Softball History USA

1945 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1945 held at Lakewood Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on September 12-17.

Champion – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (72-4)
Runner Up – M&S Orange Beverage Company, Flint, Michigan (50-7)

Charles Justice of M&S Orange was 7-2, 7 shutouts, 74 Ks, 69 IP; lost 1st game of tournament to Zollner’s 3-2, then pitched 7 consecutive shutouts, including the 1-0 victory in the first final. The winning run was scored by Justice himself. They went on to lose in the final championship game 1-0. All total, gave up 4 runs in 9 games and had a streak of 55 scoreless innings. He hurled 49 innings in the the last two days. Justice is listed as the MVP in some sources and Most Valuable Pitcher in other sources. One of Justice’s Shutouts was a combined effort as Percy McCracken started the game and Justice relieved him in the 4th inning, hurling 1-hit ball the rest of the way and Flint scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th to win, giving Justice the 4-0 victory. Justice also hurled a 19 inning 1-0 victory over Tip Top Tailors as Bill Pack hit a HR to win the game. Justice struck 27.

Hughie Johnston, Zollner (6-22, .273, 3 doubles, 3 Runs, 6 RBI). Some newspapers sources said he was the MVP, but the performance of Justice was just too incredible to ignore.

Leo Luken, Zollner Pistons (4-0, 33 K, 28 IP, 3 Shutouts; pitched 1-0 final, beating Charlie Justice). Charlie Justice beat Zollner’s Dizzy Kirkendale 1-0 in first final to force the championship showdown with the Pistons prevailing 1-0 as Chick Goldberg’s base hit scored Neal Barille (6 runs scored, 4 RBIs in the tournament) with the winning run. Detroit went 6-1 to win the event, outscoring their opponents 23-6. Dizzy Kirkendall, Zollner (2-1, 29 K, 24 IP, 1 Shutout).

The Zollner Pistons team won a record 50 straight games during the season in 1945. They finished the season 72-4 and the pitching staff threw 451 scoreless innings out of a possible 464 innings played.

Leo Luken was 35-0 on the year. Luken’s first victory of the tournament was a 1-0 shutout over Phelps-Dodge of New Jersey for the ASA National Industrial Championship. The final was part of the bracket as a play-in game. Kirkendall finished the season 29-3, including 17 straight wins at one point. The Pistons pitching staff of Luken, Kirkendall and Corgan threw 451 scoreless innings out of a total of 464 innings played during the season.

Some sources state that M&S players, Charlie Justice (pitcher), Bobby Wright (catcher) and Bill Hamilton (first base) were named to the All-World Fast Pitch Team by a local publication.

  • MVP – Charles Justice, M&S Orange Beverage Company
  • Batting Leader – N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (6-1) (West Industrial Champ)
2. M&S Orange Beverage Company, Flint, MI (7-2) (West Central)
3. Stove Machinists, Tacoma, WA (3-2) (Northwestern)
4. O.S. Stapley Hardware, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON (2-2) (Canada)
5t. Houston Slush Pumps, Houston, TX (2-2) (Southwestern)
7t. Coors Beer, Salt Lake City, UT (2-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, PA (2-2) (East Central)
9t. Merced AFB, San Francisco, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Ritter’s Dental, Rochester, NY (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Phelps Dodge, Elizabeth, NJ (1-2) (East Industrial Champ)
9t. Monowat Electric, Cranston, RI (1-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Kavokas Grill, Washington DC (1-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. DF Giants (Gigantes), Mexico City, MX (0-2) (Mexico)
13t. Buck’s Bar, Omaha, NE (0-2) (Western)
13t. Coast Guard Repair Shop, Miami, FL (0-2) (Southern)
17. Quincy Club, Cleveland, OH (0-2) (Host)

NOTES

Hammer Field Raiders, Fresno, CA – Defending Champs – Disbanded. Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, PA went in place of Old Reliables, Columbus, OH, who could not attend. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Puerto Rico did not attend due to World War II transportation restrictions.

1944 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1944 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Lind & Pomeroy Florists, Portland, Oregon (44-8)
Runner Up – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona

2-time defending champ, Jax Maids lost 2 straight, to Erin Brews of Cleveland 1-0 in 14 inn. and Arizona Ramblers 1-0 in 8 inn. They had a tough time finding suitable competition, playing mostly Men’s Military Base teams, playing a limited schedule, they were 30-5 against men and 14-3 versus women teams for a total combined record of 44-8.

Nira Deputy’s single scored Dottie Moore with the winning run for Portland in the 11th inning of the final. Deputy was 3-5 in the final game.

Alyse Johnson, Lind & Pomeroy went 2-0, 12 IP, hurled a 1-hit shutout and a combined 9-0 no hitter with Betty Evans, Johnson got the win as she entered in the 3rd inning. She did not give up a hit in the 12 innings she pitched.

Lind & Pomeroy went 5-0 and did not give up a run, outscoring their opponents 27-0.

