• Glen Moreland of Richmond Hill, Ontario

    Glen Moreland of Richmond Hill, Ontario

  • Les Barber passes

    Hamilton, ON - -  Les Barber passes

  • Please Join Us As We Honour BRIAN PATON

    Woodstock, ON - - Please Join Us As We Honour BRIAN PATON

  • Woodstock's Brian Paton named to Softball Canada Hall of Fame

    Woodstock, ON - - Woodstock's Brian Paton named to Softball Canada Hall of Fame

  • ISC Final Four and Award Winners

    Denmark, WI - - Final Four and Award Winners

  • #ISCWT2023 Legends Awards & All Tournament Team

    Denmark, WI - - #ISCWT2023 Legends Awards & All Tournament Team

  • Dave McLelland has passed

    Kitchener, ON - - Dave McLelland has passed

  • COPA PELIGRO SPORT 2023

    New York, NY - - COPA PELIGRO SPORT 2023

  • HILL UNITED 2023 CHIEFS CHALLENGE SCHEDULE

    SIMCOE, ON - HILL UNITED 2023 CHIEFS CHALLENGE SCHEDULE

  • THOMAS MAKEA NEW BLACK SOX HEAD COACH

    Softball NZ is delighted to announce Black Sox legend Thomas Makea will be the national men’s team’s eighth head coach.

  • Blue Crew for #ISCWT2023

    Denmark, WI - - Blue Crew for #ISCWT2023

  • OASA 100TH - STREAMING OF HOT STOVE PANEL PRESENTATION

    Cambridge, ON - - OASA 100TH - STREAMING OF HOT STOVE PANEL PRESENTATION

  • Jimmy Doyle Passes

      Jimmy Doyle Passes

  • Passing of Gus Walters

    St. John's, NL - -   Passing of Gus Walters

  • OASA 100th Anniversary - Media Release #2 - Panelist Dan Donahue and Bill Simpson

    Cambridge, ON - - OASA 100th Anniversary - Media Release #2 - Panelist Dan Donahue and Bill Simpson

  • OASA 100th Anniversary - "Hot Stove" Panel features Dick Hames and Larry Lynch

    Cambridge, ON - - OASA 100th Anniversary - "Hot Stove" Panel features Dick Hames and Larry Lynch

  • A Tribute to King Gerry and the Fence Sitters

    A Tribute to King Gerry and the Fence Sitters                      

  • Colin McKenzie family, organized by Richard Haldane

    Colin McKenzie family, organized by Richard Haldane

  • Gerry O'Brien has passed

    Calgary, AB - - Gerry O'Brien has passed

  • PELIGRO CUP 2023

    New York, NY - - PELIGRO CUP 2023 - Yankee Stadium Park June 29 through July 2, 2023.

  • Softball: Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson calls time on national team career after 38 years

    Softball: Black Sox coach Mark Sorenson calls time on national team career after 38 years

  • Canada Gears Up for 2022 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup

    Palmerston North, New Zealand –  2022 WBSC Men's Softball World Cup

  • Gordie Wise Passes

    Piqua, OH - - Gordie Wise Passes

  • Tom Walker Passes

    Drayton, ON - - Tom Walker Passes

  • 1972 HOCKEY SUMMIT SERIES -- Invitation to 50th Anniversary Local Celebration

    Kitchener, ON - - 1972 HOCKEY SUMMIT SERIES -- Invitation to 50th Anniversary Local Celebration

     

         - From our good friend, John Thompson

  • Remembering Daniel “Buddha” Haas

    Madison, WI - - Remembering Daniel “Buddha” Haas

  • ISC Hall of Fame Program - Class of 2022

    ISC Hall of Fame Program - Class of 2022

  • Bob Harrow Passes

    Canberra, ACT, AU - - Bob Harrow Passes

  • Softball Canada Announces 2022 Men’s National Team Core Players

    Ottawa, ON - - Softball Canada Announces
    2022 Men’s National Team Core Players

  • Ewart Thomas Timlin Passes

    Cobourg, ON - - Ewart Thomas Timlin Passes

  • RICHARD HNAKUIK passes

    Garden River, ON - - RICHARD HNAKUIK passes

  • Paul Papulkas Passes

    Markham, ON - - Paul Papulkas Passes

  • Let's Bring our Friend Sammy Home!

