Softball History USA

1974 USSSA Men’s B Slow Pitch Worlds

1974 held at Kinston, North Carolina.

Champion – Queen City Patterns, Miamitown, Ohio
Runner Up – Roscoe Cairns, Washington, Pennsylvania

  • MVP – Jerry Wilcon, Queen City Patterns (14-26, .538, 5 HR)
  • HR Leader – Bill Carnes, Douglas Auto
  • Batting Leader – N/A

1974 USSSA B ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Ken Boatright, Queen City (8-20, .400)
C – Jim Duke, Queen City (12-21, .571)
1B – Tom Daskovitch, Etna Hotel
2B – Mike Mahalek, Dooley’s
SS – Cliff Winette, Roscoe Cairns
3B – Bill Schmidt, Roscoe Cairns
OF – Steve Rogers, Queen City (12-26, .462)
OF – Jerry Wilson, Queen City (14-26, .538, 5 HR)
OF – Bucky Bolyard, Roscoe Cairns
OF – Tom Stone, Westside Sports

OTHERS

Jim Kuhn, Queen City (14-24, .583, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
Jerome Youngblood, Queen City (12-27, .444, 5 HR, 21 RBI)

FINAL STANDINGS (Incomplete)

1. Queen City Patterns, Miamitown, OH (6-0)
2. Roscoe Cairns, Washington, PA (9-2)
3. Etna Hotal, Arnold, PA
4. Dooley’s Clothing, Elkhorn, WI
5t. Frazier’s Bombers, Roanoke Rapids, NC
5t. Westside Sports, Plymouth, MI
7t. Car Center, Baltimore, MD

OTHER TEAMS

Bill’s Shamrock, Redbud, IL
Indiana Lanes, Wyandott, MI
Greenert’s AC, Kentucky
Planters National Bank, Nashville, TN
Sportsville, Wilson, NC
Douglas Auto, Racine, WI
Car Center, Baltimore, MD
Montgomery Ward, Rocky Mount, NC
Ram Neuse, Kinston, NC
Williams Billiards, Wilson, NC
Bucci Furniture, Vandergrift, PA

1974 Women’s College World Series (AIAW)

1974 held at Dill Softball Center, UNO Football Stadium, and Churchich Field in Omaha, Nebraska on May 16-19.

Champion – Southwest Missouri State Bears (28-4)
Runner Up – Northern Colorado Bears (19-2)

Sharon Williams pitched Northern Colorado to two victories in the Women’s Softball College World Series Sunday but Southwest Missouri got to her for eight runs in the first inning to take the championship, 14-7.

The Greeley, Colo., team won a late Saturday night contest 1-0 over Indiana, then defeated Kansas 18-0 and Wayne State 9-8 in eight innings to meet undefeated Southwest Missouri State in the double elimination tourney.

Southwest Missouri State succeeds last year’s champion Arizona State which did not qualify for the sixth annual tournament this year.

  • MVP – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Gail Gault, Arizona (.444, 8-18)
  • HR Champion – N/A

OTHERS

Cindy Henderson, SW Missouri St. (5-0)

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

N/A

SCORES

  1. Luther 4 North Dakota State 1
  2. Kansas 10 Winona State 0
  3. Luther 2 Nassau CC 0
  4. Southwest Missouri State 11 Massachusetts 1
  5. Eastern Illinois 10 South Carolina 0
  6. Indiana State 10 South Dakota State 0
  7. Wayne State 4 Michigan State 3
  8. Arizona 16 West Georgia 0
  9. Northern Colorado 7 Weber State 2
  10. Kansas 2 Golden West 1
  11. Michigan State 1 North Dakota State 0 (North Dakota State eliminated)
  12. South Dakota State 5 Winona State 1 (Winona State eliminated)
  13. Weber State 5 Golden West 0 (Golden West eliminated)
  14. Massachusetts 7 Nassau CC 0 (Nassau CC eliminated)
  15. Michigan State 6 West Georgia 2 (West Georgia eliminated)
  16. South Dakota State 2 South Carolina 1 (South Carolina eliminated)
  17. Southwest Missouri State 1 Luther 0
  18. Eastern Illinois 9 Indiana State 0
  19. Wayne State 2 Arizona 0
  20. Northern Colorado 1 Kansas 0
  21. Indiana State 4 Michigan State 2 (Michigan State eliminated)
  22. Luther 5 Weber State 2 (Weber State eliminated)
  23. Arizona 18 South Dakota State 0 (South Dakota State eliminated)
  24. Kansas 13 Massachusetts 3 (Massachusetts eliminated)
  25. Southwest Missouri State 9 Eastern Illinois 8
  26. Wayne State 23 Northern Colorado 7
  27. Indiana State 3 Luther 2 (Luther eliminated)
  28. Kansas 8 Arizona 1 (Arizona eliminated)
  29. Northern Colorado 1 Indiana State 0 (Indiana State eliminated)
  30. Kansas 2 Eastern Illinois (Eastern Illinois eliminated)
  31. Southwest Missouri State 8 Wayne State 5
  32. Northern Colorado 18 Kansas 0 (Kansas eliminated)
  33. Northern Colorado 9 Wayne State 8 (Wayne State eliminated)
  34. Southwest Missouri State 14 Northern Colorado 7 (Northern Colorado eliminated)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Southwest Missouri State Bears (5-0)
2. Northern Colorado Bears (5-2)
3. Wayne State Wildcats (3-2)
4. Kansas Jayhawks (5-2)
5t. Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-2)
5t. Indiana State Sycamores (3-2)
7t. Arizona Wildcats (2-2)
7t. Luther Norse (3-2)
9t. Michigan State Spartans (2-2)
9t. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (2-2)
9t. Massachusetts Minutemen (1-2)
9t. Weber State Wildcats (1-2)
13t. West Georgia Wolves (0-2)
13t. South Carolina Gamecocks (0-2)
13t. Golden West Rustlers (0-2)
13t. North Dakota State Bison (0-2)
17t. Winona State Warriors (0-2)
17t. Nassau Community College Lions (0-2)

1974 ASA Women’s Major Slow Pitch Nationals

1974 held at Elk Grove, California.

Champion: Marks Brothers Dots, Miami, Florida
Runner Up: Budget Rent-A-Car Rebels, Jacksonville, Florida

The Rubi-Otts (93-13 record for the year) came through the losers bracket winning 7 games, only to lose a 6-5 heartbreaker to the Rebels in the semifinals. The Rebels were out hit in that game 15-6, but put up enough runs to win and advance to the finals to play the Dots. Bev Shue led the Rubi-Otts with a 24-35 performance (.684). Once again, the Dots pitcher Judy Hedgecock was the difference for the Dots. Rebels won the first final 9-8, then the Dots, behind Leslie Carter’s 2-run double to give them a 2-1 lead they would never lose in winning 8-5.

