
3. Corbett Motors Independents, Memphis, TN (3-2) (Southwestern)
4. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (4-2) (Central Atlantic)
5t. Dow Chemical AC, Midland, MI (4-2) (Defending Champ)
5t. Mt. Carmel Guild, Jersey City, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Goss ON Ross, Dallas, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Steinberg’s, Montreal, QC (2-2) (Canada)
9t. Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX (2-2) (US Air Force)
9t. Public Service, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Sterling Beer, Louisville, KY (1-2) (West Central)
9t. Jersey Ice Cream, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Northern)
13t. Napa Merchants, Napa, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
13t. Irwin-Jones Dodgers, Tacoma, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. Jones Ranchers, Eloy, AZ (0-2) (Cactus)
13t. Casino Espanol, Havana (0-2) (Cuba)
17t. Columbus Auto Body, New Haven, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17t. Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Sioux City, IA (0-2) (Western)
17t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (Host)

NOTES

South Pacific Coast Champ – Plymouth Mo-Parts, San Ysidro, CA did not attend.

1951 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1951 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California
Runner Up – Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, California

Pat Collins, Lionettes (with only one hit in 8 at bats in the game, she made it count as she drove in winning run with a hit in the 20th inning to win the Championship). The Lionettes scored their first run on an error in the second inning. Then in the 4th inning, Kay Rich smacked a double and then tied the score on Irene Huber’s hit. The score stayed that way until the 20th inning when Collins clutch hit scored Joann McLachlin with the winning run. Ruth Sears of the Lionettes was 3-8 in the final game

Jo Nelson (2-1) and Florence Root (2-1) pitched the Dieselettes to a 4-2 record and third place.

Hazel Lane, American Lithofolders (3-0, 22 IP, 17 Ks)

Bertha Ragan-Tickey of Orange Lionettes hurled 143 consecutive scoreless innings during the season. in the 12 years she has been pitching, she has 205 shutouts of which 96 have been no-hitters. Three of those were perfect games.  She also had accumulated 4320 Strikeouts. That is an average of 360 per year.

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
  • HR Leader – 13 players tied with 1 HR
  • Batting Leader – Mary Gilpin, Schrader Company – .545

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (5-0, including the 20 inning 2-1 championship game clincher, had 22 K in the game, total of 60 K in 48 IP)
P – Virginia “Ginny” Busick, Fresno Rockets (4-1, 51 IP, 55 K, started the final game, went 14 innings giving up only the one unearned run, before exiting the game.)
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers (3-1, 29 IP, 51 K)
C – Betty Schlegel, Fresno Rockets
1B – Ruth Sears, Orange Lionettes (7-20, .350)
2B – Shirley Coney, Caterpillar Dieselettes
3B – Dorothy Naples, Schrader Company
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets
OF – Carolyn Thome, Caterpillar Dieselettes
OF – Mary Gilpen, Schrader Company (6-11, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs)
OF – JoAnn McLachlan, Orange Lionettes

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (4-2) (North Pacific Coast)
3. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (4-2) (West Central)
4. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (Rocky Mountain)
5t. American Lithofolders, Detroit, MI (4-2) (Host)
5t. Wooten Motors Motorettes, Fort Worth, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Hall-Maytag Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (2-2) (Southern)
7t. Schrader’s Company Lamos, Cleveland, OH (2-2) (East Central)
9t. Goetz Girls, St. Joseph’s, MO (2-2) (Western)
9t. Ace Bowlers, Toronto, ON (1-2) (Canada)
9t. Lynx, Buena Park, CA (1-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Victor’s Market, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Northern)
13t. Building Trades Council, Baton Rouge, LA (0-2) (Southwestern)
13t. Cardinalettes, Pottstown, PA (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Holling Debs, Buffalo, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Hartford Laurelettes, Hartford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17. Green Jackets, Bremerton, WA (0-2) (Northwestern)

1951 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1951 held at Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Dow AC Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

