Category: ASA

1949 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1949 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Erv Lind Florists, Portland, Oregon

Amy Peralta-May of the Arizona Ramblers went 3-0, 1 shutouts, pitched 2-1 one-hitter with a save from Margie Law in 7th to win championship. Virginia Dobson had 3 hits to lead the Ramblers. Peralta was 3-0 in the tournament and hurled a no hitter, gave up only 1 unearned run and 2 hits during the tournament in 20 innings pitched. She also had 2 hits, including a HR in the 7-0 no hitter game). Peralta beat Peoria and Marie Wadlow in a 1-0 pitchers dual. Wadlow Struck out 11 to no avail. In Peralta’s 2-1 one-hit game to win the title, Thelma Parrish was the losing pitcher and got the only hit of Peralta.

Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (2-1, 42 K, 25 IP, Shutout, gave up 3 runs and 6 hits, She had 35 shutouts and 11 no hitters on the year).

Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets (8-18, .444, 2 HR, 3 RBI).

Margie Law, Arizona (2-0, 1 save, 2 shutouts, gave up no runs and 5 hits in 15 innings).

Fran Ford, Boise Chicks (3-2).

Erv Lind- Doris Barrett (1-1, no hitter), Bev Meissen (3-0), Thelma Parrish (1-1), Toots Shotwell – all pitched for The Florist as Betty Evans signed a contract in August to play pro ball with the Chicago Queens and became ineligible to play ASA.

  • MVP – Roberta Mulkey, Erv Lind Florists
  • HR Leader – Roberta “Robbie” Mulkey, Erv Lind Florist – 4
  • Batting Leader – Josie Buban, Goetz Girls (5-9) – .556

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Amy Peralta-May, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers
1B – Roberta “Robbie” Mulkey, Erv Lind Florists (9-27, .333, 4 HR, 7 RBI) also won 2 games with extra inning homers.
2B – Betty Harris, Phoenix Ramblers
3B – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florists
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets
OF – Alberta “Blondie” Huber, Boise Chicks (7-13, .538, 3 3B, 2 RBI)
OF – Frances Ford, Boise Chicks
OF – Irene Huber, Fresno Rockets

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (5-2) (Host)
3. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (2-2) (West Central)
5t. Boise Chicks, Boise, ID (3-2) (Northwestern)
5t. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (3-2) (South Pacific Coast)
7t. Richey Grocerettes, Houston, TX (1-2) (Texas)
7t. Tivoli Brewer Girls, Denver, CO (2-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Dayton Orphans, Dayton, OH (0-2) (East Central)
9t. Louisiana Concrete, Baton Rouge, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Hamm’s Beer, Fargo, ND (0-2) (Northern)
9t. Goetz Girls, St. Joseph’s, MO (1-2) (Western)
13t. Pulaski Girls Club, Washington, DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Pat’s Plasterers, Orlando, FL (0-2) (Southern)

NOTES

Fairbanks Farms, Syracuse, NY (withdrew – could not attend). Canada Champ – Garten’s Furniture, Toronto – (could not attend).

1949 Orange Lionettes

1949 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1949 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers (5-1, 5 Shutouts, no hitter, two 1-hitters, 130 K, 70 IP, allowed only 3 runs, all coming the last game – set record with 55 K in a 1-0, 21 inning win over Phillips 66 Oilers, He had 89 K in last 3 games – over span of 46 IP.

Gerald Overcash of Clearwater Bombers was 1-1, 17 IP, 13 K, 1 Shutout. He pitched the 2 Sunday games as Dudley could not pitch due to his religious beliefs.

Art Upper of Tip Top Tailors hit 2-run double in 18th inning to give Charlie Justice and the Tailors a 3-1 victory in the final game. Upper finished the game 4-8 with a single, 2 doubles and a triple with 2 RBI.

Charlie Justice of Tip Top went 3-0, 26 IP, 34 K, 1 Shutout, 1 no hitter, 2 Runs, 3 hits.

Russ Johnston of Tip Top went 2-0, 20 IP, 14K, 2 shutouts, both 1-hitters. Together with Justice they surrendered 2 runs, 11 hits in 5 games over 46 innings. The third pitcher, Percy McCracken was not really used.

Arno Lamb of Phillips 66ers was 3-2, 2 Shutouts, 49 IP, 54 K.

