Ron “Doc” Simmons and his Broken Bow, Neb. Travelers

November 27, 2013

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE  by Bob Otto

 

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Ron “Doc” Simmons of Broken Bow, Neb. sponsored, managed and coached a men’s fastpitch team for over 50 years.

He led his Broken Bow, Neb. Travelers and collaborative teams to six ISC World Championships, and his teams competed in 11 title games since he began competing in the ISC World Tournament in the early 1980s.

He formed his first team in Broken Bow (pop. 3,100) in 1971, and along with his ISC titles, won 21 state ASA championships and two ASA Major National Championships. Simmons was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame in 2013

During the 1999 ISC World Tournament in Sioux, City, Iowa, the Travelers finished runner-up to the Farm Tavern of Madison, Wisc., losing 4-2 in the championship, and it seemed that the whole town of Broken Bow came out to support their team. Photo By BOB OTTO

The 1999 Broken Bow team

Keith Clark (scorekeeper), Tommy Kempp, Mark Sorenson, Kyle Simmons, David Frank, Doug Kozney, Gerald Muizelaar, Mike Piechnik, Thomas Makea, Brad Hoffman, Aaron Blenderman, Steve Kooser (coach), Mike Schwieger, Jarrad Martin, Casey Moeller, Cliff Wisdom, Mat Moeller, Jim Holm, Joe Morales, and Ron “Doc” Simmons, manager.

Mike Piechnik of Canada helped the Broken Bow Travelers to the runner-up spot in the 1999 ISC World Tournament. Now retired, Piechnik has been inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame and the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame.Photo By BOB OTTO Several players had outstanding tournaments and were named to the All-World team

 

FIRST TEAM

• Pitcher Gerald Muizelaar: 3-1, 23 innings, 32 strikeouts, 1.57 ERA
• Mark Sorenson, infielder: .375 batting average (6-16), 5 RBIs, and 3 home runs
• Most Valuable Player, Jarrad Martin, outfielder: .550 avg, (11-20), 7 RBIs, 9 runs, and 6 home runs
• Thomas Makea, outfielder: .500 avg, (13-26), 4 RBIs, 7 runs, and 3 home runs  

SECOND TEAM

• Pitcher Mike Piechnik: 2-1, 23 innings, 34 strikeouts, 2.35 ERA
• Mike Schwieger, catcher: .318 avg, 7 RBIs, and 1 home run
• Broken Bow led the tournament in hitting with a .304 avg. (58-191) and hit 13 home runs with New Zealanders Martin (6), Sorenson (3) and Makea (3) belting 12 of them.

 

SEE BOB'S ORIGINAL ARTICLE FOR SOME GREAT PHOTOS