The Summer of 1976
was a Softball Paradise

Bay City was Softball City in the mid-70s

August 2, 2002
By: O. J. Cunningham

Cubby's Bar and Danny's Market shared the women's city softball spotlight in the mid 70's in Bay City. