FASTPITCH SOFTBALL HISTORY -
MAY 5, 2000
My Love for softball began in grade
school, in the little town of Galesburg, Iowa. We would play softball at recess
time as well as noon hour playtime. We would either play choose up teams or if
we did not have enough players, we would play work up. I figure I got this
passion for softball from my father who had pitched for several teams in the
area. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was eleven but I remember going to
games and chasing foul balls for which we received a nickel for returning them
to the field. The grade school years that we played were approximately 1952-55.
In those days you always played softball at the family reunions. Our small
school would also play other small country schools in the area.
My high school and college days consisted
of playing baseball in the spring and softball in the summer. I played in a
church league as well as a few local teams. I remained one summer at Northwest
Missouri State and spent that summer playing for a small town team of Union
Star, which went to the Missouri State tournament that year. During another
summer of which I was working in Pella with Larry Hendricks, he arranged for me
to play with the Sully Lions. This was the start of a long friendship with
Larry and also the Sully team.
After college I started playing each
summer for the Sully team which had three names while I played with them. First
the Sully Lions, then the Sully Merchants, and finally the Sully Plumbing and
Heating. Most of these years were for Don Moes and Sully Plumbing &
Heating. I played for Sully around 21 years (1967-1988). We played in many
tournaments and traveled to several states, which include in addition to Iowa;
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. We played in many state
tournaments and also in several Class A Nationals. Sully also played in several
leagues over the years including Grinnell, Pella, and Des Moines. I have many
memories of playing in Bomber Park and Birdland Park with the short fence. Many
of the state tournaments were held in Cedar Rapids as well. The best finish we
had in the open state was second place behind a Cedar Rapids team. I played
first base most of the time for Sully and also pitched.
I do not remember any batting averages
but usually ranged from 200-300. My home run history is also vague but have
been known to hit a few out of the park.
After retirement from Sully, I did play
for a few years with a team in Pella.
I would like to close by saying that I
have numerous memories of the many different games that we played but the most
lasting are of the many different friendships that were created by the great
game of fast pitch softball. Not only of my teammates but also of the many,
many players of the teams we played over the years. I still encounter these
faces when traveling over the state and this country. From checking into the
airport in Des Moines to visiting the state and county fairs, I still see and
visit with people that were associated with fast pitch softball. Credit must
also be given to the sponsors/coaches that made it possible for all of us to
play this great game. In my case that is Don Moes of Sully, Iowa who coached,
did all the scheduling, and did most of the work so we could enjoy the game.
Thank you,
Al Van Dyke
394 Hwy. T14
Pella, Iowa 50219