Softball History USA

1961 ASA Men’s Open Slow Pitch Nationals

1961 held at Louisville, Kentucky

Champion – Hamilton Tailoring, Cincinnati, Ohio
Runner Up – Plateau Athletic Club, New York City, New York (68-9)

Hamilton Tailors eliminated Gatliff’s 11-1 behind Sam Minitti’s Pitching. Then the Tailors had to win both games in the finals to repeat as ASA Open National Champions.

Sam Minnitti pitched a 5-2 victory in the first game and also hit a 3-run home run to win the game in the 7th inning. Then he came back and pitched 3-hit shutout against the powerful New York City team to clinch the championship 2-0. Minnitti gave up only 7 total hits in both games. He also went 7-1 overall as a pitcher and in 8 games, only gave up 22 runs, including a shutout and three 1-run games. Somehow he was not named the MVP.

Jim Harper of 4th place Ready-Mix from Knoxville was named MVP. Minnitti was named Most Valuable Pitcher. Counting the 1960 Nationals where he was 9-1, Minniti had a 16-2 pitching record in the back to back titles. Becoming only the second team to perform this feat.

Gatliff’s of Kentucky won two straight in 1956 and 57. Plateau AC won its first 5 games, defeating The Tailors along the way 9-8 to send them to the losers bracket. Plateau’s stars were Bob Beier and George O’Neill, who both started off the tournament with 8 straight hits and Morty Weinberg, who excelled in short field and hit 2 HR also.

  • MVP – Jim Harper, Ready Mix Concrete
  • Most Valuable Pitcher Award – Sam Minniti, Hamilton Tailors
  • HR Leader – Jim Harper, Ready Mix Concrete – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Hal Wiggins, Gatliff Auto – .650

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Sam Minniti, Hamilton Tailors (7-1, pitching and 2 HR)
C – Jim Harper, Ready Mix Concrete – won award, even though his team finished 5th.
1B – Harry Phillips, Wilsman Trucking
2B – Bob Beier, Plateau AC
3B – Virgil Hoffman, Duffy’s Tavern
SS – Ron Cutter, Hamilton Tailors
SF – Mort Weinberg, Plateau AC (2 HR)
OF – Leo Wilham, Gatliff Auto Sales
OF – Ron Annotico, Sheffield Bronze
OF – Hal Wiggins, Gatliff Auto Sales (13-20, .650)

OTHERS

Joe Okruhlica, Wilsman Trucking (11-21, .524, 10 Runs)
Jim Wessell, Wilsman Trucking (10-24, .417, 1 HR, 5 Runs)
Dick Bonar, Wilsman Trucking (10-24, .417, 3 HR, 8 Runs)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Hamilton Tailoring, Cincinnati, OH (7-1)
2. Plateau Athletic Club, Maspeth, New York, NY (5-2)
3. Gatliff Auto Sales, Newport, KY (5-2)
4. Krivian Club, Springdale, PA 4-2
5t. Ready-Mix Concrete, Knoxville, TN (5-2)
5t. Wilsman’s Trucking, Hamilton, OH (5-2)
7t. Duffy’s Tavern, Louisville, KY (4-2)
7t. Daly Drive-In, Detroit, MI (3-2)
9t. French Town Bar, Monroe, MI (4-2)
9t. Kelly’s Jet System Hamburger, Richmond, VA (4-2)
9t. Knights of St. John, Louisville, KY (3-2)
9t. Johnson Construction Company, Macon, GA (2-2)
13t. Sheffield Bronze, Cleveland, OH (3-2)
13t. Al’s Green Tavern, Rochester, NY (2-2)
13t. Mike’s Bar, Minneapolis, MN (2-2)
13t. Freightways, Toledo, OH (2-2)
17t. Seawall Restaurant, Bridgeport, CT (3-2)
17t. Mobile All-Stars, Mobile, AL (2-2)
17t. Otto Candies, New Orleans, LA (2-2)
17t. McAdenville Reds, McAdenville, NC (1-2)
17t. Mt. Carmel, Worcester, MA (1-2)
17t. 5 and 10 Tap, Milwaukee, WI (1-2)
17t. Carter Sporting Goods, Tallahassee, FL (1-2)
17t. Field Shop, Miami, FL (1-2)
25t. Olden A.A., Trenton, NJ (2-2)
25t. Burch’s Blue Note, Hopkins, MN (1-2)
25t. Antonelli’s Restaurant, Warwick, RI (0-2)
25t. V&M Foods, Pass Christian, MS (0-2)
25t. Gold Bond Stamps, Atlanta, GA (0-2)
25t. U.S. National Bank, Omaha, NE (0-2)
25t. South Bend Merchants, South Bend, IN (0-2)
25t. Tip Toe Inn, Cincinnati, OH (0-2)
33t. Peterson’s, Big Bend, WI (0-2)
33t. Stan’s Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA (0-2)
33t. Reno County, South Hutchinson, KS (0-2)
33t. Charlies Mustangs, St. Louis, MO (0-2)
33t. Dougies Restaurant, San Antonio, TX (0-2)
33t. Indiana Avenue Church, Oklahoma City, OK (0-2)

1961 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1961 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Whittier Gold Sox, Whittier, California
Runner Up – Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, Connecticut (60-9)

Joan Joyce hurled a 2-0, 1-hit shutout to beat the Gold Sox and vault the Brakettes into the final “if” game show down. After 14 innings of scoreless ball as Joan Joyce and Louise Mazzucca hurled inning after inning of shutout ball. In the top of the 15th inning.

