The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 24, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 June 1982 — Page 16

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., June 30,1982

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Sports

Webster men recall whiffleball league

By DOUG WALKER The year of 1976 is best remembered for the Bicentennial. for the political rise of Jimmy Carter and fall of Gerald Ford, and for the Olympic feats Bruce Jenner and Sugar Ray Leonard. In North Webster, it is also remembered as the year of the Whiffleball League For three months during the summer of that year, an unusual assortment of men spanning a variety of walla of life took to the basketball mats in North Webster every Tuesday and Thurday evening and Sunday afternoon to compete in an unique four-team organization modeled, at least to a degree, after major league baseball The main differences between the big leagues and the goings-on in Webster were that these participants were not paid, and their balls and bats were . made of plastic By the time the regular whiffleball season came to a halt in mid-August and the Whiffleball World Series began, sizeable crowds were gathering at the mats to witness the games The National Anthem /'fcas sung before each contest/ and a local resident was called upon to throw out the first ball before each senes game Whiffleball games had. at least m some circles, become the “in" events to be seen attending m North Webster The following spring, over 75 enthusiastic would-be whiffleballers gathered at the mats for a draft to choose the teams for a new, expanded whiffleball league The outlook for the 1977 Whiffleball season looked bright, and seemed certain to surpass the previous year’s standards m both quality of play and area popularity Less than three weeks after the 1977 draft, the Whiffleball League folded For a variety of reasons, it has never returned, although there has been talk of reviving it each spring K The foundation for what would become the North Webster Whiffleball League was laid on vacant lots in the Barbee Lakes area dun ng the early 1970 s "We just started playing for fun, recalled the man who would eventually become the Whif fleball League s Commissioner. Greg Fidler "The first two teams were the Sechnst Lakers and the Grassy Creekers W e had such a great time, we wanted to involve everyone in it Thai s where the idea for the league came about ' Fidler and Rob Zurcher, another Barbee area resident, combined with Steve Cover st one of North Webster to form the North Webster Whiffleball League m the spring of 1976 .After determining the number of prospective players, the trio decided to form a four team organization We decided to each have our own team." said Fidler "The fourth team was never as organized as the other three were, but they always seemed to have enough players on hand when their gardes were Scheduled Fidler said Mark Tatman served as the unofficial coach of the fourth team After a great deal of debate, the mats in North Webster were chosen as the “whiffleball stadium." a choice that would prove to be controversial "The stadium was really a basketball court, but it was ideal for whiffleball." Fidler said “It was centrally located, and tbe fences were at appropriate distances for home runs This was back in a time when there were alot of different people trying to use the courts for a number of activities, and a few problems with scheduling did come up We always seemed to work them out," As the regular season progressed, each of the teams began to take on a character of its own. and individual whiffleball stars developed It was at this Wawasee divers ptace at Noblesville The Wawasee VSA Diving Club team placed fourth of seven teams at the Indiana Outdoor State Junior Olympic Age Group Meet held June 26 and 27 at Noblesville. Placing for Wawasee in the 1314- girls, one meter springboard were Jeanine Gunn, third Jane Tully, fourth; and Julie Schmahl sixth Kristy Vance placed 10th in the 15- year-old girls one meter springboard In the one meter springboard. 13-14-year-old boys, Gary Miller placed fourth and in 15-17-year-old boys Phil Zachary placed third. Phil Zachary also placed third in the three meter springboard, 15-17-year-old boys The team was coached by Rex Rymers.