    Let's Bring our Friend Sammy Forbes Home!

    GOOD NEWS! Sammy is home and on the mend!

  • Colin Smith Passes

    Brampton, ON - -  Colin Smith Passes

  • Gary Baughman has passed away - 19 March 2021

    Cedar Rapids, IA - - Gary Baughman has passed away 
    -  19 March 2021

  • 1999 Waterloo Twins Suited up at Field of Dreams

    Dyersville, IA - - 1999 Waterloo Twins Suited up at Field of Dreams

  • Robbie Scheller Passes

    Saskatoon, SK - -  Robbie Scheller Passes

  • Russell Moffat passes

    Christchurch, NZ - - Russell Moffat passes

  • Bill Horne Passes

    St. Thomas, ON - - Bill Horne Passes

    Updated Article 8 March 2021

     

     MOURNING BILL HORNE, MY PRODIGY

    by "Wright's Lane" - Richard (Dick) Wright

     

  • Passing of Wayne Brown

    Ottawa, ON - - Passing of Wayne Brown

         - Obituary added

  • Loss of a legend: Ty Stofflet dies at 79

    Allentown, PA - - Loss of a legend: Ty Stofflet dies at 79

  • Remembering the Life of Ken Hill

    Six Nations, ON - - Remembering the Life of Ken Hill

  • Sports Series: Former elite Indigenous fastball pitcher continues to enjoy the sport

    Garden River, ON - -  Sports Series: Former elite Indigenous fastball pitcher continues to enjoy the sport

  • Ray Alviano Passes

    Kitchener, ON - - Ray Alviano Passes

  • Jack Fireman Passes

    Toronto, ON - Jack Fireman Passes

  • Ken Hackmeister has passed

    Farmington, UT - Ken Hackmeister has passed

    - Very nice tribute from the Internationall Softball Congress

    - Photo memories

    - A tribute Al wrote to Kenny in August 2019

     - Obituary added

    - Memories and photos

  • New York Gremlins repeat as ISC World Tournament Champions 2019

    Denmark, WI - - New York Gremlins repeat as ISC World Tournament Champions 2019

  • Dieppe Ridge win ISC Legends Championship

    Toronto, ON  - - Dieppe Ridge win ISC Legends Championship

  • Hitmen from St. John's went a long way to maintain their winning habit

    St. John's, NL - - Hitmen from St. John's went a long way to maintain their winning habit

         - Galway wins three games in one day to give Newfoundland a seventh national senior men’s championship in eight years

  • International Softball Congress announces election of four to the ISC Hall of Fame

    Denmark, WI - - International Softball Congress announces election of four to the ISC Hall of Fame

         - Media Release for the ISC Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees.

  • ISC HALL OF FAME – CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2019

    Denmark, WI - - ISC HALL OF FAME – CONGRATULATIONS TO THE  CLASS OF 2019

     

         - Program Added!

  • Social media explodes, celebrations in the streets as Argentina wins its first-ever Softball World Championship

    Prague, CZ - - Social media explodes, celebrations in the streets as Argentina wins its first-ever Softball World Championship

  • Al's Fastball The King of Online Fastpitch News Gets a Website Upgrade

    Richmond Hill, ON - Al's Fastball in 2015 (a blog by Net Reliant)

    The website grew exponentially to well above a staggering 10,000 pages of content. Average monthly volume is approximately 3,000 unique visits in Aug 2015 and now over 10,000 visits weekly in Aug 2016. And the Twitter following for @AlsFastball is just below celebrity status at approximately 9,400 followers and growing daily to over 11,000 in 2016.

