Eastman Fast Pitch Hall of Fame welcomes Class of 2025

By Derick Kelly

The Eastman Fast Pitch Hall of Fame will welcome its class of 2005 inductees into its hall of fame this Friday, July 4, between Fast Pitch Games at the Eastman Community Ballpark (around 3 p.m.). 

This year’s class includes Bruce Biggin, Dick Feye, Jay Greene, Todd Krachey, Rick Mezera and Friends of the Eastman Ball Park honorees Bob Martin and Dennis Pelock.

Inductees (or those accepting on behalf of an inductee) provided a biography with their memories of the Eastman Ball Park.
First inductee is Bruce Biggin. According to his biography, “Bruce Biggin enjoyed playing in the Eastman league and tournaments over the years. He played fast pitch softball starting in 1972. He enjoyed the fan base and the local people liked to watch the game as competitive teams competed against each other. Bruce pitched for the softball team based out of Seneca, as that is where he lived, taught industrial arts and coached. He played for the Ma Barker’s team in 1975 that won the Class A State Softball Tournament. He also enjoyed playing for the Hill Top Tap from Eastman and Al’s TV out of Boscobel.”

Bob Ostrander, his first baseman recalled one Fourth of July, “They were in the Boscobel and Eastman tournaments, traveling back and forth to each diamond. The team won both tournaments and Bruce was the only pitcher for his team.”

Next up is Dick Feye. He wrote, “Growing up in Eastman we spent most of our summers at the ballpark. I was lucky, my brother Scott played and he would haul me all over the area to different tournaments. I was the bat boy. If you ask the guys he played with. I was probably more of a pain than anything. I learned a lot watching all the good Eastman players and the guys they played against. Eastman had a great league and each team had its own tournament.”

“I’d always take my glove to the league games and hope someone’s team might need a player. Finally, Greg Fisher let me play for the Eastman Jets. I was probably in seventh or eighth grade and he got me started. For a while after that, Rick and Gary Mezera who ran Frank’s Market let me fill in for them when they needed someone. They were a great young bunch of ball players and I was proud to get to play with them. In my high school years, we started an 18-and-under team and played in the 18-and-under state tournaments. We won the state tournament in both 1986 and 198. We went to the National Tournament 1986 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and we got seventh and then the following year in Prescott, Arz, we took second. We would play teams that had the best players brought in from their whole state and we had a team that had guys from Seneca, Eastman, PdC and Wauzeka. LaVerne DuCharme and Craig Martin coached us. We beat some great teams. The thing that I think helped us was we played against the men’s league in Eastman and they showed us how to win.”

Jay Greene is the third member of the group and he wrote about his experience in softball. “What softball life meant to me. Growing up we had a ball diamond in our backyard complete with a backstop and home run fence. In the summer, all of the neighborhood kids would gather daily and play some competitive games of wiffle ball. That’s where the ball playing memories began.”

“Fast pitch for me started in high school playing league ball for Zabel Hogs. From there I played for Frank’s Market with a very talented group of young men. We had tournaments every weekend and played all over the state. We became a team that was respected by the competition.

“I also had the privilege to play for Bell’s Bar, Horseshoe Tavern and Wilbur Lime. Through the years came many friendships with my teammates and the competition. My wife often tells me we can’t go anywhere without running into someone I know from years of playing ball.”

Being inducted posthumously is Todd Krachey. A former teammate of his wrote this about Todd. “I had the opportunity to play fastpitch with Todd for many years. When it comes to a fastpitch teammate, Todd was definitely a person I wanted on my team.”

“Not everyone saw this in Todd, but he was a fierce competitor on the field and always seemed to step up his game when the pressure was on. Such as when a clutch hit was needed to drive in the winning run, when a bunt was needed to advance a runner, or when a ball had to be dug out of the dirt at first base due to a bad throw, I would want Todd to be in that position every time. The special thing about Todd was he not only was a great competitor, but he had the best attitude on the team. He was always upbeat, he was always positive and he always pushed the entire team to be the best.”

“After a game, Todd was even a better person to have on your team. It didn’t matter where we were, you could be assured that Todd would know someone and be the life of the party. He was a friend to everyone and left us way too soon.” 