The Brakettes’ Mary Dowling drove in Joan Joyce to make the score 1-0. But in the bottom of the 15th, Sherry Noland came up to pinch hit and worked Joyce for a walk. She scored on Sharon Backus cluth hit to tie the score again, this time at 1-1.

Both pitchers kept throwing, Joyce registering 40 strikeouts in the game. In the bottom of the 19th inning with 2 outs, Colleen Riley got her second hit of the game. Up came Sherry Noland and she stood on the batters box as Riley stole second and third.  Noland and the Whittier squad shocked the world with a squeeze bunt and before the ball could be fielded cleanly. Riley raced the third base line and slid across the plate into history.

Whittier’s Sharon Backus had two hits in the game. The hitting stars for the Brakettes were Mickey Macchietto-Stratton (13-38, .342, 2B, 6 Runs), Joan Joyce (10-37, .284, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI and 4 Runs) and Millie Dixon (8-35, .205, 2 3B and 5 Runs).

Bertha Ragan-Tickey was 2-1 with 41 strikeouts in 27 IP for the Brakettes, she also pitched a shutout.

Gena Adams of Spud-Nut Shamrocks went 3-9, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .333, 3 RBI.

  • MVP – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes
  • HR Leader – Joyce Moxley, Filtro Electric Perks – 1
  • HR Leader – Gena Adams, Spud-Nut Shamrocks – 1
  • Batting Leader – Pam Kurrell, Lock Drug Jets – .571
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes (6-1, 130 K, 61 IP, 4 shutouts, no hitter, perfect game, including 40 K in 19 inn. title game 2-1 loss, 32 IP/67 K on final day; Joyce was also 10-37, .270, 4 RBI, 4 Runs)
P – Louise “Chris” Mazzuca, Erv Lind Florists (4-1, 4 Shutouts, 73 K, 40 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits)
P – E. Louise Albrecht, Whittier Gold Sox (4-0, 2 ER, 39 IP, 17 K, beat Joan Joyce 2-1 in 19 inn final game)
C – Micki Macchietto-Stratton, Raybestos Brakettes (set record with 13 hits; 13-38, .342, 6 Runs)
C – Joy Collict, Filtro Electric Perks
1B – Shirley Topley, Vancouver Queens
2B – Mildred Dixon, Raybestos Brakettes
3B – Marie Ottaviano, Raybestos Brakettes
SS – Beverly Mulonet, Raybestos Brakettes
OF – Pam Kurrell, Lock Drug Jets (8-14, 2 RBI, 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, 2 Triples)
OF – Darlene May, Whittier Gold Sox
OF – Joyce Moxley, Filtro Electric Perks (5-15, .333, 6 RBI)
UTIL – Angela Blasse, Burry Biscuit Marauders
UTIL – Elsa Wernonen, Erv Lind Florists

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Marion Fox, Filtro Electric Perks (3-2, 3 shutouts)
C – Bobbie Bertini, Lock Drug Jets
1B – Audrey McComsey, Reading Crystalettes
2B – Chris Ambord, Whittier Gold Sox
3B – Marie Stout, Burry Biscuit Marauders
SS – Roma Menold, Erv Lind Florists
OF – Diane Kalliam, Lock Drug Jets
OF – Hap Beryl-Piper, Erv Lind Florists
OF – Pat Walker, Orlando Rebels

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Whittier Gold Sox, Whittier, CA (5-1) (South Pacific Coast)
2. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (8-2) (Defending Champ)
3. Filtro Electric Perks, Toronto, ON (3-2) (East Canada)
4. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (5-2) (Host)
5t. Pekin-Lettes, Peoria, IL (2-2) (West Central)
5t. Orlando Rebels, Orlando, FL (2-2) (Southern)
7t. Reading Crystalettes, Reading, PA (3-2) (Central Atlantic)
7t. Lock Drug Jets, Redwood City, CA (2-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Bryant Builders Tomboys, Atlanta, GA (2-2) (South Atlantic)
9t. Minneapolis Comets, Minneapolis, MN (2-2) (Northern)
9t. Yakima Webb Cats, Yakima, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. VFW Merchants, Adrian, MI (1-2) (East Central)
13t. Spud-Nut Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13t. South Hill Queens, Vancouver, BC (1-2) (West Canada-British Columbia)
13t. Burrey Biscuit Marauders, Elizabeth, NJ (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (0-2) (Cactus)
17t. Falstaffettes, Houston, TX (0-2) (Texas)
17t. West Bend Lionettes, New Orleans, LA (0-2) (Southwestern)
17t. Oshe Meat Company, Topeka, KS (0-2) (Western)
17t. Cochituate Corvettes, Cochituate, MA (0-2) (New England)

NOTES

West Canada-Alberta Champ – Premier Steelers, Alberta did not attend.

1961 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1961 held in Clearwater, Florida.

Champion – Aurora Sealmasters, Aurora, Illinois
Runner Up – Burch Gage & Tool, Detroit, Michigan

Aurora Sealmasters ace Harvey Sterkal pitched a 2-0, 3-hit shutout in the championship game to defeat the Detroit squad and Tournament MVP Bonnie Jones. Detroit won their first game 5-2 over Homestead, FL, then were defeated 3-0 by Stratford Cardinals. Bonnie Jones then reeled off 7 consecutive shutouts to lead the Burch Gage into the finals. He beat Dutch Elbers and his 7-Up team of St. Paul, MN 1-0 in the loser’s bracket finals before his magic arm wore out against the Sealmasters in the 10th straight game he pitched. He surrendered 5 hits and only had 5 strikeouts in the final.