After Dudley won the 1-0, 21 inning game against the Oklahoma Oilers, he came back 15 minutes later and pitched a 1-hitter, with 12 K over Mercedes, TX, the team that beat them 5-1 and sent them to the losers bracket. Dudley struck out 67 batters on the night. Then in the finals, Dudley had a 1-0 lead over Toronto and a no hitter going into the 7th inning. He walked Lew Gull. Art Upper broke up the no hitter with a double. Dudley walked Joe Spring to load the bases. Charlie Justice pinch hit for Ray Pulfer and delivered a clutch single to tie the score at 1 and move the game to extra innings.

Russ Johnson started the game pitching for Toronto, going 6 innings, then moved to CF in the 7th when Justice came in to pitch 12 scoreless innings for Toronto striking out 13 and surrendering only 1 hit. Dudley pitched all 18 innings for Clearwater and had 23 K. The Clearwater shortstop, John Chestnut was 4-7 in the game.

In what many consider one of the greatest games ever played and one of the most incredible individual performances in ASA Softball History, Herb Dudley pitched all 21 innings against the Phillips 66ers and their star pitcher, Arno Lamb. Lamb also pitched every inning. Dudley surrendered only 3 hits in the game and registered an incredible 55 Strikeouts. Lamb had 26 K. Myron Guthrie (4-9 in the game) doubled in the bottom of the 21st inning. Catcher Harry Hancock who was 2-9 in the game knocked a base hit to score Guthrie to end the three and a half hour game. Buster Zeigler was 2-8 for the bombers in the game. For the 66ers, Pitcher Arno Lamb accounted for 1 of the hits Dudley allowed.

Sixth Ward Boosters of Newport, KY finished 5th with a 3-2 Record. Future Slow Pitch stars Myron Reinhardt (ASA HOF), Hal Wiggins (ASA HOF) and Bo Stuntebeck (KY ASA HOF) all played for the Boosters.

  • MVP – Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers
  • Batting Leader – N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Charlie Justice, Tip Top Clothiers
P – Arno Lamb, Phillips 66
P – Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers
C – Mack Phillips, Briggs Beautyware
1B – Myron Guthrie, Clearwater Bombers
2B – Sam Bova, Raybestos Cardinals
3B – Bobby Reed, O.E. Watson
SS – Woody Sweeney, Phillips 66
OF – Gene Faull, O.E. Watson
OF – Art Upper, Tip Top Clothiers
OF – Julius Caesar Schreiber, 6th Ward Boosters

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON (5-0) (Canada)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL 6-2 (Southern)
3. Buddy Watson Vegetable Co., Mercedes, TX (3-2) (Texas)
4. Sixth Ward Boosters, Newport, KY (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Phillips 66 Oilers, Okmulgee, OK (3-2) (Southwestern)
5t. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (2-2) (Defending Champs)
7t. Rubenstein Furniture, Eugene, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Crown Carpets, San Diego, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Harmon, Russell & Roush, Cincinnati, OH (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Smack’s Candy, St. Louis, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Murphy-Mahoney Chevrolet, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Raybestos Cardinals, Bridgeport, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Frankie’s Steak House, Wilmington, DE (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Gigantes (DF Giants), Mexico, City (0-2) (Mexico)
13t. Grumman Aircraft Yankees, Bethpage, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Stork Club, Little Rock, AR (0-2) (Host)

* Won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

Manchester Biscuits, Fargo, ND (Northern) withdrew, could not attend. Western Gravel, San Jose, CA (North Pacific Coast) could not attend.

1948 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1948 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Erv Lind Florists, Portland, Oregon

Amy Peralta May came through big time in the finals as the Ramblers came from the losers bracket and had to defeat the Florists twice. Peralta twirled two straight shutouts, winning 2-0 and 3-0, defeating a tough and confident Portland squad who had just rolled over four good teams with Bullet Betty Evans on the mound. Margie Law went 1-0 and won the other game for the Ramblers. Peralta led Arizona to 85 wins this season as she pitched 55 of them. Virginia Dobson of the Ramblers had 3 hits in the final game. Margie Law and Amy Peralta had an RBI each.

Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy went 4-2, 3 shutouts, perfect game, 42 IP, 51 K, lost both final games to Amy Peralta. Evans defeated Peoria and Marie Wadlow 1-0 in a pitcher’s dual.

Ginny Busik, Fresno Rockets went 3-2, with shutouts.