  • MVP – Chris Padgett, Marks Brothers Dots (11-25, .440, 8 RBI, 6 Runs)
  • Batting Leader – Tiera Edwards, Budget Rent-A-Car Rebels (14-19, 8 RBI, 7 Runs) – .737
  • Home Run Leader – Karen Krause, Budget Tapes (13-21, .619, 5 RBI) – 2
  • Home Run Leader – Carol Smith, Dots (13-28, .464, 6 RBI) – 2
  • Home Run Leader – Sue Digitale (9-21, .429, 10 RBI) – 2
  • Home Run Leader – Linda Kendrick (8-20, .400, 7 RBI), Jay Cees – 2

1974 FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Jami Freidman, Budget Rent-a-Car Rebels
P – Kay Yow, Rubi-Otts
C – Linda Ares, Marks Brothers Dots
C – Teira Edwards, Budget Tapes and Records
1B – Susan Clark, Rubi-Otts
2B – Sherri Pickard, Rubi-Otts
3B – Eileen Carter, Marks Brothers Dots
SS – Chris Padgett, Marks Brothers Dots
OF – Linda McPhee, Budget Rent-a-Car Rebels
OF – Karen Newman, Marks Brothers Dots
OF – Carol Smith, Marks Brothers Dots
OF – Beverly Shue, Rubi-Otts
UTIL – Sue Lambert, Westwood Concrete
UTIL – Debbie McClain, Budget Rent-a-Car Rebels

1974 SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Sandy Patton, Marks Brothers Dots
P – Marlen Ragland, Budget Tapes and Records
C – Linda Kendrick, Elk Grove Jay-Cees
C – Judy Lockhart, Rubi-Otts
1B – Lewanne Fenty, Marks Brothers Dots
2B – Debra Brown, Budget Rent-a-Car Rebels
3B – Stephanie Lankford, Budget Tapes and Records
SS – Jenny Johnson, Sweeney Chevrolet
OF – Holly Peizelle, Donnettes
OF – JoAnn Wimberly, Zep Stars
OF – Pam Grimsteade, Raney Tire
OF – Lynn Boggie, Westwood Concrete
UTIL – Carol Phillips, Marks Brothers Dots
UTIL – Marilyn Busse, Rubi-Otts

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Marks Brothers Dots, North Miami, FL (6-1)
2. Budget Rent-A-Car Rebels, Jacksonville, FL (6-2)
3. Rubi-Otts, Graham, NC (7-2)
4. Donnettes, Cleveland, OH (4-2)
5t. Zep Stars, Albany, GA (4-2)
5t. LaRosa’s, Cincinnati, OH (3-2)
7t. Westwood Concrete, Bloomington, MN (4-2)
7t. Sweeney Chevrolet, Cincinnati, OK (4-2)
9t. Elk Grove Jay Cees, Elk Grove, CA (4-2)
9t. Raney Tire, Cleveland, OH (3-2)
9t. Budget Tapes & Records, Houston, TX (3-2)
9t. South Park Saints, Santa Rosa, CA (2-2)
13t. Motown Soul Sisters, Detroit, MI (2-2)
13t. Shear & Sons Construction, Hutchinson, KS (2-2)
13t. Elks 350, Ashland, KY (2-2)
13t. Chuck Wagon Inn Americas, Brooklyn Center, MN (2-2)
17t. Hensleys, Charlottsville, VA (1-2)
17t. Niccoli’s Italian Grocery, Phoenix, AZ (1-2)
17t. Creekwater Dispensary, Tacoma, WA (1-2)
17t. Glenns Sporting Goods, Huntington, WV (1-2)
17t. Sponsors, Great Falls, MT (1-2)
17t. Forest Park Girls, Forest Park, IL (1-2)
17t. Hounds & Foxes, Long Island, NY (1-2)
17t. Major All Stars, Columbus, OH (1-2)
25t. Boatman, Chattanooga, TN (1-2)
25t. ACY Truck Lines, Jackson, MS (0-2)
25t. Sonnerettes, Oklahoma City, OK (0-2)
25t. Eagles FOE 74, Wilmington, DE (0-2)
25t. Minutemen of America, Little Rock, AR (0-2)
25t. Scotties, Richmond, VA (0-2)
25t. Lynn PAL Drifters, Lynn, MA (0-2)
25t. Fairway, Blair, NE (0-2)
33t. Springfield Robinettes, Springfield, OH (0-2)
33t. Gromans Sport Shop, Manchester, CT (0-2)

1973 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1973 held at Rock Island, Illinois on August 17-26.

Champion – Jets, Lakewood, California
Runner Up – Cowboys, Clovis, California

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Ed Kleckler, Jets
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – Ed Kleckler, Jets
  • Leading Hitter – Dale Leach, Manny’s – .583
  • Most RBI – Don Frazier, Jets – 6
  • Most RBI – Dale Leach, Manny’s – 6

1973 ISC FIRST TEAM ALL WORLD

P – Ed Kleckler, Jets (5-0, 0.15 ERA, 67 K, 3 BB)
P – Herman Dunkerton, Cowboys (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 25 K, 5 BB)
P – Gil Aragon, Page Raiders (4-2, 1.00 ERA, 27 K, 5 BB)
C – Ed Daniels, Cowboys .389
C – Terry Birdsall, Jets .187
IF – Gene Peerenboom, Jack’s Tavern .500
IF – Stan Grebeck, Manny’s .429
IF – Bobby Guy, Jets .370
IF – Don Frazier, Jets .370
IF – Bob Shigumatsu, Cowboys .316
OF – Dale Leach, Manny’s .583
OF – Ralph Smith, Nitehawks .500
OF – Jerry Flory, Nitehawks .429
OF – John Wilson, Jets .313

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jets, Lakewood, CA
2. Cowboys, Clovis, CA
3. Manny’s, San Bernardino, CA
4. King of the Row, Denver, CO
5t. Sun City Auto Parts, El Paso, TX
5t. Jack’s Tavern, Little Chute, WI
7t. Nighthawks, Long Beach, CA
7t. Las Vegas, NV
9t. Houston, TX
9t. Fresno, CA
9t. Fox Valley, Green Bay, WI
9t. Mosenfelder, Rock Falls, IL
13t. Tulsa, OK
13t. Hyndman, PA
13t. Security, Rock Island, IL
13t. Ogden, UT
17t. Pueblo, CO
17t. Page Raiders, Phoenix, AZ
17t. Spielmans, IA
17t. New Haven, IN
17t. Dallas, TX
17t. Whalen’s State, Dubuque, IA
17t. Blacksville, WV

1973 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1973 held at Southgate, Michigan.