Marge Wood, Erin Brews went 4-2, 60 IP, 70 K, 3 shutouts.

Amy Peralta May, Arizona Ramblers (5-2 hurling 59 innings, pitched 3 shutouts, including 2 no-hitters. She gave up only 4 runs in the 59 innings she pitched. She also went 11 for 19 at the plate.

Louise Curtis, Arizona Ramblers (1-0, pitched 6 innings to gain win, Amy Peralta came in and pitched the last inning).

Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy (3-0, 3 shutouts, 25 IP, 42 K, 2 no-hitters), pitched a no hitter in the semis and a 1-0, 11 inn. 3-hitter in final. The 3 hits she gave up in the final game were the only hits she surrendered in the entire tournament. She would have been named the MVP.

  • MVP – N/A
  • Home Run Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Amy Peralta May, Arizona Ramblers – . 577

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Lind & Pomeroy Florists, Portland, OR (5-0) (Northwestern)
2. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (6-2) (Pacific Coast)
3. Stamford Nutmegs, Stamford, CT (3-2) (North Atlantic)
4. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (4-2) (Host)
5t. Jeep Bars, Omaha, NE (2-2) (Western)
5t. Sunday Morning Class, Toronto, ON (2-2) (East Canada)
7t. Neons, Vancouver, BC (2-2) (West Canada-British Columbia)
7t. Chicago Rock-olas, Chicago, IL (2-2) * (West Central)
9t. Douglass Air Cargoettes, Oklahoma City, OK (1-2) (Southwestern
9t. American Yarn, Mount Holly, NC (1-2) * (Southern)
9t. Fink & Hine, Springfield, MO (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Ambrosias, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13t. United Typewriters, Washington DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Van’s TNT Girls, Rochester, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, LA (0-2) (Defending Champ)
13t. Moose Jaw Royals, Regina, SK (0-2) (West Canada)

* indicates wins by forfeit.

NOTES

The Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. South Atlantic Region disbanded in 1943. South Atlantic States merged with Southern Regional States. Moose Jaw Royals, Regina, SK did not show up.

1944 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1944 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Hammer Airfield Raiders, Fresno, California (58-4)
Runner Up – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (76-12)

Al Linde put on one of the greatest single performances in the history of the ASA Nationals on the mound, in the field and at the plate. He was 4-0 in 41 IP, 74 Ks, 4 shutouts, 2 no-hitters and gave up only 5 hits, he also had 2 game winning walk off hits and made a diving catch and then doubled the runner off second to save another game. Linde was 37-1 on the season with 15 no hitters. He now has 93 no hitters in his career.

Kermit Lynch, Raiders (1-0, 11 IP, beat Briggs 6-0 on a 2-hitter) – Lynch was 21-3 on the year with 14 no hitters. Linde and Lynch combined for a total of 52 shutouts in the team’s total of 58 wins. 29 of the shutouts were no hitters.

Harry Goorabian, Raiders drove Bob Nugent with the winning run in the championship with a base hit up the middle.

Zollner Pistons; Leo Luken (3-0), Stan Corgan (1-2, took the loss in the 12 inning final 1-0, while striking out 16 batters). The only 2 Pistons that got hits were Monday Cielenski and Chick Goldberg.

Warren “Fireball” Gerber (3-1 with a shutout for third place Ferguson Auditors), Diz Kirkendall was 1-1 for the Auditors with a shutout but lost the 3-2 elimination to the Pistons.

  • MVP – Al Linde, Hammer Airfield Raiders (Pitched 12-inning 1-0 two-hitter in final w/21 Ks)
  • Defensive MVP– Tony Iacovitle, Hammer Airfield Raiders (threw out player at the plate to keep Zollner from scoring)
  • HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Hammer Airfield Raiders, Fresno, CA (5-0) (Defending Champs)
2. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (4-2) (West Central)
3. Ferguson State Auditors, Columbus, OH (4-2) (East Central)
4. Market Inn, Salt Lake City, UT (4-2) (Rocky Mountain)
5t. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON (3-2) (Canada)
5t. Monowatt, Electric, Cranston, RI (2-2) (North Atlantic)
7t. Kodak Park, Rochester, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Delchamps, Mobile, AL (2-2) (Southern)
9t. Briggs Bombers, Detroit, MI (1-2) (Industrial Champ)
9t. Cummings Construction, Baltimore, MD (1-2) (Central Atlantic) *
9t. Martin Bombers, Omaha, NE (1-2) (Western) *
9t. Leece & Neville, Cleveland, OH (1-2) (Host)
13t. OS Stapleys, Phoenix, AZ (0-2) (Pacific Coast)
13t. Ardmore Army Airfield, Ardmore, OK (0-2) (Southwestern)
13t. Portland Merchants, Portland, OR (0-2) (Northwestern)

* Won a game by forfeit

NOTES

Merced Army Airfield, San Francisco, CA (Military Service) did not show up. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. South Atlantic Region disbanded in 1943. South Atlantic States merged with Southern Regional States. Puerto Rico and Mexico did not attend due to World War II transportation restrictions.