Marie Wadlow, Caterpillar Dieselettes, went 2-2, 28 IP, 42 K, a shutout and only gave up 4 runs and 10 hits.

Ann Kmezich, Walker-Shay Realty went 3-2 pitching with 2 Triples and 2 RBI.

A young lady playing with Monrovia Day and Night Company Owls named Bertha Ragan-Tickey made her first all-America team as an outfielder. Louise Davis was 2-0 for the Monrovia squad, but when they put Bertha in to pitch, It was the start of something amazing that would last almost 30 years. She pitched 4 games for the Owls’ went 2-2 and struck out 37 batters in the 27 innings she pitched, She also had 2 shutouts and only gave up 4 runs and 10 hits in the 4 games she pitched. She beat Peoria and Marie Wadlow 2-0 to eliminate the Dieselette squad.

Amy Peralta-May of Arizona Ramblers went 5-1, 3 shutouts, gave up 6 runs in 6 games, 20 K, 48 IP. She also batted 7-23, .304, triple and 5 RBI batting and would have won the MVP.

Margaret Dobson of Lind & Pomeroy went 8-22, .364, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 hits in the final.

Joan Wallace of Raybestos Brakettes went 2-6, .333, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Helen Yakabusin of Raybestos Brakettes had 1 HR and 1 RBI.

Imogine Pipes of Walker Shay Realtors went 6-18, .333, with an RBI.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – Margaret Dobson, Lind & Pomeroy – 1
  • HR Leader – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers – 1
  • HR Leader – Joan Wallace, Raybestos Brakettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Helen Yakabusin, Raybestos Brakettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Imogine Pipes, Walker Shay Realtors – 1
  • Batting Leader – Mary Rider, Fresno Rockets – .429

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Amy Peralta, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers (3B, HR, and 5 RBI)
1B – Peggy Friends, Walker-Shay Realtors
2B – Jerry Burroughs, Lind & Pomeroy
3B – Jean Hull, Day and Night Company Owls
SS – Chris Meyer, Lind & Pomeroy
OF – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers
OF – Mary Rider, Betsy Ross Rockets (6-14, 3 RBI)
OF – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Day & Night Company Owls
UTIL – Jessie Glassock, Phoenix Ramblers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (6-1) (Awarded Defending Champ Spot)
2. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (4-2) (Host)
3. Day & Night Company Owls, Monrovia, CA (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
4. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast
5t. Walker-Shay Realtors, Des Moines, IA (3-2) (Western)
5t. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (2-2) (West Central)
7t. Nehi Beverage Orphans, Dayton, OH (1-2) (East Central)
7t. Statesman Newsettes, Boise, ID (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Cardinalettes, Pottstown, PA (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Russer Girls, Rochester, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Southern Chevrolet, Alexandria LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

NOTES

Jax Maids, New Orleans, LA – Defending Champs – Chose not to defend, played National Softball Congress instead. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Raglan Ramblers, Nashville, TN (withdrew – could not attend). Sinny Lees, Toronto, Ontario (withdrew – could not attend).

1948 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1948 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan (41-1)
Runner Up – Standard Parts, Memphis, Tennessee

Clarence Miller shutout Briggs Beautyware 2-0 to force the final championship game, which Briggs won 1-0. He only surrendered 8 runs (7 of which came in the very first game). Miller threw 3 consecutive no-hitters in the Regional Tournament that Standard Parts won to gain the national berth. One was an 8 inning perfect game. He had 78 K in the 34 innings he pitched in the Regionals going 5-0. Combining the Nationals, he was 10-2 with 179 K in 93 IP.

Briggs had a trio of hurlers, Gil Weslowski started things off with a no hitter on the first day of play. he finished 2-1, with 35 K in 21 IP. Roger Maceroni was 1-0 with a shutout and a couple of relief appearances. He totaled 12 IP with 13 K. Ed Purroll pitched two games in relief and won both. He was 2-0 with 11 K in 7 IP. After Buck Miller had blanked Detroit 2-0 in the first final, he lost a heartbreaker in the final championship game. Miller had 19 perfect innings until Walt Butkowski doubled in Jerry Zarick with the winning run in a 1-0 finale. Buck Miller got one of the 2 hits that Standard Parts had in the game. The Detroit staff hurled 40 innings and struck out 59 batters. They also had the highest team batting average of any team (.225). Jerry Zarick led the Briggs squad with a .400 average (8-20, including 3 doubles and 4 RBI). Ed “Tyranski” Tyson batted .391 (9-23). Incidently, it was Roger Maceroni who hurled the final game for Detroit. He pitched a 1-0, two-hit shutout and struck out 10.

