It was to be such a fun road trip, traveling with teammates from Los Angeles to Prescott, Ariz. for the 40-and-over ASA National Tournament.

Dave Blackburn was riding shotgun that night of Aug. 26, chatting with the driver while a buddy in the backseat played with his dog.

That's the last thing the 1978 T.F. North grad and son of fastpitch legend Ernie Blackburn remembers. Moments later, their car was struck by another vehicle on the interstate, forever changing Dave's life.

A bear of a man, much like his dad, Dave was an imposing figure on the mound at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds. His velocity made your ears pop. A foul tip was a moral victory.