  • AlsFastball News Daily
    News from the world of Men's Fastpitch Softball. Plus we try to promote the game of softball worldwide.
  • Al Doran, a pioneer in men's fastball - by Bob Otto

    Richmond Hill, ON

   News Stories

Canada’s U18 Women’s National Team Arrives in Monteria, Colombia for the 2024 Pan American Championship

March 27, 2024

Ottawa, ON - - Canada’s U18 Women’s National Team Arrives in Monteria, Colombia for the 2024 Pan American Championship



Read More

Carp Shootout 2024

March 18, 2024

Carp, ON - - Carp Shootout 2024



Read More

Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame

March 16, 2024

Richmond Hill, ON - - Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame



Read More

Regina Senior Men's Tournament

March 13, 2024

Regina, SK - - Regina Senior Men's Tournament



Read More
   Bulletin Board

Pennsylvania team looking for a pitcher for the Foxy Tournament

February 20, 2024

Stevens, PA - - Pennsylvania team looking for a pitcher for the Foxy Tournament



Read More

State of the WebSite

February 19, 2024

State of the WebSite



Read More

Panamanian player looking for Team

December 29, 2023

Panama City, Panama - -   Panamanian playerlooking for Team



Read More

Player from Argentina looking for a team

August 30, 2023

 Player from Argentina looking for a team



Read More
   Videos

With 1 year to go, promo video released for WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup 2022 in New Zealand

November 26, 2021

With 1 year to go, promo video released for WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup 2022 in New Zealand


Read More

Craig Crawford Inducted into Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

October 6, 2020

Craig Crawford Inducted into Waterloo Region Hall of Fame



Read More

1997 Perth Shootout Green Bay All Car vs Farm Tavern

May 16, 2020

Perth, ON - - 1997 Perth Shootout Green Bay All Car vs Farm Tavern

 

    - From the 1997 Perth Shootout, this game features two of the best from the great state of Wisconsin, Green Bay All Car Roadrunners vs The Farm Tavern.



Read More

2015 ISF WBSC Men's Softball World Championship Gold Medal Game: Canada vs New Zealand

May 9, 2020

Saskatoon, SK - - 2015 ISF WBSC Men's Softball World Championship Gold Medal Game: Canada vs New Zealand



Read More
   Stats

Boxscore for OCAA Womens Gold Medal Game

October 24, 2015

Stats now available for the OCAA Women's Softball Gold Medal Game (Humber Hawks vs Durham Lords).

Read More

Stats for Lords vs Saints (OCAA Womens Softball)

October 23, 2015

Stats now available for the OCAA Women's Softball match between Durham Lords and St. Clair Saints.

Read More

Stats for Hawks vs Saints (OCAA Womens Softball)

October 23, 2015

Stats now available for the OCAA Women's Softball match between Humber Hawks and St. Clair Saints.

Read More

Stats for Lords vs Falcons (OCAA Womens Softball)

October 23, 2015

Stats now available for the OCAA Women's Softball match between Durham Lords and Fanshawe Falcons.

Read More
   Photos

Great Collection of Fastpitch Photos

October 27, 2015

Thanks to Maddy's Photos for putting together a number of fastpitch photo albums.

Read More
   Publications

Press Release - 2016 ISC Guide Online

May 30, 2016

Findlay, OH - Press Release - ISC Guide Online



Read More

2015 ISC World Championship Guide Available for Viewing

September 30, 2015

The 2015 ISC World Championship Guide is now available as a free download or for viewing online.