1943 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1943 held at Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana
Runner Up – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona

Jax Maids collected 17 hits in the 7-0 final. All their players are employed by their sponsor and most do clerical work, one is even a chemist for the firm. They were offered contracts ranging from $65 to well over $100 a week to play in the new All-American Girls Baseball League in 1944, but all 15 refused, because they did not want to break up the team.

Nina Korgan pitched a 7-0 one-hitter in final striking out 9, and went 2-4 with 2 RBI. She beat Amy Peralta of Phoenix. Olympia Savona was 2-3 with 2 runs scored. Dottie Pitts drove in 2 runs and Freda Savona was 3-3 with 2 RBI.

Freda Savona was 7-15, 6 Runs, 6 RBI, 3 Doubles and 2 HR, and won the batting title

Lottie Johnson, Jax Brewery Maids went 1-0, pitched a 6-0 no hitter.

Amy Peralta May, Ramblers went 4-2, 2 shutouts.

Olympia Savona went 5-17, .294, 3 runs for Jax Brewery Maids.

Nina Korgan, Jax Brewery Maids went 4-0, 28.2 IP, 54 K, 3 shutouts, 8 hits, 1 run and would have been named MVP.

Marge Wood of Erin Brews was 2-1 pitching.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Freda Savona, Jax Maids – .467

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, LA (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (Pacific Coast)
3. Local #50 Bomberettes, Detroit, MI (5-2) (Host)
4. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Western Mutuals, Vancouver, BC (2-2) (West Canada-British Columbia)
5t. American Yarn, Mount Holly, NC (2-2) (South Atlantic)
7t. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (2-2) (East Central)
7t. Sunday Morning Class, Toronto, ON (2-2) (Canada)
9t. Douglass Air Cargoettes, Oklahoma City, OK (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Westport Girls, Baltimore, MD (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Moose Jaw Royals, Regina, SK (1-2) (West Canada)
9t. Arians, Linden, NJ (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Denver Dry Goods, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13t. Monowatt Electric Girls, Providence, RI (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Huntsville Arsenal, Huntsville, AL (0-2) (Southern)

NOTES

Marlin-Chesneys, Topeka, KS (could not attend – Holy Trinity, Topeka, KS was scheduled to go in place, but they backed out as well). Douglass Aircraft Cargoettes, Oklahoma City, OK went in place of Richey Grocerettes, Houston, TX, who could not attend. Northwestern Champ – Victory Girls, Seattle, WA (could not attend). Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Sunday Morning Class, Toronto, ON went in place of Canada Champ – Simcoe Basic Training Stars, Ontario, who could not attend.

1943 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1943 held in Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Hammer Airfield Raiders, Fresno, California (25-3)
Runner Up – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan

(Unofficial MVP by Newspaper accounts) – Kermit Lynch, Raiders (3-0; 3 shutouts, including 1-0 win in finals, also drove in Dalton Moore with a triple to account for the only run of the game)

Al Linde, Raiders (1-1 pitching with a shutout, and played OF when he wasn’t hurling)

Ed Figelski, Briggs Beautyware (Pitched a 14 inning no hitter, winning 1-0 and having 27 Ks in the opening game, then came back in the first championship game to shut out Hammer Field 4-0 to force the final showdown, Big Ed had 10 Strikeouts to finish with 37 total in the 2 games he pitched. Ed Pearl was the pitcher of record in the final championship game for the Briggs Bombers and he only gave up 1 hit, but just happened to be Kermit Lynch’s RBI triple. Pearl was 2-2, Figelski was 2-0 and Ted Bankey was 1-0 for the Bombers.

Russ Johnston, Canadian Dental Corp. was 3-2 with no hitter.

The Zollner Pistons never made it out of the Regionals having been beaten by Midland Dow AC and then eliminated by the Peoria Caterpillars.

  • MVP – Kermit Lynch, Hammer Airfield Raiders
  • Batting Leader – Ed “Tyranski” Tyson, Briggs Beautyware (9-19) – .473
  • HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Hammer Airfield Raiders, Fresno, CA (5-1) (Military Service) *
2. Briggs Bombers, Detroit, MI (5-2) (Host)
3. Coca-Cola, Cincinnati, OH (3-2) (East Central)
4. Martin Bombers, Omaha, NE (4-2) (Western)*
5t. Canadian Army Dental Corp, Toronto, ON (3-2) (Canada)
5t. Public Service, Denver, CO (2-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Dow Chemical, Midland, MI (2-2) (West Central)
7t. Kodak Park, Rochester, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Camp Wallace, Galveston, TX (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Garvin’s Grill, Washington DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Teamsters, Tacoma, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Phalanx Fraternity, Phoenix, AZ (1-2) (Pacific Coast)
13t. United Wire, Providence, RI (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Burtner Farms, Greensboro, NC (0-2) (South Atlantic)

* Won a game by forfeit

NOTES

8th Naval District, New Orleans, LA (Southern) did not show up. Deep Rock Oilers, Tulsa, OK – Defending Champs – Disbanded. Phalanx Fraternity, Phoenix, AZ went in place of O.S. Stapley, Phoenix, AZ, who could not attend. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Puerto Rico (Atlantic Ocean) and Mexico did not attend due to World War II transportation restrictions.