CHAMPION – Bay Area Merchants, Richmond, California
RUNNER UP – Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, Michigan

1972 East World Champ played the 1972 West World Champ in the 1973 World Series best of 7 series Bay Area Merchants (BAM) of Richmond, CA defeated Dino’s Pizza of Detroit, MI (4 games to 2).

Bay Area Merchants or BAM as they preferred to be called made history becoming the first Western team to win the USSSA World Series. BAM had to overcome the powerful hitting of Dino’s Pizza. And they did that by matching them blow for blow. Dino’s ended up with 12 Home Runs and BAM had 11. BAM outscored their rivals 58-41 in the 6 game series. Electrifying Charlie Pierce was amazing as he led BAM to the title with his 13-22 hitting performance. He also covered half the outfield himself with his roadrunner type speed. Big Ed Green supplied the power for BAM with 3 titanic blasts. Dino’s Cal Carman and Jerry Johnston both had terrific series for Dino’s. Carman was 9-14 and also walked 9 times as well. Hed led the series in homers with 5. Johnston’s .684 batting average was also tops. Pierce hit when it counted most in the last two games he was 6-8 to lead the team.

  • MVP – Charles Pierce, BAM (13-22, .592, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Home Run Leader – Cal Carmen, Dino’s (9-14, .643, 8 RBI, 9 Runs) – 5
  • Batting Leader – Jerry Johnson, Dino’s – (13-19, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs) – .684

ALL WORLD TEAM

No All-World Team was selected – just a best of 7 series between 2 teams. The East and West selected All World Teams in their respective Tournaments.

SCORES

  • Game 1 – Bay Area Merchants 15 vs. Dino’s Pizza 11 – Charlie Pierce was 3-3 with 2 HR for BAM; Cal Carmen of Dino’s was 4-4 with 3 HR.
  • Game 2 – Dino’s Pizza 5 vs. Bay Area Merchants 2 – Cal Carmen was 2-2 with 2 HR and 3 RBI for Dino’s; Marv VanCurran was 3-3 for BAM.
  • Game 3 – Bay Area Merchants 17 vs. Dino’s Pizza 5 – Al Green and Jim Heflin combined for 5 hits and 7 RBI for BAM; Joe Patti was 3-4 to lead Dino’s.
  • Game 4 – Dino’s Pizza 15 vs. Bay Area Merchants 14 – Joe Theisen was 4-4 with 2 HR for Dino’s; Mike Matthews was 3-4 with 4 RBI for BAM.
  • Game 5 – Bay Area Merchants 6 vs. Dino’s Pizza 2 – Charlie Pierce was 4-4 with a HR for BAM; Joe Patti and Dan Murphy had an RBI each for Dino’s.
  • Game 6 – Bay Area Merchants 4 vs. Dino’s Pizza 3 – Charlie Pierce was 2-4 to lead BAM; Jerry Johnston was 3-3 to lead Dino’s.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Bay Area Merchants, Richmond, CA (4-2)
2. Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, MI (2-4)

OTHERS (at least 10 AB)

Jerry Johnson, Dino’s 13-19, .684, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs)
Cal Carmen, Dino’s (9-14, .643, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 9 Runs)
Charlie Pierce, BAM (13-22, .591, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 Runs)
Dan Murphy, Dino’s (7-12, .583, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
Al Smith, BAM (8-16, .500, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 Runs)
Jim Heflin, BAM (10-21, .476, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 Runs)
Steve Anderson, BAM (7-15, .467, 1 RBI, 3 Runs)
Joe Patti, Dino’s (9-20, 0 HRs, 4 RBI, 6 Runs) – Also 1-3 Pitching
Marv VanCurran, BAM (9-20, .450, 3 RBI, 3 Runs)
Ed Green, BAM (9-21, .429, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 Runs)
Larry Shephard, BAM (9-21, .429, 5 RBI, 7 Runs)
Unknown Klinger, Dino’s (8-19, .421, 2 Runs)
Jerry Gilbreath, BAM (5-12, .417, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 Runs)
Chuck Carcium, Dino’s (5-13, .365, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 Runs) – Also 1-1 Pitching
Frank Coppa, BAM (7-19, .368, 4 RBI, 4 Runs)
Mike Matthews, BAM (7-21, .333, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 Runs) – Also 4-2 Pitching
Joe Theisen, Dino’s (6-19, .316, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 Runs)
Jim Halsip, Dino’s (3-13, .231, 2 RBI, 2 Runs)
George White, Dino’s (3-13, .231, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
John Morris, BAM (2-13, .154, 1 RBI, 3 Runs)
Mario Borrocci, Dino’s (1-10, .100, 1 RBI)

By winning the 1973 World Series, BAM (QUALIFIED for 1974 WORLD SERIES)

1973 East Worlds – Southgate, Michigan.

Champion – Croten Dukes, New Castle, Pennsylvania
Runner Up – Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, Michigan

East MVP – Carl Pia, Croten Dukes (15-20, .750, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6-0 Pitching)
East HR Leader – Dave Thayer, Snyder’s (22-33, .667, 22 RBI) –  10
East Batting Leader– Carl Pia, Croten Dukes – .750

USSSA EAST ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Carl Pia, Croten Dukes (15-20, .750, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6-0 Pitching)
P – Cal Carmen, Dino’s Pizza (12-25, .480, 5 HR, 12 RBI)
C – Frank Taccone, Pace Electronics (11-23, .470, 7 HR, 8 RBI)
C – John Pierog, Iron Dukes (11-18, .611, 8 RBI)
1B – Emory Lucas, Rolling Hills (14-26, .538, 8 RBI)
2B – Joe Patti, Dino’s Pizza (14-27, .519, 2 HR, 10 RBI)
3B – Doug Gerdes, Snyder’s (21-33, .636, 9 HR, 27 RBI)
3B – Micky Annarella, Croten Dukes (10-19, .526, 7 RBI)
SS – Randy Huey, Croten Dukes (13-21, .619, 4 RBI)
OF – Dave Thayer, Snyder’s (22-33, .667, 10 HR, 22 RBI)
OF – Ron Blaessig, Pace Electronics (15-22, .682, 6 HR, 15 RBI)
OF – Glenn Eichelberger, Pace Electronics (17-29, .586, 7 HR, 18 RBI)
OF – Joe Thieson, Dino’s Pizza (14-30, .467, 5 HR, 10 RBI)

FINAL STANDINGS

(top-10 listed only, 39 teams played)

1. Croten Dukes, New Castle, PA (6-0) *
2. Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, MI (6-2) *
3. Pace Electronics, Rochester, NY (6-2) *
4. Snyder’s Masonary, Redford, MI (6-2)
5t. Rolling Hills, Covington, KY (5-2)
5t. Iron Dukes, New Castle, PA (4-2)
7t. Marasco’s V.F., Milwaukee, WI (4-2)
7t. S&S Builders, New Albany, IN (3-2)
9t. Krivan Club, Springdale, PA (3-2)
9t. Sixth Ward, Pittsburgh, PA (3-2)

*Qualified for the 1974 USSSA Major World Series.

