Category: 1988

1988 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1988 held at Bloomington, Illinois on August 15-22.


Champion – Trans-Aire Vans, Elkhart, Indiana (59-24)
Runner Up – Farm Tavern, Madison, Wisconsin


Trans-Aire forced the “if” game in a 16 inning 1-0 win over Farm Tavern, Piechnik of the Farm (26 K) and Meredith of Trans-Aire (25 K). Meridith came back and once again defeated Piechnik and the Farm Tavern 2-0 in the final to clinch the championship in the IF game. These two hurlers battled in a 20 inning winners bracket earlier in the tournament. Piechnik and the Farm prevailed 1-0 as Piechnik stuck out 46 batters, Meredith had 29 K in the contest. That game is considered one of the greatest games in ASA Tournament History.

John McEldowney, Bob Barron and Brian Lehrman had 2 hits apiece to lead the Trans-Aire bats in the Championship Game.


  • C0-MVP – Mike Piechnik, Farm Tavern
  • Co-MVP  – Peter Meredith, Trans-Aire Vans
  • Batting Leader – Brian Rothrock, Decatur Pride – .458
  • HR Leader – Rick Pauley, Farm Tavern -2
  • HR Leader – Mark Sorenson, Penn Corp – 2
  • HR Leader – John Tucker, Murphy’s – 2
  • HR Leader – Barry Kahler, Beer Nuts – 2
  • HR Leader – Mark Agnew, Hardees – 2
  • Herb Dudley Pitching Award – Peter Meredith, Trans-Aire Vans
  • Herb Dudley Pitching Award – Mike Piechnik, Farm Tavern

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Peter Meredith, Trans-Aire Vans (8-1, 138 K, 88 IP, including back to back shutouts in the finals 1-0, 2-0, he gave up only 4 ER)
P – Mike Piechnik, Farm Tavern (5-2, 140 K, 71 IP, including 46 K, 20 inning win in winners bracket final, gave up only 3 ER, 5 shutouts, 2 no hitters)
P – Bob Ginger, Bloomington Hearts
C – Steve DeFazio, Trans-Aire Vans
C – Brad Burrup, Miller Toyota
1B – Denny Place, Decatur Pride
2B – Doug Streeter, Guanella Brothers
3B – Rick Pauly, Farm Tavern
SS – John McEldowney, Trans-Aire Vans
OF – Brian Rothrock, Decatur Pride (11-24)
OF – Barry Kahler, Beer Nuts
OF – Marty Stupek, Bloomington Hearts
OF – Ron Jones, Beer Nuts
DP – David Grimes, Clearwater Bombers
UTIL – Dave Donnan, Nava Brothers

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Michael White, Teleconnect
P – Scott Plangger, Bloomington Hearts
P – Marty Grant, Hardee’s
C – Greg Stockton, Bloomington Hearts
C – Greg Bradley, Bloomington Hearts
1B – Mark Sorenson, Penn Corp
2B – Randy Bender, Trans-Aire Vans
3B – Tod Stevenson, Bloomington Hearts
SS – Steve Kerian, Decatur Pride
OF – Rob Nixon, Faultless Rubber Company
OF – Dennis Johnston, Sunners
OF – Mark Paulsrud, Farm Tavern
OF – Brian Lehrman, Trans-Aire Vans
DP – Jim Soehlein, Farm Tavern
UTIL – Dave Jackson, Decatur Pride

THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Leroy Jolstad, Happy Chef
P – Brent Stevenson, McArdle Pontiac-Cadillac
P – Hayden Smith, Nava Brothers
C – Tim Davis, Trans-Aire Vans
C – Gary Bachus, Farm Tavern
1B – Mike Salsedo, Nava Brothers
2B – Rick Minton, Decatur Pride
3B – Richie Ennis, Sunners
SS – Greg Sepulveda, Southern California Eagles
OF – Boomer Brush, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Mark Burrup, Miller Toyota
OF – Dick Riley, Faultless Rubber Company
OF – Brad Schmidt, Decatur Pride
DP – Ted Hicks, Decatur Pride
UTIL – Dave Jackson, Decatur Pride