  • MVP – Bonnie Jones, Burch Gage & Tool
  • Batting Leader – Leroy Hess, Sealmasters – .462
  • Home Run Leader – Bill Wojie, Raybestos Cardinals – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Bill Parker, Homestead – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Rick Tomlinson, Clearwater Bombers -1
  • Home Run Leader – Jerry Curtis, Clearwater Bombers -1
  • Home Run Leader – Howard Johnson, Burch Gage & Tool – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Paul Ruggerello, Burch Gage & Tool – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Dick Furrer, Thurmer’s Bar – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Ben Harrison, Jackson Sporting Goods – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Bob Farney, Aurora Sealmasters – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Red Bert, Standard Oilers – 1
  • Home Run Leader – Jim Ivey, Combustion Engineers – 1

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Harvey Sterkel, Aurora Sealmasters (3-0, 42 K, 21 IP, 1 ER, pitched 2-0, 3-hitter in championship game, had 2 shutouts total)
P – Chuck “Carlie” Richards, Aurora Sealmasters (2-0, 21 K, 18 IP, 0 ER, 2 shutouts).
P – Bonnie Jones, Burch Gage & Tool (8-2, 7 shutouts, 77 IP, 88 K, 7 runs, 5 ER, lost final game to Harvey Sterkal 2-0)
C – Leroy Hess, Aurora Sealmasters (6-13, 3 RBI, 1 Run)
C – Ed Ketterer, Burch Gage & Tool
1B – Sam Lombardo, Burch Gage & Tool
2B – Jerry Schaber, 7-Up
3B – Bill Wojie, Raybestos Cardinals
SS – Ricky Tomlinson, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Howie Johnson, Burch Gage & Tool
OF – Paul Ruggurello, Burch Gage & Tool
OF – Bob Farney, Aurora Sealmasters
OF – Jim Duncan, Raybestos Cardinals
UT – Cy Phelps, Burch Gage & Tool

SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Dutch Elbers, 7-Up (3-2, 38 IP, 27 K)
P – Ritchie Stephen, Gardenia Merchants
P – John Spring, Raybestos Cardinals
C – Dick Furrer, Thurmer’s Bar
C – Harry Hancock, Standard Oil
1B – Bill Dickson, Aurora Sealmasters
2B – Bob Barren, Clearwater Bombers (4-13, .308, was 2-3 with a run scored in the championship game)
3B – Don Ropp, Aurora Sealmasters
SS – George Caloia, Burch Gage & Tool
OF – Med Walsh, Aurora Sealmasters
OF – Jim Ivey, Combustion Engineers
OF – Jerry Curtis, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Phil Portell, Thurmer’s Bar
UT – Tom Moore, Clearwater Bombers

OTHERS

Gene Barr, Clearwater Bombers (1-0, no-hitter)
Eddie King, Clearwater Bombers (2-1, no-hitter)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Aurora Sealmasters, Aurora, IL (5-0) (West Central)
2. Burch Gage & Tool, Detroit, MI (8-2) (East Central)
3. 7-Up, St. Paul, MN (3-2) (Northern)
4. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (3-2) (New England)
5t. Thurmer’s Bar, St. Louis, MO (4-2) (Western)
5t. Standard Oil, Clearwater, FL (3-2) (Host)
7t. Gardenia Merchants, Gardenia, CA (3-2) (South Pacific Coast)
7t. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (3-2) (Defending Champ)
9t. Combustion Engineers, Chattanooga, TN (2-2) (South Atlantic)
9t. DeJur-Amsco Camera, Long Island City, NY (1-2) (Mid Atlantic)
9t. Homestead, Miami-Dade, FL (2-2) (Southern)
9t. Ponce Cement, Ponce, Puerto Rico (1-2) (Puerto Rico)
13t. Jackson Sporting Goods, Pasadena, TX (1-2) (Texas)
13t. Federal Old Line Insurance, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. Independent Merchants, Opelousas, LA (0-2) (Southwestern)
13t. Zeb Pearce, Mesa, AZ (0-2) (Cactus)
17t. Flat Iron AC, Philadelphia, PA (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
17t. Park National Hotel, Sudbury, Ontario (0-2) (East Canada)
17t. Calgary Orioles, Calgary, Alberta (0-2) (West Canada)
17t. Our Chapel of Memories, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
17t. Burgermeister Burgies, Stockton, CA (0-2) (North Pacific Coast)

NOTES

U.S. Navy Champ – West Coast Packers, Pacific Fleet did not attend.

1961 ASA Women’s Major Slow Pitch Nationals

1961 held at Cincinnati, Ohio.

Champion: Dairy Cottage, Covington, Kentucky (29-1)
Runner Up: Cleveland Jets, Cleveland, Ohio

Dairy Cottage got 5 runs in 7th inning highlighted by Kathy Walz’s 3rd hit of the game, a 3-run home run, leading the 11-hit attack that gave Dairy Cottage pitcher Sandy Conway the 9-6 victory over the Cleveland Jets in the Women’s first official Slow Pitch National Championship. Conway was 3-0 pitching for the champs. Her teammates had her back scoring 30 runs in the 3 games Dairy Cottage won, Conway surrendered eleven runs.

The 7th inning uprising was highlighted by Cindy Windburn and Joyce Mason, both delivered 2-run singles breaking a 4-4 tie in the top of the 7th, making the score 9-4. Mason had 3 RBI in the game. Jean Lenzer collected 2 Doubles.