1973 USSSA CENTRAL WORLDS (actually held in early 1974)

Champion – Red Bud, Illinois
Runner Up – Slinger Foundry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Third Place – Thurmer’s Bar, St. Louis, Missouri

Central MVP – Phil Higgins, Slinger Foundry
Central HR Leader– no info
Central Batting Leader – no info

No Central All-Tournament Team was named, only the MVP

1973 Central World Tournament Standings (only 2 teams played in a special playoff to determine the Central Champ)

1. Slinger Foundry, Milwaukee, WI (2-0) *
2. Thurmers Bar, St. Louis, MO (0-2) *

*Qualified for the 1974 USSSA Major World Series.

1973 West Worlds held at Tempe, Arizona

Champion – Double Tree Inn, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Association, Orange County, California

The Double Tree Inn squad from Phoenix had to win just one more game to win the championship. The Association had other ideas as they took the first game of the final by a 4-3 score to force the final championship game. Third Basemen Bailey had 2 hits to back the pitching of Crawford, the Association’s Pitcher. That was the Association’s 10th game of the tournament. The Phoenix squad came through to capture the final game 13-2. Steve Rogers was 4-5 to lead the Double Tree Offense. Third Basemen Don Jackson who went 2-4 was the defensive star as he made stop after stop to thwart many an extra base hit.

  • West MVP – Don Jackson, Double Tree Inn (10-23, .435)
  • West HR Leader – Jerry Gilbreath, CBAC (12-19, .632) –  8
  • West Batting Leader – Jack Beavers, Goettl’s Metals (11-16) – .688

USSSA WEST ALL-WORLD TEAM

P – Jerry Gilbreath, CBAC (12-19, .632, 8 HR)
C – Mike Cox, Association (12-28, .429, 1 HR)
IF – Jack Beavers, Goettl’s (11-16, .688)
IF – Dave Walski,  Road Runners (10-16, .625)
IF – Lou Smith, Road Runners (8-18, .444, 2 HR)
3B – Don Jackson, Double Tree Inn (10-23, .435)
OF – Lee Elder, Double Tree Inn (11-24, .458)
OF – Bob Woodroof,  Association (15-30, .500)
OF – Dan Furnald, CBAC (12-20, .600)
OF – Mike Watson, Bemco (14-22, .636)

FINAL STANDINGS (top-8 listed only, 33 teams played)

1. Double Tree Inn, Phoenix, AZ (6-1)* (went to 1974 World Series with new sponsor Chandler Redi-Mix)
2. Association, Orange County, CA (9-2)* (went to 1974 World Series with new sponsor Capitol Insulation)
3. Road Runners, Pamona, CA (5-2)
4. CBAC, San Gabriel Valley, CA (6-2)
5t. Bemco, Industry, CA (3-2)
5t. Goettl’s Metals, Mesa, AZ (3-2)
7t. Allen Cleaners, Phoenix, AZ (3-2)
7t. Danny’s Bar, Las Vegas, NV (4-2)

*Qualified for the 1974 USSSA Major World Series.

1973 ASA Men’s Open Slow Pitch Nationals


Held at Cleveland, Ohio at Brookside Park and Brook Park on August 30-September 3.

Champion – Howard’s Furniture, Denver, North Carolina (104-18)
Runner Up – Empire County Astros, Levittown, New York (66-19)

Howard Furniture of Denver, N.C, beat the Empire County Astros of Long Island, N.Y., in a best of three series on Monday to win the title in the Amateur Softball Association national tournament for behemoths at Rose Field.

Event the most dire predictions of what the muscle men in the field of 34 elite teams would do to the 275-foot fence at Rose Field proved too mild.

The bombers pounded out a record 725 homers in 67 games over five days and five players broke H.T. Waller’s tournament homer record of 16, including Waller himself, who hit 20 for Howard.

Bert Smith of Howard was the tournament’s leading home run hitter with 21.

Empire County mauled Howard, 44-32, early in the afternoon to drop last year’s fourth place finisher into the losers’ bracket.

But Howard bounced Detroit Little Caesar’s, 27-14, to earn another shot at Empire County Astros and swept a four-hour double header, 27-26 and 29-11.

Non-Ferrous Metals, the last Cleveland hope in the 21st annual tournament made a gallant surge through the losers’ bracket but finally succombed Monday to last year’s champion, Louisville Jiffy Club, 16-14, Jiffy Club was then eliminated by Little Caesar’s, 19-12.

The first tournament in Cleveland since 1962 also set an attendance record with 55,000 fans, many of them repeaters, filling the bleachers at Rose Field and Kennedy Field in suburban Brook Park to eclipse the mark of 42,000 set in Parma in 1971.

If the fans who viewed the tournament from the Brookside Park cliffs had been counted, attendance probably would have soared over the 60,000 mark.

Howard pounded out 33 homers to Empire’s 15 in the double victory.

In the first game, Empire scored 10 runs in the top of the seventh to take a 26-22 lead, but Howard came back with five and a single by Butch Adams scored the tying and winning runs.

Howard jumped to a 10-2 lead in the championship game and Empire County Astros was never able to get back into contention.

Stan Harvey had four homers for the winners in the title game and Bert Smith, Don Arndt, and Waller each had three.

Waller finished with 20 homers, Harvey had 19, Smith 18 and Larry Chiapeta of Empire and Jim Puckett of Little Caesar’s each hit 18.

The days of unlimited home run hitting may be numbered, however, and ASA Executive Secretary, Don Porter his organization indicated that his organization would take steps to curtail the homer onslaught.

Howard right centerfielder Smith was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He won that honor in 1971 for the Virginia Piledrivers and in 1968 for Long Island County Sports.

Smith and Waller are two of several players from areas as diverse as New York City and Florida who have managed to find economic opportunities in Denver, N.C.

Non-Ferrous redeemed itself for a lackluster opening game performance with five victories in the losers’ bracket. Veteran Preston Powell, who shared the Non-Ferrous home lead with Mack Chandler as each belted 10, revealed the secret of the Cleveland club’s motivation.

Little Caesar’s, which won the title in 1970 and as Michael’s Lounge in 1966 at Parma, won six games in the losers’ bracket-four on Sunday and two on Monday, and scored 192 runs in its first eight games.

Caesar’s avenged its second-game loss with a 23-15 victory over Buck Smith Plumbing of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and the continuous play of the losers’ bracket gave outfielder Jim Puckett a chance to break H.T. Waller’s tournament home run record of 16. Puckett hit 18.