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Trans-Aire Vans, Elkhart, IN (8-1)
2. Farm Tavern, Madison, WI (5-2)
3. Nava Brothers, Hayward, CA (4-2)
4. Teleconnect, Cedar Rapids, IA (4-2)
5t. Bloomington Hearts, Bloomington, IL (6-2)
5t. Decatur Pride, Decatur, IL (6-2)
7t. Penn Corp, Sioux City, IA (4-2)
7t. Happy Chef, Mankato, MN (4-2)
9t. Sunners, Reading, PA (3-2)
9t. Hardee’s, Shelbyville, IN (3-2)
9t. Southern California Eagles, Manhattan Beach, CA (2-2)
9t. Miller Toyota, Salt Lake City, UT (2-2)
13t. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (2-2)
13t. Beer Nuts, Bloomington, IL (3-2)
13t. Faultless Rubber Company, Ashland, OH (3-2)
13t. Findlay SBC, Findlay, OH (2-2)
17t. Guanella Brothers, Santa Rosa, CA (2-2)
17t. Murphy’s, Odenton, MD (2-2)
17t. Ashland Merchants, Ashland, OH (1-2)
17t. Boise Metros, Boise, ID (1-2)
17t. Ferrell Homes, Kelso, MO (1-2)
17t. Framingham Indians, Framingham, MA (1-2)
17t. OTB, Middletown, NY (1-2)
17t. Sheraton Coors, Cambridge, MA (1-2)
25t. All-Car, Green Bay, WI (1-2)
25t. Midland Explorers, Midland, MI (1-2)
25t. Pay ‘N Pak, Seattle, WA (1-2)
25t. Peckham’s Place, Stillwater, NY (1-2)
25t. Dolan & Murphy, Aurora, IL (0-2)
25t. Effingham’s, Effingham, IL (0-2)
25t. Potter Enterprises, Nashville, TN (0-2)
25t. Stroh’s, St. Paul, MN (0-2)
33t. Allentown Patriots, Allentown, PA (0-2)
33t. Coldwell Texas, Coldwell, TX (0-2)
33t. La Pizza, Des Moines, IA (0-2)
33t. Paddock Pools, Phoenix, AZ (0-2)
33t. Rebels, Pine Bluff, AR (0-2)
33t. Taylorville/Bob Riding Ford, Decatur, IL (0-2)

1988 ASA Women’s Major Slow Pitch Nationals

1988 held at Bloomington, Minnesota.


Champion: Spooks, Anoka, Minnesota
Runner Up: UPI, Cookeville, Tennessee


Ed Ghostley’s Spooks went undefeated winning 5 straight games. They had a tough road to the championship winning they won over AES of Cincinnati 3-1 in 8 innings, they trailed Phenix of Georgia 8-0 and came back to win 9-8, They then beat the Pro Mac of California 4-3. This brought them to the winners bracket final against UPI. UPI had allowed just 7 runs in their 5 wins. But the Spooks won 5-2. UPI then had to face defending champs Key Ford Mustangs in the semi final and beat them 10-7. The Mustangs had lost to Cannan’s Illusions in the second round and won 8 games in 40 hours. UPI now advanced to the title game and another shot at the Spooks. The championship game was no contest, Spooks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. The Spooks slapped out 17 hits winning 11-4. They were led by Tournament MVP Linda Polley, who went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and 3 Runs scored. UPI’s Jenni Harp Oliver had a monster tournament as she went 20-30 (.667 Average) and drove in 14 runs.


  • MVP – Linda Polley, Spooks (17-34, .500)
  • Batting Leader – Trina Hartzog, Key Ford Lady Mustangs (17-22) – .773
  • Home Run Leader – Mary Stratton, Brentwood Center/Kinder – 2

1988 FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Charlotte Cates, Key Ford Mustangs
C – Jennifer Harp Oliver, UPI (20-30, .667, 14 RBIs)
1B – Brenda Pena, Key Ford Mustangs
2B – Mary Papiersky, Steele’s
3B – Dee Christensen, Spalding/Kinder
SS – Trina Hartzog, Key Ford Mustangs
OF – Karen Baker, UPI
OF – Teresa Held, Spooks
OF – Carol Bemis, Spooks
OF – Lynn Putnam, Steele’s
DP – Debbie Thompson, Pro-Mac
UT – Linda Polley, Spooks
UT – Linda Boatright, Zanderettes
UT – Cheryl Autry, Phenix
UT – Charlotte Dent, UPI

1988 SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Brenda Beyer, Steele’s
C – Jamesie Booth, Pro-Mac
1B – Stephanie Monahan, Vernon’s
2B – Gina Green, Key Ford Mustangs
3B – Laurie Gouthro, Vernon’s
SS – Lisa Sanchez, Illusions
OF – Cynthia Cooper, Illusions
OF – Carol Moeling, UPI
OF – Robin Richardson, Key Ford Mustangs
OF – Anna Clements, Steele’s
DP – Demetrise Thomas, Vernon’s
UT – Tony Breidenbach, Hub Chrysler Plymouth
UT – Cindy Bell, Pro-Mac
UT – Tracey Kruger, Spooks
UT – Phyllis Allen, Zanderettes