1942 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1942 held at Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana (92-6)
Runner Up – Garden City Maids, Chicago, Illinois

In 1942, ASA changed the way teams qualified for national tournaments. Instead of having every state and metro champ come to the national tournament. Wartime restrictions on travel and gas, etc, made things different. ASA divided the country into regions. States and Metros would still have their own championship tournaments and the winners of these would travel to a location within their region and play a regional championship tournament. The winners of the regional championships would be invited to the national championship tournament along with the host team and the defending champ. This would drastically cut down on the number of teams at the Nationals. Because of the reduced number of teams, the nationals would be run in a double elimination format, instead of the single elimination format that was used from 1933-1941.   The number was reduced from upwards of 70 State and Metro Champions that were eligible for National play down to manageable 16 teams.

Garden City Maids scored in the 7th to break a string of 57.2 scoreless IP by Nina Korgan. She started her streak in 1941 with the Higgins Midgets of Tulsa, OK. She pitched a 1-0 shutout against the Arizona Ramblers in the semi-finals. That was her 7th straight shutout in National Championship play. She went into the 7th inning of the championship game leading 1-0, recorded 2 outs and then a late Chicago rally pushed a run across to make the final score 4-1.

Jax Maids, scored all their runs in the first inning of the championship. Blanche Soniat laid down a perfect bunt, Olympia Savona reached base safely, Lillian Thread bunted and reached safely on an errant throw. Freda Savona got a base hit to score Olympia Savona, then base hits by Lottie Jackson and Dottie Pitts scored Soniat, Thread and Freda Savona.

Lottie Jackson, Jax Maids (1-0, beat Chicago in winners bracket final, pitched 5 innings of shutout ball, before Nina Korgan came in to finish out the game.)

Chicago Maids Pitchers – Sonny Berger (2-1) and Shirley Dressander (1-1).

Terri Davis, Sunday Morning Class, Toronto went 4-9, .444.

Nina Korgan, Jax Maids went 4-0, 1 save, 3 shutouts, gave up 1 run in 30.2 IP, 36 Ks, 3 one-hitters, won 4-1 final with 9 K.

Marge Wood of Erin Brews was 2-1 pitching.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Jo Leonard, Garden City Maids (6-12) – .500

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, LA (5-0) (Southwestern)
2. Garden City Maids, Chicago, IL (3-2) (West Central)
3. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (2-2) (East Central)
4. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (2-2) (Pacific Coast)
5t. Local #400 Coeds, Detroit, MI (1-2) (Host)
5t. American Yarn, Mount Holly, NC (1-2) (South Atlantic)
7t. Denver Industrial Bank, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Greenwood Electric, Des Moines, IA (0-2) (Western)
9. Sunday Morning Class, Toronto, ON (1-2) (Canada)

NOTES

Higgins Midgets, Tulsa, OK – (Defending Champs) – Disbanded. North Atlantic Champ – Haywood-Schuster Company, East Douglass, MA (could not attend). Mid-Atlantic Champ – Linden Arians, Linden, NJ (could not attend). Central Atlantic Champ – Westport Girls, Baltimore, MD (could not attend due to financial reasons). Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Southern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Northwestern Champ – Copperettes, Garfield, UT (Entered Pacific Coast Regional, lost to Arizona Ramblers in the final, and did not attend).

1942 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1942 held at Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Deep Rock Oilers, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Runner Up – Briggs Bombers, Detroit, Michigan

The tournament had a different twist to it as it was the first national to use the double elimination format, but it differed then the norm.

In prior national tournaments, state associations were sending their champions on to nationals. This was the first year that teams would play in regional tournaments with the regional tournament champion advancing to the national championship. The tournament totaled 16 teams, 14 regional teams, 1 defending champion, and 1 host team.

Sig Lawson hurled 3 shutouts, and a 3-2 no hitter. He beat Phoenix 1-0 on a 15-inning shutout, then threw the 3-2 no hit game against Bendix in the winners bracket final. He later came back to shutout Zollner 2-0 in semis. The powerful Zollner squad (62-11 on the season) could only manage 4 hits off Lawson. He then threw a 2-0, 1 hit shutout against Briggs with 12 K in the championship game. The leadoff man for Briggs beat out a bunt, Lawson retired the next 21 men in a row.

Al Linde, Deep Rock (Played OF in the 4 games Lawson pitched and went 2-1 himself, hurling shutouts in both victories)

Leo Luken, Zollner Pistons (3-0, 23 IP, gave up only 1 run and 4 hits and struck out 33 batters). Stan Lipa was 1-2 for the Zollner squad.