The Cleveland Jets tallied 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th, but it wasn’t enough. Gloria Weiss belted a triple for the Jets in that game to tie the score at 4 earlier in the game. Cleveland Jets Ruth Poole was the losing pitcher, but she did hit a home run for the Jets. In the semifinals, Ruth Poole came through with a clutch single in the 10th inning to clinch the victory for the Cleveland Jets.

In the other semifinal, Kathy Walz and Sandy Conway both hit a home run and accounted for 5 RBI in the Dairy Cottage 13-3 win over Rutenschorer.

Although she did not make the All America Squad, Rutenschroer’s Norma Eschenbrenner is reported to have had a .602 average during the course of the season.

Dairy Cottage won the first Women’s ASA Slow Pitch Northern Kentucky Championship to qualify for the National. They defeated Vater Playground 17-3 in the final. Donna Clousterman hit 3 HR for Dairy Cottage in the event.

Winning pitcher Sandy Conway backed by the hitting of Kathy Walz, 3 hits, including a 2-Run HR; Jean Lenzer, 2 2B and Joyce Mason, 3 RBI

  • MVP – Not awarded (Newspaper accounts say it would have been Sandy Conway for her pitching and hitting)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Sandy Conway, Dairy Cottage (3-0 pitching record)
  • Batting Leader – Kathy Walz, Dairy Cottage – Most Hits
  • HR Leader – Kathy Walz, Dairy Cottage – 3

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Sandy Conway, Dairy Cottage (3-0 pitching including a HR in the semi-final)
C – Rose Scheutzow, Cleveland Jets
1B – Betty Dvorak, Dairy Cottage
2B – Kathy Walz, Dairy Cottage (HR in semifinals and 3-3 with a HR in the final)
3B – Nancy Margrath, Heidel’s Hall
SS – Barbara Klicka, Cleveland Jets
OF – Betty DeSanto, Cleveland Jets
OF – Jean Lenzer, Dairy Cottage
OF – Carol Smith, Rutenschroer Florist

HONORABLE MENTION

3B – Connie Cash, Dairy Cottage

FINAL STANDINGS (Single Elimination)

1. Dairy Cottage, Covington, KY (3-0)
2. Cleveland Jets, Cleveland, OH (2-1)
3t. Rutenschorer Florist, Cincinnati, OH (2-1)
3t. Louisville Has-Beens, Louisville, KY (1-1)

— last 6 teams went to consolation flight —

5. Heidel’s Hall, Cincinnati, OH 1-1 (3-1)
6. Zee’s Nite Club, Perrysburg, OH 0-1 (2-2)
7. Fin ‘N Feather, Milwaukee, WI 0-1 (1-2)
8. Aughinbaugh Canning Company, Biloxi, MS 0-1 (0-2)
8. Ellisvile Girls, St. Louis, MO 0-1 (1-2)
8. Interstate Life Insurance, Chattanooga, TN 0-1 (0-2)

SCORES

First Round
Rutenschorer Florist, Cincinnati, OH 4 Interstate Life Ins., Chattanooga, TN 1
Heidel’s Hall, Cincinnati, OH 5 Fin ‘N Feather, Milwaukee, WI 0

Quarterfinals
Rutenschorer Florist, Cincinnati, OH 7 Aughinbaugh Canning Company, Biloxi, MS 0
Dairy Cottage, Covington, KY 8 Zee’s Nite Club, Perrysburg, OH 2
Louisville Has-Beens, Louisville, KY 4 Ellisville Girls, St. Louis, MO 3
Cleveland Jets, Cleveland, OH 6 Heidel’s Hall, Cincinnati, OH 5

Semifinals
Dairy Cottage, Covington, KY 13 Rutenschorer Florist, Cincinnati, OH 3 — Cathy Walz and Sandy Conway both hit home runs for Dairy Cottage.
Cleveland Jets, Cleveland, OH 2 Louisville Has-Beens, Louisville, KY 1 — Ruth Poole had a single in 10th inning drove in winning run for Cleveland

Championship
Dairy Cottage, Covington, KY 9 Cleveland Jets, Cleveland 6

CONSOLATION STANDINGS

1. Heidel’s Hall, Cincinnati, OH (2-0)
2. Zee’s Nite Club, Perrysburg, OH (2-1)
3. Fin ‘N Feather, Milwaukee, WI (1-1)
3. Ellisvile Girls, St. Louis, MO (0-1)
5. Aughinbaugh Canning Company, Biloxi, MS (0-1)
5. Interstate Life Insurance, Chattanooga, TN (0-1)

CONSOLATION SCORES

First Round
Fin ‘N Feather, Milwaukee, WI 14 Interstate Life Ins., Chattanooga, TN 1
Zee’s Nite Club, Perrysburg, OH 12 Aughinbaugh Canning Company, Biloxi, MS 1

Semifinals
Heidel’s Hall, Cincinnati, OH 4 Ellisvile Girls, St. Louis, MO 2
Zee’s Nite Club, Perrysburg, OH 1 Fin ‘N Feather, Milwaukee, WI 0

Consolation Final
Heidel’s Hall, Cincinnati, OH 11 Zee’s Nite Club, Perrysburg, OH 0

1960 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1960 held at Long Beach, California on August 27-September 5.

