When fringe sports fans wonder about the secrets to success of any coach, they may automatically assume it’s that they pay attention to detail, put in hours of hard work and hold players accountable. Well, that’s true. Yet the common denominator is pretty simple – a love for the game. And perhaps that best explains… Read more »
News
Sport: Softball
Mike Griggs
Mike Griggs knew from a young age working in parks and recreation was going to be a part of his future. Griggs, former director of the Columbia Parks & Recreation Department, spent most of his childhood playing sports and participating in community events at various parks in and around Columbia. “It seems like I’ve been… Read more »
Cindy Henderson Snead
The unfairness of life didn’t derail her even though it could have. You see, public schools didn’t field women’s sports teams during her childhood and teen years, and her only shot to earn a college softball scholarship was, well, old-school. In fact, this was the scene for Cindy Henderson Snead back in 1971: She and… Read more »
Holly Hesse
She has spent her career living a dream. Of coaching college softball. Of the sun often anchored above her shoulders. Of readying young women for the real world. And compiling wins. Yes, good luck ever trying to pull Holly Hesse away from the game. “I like to say that when I was 18,” Hesse said,… Read more »
Mandee Berg Holeyfield
She played on the dusty softball fields in and around Kansas City in her youth, learning from her four older softball sisters as well as her dad-coach. And, like many athletes, Mandee Berg Holeyfield couldn’t help but watch other teams – that is, the better teams with slightly older athletes – and wonder, “What if?”… Read more »
Kay Hunter
Kay Hunter learned at an early age to make the most of life’s opportunities. Whether they came in the form of honing her athletic and competitive skills on the recess yard or taking advantage of a limited slate of girls athletic options as a high schooler, the Mount Vernon native wasted few chances to build… Read more »
Diane Juergensmeyer
Up in the left corner of a poster board-turned-scrapbook – the one dedicated to St. Elizabeth High School’s 2002 state championship softball team — the headline screams, “Lady Hornets sting ‘em at state.” It’s a newspaper clipping from the Miller County Autogram-Sentinel, and see the other scrapbook items glued to the board? Look closely, because… Read more »
Kansas City Corporate Challenge
When the United States boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980, the man who cared deeply for public parks and recreation in Kansas City’s largest counties sprung into action. No, Leon Younger didn’t save the Games. Instead, he called several businesses and created what he called the Corporate Olympics, with Kansas City-area businesses entering employees… Read more »
Celeste Knierim
She lived the dream that made an impact. Of coaching community college women’s athletes. Of recruiting St. Louis-area teens for basketball, field hockey, volleyball and softball. Of setting them up for success on the field, and in life. Then again, Celeste Knierim certainly wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves. In fact, when offered the… Read more »
Dr. Pat Lipira
Dr. Pat Lipira is the winningest coach in Missouri Southern State University history (total wins across all sports). Lipira coached the Lions’ softball team from 1982-2000 and the volleyball team from 1981-1987. She has a 632-275 (.697) overall record as a softball coach, but compiled a 439-162 (.730) mark while Lions were a member of… Read more »
Yancey Little
For Yancey Little, being a coach was the plan from the start. “I always wanted to be a coach,” Little said. “I watched my dad coach men’s fastpitch softball through the years, learned a lot and it intrigued me. Then, when my oldest brother Marty began coaching high school, my desire to coach grew.” And as… Read more »
Roger Lower
He spent 13 years as a policeman, spending days as a high school liaison, and one day the thought hit him: If his days were to be spent around students, why not become a teacher? And so, at age 35 and with a wife and two children at home, Roger Lower traded in his badge… Read more »
1987-2008 Era Marion C. Early High School Softball
When folks talk about the powerhouse high school softball programs around the Show-Me State, the Marion C. Early Lady Panthers are certainly in the conversation. And why not? They gave all who saw them play plenty to discuss. Over a 22-season stretch, the Morrisville school logged an unprecedented string of success spanning the tenures of… Read more »
McQueary Brothers Drug Company
McQueary Brothers Drug company was started in Springfield, MO in 1924 by brothers Les and Fred McQueary. A wholesale drug company, McQueary Brothers expanded from serving retail pharmacies in Missouri and Arkansas early in the company’s existence to serving pharmacies in 7 states across the Midwest. Les and Fred were avid sports fans and actively… Read more »
1974-79 Mid-State Oil Softball Teams
In the day when everybody played softball, Mid-State Oil distinguished itself as a dynasty in the mid to late 1970’s. Playing in the Open Division, which included the best teams in the state, Mid-State Oil won the state slow pitch softball championship an unprecedented 6 consecutive years. Prior to this, no team had ever won… Read more »
Doug Middleton
He grew up in Springfield, often spending summer evenings at Fassnight Park or Meador Park and watching his dad and friends’ dads play fast-pitch softball. That was back when men’s fast-pitch softball was a big deal, and no one quite knew the influence it would have on Doug Middleton. “Growing up, we’d run around those… Read more »