Walter Blumke of Briggs was 3-1 hurling Briggs from an early defeat all the way to the finals. Ed Figelski (2-1) pitched the other Briggs victory.

Ed “Tyranski” Tyson of Briggs (9-21, .328)

Stan Corgan pitched every game for Bendix but could not duplicate his magic of the 1941 tournament and finished 3-2.

The last four teams were entered into a semifinal format. Deep Rock was undefeated, while Bendix, Zollner and Briggs all had 1 loss. Leo Luken pitched a 2-0 no hitter with 11 K to eliminate defending champ, Bendix Brakes in the one semifinal. Briggs, behind the pitching of Walter Blumke gave Deep Rock their first loss, pinning a rare defeat on pitcher Al Linde 3-2. Bendix now had 2 losses and was eliminated and finished 4th. The other three teams still had only 1 loss, so with Stan Lipa taking the mound for Zollner, they were eliminated by pitcher Sig Lawson’s shutout pitching in a 2-0 loss to Deep Rock. With Briggs and Deep Rock both having one loss, the Championship game was another Sig Lawson masterpiece, as he hurled the Deep Rock Oilers to the title with a 2-0, 1-hit shutout and struck out 12 Briggs Batters.

The Pistons were led by the bats of Doehrman, Jim Ramage (5-17, .294, 5 RBI), Porky Slater (5-18, .278) and Zollner Pistons Basketball star, Curley Armstrong (5-19, .263). Armstrong, who in 1943, would go onto win the MVP of the World Basketball Tournament, held in Chicago. Oskkosh edged out Zollner for the title, but Armstrong was good enough to be named MVP.

  • MVP – Curley Armstrong, Zollner Pistons
  • Batting Leader – Lloyd “Lefty” Doehrman, Zollner (5-11, HR, 2 3B, 2 BB, 2 SF, 3 RBI) – .455
  • HR Leader – Bill Robeson, Deep Rock Oilers – 4

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Deep Rock Oilers, Tulsa, OK (6-1) (Southwestern)
2. Briggs Bombers, Detroit, MI (5-2) (Host)
3. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (4-2) (East Central)
4. Bendix Brakes, South Bend, IN (3-2) (Defending Champ)
5t. Chicago Match Corp., Chicago, IL (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Goetz Brewery, St. Joseph, MO (2-2) (Western)
7t. Phalanx Fraternity, Phoenix, AZ (2-2) (Pacific Coast)
7t. Kodak Park, Rochester, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Denver Public Service, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Romancos, Roanoke, NC (1-2) (South Atlantic)
9t. Homewood Dairy, Birmingham, AL (1-2) (Southern)
9t. Metz Brewing Company, Omaha, NE (1-2) (Northern)
13t. Cummins Construction, Baltimore, MD (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Merrill & Usher, Worcester, MA (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Magna Firemen, Salt Lake City, UT (0-2) (Northwestern)
13t. HMCS York, Toronto, ON (0-2) (Canada)

NOTES

Puerto Rico (Atlantic Ocean) and Mexico did not attend due to World War II transportation restrictions.

1941 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1941 held at Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Higgins Midgets, Tulsa, Oklahoma (64-6)
Runner Up – Erin Brews, Cleveland, Ohio

Erin Brews, sponsored by Standard Brewing Company had pitchers Marge Wood and Mary Skorich alternate games Each hurling a shutout. In the Championship, Wood started, went 3 1/3 inning, gave up 3 hits, Mary Skorich came in after the 3rd hit and her fielders had 4 consecutive errors, which accounted for the 3 runs. She finished the last 3 2/3 inning and gave up 0 hits, but was the losing pitcher. Skorich finished 2-1 and Wood was 2-0.

Defending Champs, Arizona Ramblers were eliminated in their opening game by the Jax Brewer Maids. Sonny Berger beat Amy Peralta.

In the semifinals, Erin Brews spotted Toronto’s Sunday Morning Class team two runs early, but came back to win the game 7-2. In the other semi-final, Nina Korgan of Higgins Midgets, pitched a 9 inning 1-hitter against the Jax Maids of New Orleans and struck out 17 of the Canadians. The Jax Maids liked what they saw and signed her up for the 1942 season. Thelma Golden, Sunday Morning Class hurler, was 4-1 in the tournament with a no hitter. The other Toronto team (Simpson Girls) had star pitcher Elsie Hayward go 2-1.

Laura Pettibone, Toronto Simpson Girls had 2 home runs.

The Jax Maids pitchers of New Orleans (Sonny Berger 2-1 and Lottie Jackson 2-0), each had a shutout to lead the Maids to a 4-1 record and third place.

Nina Korgan, Higgins Midgets went 4-0, 4 shutouts, 3-0 final with 11 K and a double; 67 K, 30 IP, including a perfect game in the tournament. All total, she had a perfect game, two 1-hitters and a 3-hitter, She gave up 0 runs. In the perfect game, she struck out 20 of the 21 batters she faced. She was named Outstanding Pitcher. Ruth Mitchell won the other game for the Tulsa squad.