Champion – Nitehawks, Long Beach, California
Runner Up – Sertoma Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Howard Heuston, Sertoma Club
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – LeRoy Zimmerman, Nitehawks
  • Leading Hitter – Jerry Branson, Lucky Lager – .500
  • Most RBI – N/A

1960 ISC FIRST TEAM ALL WORLD

P – LeRoy Zimmerman, Nitehawks (4-0, 0.17 ERA, 52 K, 2 BB)
P – Kenny Wycoff, Dautrich Realty (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 26 K, 3 BB)
P – Howard Heuston, Manning, Maxwell, & Moore (4-2, 1.08 ERA, 38 K, 4 BB)
C – Stan White, Nitehawks .241
C – Jack Palmore, Dautrich Realty .222
IF – Cleo Goyette, Nitehawks .314
IF – Larry Silvas, Nitehawks .441
IF – Don Jordan, Dolphins .385
IF – Jim Hosch, Sertoma Club .314
OF – Jerry Branson, Lucky Lager .500
OF – Lucky Humiston, Nitehawks .485
OF – Dude Ausmus, Sertoma Club .455
OF – Steve Kennedy, Merchants .455
UTIL – Bert Williams, Dautrich Realty .384

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Nitehawks, Long Beach, CA
2. Sertoma Club, Tulsa, OK
3. Dolphins, Escondido, CA
4. Dautrich Reality, El Paso, TX
5t. Monty’s Resturant, Ft. Wayne, IN
5t. El Paso Gas Products Co., Farmington, NM
7t. All Indian Champions, Fort Cobb, OK
7t. Thompson’s, Longmont, CO
9t. Lucky Lager, New Westminster, BC
9t. Dautrich Reality, El Paso, TX
9t. Hays Roofing, Phoenix, AZ
9t. US Navy Rockets
13t. Temco Aircraft, Dallas, TX
13t. Nye’s Florsheim, Ogden, UT
13t. Merchants, Taft, CA
13t. Griffey’s Donuts, Las Vegas, NV
17t. Falstaff, Macomb, IL
17t. Casablcionals, Tiajuana, MX

1960 ASA Men’s Open Slow Pitch Nationals

1960 held at Toledo, Ohio

Champion – Hamilton Tailoring, Cincinnati, Ohio
Runner Up – Sheffield Bronze, Cleveland, Ohio

After being dropped to the loser’s bracket by losing to Sheffield 12-9, Hamilton Tailors had to win five straight games and did so with the pitching of Sam Minniti, defense of Third Baseman, Don Sawyer (who made diving grabs to rob Sheffield of at least 4 hits). Sheffield defeated Buckhorn Cafe of Toledo in the winners bracket final 16-7. Hamilton Tailors came back to eliminate Buckhorn 16-5 in the semi-final to set the stage for the championship against Sheffield Bronze. With Sam Minniti on the mound, The Tailors defeated Sheffield twice; 12-4 and then 17-2 to claim the title.

Bernie Roeckers was 4-5 with 2 doubles, 3 runs scored and 3 RBI in the final game. Sam Minniti surrendered 14 runs in the five straight wins to the title after the loss to Sheffield. Including the 12 runs he gave up to Sheffield in the loss, Minniti gave up just 41 runs in the 10 games. He was 9-1 in the tournament.

  • MVP – Sam Minniti, Hamilton Tailors
  • HR Leader – Denny Braun, Sheffield Bronze – 6
  • Batting Leader – Paul Nutley, Hamilton Tailoring – .667

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Sam Minniti, Hamilton Tailors (9-1, pitched 5-hitter in championship, gave up only 43 runs in 10 games)
C – Ed French, Hamilton Tailors
1B – Jim Desmond, Buckhorn Cafe
2B -Bernie Roeckers, Hamilton Tailors
3B -Don Rardin, Yorkshire Restaurant
SS -Paul Tomasovich, Skip Hogans
OF – Paul Nutley, Hamilton Tailoring (18-27, .667)
OF – Ron Annotico, Sheffield Bronze
OF – Denny Braun, Sheffield Bronze (6 HR)
OF – Charlie Conley, Yorkshire Restaurant

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Hamilton Tailoring, Cincinnati, OH (9-1)
2. Sheffield Bronze, Cleveland, OH (5-2)
3. Buckhorn Cafe, Toledo, OH (4-2)
4. Nassau Merchants, Maspeth, NY (5-2)
5t. Hogan A.C, Pittsburgh, PA (4-2)
5t. Textile Workers TWUA, Leaksville, NC (4-2)
7t. Yorkshire Restaurant, Newport, KY (4-2)
7t. Gatliff Motors, Newport, KY (4-2)
9t. Maizie’s Gasiorowski’s, Toledo, OH (2-2)
9t. Sox Inn, Detroit, MI (2-2)
9t. Duffy’s Tavern, Louisville, KY (2-2)
9t. Buddies Sporting Goods, Tallahassee, FL (2-2)
13t. Sill’s Sport Shop, Miami, FL (2-2)
13t. St. Louis Park Drug, St. Louis Park, MN (2-2)
13t. Cantwell Home Improvement, Knoxville, TN (2-2)
13t. Star Drive-In, New Orleans, LA (1-2)
17t. Black Bear Beverages, Milwaukee, WI (1-2)
17t. Schroeder’s Bunny Acres, Hutchinson, KS (1-2)
17t. Tobin’s, Rochester, NY (1-2)
17t. Krivian Club, Springdale, PA (1-2)
17t. Olden A.A., Trenton, NJ (1-2)
17t. Sunbeam Bread, Springfield, OH (1-2)
17t. Northern Scrap Iron, Minneapolis, MN (1-2)
17t. Pagliacci, St. Louis, MO (0-2)
25t. New-Mo Tavern, Oakland, CA (0-2)
25t. Schubert Garage, Indianapolis, IN (0-2)
25t. Richmond Rebels, Richmond, VA (0-2)
25t. Smithfield Fire Company, Greenville, RI (0-2)
25t. Edgemere Lodge, Edgemere, MA (0-2)
25t. Bud and Al’s Service, Waukesha, WI (0-2)
25t. Wesley UM Church, Oklahoma City, OK (0-2)

1960 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1960 held at Stratford, Connecticut.

