Category: 1978

1978 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1978 held at Petersburg, Virginia.

Champion – Howard’s Furniture, Denver, North Carolina
Runner Up – Howard & Carroll, Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

It was a North Carolina final as Howard’s dumped Howard & Carroll into the losers bracket early with a 25-5 pasting behind Don Arndt and Stan Harvey (2 HR each), Dave Jocobs had 5 hits and 5 RBI to aid in the cause. H&C went through the losers bracket eliminating a tough Corpus Christi Brick & Lumber team 14-13. H&C then revenged the defeat by Howards by beating them 23-15 to set up the final game. James Boyette and Dave Carroll both had 4 hits in the win. Joey Raby had 2 HR and 6 RBI. Howard’s Furniture, who had won two ASA titles already, won it’s first USSSA Championship by defeating H&C 20-15 in the final game. Denny Hogan had a pair of 3-run homers to lead the way. Joey Raby, Don Arndt and Stan Harvey all collected 2 HRs in the game. James Boyette (3 HR) and Tom Beall (2 HR) were the big hitters for H&C. Dave Jacobs was 16-24 (.667) for Howard’s, while Don Arndt and Bill Howes all were 12-19 (.631), both hammering out 5 HR. Stan Harvey hit 9 HR to lead Howard’s. In the Battle of the stats, it was Howard & Carroll with 54 HR to Howard’s Furniture’s 35 HR. But Howards team out hit H&C .550 to .470.

  • MVP – Denny Hogan, Howard’s (12-19, .632, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • HR Leader – James Boyett, H&C (18-29, .621, 20 RBI, 15 Runs) – 13
  • Batting Leader – Bill Ferguson, C.C. Brick & Lumber (12-15, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 7 Runs) – .800

USSSA MAJOR ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Don Arndt – Howard’s Furniture (12-19, .632, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Catcher – Gene Fisher – Howard’s Furniture (10-19, .526, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • First Base – Stan Harvey – Howard’s Furniture (11-21, .550, 9 HR, 15 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Second Base – James Boyett – Howard & Carroll (18-29, .621, 13 HR, 20 RBI, 15 Runs)
  • Third Base – Tony Cloninger – Howard & Carroll (11-19, .579, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Shortstop – Steve Howard – Howard’s Furniture (8-17, .471, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Outfield – Dick Bartel – C.C. Brick & Lumber (11-15, .733, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Outfield – Denny Hogan – Howard’s Furniture (12-19, .632, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Outfield – Mike Jacobs – Howard’s Furniture (16-24, .667, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 12 Runs)
  • Outfield – Mickey Morrison – Howard & Carroll (13-28, .464, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Utility – Ron Woody – Howard & Carroll (12-20, .600, 2 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Utility – Elby Bushong – Capitol Insulation (11-15, .733, 7 HR, 15 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Utility – Mickey McCarty – C.C. Brick & Lumber (9-15, .600, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Utility – Bill Ferguson – C.C. Brick & Lumber (12-15, .800, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Utility – Gene Jones – Howard & Carroll (11-25, .440, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 12 Runs)
  • Utility – Joey Raby – Howard & Carroll (12-25, .480, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Manager – Bobby Lutz – Howard’s Furniture

OTHERS

  • John Davide, County Sports (4-5, .800, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
  • Rick Linz, LaRosa’s (7-10, .700, 4 RBI, 5 Runs)
  • Braxton Speller, Snyders (7-10, .700, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs)
  • Hank Cluess, County Sports (4-6, .667, 2 RBI, 3 Runs)
  • George Chernenko, Snyders (7-11, .636, 4 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • Bill Howes, Howard’s (12-19, .632, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Ron Shoquist, Snyders (7-12, .583, 3 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • Rick Scherr, Howard’s (10-18, .556, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Richard Wilborn, CC Brick (8-16, .500, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Hal Ward, LaRosa’s (5-10, .500, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 Runs)
  • Marty Rolnick, County Sports (3-6, .500, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 Runs)
  • Tom Beall, H&C (12-30, .400, 7 HRs, 16 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Dave Hardt, H&C (10-24, .416, 3 HRs, 5 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Don Clatterbaugh, H&C (10-26, .384, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Rick Pinto, Snyders (3-8, .375, 1 Run)
  • Dennis Myers, Capitol (5-14, .357, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • Curtis Williams, Howard’s (5-16, .312, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 Runs)
  • Hank Kosmala, Capitol (4-14, .286, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 Runs)
  • Buddy Slater, CC Brick (4-14, .286, 4 Runs)
  • Lou Russo, County Sports (2-8, .250)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Howard’s Furniture, Denver, NC (4-1)
2. Howard & Carroll, Sherills Ford, NC (5-2)
3. C.C. Brick & Lumber, Corpus Christi, TX (2-2)
4. Capitol Insulation, N. Hollywood, CA (2-2)
5t. LaRosa’s Greater Cincinnati Sports, Cincinnati, OH (1-2)
5t. Snyder’s Softball Club, Detroit, MI (1-2)
7t. May Tool, Paramount, CA (0-2)
7t. County Sports, Levittown, NY (0-2)

*By winning the 1978  World Series, Howard’s (QUALIFIED for 1979 WORLD SERIES)

1978 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1978 held at Springfield, Missouri.