Olympia Savona, New Orleans Jax Maids was 7-17, .412, 6 Runs, 4 RBI, 2B, and 2 HR.

  • MVP – Nina Korgan, Higgins Midgets
  • Home Run Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Olympia Savona, New Orleans Jax Maids – .412

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Higgins Midgets, Tulsa, OK (5-0) (Oklahoma)
2. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (4-1) (Cleveland)
3. Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, LA (4-1) (New Orleans)
4. Sunday Morning Class, Toronto, ON (4-1) (Canada-Toronto)
5t. Darlington Dairymaids, Rumford, RI (2-1) (Rhode Island)
5t. Rock-Ola Girls, Chicago, IL (2-1) (Chicago)
7t. Simpson Girls, Toronto, ON (3-1) (Canada-Ontario)
7t. Welsh’s Coeds, Detroit, MI (2-1) (Detroit)
9t. Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (1-1) (Illinois)
9t. Provident Loan Company, Mansfield, OH (1-1) (Ohio)
9t. Fisk Safety Flights, Chicopee, MA (1-1) (Massachusetts)
9t. General Heating, Denver, CO (1-1) (Denver)
13t. Hamilton Funeral Home, Des Moines, IA (1-1) (Iowa)
13t. Eline Chevrolet, Louisville, KY (1-1) (Kentucky)
13t. Gulf State Paper, Tuscaloosa, AL (1-1) (Alabama)
13t. Richey’s Girls, Houston, TX (1-1) (Texas)
17t. Vandervoorts, Lansing, MI (1-1) (Michigan)
17t. Cuminsky’s Coeds, Watertown, WI (0-1) (Wisconsin)
17t. American Yarn, Mount Holly, NC (0-1) (North Carolina)
17t. Bridger Cafe, Bridger, MT (0-1) (Montana)
17t. John Hospidor Stars, Reading, PA (0-1) (Pennsylvania)
17t. Erie Democrats, Buffalo, NY (0-1) (Buffalo)
17t. Census Bureau Girls, Washington DC (0-1) (Washington DC)
17t. Hoosier’s AC, Indianapolis, IN (0-1) (Indiana)
25t. Meyer’s Packing Girls, Cincinnati, OH (0-1) (Cincinnati)
25t. Bud Nelson’s, Minneapolis, MN (0-1) (Minnesota)
25t. Art City, Springville, UT (0-1) (Utah)
25t. Kirksville All Stars, Kirksville, MO (0-1) (Missouri)
25t. Furniture Queens, Phoenix, AZ (0-1) (Arizona)
25t. Regal Beer, New Orleans, LA (0-1) (New Orleans)
25t. Blue Ridge Spread Co., Dalton, GA (0-1) (Georgia)
25t. R.H. Hall Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (0-1) (Florida)
33t. Miller High Life Girls, Milwaukee, WI (0-1) (Mlwaukee)
33t. Marling Chesney, Topeka, KS (0-1) (Kansas)
33t. American Beverage Co., Omaha, NE (0-1) (Nebraska)
33t. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (0-1) (Defending Champ)

* indicates the team won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

The tournament was single elimination. Don’s Diamondettes, Fargo, ND and the South Carolina champion did not show up.

1941 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1941 held in Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Bendix Brakes, South Bend, Indiana (61-22)
Runner Up – Romanco’s, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

Stan Corgan came in the last inning to get the final 3 outs to preserve the championship victory. Big Ike Bierwagen also pitched a 9-inning no-hitter and teamed with Len Murray to win a tough 12 inning game over Pontiac, Michigan. Stan Corgan came in and pitched the last inning of the championship game to preserve the shutout).

Vince Piotrowski was 2-3 in the final with a double, home run and 4 RBI. Big Stan Corgan was also 3-0 for Bendix. In the semi-finals, Ed Kizelevich of Phelps Dodge of Elizabeth, NJ twirled a no hitter against the Romancos but lost the game 1-0. The other semifinal saw Bendix Brakes beat Briggs (Ed Figelski took the loss and finished the tournament with a 3-1 record) of Detroit 7-2 behind Stan Corgan’s pitching and Vince Piotrowski’s 3 hits. Piotrowski had 5 hits and 4 RBI in the final 2 games.

Russ DuBarry, Romanco’s went 5-1, 4 shutouts, pitched 61 consecutive innings. He won 5 straight games, giving up just 1 run and hurling 4 shutouts until the finals. Bendix jumped all over DuBarry and in the 4th, Howard Sama came in relief and the powerful Bendix bats kept hitting, as they had 14 hits and 9 runs total in the game.

Bendix ended the season with 38 straight wins. The continued the streak in 1942, getting up to a record of 46 straight wins.

Romanco is short for Rosemary Manufacturing Company.