Champion – Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, Connecticut (54-7)
Runner Up – Erv Lind Florist, Portland, Oregon

Bertha Ragan threw a 2-hit shutout as Stratford won the title 2-0. Portland’s Louize Mazzucca also only gave up 2 hits, but didn’t have the magic she had as she only had 5 strikeouts. She had previously in this tournament pitched 3 no hitters. Millie Dixon of the Brakettes drove in the both runs with a double in the bottom of the first inning to give the Brakettes a 2-0 lead that Bertha Ragan held on to until the end, registering 10 K.

This is the second straight year that Ragan has beat Mazzucca in the Championship game. Ragan has had 8 straight shutouts in the past 2 years. Mazzucca, who can’t beat that Brakette jinx has had 5 no hitters in the past 2 years and has gone 7-4.

In the Championship game, all the runs that Bertha Ragan would need came in the bottom of the first inning. Micki “Stratton” Macchietto and Joan Joyce both were on base via base hits and up stepped Millie Dixon. She laced a double to give the Brakettes a 2-0 lead that Bertha Ragan made last. Ragan had 10 strikeouts and pitched a 2-hitter. Louise Mazuca took the loss for the Florists. She was second in the MVP voting to Ragan. She was 4-2, struck out 75 batters in 43 innings and tossed three no-hitter in the tournament.

Marion Fox, Toronto (3-1), Teddy Hamilton, Orange Lionettes (3-1) and Lorene Ramsey, Pekinettes (3-2) all won 3 games in the tournament.

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Raybestos Brakettes
  • HR Leader – N/A – no home runs were hit
  • Batting Leader – Dot Wilkinson, PBSW Ramblers – .444
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Raybestos Brakettes

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Lorene Ramsey, Pekin-Lettes
P – Bertha Ragan Tickey, Raybestos Brakettes (4-0, 4 straight shutouts, 47 K, 28 IP, pitched a 2-hit 2-0 shutout in final with 10 K). In the past 3 years of national play, Ragan-Tickey has been 12-0 with 11 shutouts. In 103 innings, she has struck out 147 batters and given up only 1 run, which was unearned.
P – Louise “Chris” Mazzuca, Erv Lind Florists (4-2, 75 K, 43 IP, 4 shutouts, 3 no-hitters…. she has tossed 5 no hitters in the past two Nationals)
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers (8-18, 6 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 Doubles)
1B – Jean Bonham, Phoenix Ramblers
2B – Estelle “Ricki” Caito, Orange Lionettes
3B – Carol Spanks, Orange Lionettes
SS – Susan Bea Thomas, Pekin-Lettes
OF – Hap Beryl Piper, Erv Lind Florists
OF – Odette Griffin, Orange Lionettes
OF – Ann DeLuca, Raybestos Brakettes
UTIL – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes (2-0, 1 shutout, 29 Ks 14 IP)

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Marion Fox, Peoples Credit Jewelers
P – Teddy Hamilton, Orange Lionettes
P – Gerry Boudreau, Caggiano All-Stars
C – Nancy Ito, Orange Lionettes
1B – Donna Baxter, Orange Lionettes
2B – Carol Fowler, Peoples Credit Jewelers
3B – Dorothy “Dot” Dobie, Erv Lind Florists
SS – Kay Rohrer, Phoenix Ramblers
OF – Mary Archer, Peoples Credit Jewelers
OF – Ruby Wienecke, Peoples Credit Jewelers
OF – Mary Hartman, Raybestos Brakettes
UTIL – Shirley Topley, South Hill Queens

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (6-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (4-2) (Northwestern)
3. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
4. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (Cactus)
5t. Pekin-Lettes, Peoria, IL (3-2) (West Central)
5t. People’s Credit Jewelers, Toronto, ON (3-2) (East Canada)
7t. Kansas City Dons, Kansas City, KS (2-2) (Western)
7t. Caggiano All-Stars, Lynn, MA (2-2) (New England)
9t. Olney Kaydettes, Philadelphia, PA (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. South Hill Queens, Vancouver, BC (2-2) (West Canada-British Columbia)
9t. Crest Fence, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. National Cash Register Girls, Dayton, OH (1-2) (East Central)
13t. Falstaffers, Houston, TX (1-2) (Texas)
13t. Legal Finance Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (1-2) (South Atlantic)
13t. Hartford Laurelettes, Hartford, CT (1-2) (Host)
13t. Burrey Biscuit Mauraders, Plainfield, NJ (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
17t. Fresno Rockets, Fresno, CA (0-2) (North Pacific Coast)
17t. St. Paul Rockettes, St. Paul, MN (0-2) (Northern)
17t. Al-Ettes, Pine Bluff, AR (0-2) (Southwestern)
17t. National Security Ins., Birmingham, AL (0-2) (Southern)

NOTES

West Canada-Alberta Champ – Premier Steelers, Alberta did not attend.

1960 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1960 held at Jones Beach State Park in Jones Beach, New York on September 16-23.