Champion – Billard Barbell, Reading, Pennsylvania
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

Billard Barbell won its second straight ASA Championship and Pitcher Ty Stofflett was named MVP for the 5th time in the last 8 years. An incredible feat. He went 4-0 and struck out an amazing 61 batters in only 29 innings. He had a no hitter and two 1-hitters and only gave up 2 ERs and 6 hits in 4 games.

  • Co-MVP – Ty Stofflet, Billard Barbell
  • Co-MVP – Ted Hicks, CMI
  • Batting Leader – Ted Hicks, CMI – .632
  • Home Run Leader – N/A
  • Most Outstanding Pitcher Award  – Ty Stofflet, Billard Barbell

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Ty Stofflet, Billard Barbell (4-0, 29 IP, 61 K, 2 Shutouts, No Hitter and 2 one-hitters, 2 ER, 6 Hits. He was 46-1 on the season.)
P – Roy Burlison, CMI (4-2)
P – Joe Lynch, Clearwater Bombers (3-0, also hit 2 HR)
C – Carl Solarek, Billard Barbell
C – Albert “Buck” Delatorre, Clearwater Bombers
1B – Jeff Seip, Billard Barbell
2B – Kent Ingles, Neal’s Truck Parts
3B – Bob Yoder, Billard Barbell
SS – Leon Wood, Clearwater Bombers (12-27, .444)
OF – Ted Hicks, CMI (12-19)
OF – Dallas Rountree, Guanella Brothers
OF – Richard Zeke Delong, Billard Barbell
OF – Ray Truluck, Clearwater Bombers
UTIL – Calvin Connor, Steve’s Exporters

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Larry Bergh, Billard Barbell (2-0)
P – Mitch Harter, Clearwater Bombers (3 Wins)
P – Jeff Kepner, Steve’s Exporters
C – Jim Nichols, CMI
C – George Papagelis, Raybestos Cardinals
1B – Jim Gosger, Neal’s Truck Parts
2B – Calvin Connor, Steve’s Exporters
3B – Mike Parnow, Guanella Brothers
SS – Evans Telegades, McArdle Pontiac-Cadillac
OF – David Grimes, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Beau Robinson, CMI
OF – Mickey Herbert, Raybestos Cardinals
OF – Jim Marsh, Guanella Brothers
UTIL – John White, Southern Truck Raiders

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Billard Barbell, Reading, PA (6-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (6-2) (Southern)
3. CMI, Springfield, MO (4-2) (Host)
4. Guanella Brothers, Santa Rosa, CA (5-2) (Pacific Coast)
5t. Steve’s Exporters, San Antonio, TX (3-2) (Texas)
5t. Peterbilt, Seattle, WA (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Neal’s Truck Parts, Grand Rapids, MI (2-2) (Great Lakes)
7t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (2-2) (New England)
9t. Southern Truck Raiders, Phoenix, AZ (2-2) (Rocky Mountain-Cactus-new)
9t. Butt’r Topp, Clear Lake, IA (2-2) (Mid America)
9t. York Barbell, York, PA (2-2) (Central Atlantic At-Large)
9t. McArdle Pontiac, Midland, MI (2-2) (Great Lakes At-Large)
13t. Bruce Hanson Printers, Littleton, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain-Alpine-new)
13t. Home Savings & Loan, Aurora, IL (0-2) (Midwest)
13t. Walnut Products, St. Joseph, MO (1-2) (Mid America At-Large)
13t. Poughkeepsie Brewers, Poughkeepsie, NY (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
17t. Sonny’s Exxon, Greenville, NC (0-2) (South Atlantic)
17t. Byerly’s, Minneapolis, MN (0-2) (Northern)
17t. Ohio Caverns, West Liberty, OH (0-2) (East Central)
17t. Wilson Powell Monarchs, Clinton, MD (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
17t. American Bank & Trust, Shreveport, LA (0-2) (Southwestern)

NOTES

Rocky Mountain was renamed Rocky Mountain-Alpine and Cactus was renamed Rocky Mountain-Cactus. Western (eliminated) and reformatted into Mid-America.

1978 USSSA Men’s B Slow Pitch Worlds

1978 held at Baldwin, New York.