“Going into this week, Caesar’s was the best team in the country, no doubt about it,” observed tournament announcer and dedicated Empire County Astros fan Ray Molphy.

The ordeal of continuous play in the energy-sapping heat and humidity finally drained the veteran Detroit club, however, and took its toll in the losers’ bracket final as Howard Furniture won 31-11.

Little Caesar’s scratched its way into an 11-11 tie after five innings, but Howard exploded for 11 runs on 14 hits including seven homers in the sixth to take a 32-11 lead. Howard’s Bert Smith belted six homers in the game.

County Sports beat Howard’s in the winner’s bracket final 44-32 as County Sports hit 24 home runs in the game, 14 HR in one inning off Don Arndt, but Howard’s came back to eliminate Little Caesars 27-14 and then Howard’s scored 53 runs off Pitcher Jim Galloway in the two final games as they beat County Sports 27-26 and again 29-11 to win the title.

Bert Smith broke HT Waller’s HR record of 16 set in 1969. Smith hit 21 HR. HT Waller (20), Stan Harvey (19), Don Arndt (18) and Gene Fisher (13) of Howard’s all bettered the record also. 727 total HR were hit in the 67 tournament games. Smith hit 7 in a row at one point and was named the National MVP for the third time in his career.

For County Sports, Jim Galloway and Mike Foley both hit 16 HR, John Davide and Larry Chiapetta hit 14 each, Joe Konicki (11), Bill Malloy (10). Third Place Little Caesars also had some impressive numbers, led by Jim Puckett (18), Mike Axelson (12) and Tex Collins (11).

This national provided some of the offensive greatest slugfests of all time. Long Island’s Jim Galloway has made the All America team for the 8th time in 11 years …. at 7 different positions (1963-1B, 1964-OF, 1966-IF, 1967-3B, 1968-2B, 1969 & 1972-UT, 1973-P).

  • MVP – Bert Smith, Howard’s Furniture
  • HR Leader – Bert Smith, Howard’s Furniture – 21
  • Batting Leader – Bob Boysen, Duff’s Inn – .833

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Don Arndt, Howard Furniture (29-43, .674, 18 HR, 23 RBI, 28 Runs)
P – Jim Galloway, Empire County Astros (30-41, .732, 16 HR, 28 RBI, 26 Runs)
C – Joe Konicki, Empire County Astros (27-36, .750, 11 HR, 23 RBI, 25 Runs)
C – Tex Collins, Little Caesars (20-37, .541, 11 HR, 19 RBI, 20 Runs)
1B – Bob Voss, Little Caesars (19-30, .633, 10 HR, 18 RBI, 16 Runs)
2B – Bob Boysen, Duff’s Inn (15-18, .833, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 12 Runs)
3B – Mike Axelson, Little Caesars (30-39, .769, 12 HR, 34 RBI, 26 Runs)
SS – John Davide, Empire County Astros (26-30, .667, 14 HR, 30 RBI, 23 Runs)
OF – Jim Puckett, Little Caesars (23-41, .561, 18 HR, 33 RBI, 20 Runs)
OF – Bert Smith, Howard’s (25-34, .735, 21 HR, 38 RBI, 28 Runs) – 21 home runs sets the national tournament record
OF – Mike Foley, Empire County Astros (29-41, .707, 16 HR, 35 RBI, 27 Runs)
UTIL – Stan Harvey, Howard’s (23-34, .657, 19 HR, 26 RBI, 23 Runs)
UTIL – Ron Potter, Jiffy Club (17-25, .680, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 13 Runs)

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Phil Schroer, Jiffy Club (19-26, .731, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 17 Runs)
P – Tony Mazza, Little Caesars (23-41, .548, 5 RBI, 19 Runs)
C – Gene Fisher, Howard Furniture (21-37, .658, 13 HR, 20 RBI, 20 Runs)
C – Frank Sorrells, Smith Plumbing (16-24, .667, 8 HR, 13 RBI, 14 Runs)
1B – Cobbie Harrison, Jiffy Club (16-27, .592, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 10 Runs)
2B – HT Waller, Howard Furniture (27-39, .692, 20 HR, 25 RBI, 27 Runs)
3B – Jim Kuhn, Queen City Pattern (12-17, .706, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 10 Runs)
SS – Nick Sessoms, Virginia Doors (18-23, .783, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 14 Runs)
OF – Mike Gouin, Little Caesars (32-43, .744, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 25 Runs)
OF – Larry Chiapetta, Empire County Astros (24-37, 649, 14 HR, 25 RBI, 22 Runs)
OF – Gary Richter, Empire County Astros (22-31, .710, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 19 Runs)
OF – Tommy Maiden, Howard Furniture (18-40, .450, 8 HR, 12 RBI, 15 Runs)
UTIL – Mac Chandler, Non Ferrous Metal (18-27, .667, 10 HR, 19 RBI, 17 Runs)
UTIL – Bill Malloy, Empire County Astros (23-37, .622, 10 HR, 17 RBI, 24 Runs)