  • MVP – Ike “Bonecrusher” Bierwagen, Bendix (3-0 record; he hurled the final championship game and went 6 innings giving up no runs and 4 hits with 8 Ks. He also had a double)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Russ DuBarry, Romanco’s (5-1, 4 shutouts, pitched 61 consecutive innings)
  • HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Bendix Brakes, South Bend, IN (6-0) (Indiana)
2. Romanco’s, Roanoke Rapids, NC (5-1) (North Carolina)
3t. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (4-1) (Detroit)
3t. Phelps Dodge, Elizabeth, NJ (3-1) (New Jersey)
5t. Pontiac Big Six, Pontiac, MI (3-1) (Michigan)
5t. Goetz Brewers, St. Joseph, MO (3-1) (Missouri) *
5t. Daws Drugs, Rochester, NY (3-1) (Rochester)
5t. O.S. Stapleys, Phoenix, AZ (3-1) (Arizona)
9t. Kozey Alley AA, Cleveland, OH (2-1) (Cleveland) *
9t. Caterpillar Diesels, Peoria, IL (2-1) (Illinois)
9t. Metz Brewing Company, Omaha, NE (2-1) (Nebraska)
9t. Brooks Sports Shop, Denver, CO (2-1) (Denver)
9t. Dates Laundry, Buffalo, NY (2-1) (Buffalo)
9t. Voight’s Sikorsky, Stratford, CT (2-1) (Connecticut) *
9t. Deep Rock Oilers, Tulsa, OK (2-1) (Oklahoma)
9t. Senate Beer Team, Washington DC (2-1) (Washington DC)
17t. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON (1-1) (Canada-Toronto)
17t. Victory Club, Pittsburgh, PA (1-1) (Pittsburgh)
17t. Western Printers, Racine, WI (0-1) (Wisconsin)
17t. Kodak Park, Rochester, NY (1-1) (Defending Champ)
17t. Stockman’s, Great Falls, MT (0-1) (Montana)
17t. Berger Merchants, Kansas City, KS (1-1) (Kansas) *
17t. Voit Sports Equipment, Los Angeles, CA (1-1) (Los Angeles)
17t. Mountain Fuel, Salt Lake City, UT (1-1) (Utah)
17t. International Nickel, Huntington, WV (1-1) (West Virginia)
17t. Modern Sponging, Philadelphia, PA (1-1) (Philadelphia)
17t. Lindy’s, Cranston, RI (1-1) (Rhode Island)
17t. Merrill-Usher, Worcester, MA (1-1) (Massachusetts)
17t. Worthen Bankers, Little Rock, AR (0-1) (Arkansas)
17t. Katson’s, Albuquerque, NM (1-1) (New Mexico)
17t. Montford Merchants, Spartanburg, SC (1-1) (South Carolina)
17t. Buckeye Pulps, Memphis, TN (1-1) (Tennessee)
33t. Coca-Cola, Cincinnati, OH (0-1) (Cincinnati)
33t. Iowa Packing, Des Moines, IA (0-1) (Iowa)
33t. Greenbaum Tannery, Milwaukee, WI (0-1) (Milwaukee)
33t. Chicago Match, Corp., Chicago, IL (0-1) (Chicago)
33t. Paige Dairy, Toledo, OH (0-1) (Ohio)
33t. Golden West Flour, Longmont, CO (0-1) (Colorado)
33t. Thompson’s Terriers, Cheyenne, WY (0-1) (Wyoming)
33t. Peerless Pumps, Fresno, CA (0-1) (California)
33t. White Elephants, Vancouver, WA (0-1) (Washington)
33t. Belridge Oil, San Joaquin, CA (0-1) (San Francisco)
33t. Don ‘Q’ Rums, Ponce, Puerto Rico (0-1) (Puerto Rico)
33t. Koonz Creamery, Baltimore, MD (0-1) (Maryland)
33t. DuPont’s, Richmond, VA (0-1) (Virginia)
33t. Shankweilers AC, Allentown, PA (0-1) (Pennsylvania)
33t. Dispatchers Club, Boston, MA (0-1) (Boston)
33t. Strong Hardware, Burlington, VT (0-1) (Vermont)
33t. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (0-1) (New York)
33t. Rieck & Fleece, St. Petersburg, FL (0-1) (Florida)
33t. City Service, Shreveport, LA (0-1) (Louisiana)
33t. National Gypsum Gold Bond, Mobile, AL (0-1) (Alabama)
33t. Ken-Macs, Louisville, KY (0-1) (Kentucky)
33t. Litoloff Insurance, New Orleans, LA (0-1) (New Orleans)
33t. Texas Unemployment Comp. Co., Austin, TX (0-1) (Texas)
33t. Eastern Air Lines, Atlanta, GA (0-1) (Georgia)

* Won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

St. Paul Park, St. Paul, MN, Fargo Merchants, Fargo, ND, Terratine, Bangor, ME, and Ted’s Corner, Sioux Falls, SD did not show.