1988 THIRD TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Nancy Garbett, Spooks
C – Rael Hodgson, Spalding/Kinder
1B – Bonnie Cox, Spalding/Kinder
2B – Judy Knight, Spooks
3B – Kelly Sutherland, Pro-Mac
SS – Sue Koziol, Steele’s
OF – Lori Brenner, Spalding/Kinder
OF – Linda Garbett, Spooks
OF – Cheryl Snyder, UPI
OF – Tammi Terrell, Key Ford Mustangs
DP – Laura Fillipp, Hub Chrysler Plymouth
UT – Ann Morton, Vernon’s
UT – Jamie Friedman, Vernon’s
UT – Wendy Schake, Americ’s
UT – Julie Morgan, Hub Chrysler Plymouth


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Spooks, Anoka, MN (7-0)
2. UPI, Cookeville, TN (6-2)
3. Key Ford Mustangs, Pensacola, FL (9-2)
4. Steele’s, Plymouth Township, MI (7-2)
5t. Pro-Mac, Yorba Linda, CA (4-2)
5t. Spalding/Kinder, Kansas City, MO (6-2)
7t. Illusions, Houston, TX (3-2)
7t. Vernon’s Jacksonville, FL (4-2)
9t. Bill Fraley’s Wildcats, Lexington, KY (3-2)
9t. Phenix, Lawrenceville, GA (3-2)
9t. Mr. Dario’s Pacers, York, PA (2-2)
9t. R&R Concrete, Lexington, KY (4-2)
13t. The Trumps, Atlanta, GA (3-2)
13t. Turner Express, Youngtown, OH (3-2)
13t. Rings, Dubuque, IA (3-2)
13t. Americs, Bloomington, MN (3-2)
17t. Hub Chrysler-Plymouth, Milwaukee, WI (3-2)
17t. Tosti Raiders, Farmington Hills, MI (1-2)
17t. AES, Cincinnati, OH (2-2)
17t. WW Gay Rebels, Jacksonville, FL (2-2)
17t. Martino’s, Muncie, IN (1-2)
17t. Tuscaloosa Connection, Tuscaloosa, AL (3-2)
17t. Zanderettes, Apopka, FL (3-2)
17t. Pursuit, Midland, TX (2-2)
25t. B&I Sports, Tacoma, WA (1-2)
25t. Tuffies, Bloomington, MN (2-2)
25t. Hooligan’s, Anamosa, IA (1-2)
25t. McGlaughlin Oil, Columbus, OH (2-2)
25t. Suburban Sporting Goods, Eastlake, OH (1-2)
25t. Busch Whiz Kids, Belleville, IL (1-2)
25t. Hogan’s, Huntsville, AL (2-2)
25t. Atkinson Oil Company, Joplin, MO (2-2)
33t. Tuscaloosa Tops, Tuscaloosa, AL (0-2)
33t. Brentwood Center/Kinder, Springfield, MO (1-2)
33t. TC Merchants, West St. Paul, MN (0-2)
33t. Dairy Queen Fazers, Moberly, MO (0-2)
33t. Barberton Sokol Club, Akron, OH (0-2)
33t. Bud Light Spirits, Manchester, NH (1-2)
33t. Hide-a-Way Café, Colchester, CT (0-2)
33t. Destin Merchants, Destin, FL (1-2)
33t. Pederson’s Fryer Farms, Seattle, WA (1-2)
33t. Ultimate Sports, St. Cloud, MN (0-2)
33t. Big Jim’s Foxes, Phenix City, AL (1-2)
33t. Ozark Aces, Springfield, MO (1-2)
33t. Sullivan’s Realtors, Bloomington, MN (1-2)
33t. County Sports Mice, East Northport, NY (0-2)
33t. Lakerettes, Conneaut Lake, PA (1-2)
33t. Tulsa Good Times, Tulsa, OK (1-2)
49t. Team Choice Sultans, Bloomington, MN (0-2)
49t. Gabe’s by the Park, St. Paul, MN (0-2)
49t. Pittsburgh Debs, Pittsburgh, PA (0-2)
49t. Pacers, Moline, IL (0-2)
49t. Three Brothers, Milford, CT (0-2)
49t. RAX, Evansville, IN (0-2)
49t. Bracers, Bloomington, MN (0-2)