The final former player being inducted is Rick Mezera and he explained his fastpitch career and what it means to him being inducted into the Eastman Fastpitch Hall of Fame. “I was very fortunate to play with and against many very talented players in the area. Fortunately, I was able to play for 40 years and minus a few dislocated fingers, my health allowed me to play for a long period of time.

“The best move of my life occurred back in 1975 when my parents moved from Racine to the best town to grow up in, Eastman. My parents bought a grocery store, Frank’s Market, and we quickly were accepted by all of the local people. There wasn’t any little league baseball in the area back then, so the local game to play was Fastpitch Softball. One of my best friends, other than my brother Gary, was Danny DuCharme whose dad played and pitched for Slama’s Bar. I remember travelling all over the place with Danny and his parents when Slama’s Bar would play as we were the “bat boys” for the team. After watching those great players, I knew this was the game for me.

“Starting around age 12 we first started playing fastpitch down at the legendary “Bush” ballpark and were sponsored by Sukow Diary Equipment. Around the age of 14, I was asked to play with a team in Eastman and I thought I had made it to the big leagues. I played for a great softball mentor in Bernie Boylen and I just remember learning how to be competitive as well as a gracious loser if we didn’t win the game. From there my brother Gary and I asked my parents if they would sponsor a softball team, Frank’s Market. Fortunately, they said yes and we had a team for about eight years. On that team I played with some of the greatest people who became lifelong friends. That team consisted of relatives; Mike Krieg, Greg Russell and Gary Mezera as well as friends: Danny DuCharme, Kevin Lessard, Jay Greene, Jamie Green, Dan Boland, Doug Konichek, Todd Krachey, Jim Wagner and Eric Kelley. From there I was lucky enough to play for Donny Stram’s team and at the end of my ball playing career I played for Pat Hall’s team. With both of those teams, I was fortunate enough to travel around the country and play against some very good competition.”

The first Friends of the Eastman Ball Park honoree is Bob Martin. As described by the person who nominated Martin for the award, “While passing through Eastman or walking the pleasant streets, on any given day, one might catch a glimpse of one of Eastman’s most friendly and familiar faces, Bob Martin. He may be walking the streets while picking up trash, spraying weeds along the sidewalks, painting the many fire hydrants, or staining the picnic tables, benches, dugouts or bleachers at the Eastman Ball Park.”

The second and final honoree of the Friends of the Eastman Ball Park Award for 2025 is Dennis Pelock. He was also asked for his memories of the Eastman Ball and here are just a few memories that Pelock provided. 

“It is said that time changes everything.  It has been interesting to watch constant changes throughout the past seven decades.  One of my first memories of our ball park is when in 1958 the State Highway Commission tore up and reconstructed the entire length of Eastman’s Main Street- (Hwy 27). The project included lowering the grade and reinstalling curb and gutter.  That project also brought improvements to the ball diamond.  As a kid I remember standing in the infield and not able to see the left fielder because the slope was so deep. The Kavon Brothers and others used the old curb that was being removed throughout town to build a wall in rear of left/center fields which started the improvements to the field. The wall still stands across the entire back of the ball field and volleyball courts.  The old asphalt, gravel and dirt removed from the highway project was used as fill to raise the rear of the ball field that year.  The grade in front of the old Elementary school and ball diamond was lowered two feet.”

“In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, I played fast pitch softball with the Eastman Falcons.  I hope not to miss anyone, but here goes, The team: Roger Swatek, Roger Slama, Andy Meiller, Scott & Mark Anderson, LaVern Morovits, Gary Sprosty, Bud Kramer, Duke Kramer, Gary Lenzendorf, Terry Roach, Ray Prew, Dave Grimme, Dennis Pelock and a famous player from the Dakota’s; Mike Wiley.  We had a great time playing in Eastman, Bush Stadium in Bush Hollow, Wauzeka along with other games at other parks. It was a wonderfully fun few years with great friends.”   

“During the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s I seriously enjoyed helping out umpiring at the ballpark either behind home plate or on the bases. Umpiring the bases seemed to be more rewarding than umpiring behind home plate, merely because you heard a lot less comments about your poor eye sight, especially from the catcher.”