Champion – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida
Runner Up – Delta Merchants, Stockton, California

The Clearwater Bombers became the first Men’s team to win 5 Championships, breaking the record of 4, previously held by Briggs Beautywear of Detroit. The Bombers came out of the loser’s bracket to then shutout Canton, NC 1-0 behind a combined effort of Bobby Spell (5.2 IP) and Bill Massey in relief (1.1 IP). Then Bobby Spell struck out 19 as he hurled a 9-inning 1-0 win in the first final as Ricky Tomlinson (11-33, .333 in the tournament) tripled in the 9th and scored on Buster Zeigler’s single. Tomlinson (11-33, .333 total) was 2-4 in the game with a double and a triple.

In the final championship game, Bill Massey pitched a 1-0 no hitter with 13 K.  The Bombers scored the only run in the game in the 6th inning as Buster Zeigler tripled and then scored on a wild pitch.  The wins by Spell and Massey over Bill Simoni of Stockton were the first 2 defeats he had in the tournament after a 5-0 start. He was named the MVP.

Teams were housed in the City of Long Beach with a welcome luncheon at noon on Friday at the Marine Dining Room where tournament officials greeted the managers, and the tournament draw was held. Two clubs, the defending champion Aurora Sealmasters, last year’s champions, and the host Musicaro squad didn’t have to draw. The tournament almost didn’t happen. After hurricane Donna, the main stadium was under four feet of water and the dugouts weren’t even visible. Officials stated that six or eight men were working on the fields, and they would be in top shape for the tournament. Pumps went to work and slowly the salt water was dumped back into the ocean. The grass had to be well washed with fresh water. By Friday night, everything was back in shape.

  • MVP – Bill Simoni, Delta Merchants
  • Batting Leader – Frank Doucette, Gardena Merchants (6-10, 6 RBI, 1 Run) – .600
  • Home Run Leader – Lafayette Horton, Peter’s Sausage of Detroit (3-21, .143, 4 RBI, 3 Runs) – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bill Simoni, Delta Merchants (5-2, 3 Shutouts, 53 K, 58 IP, gave up only 4 runs) – Pitched his team to the championship games, only to lose two straight 1-0 games.
P – Bobby Spell, Clearwater Bombers (4-0, 49 K, 34 IP, 4 Shutouts)
P – Harvey Sterkel, Sealmasters (5-2, 108 K, 92 IP, 4 runs)
C – Tony Esposito, Flat Iron Athletic Club
1B – George Haley, Delta Merchants
2B – George Caloia, Peter’s Sausage
3B – Babe Lolly, Delta Merchants
SS – Richard “Ricky” Tomlinson, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Bill Bearden, Champion YMCA
OF – John “Buster” Ziegler, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Charles Poindexter, Champion YMCA
UT – Jerry Fleming, DeJur Cameramen

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bill Massey, Clearwater Bombers (3-1, 54 K, 45 IP)
P – Wade Garrett, Champion YMCA (5-1, 65 K, 45 IP, 2 Shutouts)
P – Gene Barr, A&A Shopette
C – Ed Riddell, Clearwater Bombers
1B – George Adam, DeJur Cameramen
2B – Tommy Moore, Clearwater Bombers
3B – Gene Roberti, DeJur Cameramen
SS – Ray Phillips, Delta Merchants
UT – Faye Dunbar, Teamsters Local 886

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (7-1) (Southern)
2. Delta Merchants, Stockton, CA (5-2) (North Pacific Coast)
3. Champion YMCA, Canton, NC (5-2) (South Atlantic)
4. Aurora Sealmasters, Aurora, IL (5-2) (Defending Champ)
5t. A&A Shopette, Springfield, MO (2-2) (Western)
5t. Teamsters Local #880, Oklahoma City, OK (3-2) (Southwestern)
7t. Peter’s Sausage, Detroit, MI (4-2) (East Central)
7t. DeJur Cameramen, Long Island City, NY (2-2) (Mid Atlantic)
9t. Flat Iron Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA (3-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Gardenia Merchants, Gardenia, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. U.S. Air Force, USA (1-2) (US Air Force)
9t. U.S. Navy White Caps, Norfolk, VA (1-2) (US Navy)
13t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (1-2) (New England)
13t. Federal Old Line Insurance, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. 7-Up, St. Paul, MN (1-2) (Northern)
13t. M&H Cleaners, Pasadena, TX (0-2) (Texas)
17t. Hausske-Harlan Furniture, Peru, IN (0-2) (West Central)
17t. Zeb Pearce, Mesa, AZ (0-2) (Cactus)
17t. Musicaro’s Restaurant, Massapequa, NY (0-2) (Host)
17t. Our Chapel of Memories, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
17t. Club 10, Manzanillo, Cuba (0-2) (Cuba)
17t. Mission Orange, Trail, BC (0-2) (West Canada-British Columbia)

NOTES

Peter’s Sausage, Detroit, MI went in place of – East Central Champ – Club 500, Detroit, MI, who could not attend. Our Chapel of Memories Mortuary, Denver, CO went in place of Rocky Mountain Champ – Sunnyside Grocery, Denver, CO, who could not attend. A&A Shopette, Springfield, MO went in place of – Western Champ – Barnes Store, Springfield, MO, who could not attend. East Canada Champ – did not send a representative. West Canada – Edmonton Champ – Calgary Orioles, Alberta did not attend. Puerto Rico Champ – Refrescos FRYA, Pio Piedras, Puerto Rico could not attend – had to withdraw due to Hurricane Donna.

1960 ASA Women’s Major Slow Pitch Nationals

1960 held at Richmond, Virginia.