Grumman from Long Island, NY came into this tournament as the favorite with two of the best pitchers in the country in Roy Stephenson and Jim Chambers. But, things didn’t go their way. The pitchers split many of their games. Stephenson (2-0, pitching in all 4 games, he totaled 21 IP, including a no 7-0 hitter with 19 K, and had 45 K total and gave up just 3 total hits and 3 runs), Chambers pitched in 3 games, totaling 22 IP, with 34 K, he only surrendered 4 hits and 4 runs, but was 0-2). Stephenson did however, hit a home Run for the Grumman Yankees.

Al Young, White Front Caseys of Springfield (3-0 pitching with 23 K’s in 21 IP, leading the Missouri team to a 4th place finish)

  • MVP – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts
  • Batting Leader – Ray Stewart, Chiksan Club – .417
  • HR Leader – Roy Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware – 2
  • HR Leader – Ashley ‘Monk’ Joyner, Memphis Standard Parts – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts (5-2, 101 Ks in 59 IP – 5 consecutive shutouts-52 consecutive scoreless innings, including a no-hitter)
P – Roy Stephenson, Grumman Aircraft
P – Al Young, Casey’s
P – Roger Maceroni, Briggs Beautyware
C – Ray Stewart, Chicken Company (5-12, 1 RBI)
1B – Jerry Zarick, Briggs Beautyware
2B – Larry Savage, Casey’s
3B – Homer Durden, Grand Prize Beer
SS – Eddie “Tyranski” Tyson, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Roy Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware (6-20, .300, 6 RBI, grand slam, 2 triples)
OF – Ashley “Monk” Joyner, Standard Parts (9 RBI)
OF – Bob Moers, Grand Prize Beer

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (5-1) (East Central)
2. Standard Parts, Memphis, TN 6-2 (Southern)
3. Grand Prize Brewery, Houston, TX (3-2) (Southwestern)
4. White Front Caseys, Springfield, MO (4-2) (Western)
5t. Chiksan Club, Brea, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Friberg Electric, Portland, OR (2-2) (Host)
7t. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Caribbean Dairy, San Juan, Puerto Rico (1-2) (Atlantic Ocean)
9t. Smithway Rippers, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Turner’s, Inc., Lafayette, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Stockton Eagles, Stockton, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Draper Dodgers, Marion, IN (1-2) (West Central)
13t. 20th Century Signs, Bismark, ND (0-2) (Northern)
13t. Vancouver Firemen, Vancouver, BC (0-2) (Canada)
13t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

*  Won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

Thrifty Beverage, Washington DC (Central Atlantic) did not show up. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN – Defending Champ – chose not to defend their title, they played in the National Softball League. 20th Century Signs, Bismarck, ND went in place of Manchester Biscuits, Fargo, ND, who could not attend. Thrifty Beverage, Washington DC (withdrew, could not attend). Mexico did not send a team to Nationals.

1947 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1947 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

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

From 1945 through 1947, The New Orleans Jax record was 143-20. 11 of the losses came against men’s teams.

The ASA Executive Board was polled to take away the Jax Maids title away from them after the team announced its intentions to turn professional before the tournament started. The committee voted 6-4 to forfeit the Jax title and give it to the runner up, Arizona Ramblers. Eventually this was overturned as there was no proof that any Jax player signed a contract or played a professional. They simply said they were going to turn professional. They have won the title 5 of the last 6 years. This action led the Jax Maids to leave ASA and play in the rival NSC.

In October, the Jax Maids traveled to Phoenix to challenge the A-1 Queens, NSC Womens Champs in a 10 game series. The Queens defeated the Jax squad 6 games to 3.

Both Olympia and Freda Savona had 3 hits to lead the Jax. Lottie Jackson had 2 hits and Evelyn Stech’s 2-run single was the go ahead hit in the 5th inning. Lottie Jackson was 2-0 for the Jax Maids.

Amy Peralta May, Arizona Ramblers (4-2, with 2 shutouts, beaten 6-4 in final by Nina Korgan) – Peralta and Dot Wilkinson each had two hits for the Ramblers. Margie Law was 1-0 pitching the other game for the Ramblers.

Ruth Elston, Toronto Peoples Credit Jewelers (3-2, including a 1-0 perfect game)

A Special note on Nina Korgan as she had one of the more incredible streaks in ASA pitching history. From 1941 through and including this 1947 National, her team won the championship 6 of the 7 years. She pitched and won every final championship game victory and in that span racked up a record of 21-0 with 18 Shutouts, 5 No-Hitters, of which one was a perfect game. She had two shutout streaks of 7 from 1941-42 and then 8 from 1945 through 1947. She twirled 168 innings in that span, striking out 254 batters and surrendering only 6 runs on 35 hits. Teammate Lottie Jackson was the other Jax pitcher and all she has done in the same span is go 8-2 with 6 shutouts, including a 2 no hitters. The only two games she lost were in relief and both by 1-0 scores. Both hurlers always played as they were both great hitters as well.

Nina Korgan, Jax Maids, 9-0 since 1945 Nationals, pitched 8 straight shutouts before winning 6-4 final. As a team, they have not lost since the Fall of 1945. They have won 92 straight games since the 1945, finishing up on a winning streak, In 1946, they went 56-0 and then won in the beginning of this season until the streak reached 92 games, before losing . It had become very hard to find opposition beside men’s teams, that the team has played a series of intra squad games over the last three years.

Korgan went 3-0, pitched 2 shutouts, then won final game 6-4 with 8 K and would have won the MVP award.

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

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, LA (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-2) (South Pacific Coast)
3. J&K Shoes, Columbus, OH (2-2) (East Central)
4. Peoples Credit, Toronto, ON (3-2) (Canada)
5t. Teagues Used Cars, Fort Worth, TX (3-2) * (Southwestern)
5t. Fresno Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast)
7t. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (1-2) (West Central)
7t. Garvin’s Grill, Washington DC (1-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Cardinalettes, Perth Amboy, NJ (0-2) (Mid-Atlantc)
9t. Walker Realty, Des Moines, IA (1-2) (Western)
9t. Raglan Ramblers, Nashville, TN (0-2) (Southern)
9t. Cleveland Rangers, Cleveland, OH (0-2) (Host)
DQ. Stamford Nutmegs, Stamford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic) – disqualified after the first game

NOTES

Erv Lind Florist, Portland, OR withdrew – could not attend due to girls going back to school. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament.

1947 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1947 held at Elks Field in Lakewood, Ohio on September 11-14.

Champion – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (113-19)
Runner Up – People’s Credit Jewelers, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Bill West, Zollner Pistons (3-0, no-hitter, 16 IP, 35 K, pitched 4-0 no-hitter in final with 17 K and 2 Intentional Walks to Toronto’s leading hitter, Doug Adams), the 4 runs were attributed to the 3 doubles by Chick Goldberg and Bernie Kampschmidt’s 2 RBI singles (He was 3-3 in the game).

Zollner Pistons – Elmer Rohrs (2-0, no hitter, 16 IP, 34 K), Diz Kirkendall (1-0, 1-hit shutout, 15 K) – Piston hurlers had 84 Strikeouts in 39 Innings – 5 games. The no-hitter that Rohrs threw was a 10-inning 2-0 victory in which he had 21 strikeouts.

Russ Johnston, People’s Credit (5-1, no-hitter, 3 shutouts, lost final to Zollner’s Bill West 4-0)

Jim Ramage, Zollner (had 5 RBI in one game with a HR and a single. Had a HR in another game as well. He and Hughie Johnston both ended up with 2 HR each in the tournament)

Herb Dudley, Blackburn Bombers (3-2, Had 60 K in first 3 starts, 75 K in his first 4 starts, hurling 2 shutouts, winning 3-1 and losing 1-0. Then Bombers were them eliminated by the eventual runner, People’s Credit of Toronto 6-0. He finished up with an incredible 77 K in 44 IP, giving up 8 runs, 6 in the last game. Dudley also hit a homer over the center field fence in the opening game)

Roy Stephenson of Grumman Yankees went 3-2, 3 shutouts, 2 1-hitters.