OTHER PLAYERS

Bill Tolbert, Smith Plumbing (18-23, .783, 12 HR, 20 RBI, 6 Runs)
Johnny Dollar, VA Door (16-23, .696, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 12 Runs)
Steve Loya, Champion Sports (6-9, .667, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 Runs)
Tony Cloniger, Howard’s (21-32, .656, 13 HR, 22 RBI, 18 Runs)
Bill Gatti, Jiffy Club (17-26, .654, 8 HR, 17 RBI, 18 Runs)
Preston Powell, Non Ferrous (16-25, .640, 10 HR, 23 RBI, 16 Runs)
Roger Wilt, Non Ferrous (17-27, .630, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 16 Runs)
Henry Koper, Major Brands (10-16, .625, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 7 Runs)
Denny Hogan, Howards (23-38, .605, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 18 Runs)
Ed Finnegan, North End Sports (6-10, .600, 2 RBI, 6 Runs)
Bob Malicki, Little Caesars (21-36, .583, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 17 Runs)
Bill Cole, Little Caesars (20-35, .571, 9 HR, 19 RBI, 19 Runs)
Bob Shugman, Empire County Astros (18-34, .529, 5 RBI, 16 Runs)
Lou Russo, Empire County Astros (19-37, .514, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 15 Runs)
Joe Gauci, Little Caesars (1-2, .500, 1 Run)
Joe Petrillo, Empire County Astros  (14-31, .452, 6 HR, 11 RBI, 13 Runs)
Craig Elliott, Valley Merchants (7-16, .438, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 6 Runs)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Howard Furniture, Denver, NC (7-1)
2. Empire County Astros, Levittown, NY (6-2)
3. Little Caesars, Detroit, MI (7-2)
4. Jiffy Club, Louisville, KY (4-2)
5t. Non-Ferrous Metal Fab, Cleveland, OH (5-2)
5t. Buck Smith Plumbing, Fort Walton Beach, FL (3-2)
7t. Southern Fastener, Mobile, AL (4-2)
7t. Virginia Doors, Chesapeake, VA (3-2)
9t. Decatur Oxygen, Decatur, IL (3-2)
9t. BYM Club, Pitteburgh, PA (2-2)
9t. Major Brands, Oklahoma City, OK (2-2)
9t. Scott County Merchants, Stamping Ground, KY (4-2)
13t. Duff’s Inn, Minneapolis, MN (2-2)
13t. Valley Merchants, Phoenix City, AL (2-2)
13t. Queen City Pattern, Cincinnati, OH (2-2)
13t. Joe’s Merchants, Redwood City, CA (3-2)
17t. Hopkins 908, Hopkins, MN (1-2)
17t. Cee Bass Realty, Portsmouth, VA (1-2)
17t. North End Sports, Bridgeport, CT (1-2)
17t. Greenbelt Shell, Fulton, MD (1-2)
17t. Number One Lounge, Cleveland, OH (1-2)
17t. Wilsman Truckers, Hamilton, OH (1-2)
17t. Carlucci Brothers, Port Chester, NY (1-2)
17t. Rudder COnstruction, Knoxville, TN (1-2)
25t. Hasco Incorporated, Salem, OR (1-2)
25t. Austin & Austin, Greely, CO (0-2)
25t. Champion Sports, Parma, OH (0-2)
25t. KCOR Radio, San Antonio, TX (0-2)
25t. Mit-Way, Emporia, KS (0-2)
25t. Worthington Steel, Columbus, OH (0-2)
25t. Domestic Walls, Worcester, MA (0-2)
25t. Armed Forces All Stars, USA (0-2)
33t. Triton Brothers, Wichita, KS (0-2)
33t. Buck’s Bar, Billings, MT (0-2)

1973 USSSA Women’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1973 held at Colonial Heights, Virginia.

Champion – Stan’s Auto, New Castle, Pennsylvania (120-8)
Runner Up – Pittsburgh Orioles, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Orioles beat Stans 6-5 to force ‘if’ game, then Stans beat Orioles 2-1. Stan’s Pitcher, Luann Grybowski, Stan’s Auto gave up 10 runs in 7 games (with 2 shutouts) and won final 2-1. They defeated First National Bank of toledo in the winners bracket final, 3-0. There were 48 teams entered in this tournament. In a special not of interest, Carol Aselin, Muxworthy’s Pitcher, hurled a no-hitter against the Nor-Cal A’s, quite an achievement in Slow Pitch Softball. The Orioles were sent to the losers bracket on a 3-1 loss to Stan’s. They won four straight to the finals, including their win in the first final game, before being losing the Championship. Stan’s scored their winning run in the 4th inning of the final game. The game was tied at one each, Veronica Funera opened the inning up with a single, but was forced at second by a grounder by Karen Reinhard (she scored the first run for Stans when she singled and then later scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Terry Waters). After Mary West flied out, Reinhard advanced to third on Lynn Runyon’s single. Terry Waters then got a base hit to bring Reinhard in with the second and deciding run.

  • MVP – Terry Waters, Stans Auto (11-20, .550)
  • Batting Leader – Jackie Goff, Nor-Cal A’s (11-16) – .688
  • HR Leader – N/A (Nor-Cal A’s won the team HR Award, no information on personal numbers)

1973 ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Luann Grybowski, Stan’s Auto
P – Jackie Storey, Pittsburgh Orioles
P – Carol Aselin, Muxworthy’s
C – Debbie Ringle, First National (8-19, .421)
1B – Veronica Funera, Stan’s Auto (10-26, .385)
2B – Mary West, Stan’s Auto (10-23, .435)
3B – Terry Waters, Stan’s Auto (11-20, .550)
SS – Bev Bunny Fajerski, Pittsburgh Orioles (16-28, .571)
OF – Vicki Millender, Pittsburgh Orioles (12-28, .428)
OF – Evelyn Abell, Loungettes (10-20, .500)
OF – Clare Mirehood, CT&O Yankees (11-23, .478)
OF – Jackie Goff, Nor-Cal A’s (11-16, .688)
Manager – Mike Sikofolis, Stan’s Auto

FINAL STANDINGS (Incomplete – 48 total teams)

1. Stan’s Auto, New Castle, PA (6-1)
2. Pittsburgh Orioles, Pittsburgh, PA (7-2)
3. First National Bank, Toledo, OH (4-2)
4. Muxworthy Ski Haus, Rochester, NY (4-2)
5t. Nor-Cal A’s, San Francisco, CA (6-2)
5t. CT &O Yankees, Loveland, OH (6-2)

1973 ASA Men’s A Slow Pitch Nationals

1973 held at York Memorial Park Complex in York, Pennsylvania.

Champion – Samuel’s Grocery, Richmond, Virginia (68-18)
Runner Up – Levittown Legion, Levittown, New York

Samuel’s trailed 10-3, came back in bottom of the 7th to beat defending champ Levittown Legion 13-12, Pete Thacker had a dramatic pinch hit that scored Jim Crismond (4-4) with the winning run to give Samuel’s the 13-12 win. Crismond was 4-4 in the game and an easy choice for the MVP Award.

Levittown Legion was sent to the loser’s bracket by another Long Island team (W-B). They had to win 7 games in a row to get back to the final and after winning the first final 7-1, it looked good. But Jim Crismond took over. Crismond was 16 for his last 18 at bats to lead the Richmond squad.

A small rural community north of Richmond, Virginia is gaining a great deal of notoriety in the sports world this year. The community known as Doswell, Virginia which does not even have the legal status of a town, has a post office, a service station, a lumber yard, a grocery store, a softball diamond, and some horse stables.

Out of the horse stables known as Meadow Farm, came a triple crown winner, Secretariat, and off the softball diamond came Samuel’s Grocery, the national class A slow pitch champions.

Samuel’s which lost its first two games in last year’s tournament in Cincinnati, won six straight in York, Pennsylvania over Labor Day weekend to reach the finals of the tournament undefeated. Levittown American Legion of Long Island, New York, the defending champions, handed Samuel’s its first loss by a score of 7-1 and held a seemingly safe 10-2 lead after an inning and a half before Samuel’s rallied for a 13-12 win and the first national champion ever for a Metro Richmond team.

The comeback win was the fourth one-run decision for the champions, which also won lopsided games by scores of 20-3 over Delaware, 8-2 over Maryland, and 34-9 over Ohio.

Samuel’s hitting attack was paced by catcher, David Turner (17-28 .607), outfielder Jim Crismond (16-18, .889), first baseman, Scott Southworth (12-21, .571), and second baseman, Steve Cornwell (13-16, .500). Crismond, who received most valuable player honors, also contributed defensively with diving catches and by throwing out six runners on the bases.