Champion – Manchester Veneer 59’ers, Manchester, Georgia
Runner Up – Nikki’s Lounge, Detroit, Michigan

  • MVP– Chip Sheffield, Manchester Veneer 59ers’ (6 HR)
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – N/A

1978 USSSA B ALL WORLD TEAM

P- Jim Cary, Looking Glass
C – Fred Trice, Manchester Veneer (4 HRs) – 119 HRs on the year
1B – Marcus Walker, Manchester Veneer (18-29, .620, 1 HR)
3B – Skeet Johnson, Manchester Veneer
OF – David Williamson, Manchester Veneer

FINAL STANDINGS (Standings Incomplete)

1. Manchester Veneer 59’ers, Manchester, GA (8-0)
2. Nikki’s Lounge, Detroit, MI
3. Looking Glass, Los Angeles

Other teams participating include:

Skinny Dugan’s Pub, Las Vegas, NV
Heidless, WI
Oakmont, Pittsburgh, PA
Main Street, Indianapolis, IN
Lee Supply, Washington, PA
Trojan Homes, MI
South Boston Bank, VA
CSW Construction, TN
Larry Strothers, NC
M&M Improvement, Detroit, MI
Bigham Tanks, NC
Rocky Mount Merchants, Rocky Mount, NC
Robert’s Importers, Polk County, FL
Horn’s Valley Inn, Batavia, WI
Parkway Liquor, Trenton, NJ

1978 Women’s College World Series (AIAW)

1978 held at Dill Softball Center in Omaha, Nebraska on May 25-28.

Champion – UCLA Bruins (31-3)
Runner Up – Northern Colorado (24-6)

UCLA swept through the Women’s College World Series of Softball undefeated and added the title to the national basketball championship it won earlier this spring.

The Bruins stopped Northern Colorado 3-0 Monday in the title game of the 16-team Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women double-elimination tournament that was plagued by weather throughout its five-day run.

Jan Jeffers stopped the Bears in the trophy game for her third victory in the tourney. UCLA, 5-0 in the meet, got three-hit pitching from Jeffers, who struck out three and walked none. Bruin batters collected six safeties off Brooks Swanson and Lou Piel, who relieved in the third inning.

The champions got all the runs they needed when Gail Edson singled home Jeffers and Sue Enquist in the first inning. UCLA added a run in the fifth when Kathy Maurice singled and Swanson, then playing left field, erred on the pickup attempt to allow Enquist to score from second base.

Piel pitched a three-hitter earlier Monday as Northern Colorado eliminated Minnesota, 3-1. Northern Colorado finished at 5-2 and Minnesota 3-2 in the tournament.

Linda Witt contributed 3-for-3 batting as Piel won her fifth game of the tournament without a loss with the support of Northern Colorado hits.

Witt’s triple drove in two rims in a three run fourth inning and the Bears scored in the fifth when Jan Breckenridge singled home Mary Jackson.

Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning and a fielder’s choice scored the Gophers’ only run before two fly balls to the infield ended the game. Vicki Swanson was the losing pitcher. The Sunday program ended after one game. Northern Colorado eliminated Texas Woman’s University 7-3 before tourney officials called a halt because of rain and a tornado threat. The funnel cloud did not touch down.

Tournament officials estimated that the total attendance for the event cleared the 10,000 spectator barrier for the first time.

  • Most Outstanding Player – Sue Enquist, UCLA
  • Batting Leader – Sue Enquist, UCLA (8-19) – .421
  • HR Champion – N/A

1978 ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

N/A

SCORES

  1. SW Missouri State 11 Massachusetts 2
  2. UCLA 4 Texas Woman’s 0
  3. Arizona State 10 Portland State 0
  4. Utah State 11 South Carolina 0
  5. Southern Illinois 2 Stephen F. Austin 1
  6. Minnesota 2 Cal St Poly-Pomona 1
  7. Nebraska-Omaha 2 Illinois State 1
  8. Northern Colorado 3 Oregon State 0
  9. Texas Woman’s 1 Massachusetts 0
  10. Portland State 10 South Carolina 7
  11. Cal St Poly-Pomona 2 Stephen F. Austin 1
  12. Oregon State 4 Illinois State 2
  13. UCLA 1 SW Missouri State 0
  14. Utah State 2 Arizona State 0
  15. Minnesota 6 Southern Illinois 2
  16. Northern Colorado 3 Nebraska-Omaha 2
  17. Texas Woman’s 4 Nebraska-Omaha 0
  18. Southern Illinois 4 Portland State 1
  19. Cal St Poly-Pomona 1 Arizona State 0
  20. SW Missouri State 1 Oregon State 0
  21. UCLA 7 Utah State 0
  22. Minnesota 4 Northern Colorado 1
  23. Texas Woman’s 3 Southern Illinois 1
  24. Cal St Poly-Pomona 2 SW Missouri State 1
  25. Texas Woman’s 3 Utah State 0
  26. Northern Colorado 4 Cal St Poly-Pomona 3
  27. Northern Colorado 7 Texas Woman’s 3
  28. UCLA 3 Minnesota 0
  29. Northern Colorado 3 Minnesota 1
  30. UCLA 3 Northern Colorado 0

