Enjoy softball? Fast-pitch style mighty fine

 

Mick Baker of Chicago plays fast-pitch softball. He was in a
Walcott tournament and is shown with his Grandpa, Steve Baker.

    Men's fastpitch softball is alive and thriving, with a recent example seen in the community of Walcott, Iowa, located a few miles west of Davenport and the Quad-Cities.

    Walcott (population, 1,500) has a long history with softball and in late June hosted the Larry Koberg Iowa Area Men's Fast-pitch Softball tournament -- a qualifier for the world tournament later this summer.

    That's the most recent iteration of favored summer pastime. 

    The game of softball has a long and complicated history, according to The New Republic, a news magazine. In an article from 2016, the respected magazine explained that softball traces its roots to 1887. A group of men had gathered to watch the Harvard/Yale football game via ticker-tape. Yale won, and a happy fan picked up a boxing glove, and threw it up in the air. A Harvard fan hit it with a broom stick.

    A sportswriter in the group suggested this could be a form of indoor baseball. The glove morphed into a ball larger than a baseball, and by the 1930's, men's fast-pitch style was in vogue. Women were interested in the game and were included on teams as the game evolved.

    The fast-pitch style was preferred and by the 1950's, there were thousands of teams in the U.S. The women's style settled in the fast-pitch style while the men's teams played the game in both the slow, and fast-pitch styles.

    In 1972 the women's game was adopted by colleges around the country because of Title IX added to the federal code. The fast-pitch version was part of the 1996 Summer Olympics. It's been in the Olympics since, but is not expected to be part of the program in 2024 when the games are in Paris. It may return in 2028 when the Summer Olympics are in Los Angeles.

    Women's fast-pitch softball was eventually broadcast by ESPN and has been popular since. Children now start playing around 4 years old.

    The people of Walcott have hosted fast-pitch tournaments for decades. The recent one involved dozens of players, volunteers, and hundreds of fans. 

    Twelve teams from communities around the Midwest took part: Walcott, Champaign, Ill., St. Louis, Mo. Denmark, Wis., Appleton, Wis., Crystal Lake, Minn., Fargo, N.D., Fond Du Lac, Wis., DuQuoin, Ill. and St. Paul, Minn.

    A crew of devoted volunteers readied the two fields (Westcott and Victory parks) early each morning. More volunteers manned the food and beverage facilities, with offerings like grilled burgers, as well as macaroni and cheese speciality (a "tourney special").

    Field workers jumped into action after every game: The fields were watered (with up to 400 pounds of water each time), groomed and chalked. These volunteers worked as a team, with each one having a chore to do.

    The Westcott Park site was renamed for a long-time volunteer named Larry Koberg. This tournament featured a new scoreboard (pictured below). The final game was between the Kegal Black Knights versus the Circle Tap Dukes. 

    The Dukes won the event and will go to the world championships. Interestingly, the world tournament is Aug. 12-19 and it's being held in Denmark, Wis. -- home of the Circle Tap Dukes. 

    For information about this tournament check the website.

    One intriguing aspect of fast-pitch tournaments are the athletes involved. Some, especially pitchers and catchers, come from places like Venezuela, or New Zealand. One of the pitchers in Walcott reportedly works with the Louisiana State University softball team. 

    These young men throw very hard, at speeds approaching 80 miles an hour, or so. Some also make the ball jump during delivery.

    The tournament in Walcott attracted media attention as well: KWQC, the NBC station in Davenport, broadcast a story.

    Profits made from the Walcott tournament go to youth baseball and softball programs. Of course!

This new scoreboard honors a
long-time volunteer, Larry Koberg