Champion: Carolina Glass Rockets, High Point, North Carolina (35-0 record)
Runner Up: Pearl Laundry Pollyannas, Richmond, Virginia

The High Point Glass Rockets completed their undefeated season by sweeping through the National Tournament in three straight games. Pitcher Peggy Andrews allowed only 18 hits in 21 innings. She surrendered just 3 runs and pitched a 2-0 shutout in the Championship Game. Andrews also wielded a hot bat also.  Phyllis Snipes got the Glass Rockets on the board early with a HR. Snipes was 6-10 in the tournament (.600).

Heidel’s Hall Nancy Conners started off the tournament tossing a 3-hitter over St. Patrick’s of Louisville, KY as Heidel’s banged out 28 hits in an 18-1 triumph. Heidel’s Hall is the former Dana Gardens team.

A young lady by the name of Nancy Oldham started out her Hall of Fame career playing for the High Point Carolina Glass Rockets. In the Glass Rockets quarter final victory over the Virginia Dairy Maids, Frances Cook belted a 3-run homer in the 7th inning to give the Rockets the win.

ALL TOURNAMENT AWARDS

  • N.F. Jacobs and Son MVP Award – Peggy Andrews, Rockets (P), (3-0, allowed 3 total runs and 18 hits in 21 innings, pitched 2-0 shutout in final)
  • Hillerich & Bradsby Outstanding Hitter Award – Frances Cook, Glass Rockets (LF)
  • Hillerich & Bradsby Outstanding Hitter Award – Jeannette Pease, Pearl Laundry (RF)
  • Outstanding Pitcher Award – Peggy Andrews, Rockets
  • Rockingham Manager Award – Louise Pete Brown, Glass Rockets
  • Batting Leader – Phyllis Snipes, Glass Rockets (6-10, 1 HR) – .600
  • Slow Pitch Softball Queen – Faye Kelley. Eddie Mooer’s Blue Jays

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Carolina Glass Rockets, High Point, NC (3-0)
2. Pearl Laundry Pollyannas, Richmond, VA (2-1)
3t. Heidel’s Hall, Covington, KY (2-1)
3t. Clearview Lake, Cincinnati, OH (1-1)
5t. BPW Hoosiers, New Albany, IN (0-1)
5t. Virginia Metals, Orange, VA (0-1)
5t. Eddie Mooer’s Blue Jays, Richmond, VA (0-1)
5t. Virginia Dairy, Richmond, VA (0-1)
9. St. Patrick’s, Louisville, KY (0-1)

NOTE: The tournament was single elimination format.

SCORES

Single Elimination

Play-in Game

Heidel’s Hall, Covington, KY 18 St. Patrick’s, Louisville, KY 1 (Nancy Conners 3-hitter, Heidels 28 hits)

First Round/Quarterfinals

Pearl Laundry Pollyannas, Richmond, VA 12 BPW Hoosiers, New Albany, IN 5
Clearview Lake, Cincinnati, OH 7 Virginia Metals, Orange, VA 3
Carolina Glass Rockets, High Point, NC 5 Virginia Dairy, Richmond, VA 2
Heidel’s Hall, Covington, KY 11 Eddie Mooer’s Blue Jays, Richmond, VA 3

Semi Finals

Pearl Laundry Pollyannas, Richmond, VA 8 Clearview Lake, Cincinnati, OH 1
Carolina Glass Rockets, High Point, NC 4 Heidel’s Hall, Covington, KY 1

Championship

Carolina Glass Rockets, High Point, NC 2 Pearl Laundry Pollyannas, Richmond, VA 0

1959 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1959 held at Long Beach, California on August 27-September 5.

Champion – Nitehawks, Long Beach, California
Runner Up – Sertoma Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Howard Heuston, Sertoma Club
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – LeRoy Zimmerman, Nitehawks
  • Leading Hitter – Jerry Branson, Lucky Lager – .500
  • Most RBI – N/A

1959 ISC FIRST TEAM ALL WORLD

P – LeRoy Zimmerman, Nitehawks 3-0 0.00 50 1
P – Jim Boender, Hamms 4-0 0.00 46 0
P – Jack Randall, Nitehawks 2-0 0.00 26 3
P – Richie Stephens, Comets 3-1 1.28 65 2
C – Jack Palmore, Dautrich Realty .278
C – Charley Toppert, Hamms .238
C – Stan White, Nitehawks .166
IF – Cleo Goyette, Nitehawks .429
IF – Larry Silvas, Nitehawks .389
IF – Jimmy Jones, Nitehawks .368
IF – Frank Doucette, Comets .348
OF – Al DeWulf, Hamms .348
OF – Sid Ryan, Hillside Outlaws .333
OF – Jack Lewko, Army & Navy Store .278
UTIL – Paul Humiston, Nitehawks .222
UTIL – Clint Herron, Nitehawks .222

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Nitehawks, Long Beach, CA
2. Comets, Culver City, CA
3. Hamms, Rock Island, IL
4. Realtors, Salt Lake City, UT
5t. Dautrich Reality, El Paso, TX
5t. Harsch Lumber Co., Longmont, CO
7t. Peccole Insurance, Las Vegas, NV
7t. Fats Richfield, Burley, ID
9t. Aetna Rockets, Alamogordo, NM
9t. Army & Navy Store, New Westminster, BC
9t. Caliente 5-10, TiJuana, Mex
9t. Hillside Outlaws, Bremerton, WA
13t. Piobeer Chevrolet, Taft, CA
13t. Twin City Poconos, Stroudsburg, PA
13t. Monty’s Resturant, Ft. Wayne, IN
13t. Coolidge Boosters, Coolidge, AZ
17t. Bills Trim Shop, Arlington, TX