The tournament drew 48 teams from all sections of the country.

In addition to Crismond, Samuel’s landed Harvey Henley, Mike Six, and Tigner on the Class A All-American team. Levittown placed Chan Baker, Rich Leek, Rich Saute, and Bob Murcer on the honor squad.

Danny Mascia of W-B, Lallansack and Doern of Green Holmes, Wis., Chuck Meeringa of Bell Pick-Up, Michigan and Rick Yarborough of Georgia, round out the All-American team.

  • MVP – Jim “Doc” Crismond, Samuel’s Grocery (17-30, .567) 16 for hist last 18 at bats, including 4-4 in the “if” game with 4 RBI.
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – N/A

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

Harvey Henley, Samuel’s Grocery
Mike Six, Samuel’s Grocery
David Turner, Samuel’s Grocery
Chan Baker, Levittown Legion
Rick Leek, Levittown Legion
Bob Murcer, Levittown Legion
Rich Saute, Levittown Legion
Danny Mascia, W-B
John Lallansack, Morris-Moran/Green Briar Homes
Gary Doern, Morris-Moran/Green Briar Homes
Chuck Meerings, Bell Pick-Up
Rick Yarborough, Dr. Thompson’s

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Samuel’s Grocery, Richmond, VA (7-1)
2. Levittown Legion, Levittown, NY (9-2)
3. W-B, Long Island, NY (5-2)
4. Bell Pick-Up, Wyoming, MI (7-2)
5t. Corner Appliance, Bronx, NY (3-2)
5t. Jolly Bar, Detroit (4-2)
7t. Sorrento Pizza, Cincinnati (6-2)
7t. Morris-Moran/Green Briar Homes, Sheboygan, WI (4-2)
9t. Tremac, Xenia, OH (3-2)
9t. Goodrich Service Center, Midland, TX (2-2)
9t. Osbon Tire Company, Augusta, SC (4-2)
9t. New Era Die Co., York, PA (3-2)
13t. Dr. Thompson’s, Georgia (3-2)
13t. Trademen, Kentucky (2-2)
13t. Monroe Music, Rochester, NY (2-2)
13t. Ray Cooper Roofing, Pennsylvania (2-2)
17t. Higgins-Schwinn Cyclery, Greensboro, NC (2-2)
17t. Cooper Brothers, Iberia, LA (2-2)
17t. Talisman Bar, Cleveland, OH (2-2)
17t. DMC, Charlestown, WV (2-2)
17t. V.R. Moore & Son, Aberdeen, MD (1-2)
17t. Mercury Cleaners, Washington (1-2)
17t. Wechtel’s, Toledo, OH (1-2)
17t. Ram Pub, Salem, OR (1-2)
25t. Digidio’s Bar, St. Paul, MN (1-2)
25t. Golden Leaf Bar, Minneapolis, MN (1-2)
25t. Copehart Trailers, Lincoln, NE (1-2)
25t. Bullitt County Merchants, Louisville, KY (1-2)
25t. Sportsco, Washington, D.C. (1-2)
25t. Grafton Eagles, Grafton, ND (1-2)
25t. Fred’s Deli, Scotch Plains, NJ (1-2)
25t. Tom’s Valley Skelly, Stillwater, MN (1-2)
33t. Etna Hawks, Pittsburgh, PA (1-2)
33t. Wellington Arms, New Castle, DE (0-2)
33t. Elks III, Connecticut (0-2)
33t. Virginia Rebels, Fairfax, VA (0-2)
33t. Mack’s Lounge, Newport, RI (0-2)
33t. Albers Texaco, Brattleboro (0-2)
33t. Kenny’s Newsroom, Kansas City, MO (0-2)
33t. IGA Stores, Illinois (0-2)
33t. Southwest Bank, St. Louis, MO (0-2)
33t. Brentwood, Austin, TX (0-2)
33t. Ryder Truck Lease, Nashville, TN (0-2)
33t. Light, Arkansas (0-2)
33t. Bath, Sagadahoc County, ME (0-2)
33t. Hornets, Atlanta, GA (0-2)
33t. Yonkers Teachers, Yonkers, NY (0-2)
33t. Gondolas, Boston, MA (0-2)

1973 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1973 held at Stratford, Connecticut.

Champion – Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, Connecticut (61-7)
Runner Up – Santa Clara Laurels, Santa Clara, California (63-17)

Raybestos Brakettes won their record setting 10th championship by defeating the Santa Clara Laurels twice in the finals. They had to defeat both Orange Lionettes and Sun City to get to finals. They won the first final 1-0 in 9 innings as Joan Joyce pitched a 1-hitter and struck out 20 batters. In the final championship, Joyce came back to pitch a 2-hitter as Raybestos won 2-0. She struck out 14 batters in that game. Charlotte Graham was the losing pitcher in both game for the Laurels. Joyce was 2-4 in the first game and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning, after hitting a double into the trees in left field. Cece Ponce drove her home with the game winning hit. In the second game, Joyce was 1-3, with an RBI single to drive in Peggy Kellers to give the Brakettes a 1-0.

Santa Clara pitcher Charlotte Graham (4-2 with a shutout) and surrendered only 6 runs in the 6 games. She beat the Sun City Saints and pitcher Paula Noel 1-0 in 11 innings to win the winner’s bracket final game. She also pitched both finals and gave up only the 3 runs, 8 hits and had 9 strikeouts, but was the losing pitcher in both games.

  • MVP – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes
  • HR Leader – Sue Guenzler, Kutis Funeral Home – 1
  • Batting Leader – Judy Jungwirth, Rimnac-Hanson Benjos – .438
  • Bertha Tickey Pitching MVP Award – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes
  • Erv Lind Defensive MVP Award – Kathy Fraser, Bloomington Benjos

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Joan Joyce, Raybestos Brakettes (8-1, 7 Shutouts, 2 no hitters, 1 ER, 70 IP, 134 K; batting stats- 12-29, .414, 2 Runs, 6 RBI – drove in winning runs in 2-0 final) (1-0, 9-inning, 1-hit shutout/20 K in first game, then, a 2-0, 2-hit shutout/14 K in final game). She set the all time record for innings pitched (69 2/3) and total strikeouts (134). She had games of 22, 20, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 12 and 10 strikeouts to reach her 134 total. She averaged close to 17 strikeouts per game.
P – Charlotte Graham, Santa Clara Laurels
P – Nancy Welborn, Orange Lionettes (4-1 pitching, 3 shutouts)
C – Marilyn Rau, Sun City Saints
C – Peggy Kellers, Raybestos Brakettes
1B – Sis Zollinger, Orlando Rebels
2B – Rose Marie “Rosie” Adams, Raybestos Brakettes
3B – Irene Shea, Raybestos Brakettes
SS – Carol Spanks, Orange Lionettes (9-21, .429 batting, 6 runs scored)
OF – Cecilia Ponce, Raybestos Brakettes
OF – Barbara Thomas, Sun City Saints
OF – Mary Ann Ruedrich, Sun City Saints
OF – Diane Kalliam, Santa Clara Laurels
UTIL – Judy Jungwirth, Rimnac-Hanson Benjos (7-16, .438, 5 runs, 1 RBI and 1-1 pitching)

