TERRE HAUTE — Last week’s column focused on the team competition to replace the Ballyhoo Tavern as the Wabash Valley’s top-ranked men’s slowpitch squad.
This week, I thought it might be of interest to discuss who will replace Tom Kirchner, who has opted to retire, as the area’s most potent home-run threat.
The slowpitch game, noted for its offensive action, has witnessed a lively local competition for the title of “best local home-run threat.” As such, I’m referring to guys who you expect to hit a circuit blast at least once a game and often more times than that.
Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, players such as Geoff Shuck, Danny Miracle and the Bird brothers (Larry and Mike) were among the best on the local softball scene. Among the power hitters of note during the mid-1980s and into the early 1990s were Brian “Boney” Jeffers, Tom Riggs, Doug Elliott, Fred Decker and Curt Reimer.
With the changes in bat technology during mid-1990s and into the early 2000s, things get a little more difficult to figure out. The double-walled and exotic composite bats made it possible for almost everyone to hit the long ball. During this period, names such as Joe East, Jeff Lauritzen and Jeff Beeler come to mind as consistent long-ball threats.
Now to the replacement for Kirchner as the most potent threat on the local softball scene. Three names immediately come to mind for their prodigious long-ball “bombs” — Bryan Millington, Randy Morelli and Ryan Nicholson. Nicholson recently hit a tape-measure blast in Vincennes that traveled 392 feet, while Morelli consistently hits the long ball during Brazil YMCA league play.
Others in consideration for long-ball honors include David Kingery, Boomer Grange, Rick Robins, Brad Pierce and Jason Payton.
With state-tournament play rapidly approaching, let’s see who can lay claim to local honors in the power category.
• • •
Two Valley men’s slowpitch squads returned from last weekend’s play with runner-up finishes.
DeHart’s Rentals placed second in an ASA state qualifier tourney in Avon. DeHart’s recorded wins over Indy Elite 23-6 and Baseline 14-9, while dropping a 12-11 decision to Webster’s/Rookies.
Clabber Girl traveled to Vincennes for the Fourth of July invitational tourney. After a 27-22 loss to Old Town Tavern in its opening game, Clabber Girl rallied for six consecutive wins to finish second behind Hall’s Produce. In doing so, the Clabber Girl team recorded wins over Pay ‘n’ Pac 9-5, Halter Tree Service 10-9, Boston Pizza 11-9, Lemon Concrete 20-8, Old Town Tavern 20-8 and Hall’s Produce 20-15. Hall’s Produce won the tourney title with a 23-9 triumph over Clabber Girl in the championship game.
Rick Robins led the way for Clabber Girl by going 22 for 30 with 10 home runs.
• • •
While fastpitch league action dormant locally, the Elkins Brothers Tree Service men’s team is still alive and well.
Elkins Brothers has made plans to play in an invitational tourney in Indianapolis next weekend as well as the MFP Class Ca state tourney July 27-29 at Elkhart.
The team also hopes to travel to Texas over Labor Day weekend to play in the ASA national tournament.
According to Rudy Elkins, the following fastpitch veterans are slated to play: Rudy Elkins, Frank Elkins, Scott Elkins, Mike Elkins, Ike Elkins, Larry Shaffer, Kevin Compton, Dennis Kesler, Jimmy Sullivan, Buddy Bays, Jason Fields, Jeff Sell, Curt Carroll and Dirk Joy. Assisting with coaching duties will be Jerry Krasek.
See ya at the park.
John Benton can be reached by phone at (812) 877-2566.
Softball Scene
Softball Scene: Who is Wabash Valley’s top slowpitch home run threat?
- Softball Scene
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Swingers win state title
The Swingers from Greencastle double-dipped Carlisle Plaza 10-7 and 8-6 to win the ASA coed novice state title in Lafayette last weekend.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Brent D. Long Tournament a success on and off field
Somebody forgot to tell the Tykal’s American team that they weren’t the favorite in the Brent D. Long Tournament last weekend at Spencer Field.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Team Bud takes third at coed state tourney
Following last week’s news that local softball fortunes had improved with Crawlworks/All American Auto Repair’s seventh-place finish in the Amateur Softball Association men’s Class D state finals, this weekend’s news is even better.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Wabash Valley slowpitch team takes seventh at state
News from the state softball front has improved as a result of Crawlworks/All American Auto Repair’s seventh-place finish in the ASA MSP Class “D” state tournament this past weekend. With their finish, this is the first local team with a .500-or-better record in state tournament play.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Tough tournament trail
Results from various ASA state tournament play continue to trickle in and unfortunately for local softball interests, they are disappointing. The combined record for the Outkast men’s team and the Ladies Last Call women’s team was one win and four defeats.
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Valley softball teams fail to impress in ASA tourneys
“Disappointing” might be the operative word to describe the outcome for Wabash Valley softball efforts in the ASA men’s slowpitch Class D (North) and men’s slowpitch Class E (North) state tournaments last weekend.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Copeland’s wins its first Show-Me’s coed tournament
Results are in for the Show-Me’s coed city softball tournament and Copeland’s are the new champions.