1940 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1940 held at Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Koch Furniture, Cleveland, Ohio

The Arizona Ramblers started in 1933 and didn’t make the Nationals in 1937 and from that National tournament up the 1939 tournament held last year, they have finished 3rd three straight years, their record was the same in all three (3-1). This year, they finally reached the summit going 5-0 to become National champs. The teams overall record from 1933-1940 is an astounding 317-38.

The Ramblers will be often known as the PBSW Ramblers, which means Peterson-Brooke-Steiner and Wist Ramblers, their backers.

Arizona Ramblers only had 3 hits, 7 errors by Koch was the big difference. Ester Holton led the hit parade with 2. Louise Curtis, Dot Wilkinson, Jessie Glasscock, Mildred Dixon, Marjorie Wood Law and Amy Peralta-May all accounted for the remainder of the scoring.

Mary Skorich, Koch Furniture pitcher had not given up a run prior to the final, won 4 straight shutouts and finished up 4-1 with 49 Ks in 36 IP. Skorich also won a couple games herself. She stole home in the opening 1-0 victory over Reading, PA in 8 innings. Then once again, after getting a hit, scored the winning run against Cincinnati to win 1-0 in bottom of the 7th.

Louise Curtis was 1-0 (2 runs given up) and Amy Peralta-May was 4-0 (3 shutouts, 3 runs given up) for the Ramblers.

The J.J. Krieg Alameda, CA Girls lost their first game in the national tournament to Detroit ending their streak of 175 consecutive victories dating back to May of 1937.

Jane Tabeling, Cincinnati Meyers (4-1, 2 shutouts), Connie Wiesnewski, Keller’s (3-1, 2 shutouts), Betty Ferlin, Montgomery Ward (3-1, 2 shutouts).

Amy Peralta-May, Arizona Ramblers went 4-0 pitching, won final 10-3 and would have won the MVP.

  • MVP –  N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – N/A

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS (Incomplete)

P – Amy Peralta-May, Arizona Ramblers
C – Dot Wilkinson, Arizona Ramblers
3B – Mickey Sullivan, Arizona Ramblers
OF – Marjorie “Law” Wood, Arizona Ramblers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-0) (Arizona)
2. Koch Furniture, Cleveland, OH (4-1) (Cleveland)
3t. Meyers Partridge, Cincinnati, OH (4-1) (Cincinnati)
3t. Montgomery Wards, St. Paul, MN (3-1) (Minnesota)
5t. Higgins Midgets, Tulsa, OK (2-1) (Oklahoma)
5t. Mansfield Merchants, Mansfield, OH (2-1) (Ohio)
5t. Keller Girls, Detroit, MI (3-1) (Detroit)
5t. Jax Beers, Houston, TX (2-1) (Texas)
9t. D.X. Oilers, Topeka, KS (1-1) (Kansas)
9t. Ben-Meadows, South Bend, IN (1-1) (Indiana)
9t. American Beverage Company, Omaha, NE (1-1) (Nebraska)
9t. Caterpillar Tractor Girls, Peoria, IL (1-1) (Illinois)
9t. Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, LA (1-1) (Louisiana)
9t. R.H. Hall, St. Petersburg, FL (1-1) (Florida)
9t. Kauffman Maids, Reading, PA (1-1) (Pennsylvania)
9t. Pepsi Cola Girls, Rochester, NY (1-1) (Rochester)
17t. Harry’s, Farmington, NM (1-1) * (New Mexico)
17t. Morton’s Girls, Richmond, VA (1-1) * (Virginia)
17t. Kennedy Milk, Madison, WI (0-1) (Wisconsin)
17t. Non-Partisan League, Bismarck, ND (0-1) (North Dakota)
17t. Van Der Voorts, Lansing, MI (0-1) (Michigan)
17t. Dr. Pepper’s, Little Rock, AR (0-1) (Arkansas)
17t. Hamilton Funeral Home, Des Moines, IA (0-1) (Iowa)
17t. Rival Dog Food, Chicago, IL (0-1) (Chicago)
17t. Thames Pony Express, St. Joseph, MO (0-1) (Missouri)
17t. Erie County Democrats, Buffalo, NY (0-1) (Buffalo)
17t. Kentucky Dairy Maids, Louisville, KY (0-1) (Kentucky)
17t. Ziemer Sausage, Milwaukee, WI (0-1) (Milwaukee)
17t. Silver’s 5 and 10, Birmingham, AL (0-1) (Alabama)
17t. Ken Rau, Dalton, GA (0-1) (Georgia)
28. Hood Hotel, Raleigh, NC (0-1) (North Carolina)
29. Tuberettes, Pawtucket, RI (0-1) (Rhode Island)
33t. JJ Krieg’s Haberdashers, Alameda, CA (0-1) (Defending Champ)
33t. Reeds Oil, Nashville, TN (0-1) (Tennessee)

* indicates the team won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

The tournament was single elimination. Helena Boosters, Helena, MT and Duncan Mills, Greenville, SC did not show up.