FINAL STANDINGS

1. UCLA Bruins (5-0)
2. Northern Colorado Bears (5-2)
3. Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2)
4. Texas Woman’s Tessies (4-2)
5t. Cal-State Poly-Pomona Broncos (3-2)
5t. Southern Illinois Salukis (2-2)
7t. Utah State Aggies (2-2)
7t. SW Missouri State Bears (2-2)
9t. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-2)
9t. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)
9t. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (1-2)
9t. Portland State Vikings (1-2)
13t. South Carolina Gamecocks (0-2)
13t. Illinois State Redbirds (0-2)
13t. Massachusetts Minutemen (0-2)
13t. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (0-2)

1978 ASA Women’s Major Slow Pitch Nationals

1978 held at Jacksonville, Florida.

Champion: Bob Hoffman’s Dots, Miami, Florida
Runner Up: Getz, Atlanta, Georgia

Behind the dominant defense and pitching of Judy Hedgecock, the Dots went undefeated winning all five games, two of them by shutout. The score in the final game was 7-2. Kristy Boston has a monster tournament for the Dots and was named MVP.

  • MVP – Kristy Boston, Bob Hoffman’s Dots (15-23, .652)
  • Batting Leader – Kristy Boston, Bob Hoffman’s Dots – .652
  • Home Run Leader – N/A

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Cathy Herrington, Getz
P – Judy Hedgecock, Bob Hoffman’s Dots
C – Chris Keller, Wray Roofing
C – Jeanne Ghostley, Spooks
1B – Mary Kay Sharp, Spooks
2B – Kristy Boston, Bob Hoffman’s Dots
3B – Terry Allen, Getz
SS – Chris Padgett, Bob Hoffman’s Dots
OF – Ernestine Hamel, Bob Hoffman’s Dots
OF – Mary Ann Holmes, Tamps Gremlins
OF – Dru Wise, Nelson’s Painting Saints
OF – Lori Brenner, Wray Roofing
UT – Sharon Gallagher, M&M Debs
UT – Branda Marshall, CC Brick & Lumber

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Curnie Webster, Stompers
P – Sandra VanLandingham, Tampa Gremlins
C – Linda Ares, Bob Hoffman’s Dots
C – Cheryl Hall, Stompers
1B – Val Nicholson, M&M Debs
2B – Sherri Pickard, Rubi-Otts
3B – Sue Stead, M&M Debs
SS – Dot Stansal, Denny Morgan’s Rebels
OF – Holly Perzel, Broglio’s Rockettes
OF – Elaine Roberson, Gets
OF – Evelyn Hayes, Bob Hoffman’s Dots
OF – Carol Stromberg, Spooks
UT – Darlene Werhnyak, Getz
UT – Jennie Garrison, Getz

FINAL STANDINGS (Incomplete)

1. Bob Hoffman’s Dots, Miami, FL (5-0)
2. Getz, Atlanta, GA

5t. Gremlins, Tampa, FL

17t. Summertime Blues, Conejo, CA

TBD on paper 41 teams

Danny’s Angels – MA
Amr-Co Travel – Copaque, NY
The King and I – Rochester, NY
Roy Wheeler Realty – Charlottesville, VA
Mid-Region Petroleum – Tulsa, OK
Capps Realty – AR
HIC – Dallas, TX
CC Brick and Lumber – Corpus Christi, TX
Bernward Hall – Fond du Lac, WI
Oak Creek Equipment – Franklin, WI
Roadrunners – Columbus, OH
Independence Rockettes – Cleveland, OH
Kentucky Fried Chicken – Franklin, IN
Americs – Minneapolis, MN
Cowley County – KS
Gibson Contractors – Greeley, CO
Forrest Datsun – CA
Bellingham Belles – Bellingham, WA
Coeur d’Alene Auto Parts – Coeur d’Alene, ID
Cardinals – Cincinnati, OH
Barnette Pavers – Lexington, KY
Spartan Sporting Goods – MO
Universal Plastics – Cookeville, TN
Raintree Steak & Pizza – Seattle, WA
Armed Forces – Annville, PA
Mason Majors – Mason, MI
Glenn Sporting Goods – WV
James Gang – Albany, GA
Scott Equipment Co. – Chattanooga, TN