The eight-team affair was divided into two four-team pools, with the pool winners matched in the championship game. -
SOFTBALL SCENE: Valley squad wins Bedford tourney, series titles
This past weekend the Crawlworks/All American Auto Repairs squad ventured to Bedford to participate in another leg of the Tanel 360/Dudley Challenge Series. In doing so, Crawlworks/All American Auto Repair not only captured the tourney title but also annexed the season-long series title.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Sign-up now under way for city slowpitch championship
Arrangements for the Show-Me’s city slowpitch softball tournaments have been completed and interested teams are encouraged to sign up.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: The talent ladder for local softball
I would like to open this week’s column with a “thank you” to Tribune-Star sportswriter David Hughes for his excellent article featuring local softball star Kevin Kull, which ran in Wednesday’s paper.
The article, which chronicled Kull’s rapid rise to prominence, was a much-discussed topic around the ballpark Wednesday and Thursday evenings. In addition, it provided me with an idea for this week’s installment of “Softball Scene.” -
SOFTBALL SCENE: Teams give some pep to area men’s softball
Wabash Valley softball action picked up briefly at Spencer Field last Saturday as four men’s slowpitch squads competed in tournament play.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Coed slowpitch softball tourney raises money for cancer research
Last weekend, Hamilton Center and the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department co-hosted a co-ed slowpitch softball tournament to raise money for cancer research.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Valley teams strong at tournaments
The results are in from last weekend’s Bedford All-Nighter and Wabash Valley softball interests fared well in the 42-team men’s slowpitch tournament.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Local adult softball teams gearing up for action
Well softball fans, it’s time for yet another season of adult softball in the Wabash Valley.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Wabash Valley well-represented in state tournamen t
The Wabash Valley was well-represented in the ASA Coed Class D/E state tournament last weekend at the Avon softball facility.
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Budweiser team has mixed results in national slowpitch regional tourney play
The local Budweiser men’s softball squad ventured to Columbus, Ohio, this past weekend to participate in the 82-team ASA MSP national regional tournament.
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SOFTBALL SCENE: Myers family softball tradition carries on
This past Jan. 10, local softball icon Wayne Myers passed away leaving behind two brothers, Fred and Bill, son Terry, daughter Elaine as well as grandchildren Haley, Whitey and “Chicky.” In addition, the Indiana Amateur Softball Association was left without its commander in chief.
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Softball Scene: Softball moments of years past
With the summer softball season coming to an end, I thought it might be interesting to look to past Softball Scene columns and dredge up a few old memories from seasons gone by. This type of column also serves as a reminder to those presently playing that in a few short years, your achievements will be largely forgotten by those who will be playing in future seasons.
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Softball Scene: Valley squads fare well at state tournaments
The results from the Indiana Amateur Softball Association’s MSP Class “C”, “D” and “E” state tournaments are in and local softball interests fared well. Of the five local men’s teams participating, four managed to come away with winning records.
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Softball Scene: 8 Valley softball teams competing in 5 different state tournaments
This weekend several local softball teams are vying for titles in Amateur Softball Association state tournament play. In all, eight local squads are competing in five different state tournaments.
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Softball Scene: Outkast heating up at right time with state tournament approaching
Local softball player and enthusiast Ryan Dehart recently made an astute observation when commenting on the Outkast softball squad. He said, “they’re getting hot at the right time of the year.” Lending support to Dehart’s claim was Outkast’s showing in the recent Hooter’s Invitational hosted by Indy Sports Park.
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Softball Scene: Get scoop on upcoming men’s, co-ed tournaments in Wabash Valley
Several questions have arisen concerning the upcoming city tournaments for men’s and co-ed softball teams. In an attempt to dispel any rumors and to address the questions, I will now address callers’ concerns.
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Softball Scene: Terre Haute ready for first-time city tournaments in July
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department, working in conjunction with several interested softball parties, will be hosting city championship tournaments for both men’s and coed softball teams.
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Softball Scene: Hit Men making their mark on travel softball scene
I have recently noticed a dearth of young softball squads coming up through the ranks. In short, I am interested in knowing who will replace the Wabash Valley’s top-caliber talent as they fall pretty to age, injury work and family obligations.
- Softball Scene: Valley teams have mixed results in state tournaments
- Softball Scene: ‘Old School’ softball at Saline City withstands test of time As the college football season begins and Wabash Valley adult softball action starts to wind down, those interested in a dose of “old school” softball should travel to Saline City this weekend.
- Softball Scene: Crawlworks’ hard work to host tournament pays off Recent Softball Scene columns have been devoted to efforts to raise funds for various causes. The opening segment of this week’s column will stick with that theme.
- Fund-raising tourneys a great way to contribute to community
- SOFTBALL SCENE: Crawlworks prevents Valley shutout Thank goodness for the efforts put forth by the Crawlworks men’s slow pitch team in the ASA MSP Class D state finals. Without their 6-2 finish, local softball efforts were almost shutout in ASA state tournament play this past weekend.
- Softball Scene: Several Wabash Valley softball teams preparing for state-tournament action The next three weekends should prove interesting for local softball squads as several local teams will be competing for state titles. Hoping to improve on last year’s second-place finish in the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) women’s class C tournament, the Chop Shop women’s team will be traveling to Kokomo this weekend. Chop Shop’s second-place finish at state earned it a nationals’ berth, and the squad finished fourth.
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