  • MVP – Hughie Johnston, Zollner Pistons (3-run homer to win winner’s bracket and then another HR in championship game)
  • Batting Leader– N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. People’s Credit Union, Toronto, ON (5-2) (Canada)
3. Hanford Kings, Hanford, CA (4-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Blackburn Bombers, Clearwater, FL (3-2) (Southern)
5t. Kovakos Grill, Washington DC (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
5t. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Hi-Way Inn, Harlinger, TX (2-2) (Southwestern)
7t. Stratford Roofers, Stratford, CT (2-2) (North Atlantic)
9t. Palmer Commerce Loan, St. Joseph, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Ralph Tires, Pittsburgh, PA (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Casa Biascoecha, San Fuerce, Puerto Rico (2-2) (Atlantic Ocean)
9t. Thomas Ice Cream, South Bend, IN (0-2) (West Central)
13t. Tucker Blue Grass, Cleveland, OH (1-2) (Host)
13t. Hudson House Grocery, Portland, OR (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. San Pedro AC, Long Beach, CA (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
13t. Thompson Foods, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
17. Farmers Supply Store, Fargo, ND (0-2) (Northern)

NOTE

Mexico did not send a team to nationals.

1946 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1946 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana
Runner Up – Chicago Matchettes, Chicago, Illinois

Matchettes went 5-2, 5 shutouts, they gave up 2 runs the entire tournament both 1-0 losses to Jax Maids. The Matchettes beat Lind & Pomeroy in the semi finals as Marge Nichols and Bernice Maxwell combined for a no-hitter. But the Jax Maids were too strong as Nina Korgen pitched a 1-0 no-hitter. They scored the game’s only run in the 4th inning as Jax Hazel Gill was hit by a pitch, sacrificed to second and then scored on an error to give Korgan all the support she needed. Nichols was 3-0 with 3 shutouts and 36 K’s. Maxwell was 2-2, both wins via shutout and she suffered the two 1-0 defeats.

Chicago Match Corp had a team in the Men’s final as well as they were also defeated. Zollner Pistons beat them 2-0 in the final.

Lottie Jackson, Jax Maids was 2-0, won her games 7-3 and 3-1.

Vera Miller, Fresno Roma Wines went 1-2, pitched a perfect game.

Nina Korgan, Jax Maids was 3-0, 3 shutouts, 25 IP, 19 K, 0 runs allowed, 3 hits and had a 1-0 no-hitter in final. She would have been named MVP.

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

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, LA (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Chicago Matchettes, Chicago, IL (5-2) (West Central)
3. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (3-2) (Northwestern)
4. Atlas Electric, Tulsa, OK (4-2) (Southwestern)
5t. Emmert Grains, Cincinnati, OH (2-2) (East Central)
5t. Buena Park Lynx, Buena Park, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
7t. Simpson Girls, Toronto, ON (2-2) (Canada)
7t. DX Oilers, Topeka, KS (2-2) (Western)
9t. Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Stamford Nutmegs, Stamford, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
9t. Roma Wines, Fresno, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Puritas Springs Park, Cleveland OH (1-2) (Host)
13t. Takoma Decorators, Washington DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Brooklyn Celtics, New York, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Southern Dairy Maids, Nashville, TN (0-2) (Southern)

NOTES

Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament.

1946 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1945 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (93-7)
Runner Up – Chicago Match Corporation, Chicago, Illinois

Jim Chambers of Chicago Match was 6-2, 6 shutouts, 2 no hitters in a row, 117 K, 72 IP, gave up a total of 2 runs in 7 games), won first game 1-0, the team then lost to Zollner 6-0 to put them in the losers bracket. Chambers went back to the mound and then pitched a 19 inning 2-1 victory with 40 K in the next game, He then shutout his next 4 opponents, including 2 no-hitters, the second one over the Cowboys of Hollister, CA in semi finals 4-0, before losing to Zollner again 1-0 in the final). Chambers had a string of 55 consecutive scoreless innings. Jim Chambers was 50-7 record with 1026 Ks.

Zollner Pistons defeated Chicago Match 2-0 in 10 innings. Curley Armstrong of Zollner Pistons led off the top of the 10th with a HR. Ed Robitalle walked and later scored making the final 2-0, which held up with Bill West on the hill. West had 17 K in the final.

Curley Armstrong, Zollner Pistons had 3 HR.

Bill West, Zollner Pistons (2-0; hurled 10 inning 2-0 shutout in championship w/17 Ks) – total 17 IP, 30 Ks, 3 hits and 0 runs given up. West finished the year 32-0.

Leo Luken, Zollner Pistons (2-0; Won a game in relief 2-1 in the 11th inning and pitched a 7-0 2-hit shutout with 12 Ks). Diz Kirkendall was 1-0, hurling a shutout and striking out 23 total in 17 innings.