Read More
OUR SPONSORS

TRENDING NOW
@alsfastball
FRIENDS OF AL'S FASTBALL
AU Sable AFP Fastpitch Fastpitch West International Softball Congress Men’s Fastpitch SA North American Fastpitch Association Ontario Amateur Softball Association

Ontario Masters Fastball sports betting site betway Shooters Fastpitch League Softball Canada Softball New Zealand WBSC
october2009

OTTO-A look back at one Missouri's great pitchers

October 30, 2009

Yucaipa, CA


(Readers, I wrote this story July 6, 1999. Maybe some of you old
timers remember Charlie and some of the names brought up in the
story. And for you younger players, you can learn a lot about
dedication, persistence, and determination from Slavens – not only in
fastpitch softball, but in life. And that goes for all of us.)

Charley Slavens, a man who loves fastpitch softball

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI - If you're searching for 57-year-old fastpitch
softball pitcher Charley Slavens, you need look no further than the
white circle, in the middle the ball diamond at Meador Park in
Springfield, Missouri. It's been Charley's home away from home for
almost 20 years.

Charley's right arm and 6-foot-4, 215 pound frame are still supple
and strong, eager to fire another pitch by an overmatched batter -
one of thousands who's hopes have been dashed by Charley in his 37-
year career.

Every Tuesday and Thursday night in the Springfield City League,
Charley toes the rubber like an anxious colt at the starting gate for
ABG Construction Company. A business that he owns and has used to
sponsor the team for 10 years.

Slavens' windmill offerings still get the best of much younger men;
young men who would love to get a good piece of the "old man", but
seldom do.

"Charley's as tough as nails," says ABG manager, Tom Smith. "He's
doing fantastic - the best pitcher in our league."

The first one to the park, Slavens arrives at least a half-hour early
to prepare for battle.

"Nobody beats Charley to the park," said Smith. "When we walk up,
he's doing calisthenics getting ready for the game. He's an ex-Marine
and never gave up that work ethic."

On a team of all Masters players, (over age 40) Slavens' work ethic
has paid handsomely with a current 14-8 city league record - a high
mark considering he's ABG's only pitcher and its senior member; the
youngster being Smith, who is 45.

"He's the oldest, but the best conditioned of anyone on the team,"
said Kenny Morris, ABG's first baseman. "Charley runs all the time.
When the season ends, he's already getting himself ready for next year."

Slavens also had an outstanding season in the Missouri - Kansas ISC
Travel League. Pitching for University Chrysler / Frontier Motors of
Booneville,Missouri, he finished league play with a 4-1 record, which
includes a perfect game (8-0) against National Investors Thunder of
Cameron.

"He threw a masterful game against us," said Thunder Manager Bill
Cook. "The best pitch he threw was his hard drop that consistently
hit the outside corner. Terry Luster and Chris Bigelow both threw
against us earlier in the day and we collected numerous hits against
them. Charley's ball was moving better than both of those two pitchers."

Age? Not a factor says Booneville manager and pitcher, Terry Luster.

"Charley throws as hard today as he did 10 years a go, and he still
has all his pitches - raise, drop, change-up and curve," said Luster.
"Charley has a tough drive, love for the game, and he refuses to quit."

Qualities he probably acquired during his time in the Marine Corps.

Slavens, who retired with the rank of Major in 1981 after a 22-year
career, credits the Marine Corps for putting him on the rubber.

"I was stationed in Japan in 1963," said Slavens, "and playing the
outfield. The day before our season started our two pitchers were
shipped out and we needed a pitcher."

Slavens laughs, saying, "I stepped forward and volunteered." And a
pitcher was born. Named All-Marine four times, he led the Marine
Corps to two second place finishes in Inter-Service play (Marine
Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force).

And in 1973 he had an incredible 66-0 record. And he never missed a
season, and that includes a tour of duty in Viet Nam.

The Marine Corps and softball has taken him to 39 different states
and six foreign countries. (Japan, Viet Nam, Canada, Mexico, Korea
and Thailand)

"I pitched against some great pitchers," said Slavens. "Buck Brown,
Bob Kendricks, B.D. Coleman and (the late) Mike McMahon. I think
McMahon (Wisconsin native) maybe was the best. He was a young Marine
with a tremendous change up."