John Hunter of the Clearwater Bombers was 5-0, 75 K, 39 IP, 2 shutouts, three 1-hitters, before hurting a nerve in his pitching arm. He struck out 16 in his first game, 4-2 win and then in a 3-1 victory, struck out 19 hurling a 1-hitter. He then threw another 1-hitter, shutting out Toronto and ace pitcher Percy McCrackin 6-0. Hunter struck 17 more. At this point, he had 52 Ks in the first 3 games. Hunter came back and defeated the Grumman Yankees with star hurler Roy Stephenson, 1-0 in 11 innings behind Buster Zeigler’s bases loaded walk off single. Once again, he tossed a 1-hitter and struck out 13 batters. In the winner’s bracket final, Hunter defeated Dow AC with Clyde Lefty Dexter on the mound, 3-1 with 10 K’s. He had hurt his arm against the Long Island Yankees and pitched through it, but after his 5th game, he could not continue any longer.

By the way, Dexter and the Dow AC team had just beat the Grumman Yankees 4-0 in 21 innings. Dexter pitched that whole game and in the top of the 21st inning, Jack Kett singles, Al Linde doubled, Jim Streiter was walked intentionally to get to Clyde Dexter and all he did was hit a grand slam to give Dow the 4-0 win and advancing them to the finals, where Dexter came back only to lose the 3-1 game.

Clyde Dexter of Dow AC went 3-0, 42 IP, 36 K, pitched a 21 inning shutout to beat Grumman’s star Roy Stephenson, Dexter hit a grand slam to win the game, moving Dow AC to the Championship.

John Skolnicki of Dow AC  went 2-0, pitched 10-0 and 4-0 shutouts in the final two games, giving up only 5 hits total to win title). He also was 2-2 with a 2B and 2 RBI in the Championship game.

Don McDonald was 1-1 and pitched the other game for Dow, losing 3-1 in the winners bracket final.

Al Linde of Dow AC was 11-28, .393, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 8 Runs 5 2B and 3-4 in Championship, with a HR, 3B, 3 RBI and 2 Runs scored.

Jack Kett of Dow AC was 6-24, .250: 2-4 with a 2B and an RBI in the championship.

Roy Stephenson of Grumman Yankees was 4-2, 66 IP, 52 of those innings came in the last 29 hours of the tournament.

After John Hunter hurt his arm and could no longer pitch, Jess McWhorter took over for the Bombers in the first championship game, only to lose to to Dow AC, as pitcher John Skolnicki hurled a 3-hit shutout, winning the game 4-0 for Dow. Skolnicki also had 2 RBI in that game.

In the Final Championship game, it was not even close as the Midland squad exploded for a 10-0 win. Skolnicki pitched a 2-hit shutout and once again accounted for 2 RBI. The Legendary Al Linde went 3-4 with a double, a home run, 3 RBI and 2 Runs scored in the final.

The Bombers Jerry Curtis and Jess McWhorter could do nothing to stop the Dow bats. Dow finished the tournament with a 6-1 record.

  • MVP – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers
  • Batting Leader – John Zula, Calumet City Chiefs – .535
  • Home Run Leader – Bobby Forbes, Clearwater Bombers – 2
  • Home Run Leader – Benefield, Denver Murphy Chevrolet (4-16, .266, 7 RBI, 4 Runs) – 2
  • Home Run Leader – Seidel, Calumet City Chiefs (4-19, .210, 5 RBI, 4 Runs) – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers
P – Roy Stephenson, Grumman Aircraft
P – Clyde Dexter, Dow Chemical
C – Ken Overcash, Clearwater Bombers
1B – John Zula, Chiefs (8-15, 2 RBI, 3 Runs)
2B – James Hooker, Buck Miller’s All-Stars
3B – G “Dutch” Hanel, Murphy-Mahoney
SS – Pat Campagna, Grumman Aircraft
OF – Al Linde, Dow Chemical
OF – Bobby Forbes, Clearwater Bombers (6-21, .285, 4 RBI, 5 Runs)
OF – Carroll Lee, Babbitt Realty
UTIL – Robert Crouch, Clearwater Bombers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Dow Chemical AC, Midland, MI (6-1) (East Central)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (5-2) (Defending Champ)
3. Grumman Aircraft Yankees, Bethpage, NY (4-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
4. Buck Miller’s All Stars, Memphis, TN (4-2) (Southwestern)*
5t. Chiefs, Calumet City, IL (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Murphy Chevrolet, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Levi Auto, Toronto, ON (2-2) (Canada)
7t. Star-Kist Tunas, San Pedro, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Babbitt Realty, Houston, TX (2-2) (Texas)
9t. Western Gravel, San Jose, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Union Wire Rope, Kansas City, MO (1-2) (Western)*
13t. Peerless Woolen, Rossville, GA (0-2) (Southern)
13t. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (0-2) (Host)
13t. Casino Espanol, Havana, Cuba (0-2) (Cuba)
13t. Cochituate Motors, Cochituate, MA (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17t. Copping Big Bricks, Eugene, OR (0-2) (Northwestern)
17t. Hickham Field Flyers, Honolulu, HI (0-2) (F) (US Air Force)