time that the number of spec-

tators at the games began to grow. "Since we had permanent teams, people could begin to identify with a favorite team or player," Fidler said. "We could see it was getting increasingly popular Cars with license plates from all over began pulling in and staying for three or four innings" The success of the league was reflected in the players' attitudes. Fidler said. “We had fun. but at the same time, everyone took the games themselves very seriously,” he explained. “It wasn't long before you saw guys in shorts sliding into base on asphalt." Fidler was the shortstop for his own team, the Phillies Other key team members included pitcher Mike Bitner, second baseman Doug Younce and third baseman Mark Wagoner Both Fidler and Zurcher agreed that the presence of Wagoner on the team helped add to the league's popularity “At that time, he was the town’s newspaper earner, so everyone knew him." Fidler said “When he took the field, he went all out, paying no attention to his personal safety When on base, he would do anything he could to score When in the field, he would stop at nothing to get an out.” Zurcher recalled • frightening incidents when Wagoner ventured into traffic on SR 13 in pursuit of foul pop flys. Zurcher played left field for his team, the White Sox. His teammates included shortstop Mark Wdfe. first baseman Steve Swope and catcher Mitch Wagoner Coverstone's team, the Tigers, featured pitcher Phil Randall, first basemai Dan Mock and outfielders Mark Lantz and Jack Alhouse. among others The fourth team, usually managed by Tatman, had a wide variety of lineups over the course of the season Among the play ers to perform for it and the other teams during the summer were Bill Fawtey. Bruce Secor, John Conway, Gary Kbnke. John Carlin. Tim Rhodes. Kim Zur cher. Brad Sorenson. Rickie Conway. Dutch Mullett. Vince Rhodes, Tim White. Rex White, Mark Minear. Frankie Winters and Jack Schopf Eventually it became apparent that an authority was needed in the league to make rulings on situations that arose during the games, make specifications regarding what type of equipment could be used, and to make the schedule for the rema nder of the season Cofounder Fidler soon found himself tbe official Whiffleball Commissioner. One of Fidler's chief problems as Commissioner dealt with keeping a ready supply of whiffleballs on hand "Obviously, a plastic ball is only going to take so much punishment, so we went though a great deal of them.” he said "We didn't use regular whiffleball with holes in them, but the kind made of solid, hard plastic There just weren't that many of them on the market m this area We would have really been in trouble if Steve Swope hadn’t managed to track down the manufacturer of the balls in North Carolina and order several dozen cartons for us " One of Zurcher's contributions to the league was the North Webster Whiffleball League sign that hung at the basketball mats for years after the league had disbanded.

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JUNIOR HIGH HOPEFULS - These seventh and eighth graders participated la the Wawasee Giris* Basketball camp which concluded last week. Shown in the first row are Wendy Lung (she tea sixth-grader bat participated ia both sessions of the camp>, Mel Berger. Shelly Rogers. Belinda Whitridge. Amy Hochstetler. Becca Stiver. Brenda Whitridge. Kelly MitcheU. Jama Roose and Heidi Brower.

The Whiffleball League's popularity reached its apex in August 1976. when the league completed its first season with playoffs and the World Series, a six-game match-up between Fidler's Phillies and Zurcher's White Sox. “The crowds for the Series were great.” Fidler said. “Everyone who had followed the league the whole summer turned out, and all the players on teams that had been eliminated stayed around to see how it turned out." The Phillies won the first and only Whiffleball World Senes coming back to defeat the White Sox after trailing in the best-of-seven matchup two games to none Interest in the league seemed to build over the following winter, and in May of 1977. a player draft was held to create a new. nineteam Whiffleball League This

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WHIFFLEBALL BRAIN TRUST — Greg Fidler. Rob Zurcher and Steve Coverstone are seen discussing old times at the basketball mats in North Webster, where in 1976 they organized the North Webster Whiffleball League. The four-team league was a success during its first season, but folded after trying to expand in 1977. (Photo by Mike Ray)

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MERMAID BOYS' CHAMPS — Shown are tbe Syracuse Travel Team, which captured tbe Mermaid Festival Boys'Youth League Championship. In the front row are Dan O'Haver. Tony Hostetter. Mike Godfeller. Dustin Stahley. Kraig Spurting. Pat Tranter and Josh Lantz. In the second row are Bryan Rensburger. Jack Bond. Derick Smith, Jeff Condon. Ken Wright. Mike Meek. Jeff Galloway and Kris Solina. in the back row are coaches Dick V anDiepenbos. Ralph Stahley and Dan O'Haver. and Chuck Los re. (Photo by Doug Walker)

time the season lasted only a few weeks. “It got too big," Fidler reflected. “It just wasn't ready for expansion. The new people who came in didn't have the real commitment that those who played the first season had. There were too many people, and with them too many outside interests.” Fidler said he realized the league was doomed one afternoon while he was pitching “I had just given up a home run, and when I turned around to check on my defense, two of my outfielders were sitting down, and my third baseman was in his car listening to the radio So the handwriting was on the wall We to continue for a few more games, but eventually people quit showing up. " There has been talk around North Webster this summer, as there has been every summer