Hitters?

"Cal Reeves," said Slavens. "A left-handed hitter who hit a ton -
home runs and line drives."

Retiring in 1981, Slavens returned home to Springfield. He had
immediate success, pitching Obryne Electric to both ISC and ASA AA
State championships.

He soon joined Missouri's elite class of pitchers, says Smith: Gary
Hutchins, Lonnie Marshall, Steve Murdaugh and Roy Burlison.

"Charlie was a hard thrower, just a step behind the legendary Roy
Burlison," says Smith, "but Charley was legal, not a crow-hopper."

As he's matured, Slavens has gotten smarter, says Smith. "Developing
a change up was the best thing to happen to Charley."

Slavens still loves to throw the pitch of his youth: his high, hard
rise ball, but grudgingly had to change. "As I got older, out of self-
preservation, I started throwing the drop more," he said. "This year
I've thrown the change much more often. I even used it in league on a
3-2 count and struck the batter out looking."

But he's had his share of troublesome batters too.

"Doug Middleton is one hell of a hitter, the best ever out of
Missouri," said Slavens. "Jeff Seip of Reading, Pennsylvania gave me
the most trouble. Throw it outside and he hits it the opposite way,
inside and he pulls it. He just literally hit anything I threw."

But as good as this season has been for Slavens; it's also been a
trying one. He's still recovering from the loss of his wife Beverly
on December 22. She was his traveling companion and most ardent fan,
rarely missing any of his games.

"She followed me all over the world," said Slavens.

"She was diagnosed with cancer in February ('98)," he said. "After a
couple of surgeries, she was feeling better. She went with me to the
ISC World Tournament, the ASA "A", and all three Masters tournaments.
I think that she maybe knew this might be the last time we would go
together..."

Smith has noticed a "rededication" in Slavens that he says is a
tribute to Beverly. "They were high school sweethearts," said Smith.
"Charley misses her dearly. He was amazed at all of the people from
other teams who attended the funeral. I think he rededicated himself
and the season to her."

And from Morris: "I observed how they reversed roles last year," he
said. "Beverly was at every game always supporting Charley. Between
innings, Charley would sit at the end of the bench by himself, but
last year he would leave the bench and sit beside Bev. And in
remembrance of his wife, he changed his uniform number.

"Charlie had always worn No. 8 as long as I have known him," said
Morris."I noticed he had No. 37 on his uniform. I asked him, 'what's
this 37?’ He said, 'It's not 37, it's 3-7, Beverly's birth date.’”

Morris says the team "has dedicated themselves to Charley," and more
than ever they have come to admire his mental toughness. Toughness
Morris first recognized on the ball diamond.

"We were playing in the (Masters) Over-40 in Las Vegas and it was 105
degrees," said Morris. "It was so hot and there was no shade, so we
lined up behind each other in the shade of one of the (light) poles.
We were getting ready to play Des Moines.

"They had Al Rausch pitching (former Iowa great) and Denver Dixon,
who used to play for them. I was nervous because they had such a good
team," said Morris. "In that heat, Charley pitched one of the best
games I've ever seen him pitch. He has such incredible stamina. I
think we beat them like 8-1 or 9-1, and Charley got on a roll and had
a wonderful tournament."

In his 37-year career he's pitched approximately 1800 games, winning
over 1300(75%). How much longer will he continue?

"I haven't lost my love for pitching - the fire is still there,"
said Slavens. "I love competition you can beat me today, but I'll
come back and beat you tomorrow. I think the Marine Corps gave me
that attitude."

(I hope this finds Charlie doing well and hopefully still pitching.
If any one can give us an update on Charlie, that would be great.
Just email me at botto3@verizon.net.)

For other fastpitch stories, articles, and photo galleries, visit
www.ottoinfocus.com.