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Paula Noel, Sun City Saints (3-2, 1 shutout)
P – Sue Beyer, Bally Cardinellas
P – Cathy Benedetto, Dave Lee Sports
C – Nancy Ito, Orange Lionettes
C – Judy Martino, Orlando Rebels
1B – Kay Lewis, Lorelei Ladies
2B – Pat Adams, Lorelei Ladies
3B – Brenda Gamblin, Santa Clara Laurels
SS – Stephany Tenny, Orlando Rebels
OF – Betty Weighknecht, Bally Cardinellas
OF – Marlene Piper, Dave Lee Sports
OF – Paula Slease, Fort Worth Rebels
OF – Willie Roze, Raybestos Brakettes
UTIL – Sandra June Wells, Lorelei Ladies

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (8-1) (Defending Champ)
2. Santa Clara Laurels, Santa Clara, CA (4-2) (North Pacific Coast)
3. Sun City Saints, Sun City, CA (3-2) (Cactus)
4. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Forth Worth Rebels, Fort Worth, TX (2-2) (Texas)
5t. Orlando Rebels, Orlando, FL (3-2) (Southern)
7t. Rimnac-Hanson Benjos, Bloomington, MN (3-2) (Northern)
7t. Dave Lee Golden Nuggets, Portland, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Kutis Funeral Home, St. Louis, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Marion May Peppers, Indianapolis, IN (1-2) (West Central)
9t. Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (2-2) (South Atlantic)
9t. Bally Cardinellas, Pottstown, PA (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Ed Meir Ford Mustangs, Memphis, TN (0-2) (Souhwestern)
13t. Bridgeport Co-eds, Bridgeport, CT (0-2) (Host)
13t. Waltham Drifters, Waltham, MA (0-2) (New England)
13t. East Lansing Laurels, Lansing, MI (0-2) (East Central)
17t. Breski Building Corporation, Buffalo, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
17t. Utah Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)

NOTES

Alaska Champ – Robert’s Sundancers, Anchorage, AK did not attend. Canada Champ – Vancouver Green & Louie, Vancouver, BC did not attend.

1973 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1973 held in Seattle, Washington.

Champion – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida
Runner Up – LeBlanc Barons, Sunnyvale, California

Ray Truluck of the Bombers hit a 2-run homer in the 4th inning to give winning Pitcher Bobby Quinn all the support he would need as the Bombers cruised to a 4-1 victory to win the Championship. The Barons defeated Clearwater earlier to force the final championship. The home run chased starter Guy French and brought on Rich Hull to pitch for Sunnyvale. Hull defeated the Bombers in the first final.

  • MVP – Bob McClish, Gaslight Reality
  • Batting Leader – Terry Muck, Whitaker Buick – .467
  • Home Run Leader – Bob McClish, Scenic Gaslight – 5
  • Most Outstanding Pitcher Award – N/A, not awarded or no mention of it – (Bobby Quinn, Clearwater Bombers 3-0)

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bobby Quinn, Clearwater Bombers (3-0, shutout, won championship 4-1 with a 4-hitter)
P – Guy French, LeBlanc Barons
P – Bill McNelis, Little Brauhaus
C – Dick Paparo, Clearwater Bombers
C – Bill Leffler, LeBlanc Barons
1B – Bob McClish, Scenic Gaslight (9-20, .450, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 5 Runs, he also hit 3 HR in one game)
2B – Tommy Moore, Clearwater Bombers
3B – Don O’Connor, Whitaker Buick
SS – Angelo Veronesi, Little Brauhaus
OF – Ron Weathersby, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Terry Muck, Whitaker Buick (7-15, 3 Runs)
OF – Glenn Beamon, LeBlanc Barons (11-30, .367)
OF – Mike Summerbell, LeBlanc Barons
UT – Ron Benevides, LeBlanc Barons

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Dick Christensen, Pay ‘n Pak
P – Joe Lynch, Clearwater Bombers (2-1, shutout)
P – Al DeWall, Whitaker Buick
C – Butch Batt, Pay ‘n Pak
C – Junior Williams, Scenic Gaslight
1B – George Nokes, Pay ‘n Pak
2B – Hal Steinbeck, LeBlanc Barons
3B – Sam Potter, Scenic Gaslight
SS – Roger Bledsoe, Pay ‘n Pak
OF – Bill Cooper, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Ray Truluck, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Larry Hale, Scenic Gaslight
OF – Al Frei, LeBlanc Barons
UT – David Grimes, Clearwater Bombers

OTHERS

Ken Williams, Scenic Gaslight (3-0).

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (5-1) (Southern)
2. LeBlanc Barons, Sunnyvale, CA (7-2) (North Pacific Coast)
3. Little Brauhaus Brewers, Poughkeepsie, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
4. Scenic Gaslight, Springfield, MO (4-2) (Western)
5t. Masterbilt Motors, Oklahoma City, OK (2-2) (Southwestern)
5t. Pay ‘n Pak, Seattle, WA (4-2) (Host)
7t. Whitaker Buick, St. Paul, MN (3-2) (Northern)
7t. Sizzler Steakhouse, Salt Lake City, UT (2-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Home Savings & Loan, Aurora, IL (2-2) (West Central)
9t. F&M Bankers, Hampton, VA (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Kardamis Club, Taunton, MA (1-2) (New England)
9t. U.S. Armed Forces, USA (1-2) (Armed Forces)
13t. Plains Cooperative Oil Mill, Lubbock, TX (1-2) (Texas)
13t. Hubbard Company, Bremen, GA (0-2) (South Atlantic)
13t. Sure-Brake, Lakewood, CA (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
13t. Light Crete, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (0-2) (East Central)
17t. Petschi’s Quality Meats, Seattle, WA (0-2) (Northwestern
17t. Mueller-Stevens Chevrolet, Prescott, AZ (0-2) (Cactus)
17t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (Defending Champ)
17t. Midas Muffler, Oahu, HI (0-2) (Hawaii)

NOTES

Alaska Champ – Uncles Pizza-ABC, Fairbanks, AK did not attend. Hawaii Champ – Oar House, Kauai, HI listed as champ, but Midas Muffler, Oahu, HI attended. Canada Champ – Richmond Hill Dynes, Ontario did not attend.