Zollner’s won 5 straight games going undefeated with a total run margin of 25-1 in 40 innings. Pistons outhit their rivals 41-12.

Chicago Match Corp. had a team in the men’s and women’s final where the Matchettes lost to the Jax Maids.

Larry Bollig of Denver Public Service was 3-2, 2 no hitters, collecting 32 Ks in the 2 games, he also had 19 more Ks in a 1-0 loss to Grumman.

Roy Stephenson, Grumman Yankees pitched a 13 inning 1-0 shutout and struck out 24 batters. He went 2-2

Future “King and his Court” Superstar Eddie Feigner was the hurler for the Longview, WA  team and he went 1-2.

  • MVP – Jim Chambers, Chicago Match
  • Batting Leader– N/A
  • HR Leader – Jim Ramage, Zollner Pistons – 4

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (5-0) (Defending Champs)
2. Chicago Match Corporation, Chicago, IL 6-2 (West Central)
3. Hollister Cowboys, Hollister, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
5t. Torrence Insurance, Longview, WA (2-2) (Northwestern)
5t. Denver Public Service, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain)*
7t. Slush Pumps, Houston, TX (2-2) (Southwestern
7t. Kavokas Grill, Washington DC (3-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Knights of Columbus, Springfield, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Nickel Plate Grill, Cleveland OH (2-2) (Host)
9t. Ferguson Auditors, Columbus, OH (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Jockey Club, Mexico City, Mexico (1-2) (Mexico)*
13t. Monowatt Electric AC, Providence, RI (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Burtner Furniture, Greensboro, NC (0-2) (Southern)
13t. Funk Jewelers, Phoenix, AZ (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
13t. Bell Thread, Hamilton, ON (0-2) (Canada)
17. Don Q Rums, San Juan, Puerto Rico (0-2) (Atlantic Ocean) did not show up

* -won a game by forfeit

NOTES

Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament.

1945 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1945 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Jax Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana
Runner Up – Crofton Athletic Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Jax Maids went 5-0, giving up 0 runs and only 6 total hits, they didn’t give up a hit until the third game. Hitting stars in the Championship game were Dot Pitts and Dot Walker both with 2 RBI, Freda and Olympia Savona both had 2 hits.

Once again, the Jax Maids played games against Men’s teams, so their overall record is no indication of their talent. (They were 7-11 vs Men’s teams), and these were not counted in the team’s record listed above, if so, they would be 22-3.

The Savona sisters, Freda and Olympia were both 2-4 in the final game, accounting for 3 of the 5 runs. Olympia Savona was 6-11 with 3 Runs scored, 2 RBIs, 3 Doubles in the 3 games that had box scores. 2 games are unaccounted for.

Alma Wilson, Crofton AC went 4-2.

Lottie Jackson, Jax Maids went 2-0, also pitched a no-hitter, allowed 0 Runs and 3 hits, 13 IP and struck out 10.

Marge Wood, Erin Brews went 4-2, with 3 shutouts, gave up 5 runs and 17 hits in 6 games for a total 55 IP, 66 K.

Nina Korgan, Jax Maids went 3-0, 1 save, 3 shutouts, no-hitter, allowed 3 hits; pitched a 5-0 two-hit shutout in final. In total 22 IP, 28 K. Korgan was 1 for 2 at the plate in the final game as well and would have been named MVP.

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

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Maids, New Orleans, LA (5-0) (Southwestern)
2. Crofton Athletic Club, Toronto, ON (5-2) (Canada)
3. Rex Hanover, Gastonia, NC (3-2) (Southern)
4. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (4-2) (Host)
5t. Denton A-1 Queens, Phoenix, AZ (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (2-2) (Rocky Mountain
7t. Capitol Maids, Washington DC (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
7t. Foxhead 400’s, Chicago, IL (1-2) (West Central)
9t. Lind & Pomeroy Florists, Portland, OR (1-2) (Defending Champ)
9t. Moraine Product Girls, Dayton, OH (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Boeing Bomberettes, Seattle, WA (0-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Marlin-Chesneys, Topeka, KS (0-2) (Western)
13t. Stamford Nutmegs, Stamford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Brooklyn Celtics, New York City, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)

NOTES

Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. North Pacific Coast Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament.

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 also 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 also 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, Mexico (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.