August2012

Still pitching, Lexington’s Algar enters softballl Hall

August 22, 2012

Midland, MI

-By Bob Otto


Written by Bob on August 21st, 2012


Paul Algar, the 1997 ISC World Tournament Most Outstanding Pitcher in Victoria BC Canada. Photo By BOB OTTO


By Randy Kindred / Pantagraph Sports Reporter
rkindred@pantagraph.com

LEXINGTON, IL — Thirty years after making his International Softball Congress debut, Paul Algar was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame last week in Midland, Mich. The Lexington resident also was pitching for the Quad City Sox in the annual ISC World Tournament.
Closing in on his 48th birthday, Algar may not be done yet. He already has two offers to pitch next summer.
“It’s a possibility,” he said. “It just depends on what my mindset is and how my body feels. I’m not as good as I used to be, but I’m a lot smarter than I used to be.”

Born in New Zealand, Paul Algar came to the U.S. to pitch for American club teams, including the Farm Tavern of Madison, Wisconsin. Photo By BOB OTTO
 
LEXINGTON — Thirty years after making his International Softball Congress debut, Paul Algar was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame last week in Midland, Mich. The Lexington resident also was pitching for the Quad City Sox in the annual ISC World Tournament.

Closing in on his 48th birthday, Algar may not be done yet. He already has two offers to pitch next summer.
“It’s a possibility,” he said. “It just depends on what my mindset is and how my body feels. I’m not as good as I used to be, but I’m a lot smarter than I used to be.”
Algar has been good enough to be named ISC All-World five times, including four while pitching for The Farm Tavern of Madison, Wis. He led The Farm to ISC World Tournament championships in 1997 and 1999.

Algar also pitched Green Bay (Wis.) All Car to the 1994 ISC World Tournament title.
“I had the good fortune of going in (the Hall of Fame) with guys I’ve played with in the game,” Algar said. “They rated it one of the top classes to be inducted at the same time. It was pretty humbling.”

Algar was joined by Todd Budke, a former teammate with The Farm, and Shawn Rychik, a former teammate in Green Bay. Also in the class was Adam Smith, who played for the 1994 ISC runner-up Toronto Gators.

Entering the Hall of Fame together was never a goal, Algar said.
“We just started every season trying to win championships,” he said. “It was never anything that entered our minds.”
Originally from New Zealand, Algar and his family have lived in Lexington for 15 years. His daughter, Brittany, participated in cheerleading, volleyball and track at Lexington High School and now is at Illinois State. His son, Jordan, is a Lexington senior who participates in football and track.
Algar has enjoyed watching them compete. He also gives pitching lessons.
“I’ve kind of got into that more this year,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get that going fulltime.”


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