* won a game by forfeit

NOTES

Northern Champ – 20th Century Signs, Bismarck, ND (Northern) did not attend.

1950 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1950 held in San Antonio, Texas on September 18-22.

Champion – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California (67-9)
Runner Up – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona

In the championship game, Margie Law went 5 innings for Ramblers, then Amy Peralta finished the game for the Ramblers, hurling the last 9 innings. Ragan had a big RBI single. She hurled 9 no-hitters during the season.

Jean Hull, Orange Lionettes (8-21, .381, 4 Runs). Sears was 4-7 in the championship game.

Virginia Dobson, Arizona (11-29, .378, 5 Runs)

Amy Peralta May, Arizona Ramblers (3-2, 20 K, beat Bertha Ragan 1-0 in 11 inning to force final)

Margie Law and Billie Harris (3-7) both had good games for the Ramblers. Pitcher Margie Law won the game in the 17th inning when her double drove in the games only run. The Ramblers had to play 44 innings of consecutive softball in the end of the tournament.

Diesellettes Lucille Eslinger was 2-0 for the Dieselettes. One of her wins was a combined no hitter with Marie Wadlow as Eslinger got the win.

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florist – .615

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (5-1, 76 K, 54 IP, 2 no hitters, perfect game; 4 shutouts, 38 consecutive scoreless innings, only gave up 2 runs, and won 3-1 in a 15 inning final.)
P – Marie Wadlow, Caterpillar Dieselettes (2-2, All America Team), retired after tournament and received a special award for the person that has contributed the most to women’s softball.
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers (2-0) beat Marie Wadlow, Peoria (2-2, 26 K); 1-0 in 17 innings, each had 10 K.
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers
1B – Ruth Sears, Orange Lionettes (11-28, .393, 6 Runs)
2B – Shirley Coney, Caterpillar Dieselettes
3B – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florists (8-13, 6 runs scored)
SS – Beverly Connors, Orange Lionettes
OF – Carolyn Thome, Caterpillar Dieselettes (9-23, .391, 5 Runs)
OF – Thelma Paris, Erv Lind Florists
OF – Pat Collins, Orange Lionettes

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (5-1) (South Pacific Coast)
2. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-2) (Defending Champ)
3. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (4-2) (West Central)
4. Holling Debs, Buffalo, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
5t. Hall-Maytag Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (3-2) (Southern)
5t. Capital Chevrolet, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Carano Construction, Springfield, OH (2-2) (East Central)
9t. Building Trades Council, Baton Rouge, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Wooten Motors Motorettes, Fort Worth, TX (1-2) (Texas)
9t. Raybestos Brackettes, Stratford, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
9t. Thompson Motors, San Antonio, TX (0-2) (Host)
13t. Kansas City Dons, Kansas City, MO (0-2) (Western)
13t. Garvin’s Grill, Washington, DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Twinetees, Fargo, ND (0-2) (Northern)

NOTES

North Pacific Coast Champ – Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (decided not to attend). Canada Champ – Clayton’s Department Store, Toronto, ON (could not attend).