In tbe second row are Ana Coy. Dawa Coy. Tiffany Wappes. Beth Carey. Steph Eideridge. Beckie Welly. Chris Troup, SheU\ Brumbaugh. Michelle Harter. Heidi Mum ar and Aagi Bartea. la the thfad row are Dee Stamp. Maude Parker. Asst. Coach Jim Hite. Dale Brannock. Carol Walker and Cheryl Walker.

since 1977, about reviving the Whiffleball League, but former Commissioner Fidler doesn't see this happening. “A few of the old diehards won't give up. but I don't think it would ever work again, " he said. “The main people involved have grown up, moved on to other things" z A reunion of the original teams from the 1976 league would be virtually impossible, he added. Os his own Phillies team, second* baseman Younce has not been heard from in some time and pitcher Bitner is now a lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service in Illinois. "1 doubt if we could get them to come back to play whiffleball three times a week." he laughed “1 think it might be better just to let things stand as they are.” Fidler said. “Even if there is a league again, it will never be like it was."

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MERMAID GIRLS' CHAMPS—Pietarodaeo the MtoterdGkrta' All Stars, whecaptarod the 1983 Mermaid Festival Girls'SoftbaH ToureameaL la the treat row are Heidi Beer, Staci Ostewderf. Cindy Fifer. Traci Ostendorf. Jacqui Schultz, Irma Cruz and Angine Rico. In the second row are coach Junior Bucher. Sneliea Free. Maggie Edwards. Shelley Brumbaugh. Amy Bucher. Darlene Justice. Cris Troop and coach BBiHehns. (Photo by Dong Waßwr)

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MERMAID RUNNER-UPS — Pictured to the North Webster Youth League's Girts* Sefttaß team, which finished second in the IM2 Mermaid Festival SoftbaU Tournament In the front row are Heidi Brower. Kristy Parsons. Jenni Gilmore. Wendy Lang. Belinda Whitridge. Belinda Clevenger and Brenda Whitridge. in the back row are Amy Pan. coach Lonnie Black. Michelle Miller. Michelle Harter. Jama Roose. Staci Barker. Megan DiUon. Kari Henwood and coack Lorraine Carson. (Photo by Doug Walker)

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MERMAID FESTIVAL RUNNER-UPS — Pfctared are the New Paris Cuba, numer-ups to the 19X2 Mermaid Festival Boys' Youth League Tournament. In the front row are Troy Helmuth. Barry Hochstedier. David Thaxton. Dana Overholser. Jason Harvey. Derek Kennedy and Hubert Camacho. In the back row are coach Smitty Helmuth. Randy Hostetler. John Burger. Matt Joseph. Thad Immel. Mark VanDiepenbos and coach Gary Harvey. (Photo by Doug Walker)

ANOTHER HOLE-IN-ONE AT BIG BOULDER The second hole-in-one in as many weeks occurred at the Big Boulder Golf Course. Milford, on Monday when Jon Spicher of 753 W. Market. Nappanee, need the US-yard number seven. The hole-in-one was witnessed by Robin Roose, also of Nappanee. Spicher will be presented a trophy by the golf course owners.

Second Annual 6.6 And 13.2 Mile BIKE RACE! Syracuse Lake Park Syracuse. Indiana Friday, July 2,1982 7:00 P.M.

Sponsored By: WAWASEE FLOTILLA COMMITTEE This stock bicydo raco is open to all but U.S.C.F. racers Starting location wiU bo at the Syracuse Lake Park Ago catagorios listed below and the entry foe is MOO No Late Registration Fee but encourage us with your prwrogiatration form. TrophioWribbons to bo awarded to the top five (5) finishers in each category. The registration desk will open at p m at the park. FLOTILLA BIKE RACE REGISTRATION FORM AGE tSUnder O 1636 GROUPS C SGUp In consideration of the acceptance of my entry in the above event I do hereby, for myoeif. my heirs, executors and administrators, waive release and forever discharge any and all rights and claims for which I may have or which may hereafter accrue to mo against the sponoorts) of thia event FlotiWa Bicycle Raco. the sponsoring dubial or organizationls). the officials. aN municipalities, special districts and/or assigns for any and aN damages which may bqi sustain'd by me In connection with my said association with oji entry and/or arising out of my traveling to participete in and retudr from the evontts). J Send entry foe of M OO to: RotiNo Committee / P.O. Box S f Syracuse. IN 46567 Signature Os Entrant Ago | Signature Os Parent Or Guardian Os Minor / tact Name Name { Street Phono City — State Zip L -PIE ASE PRINT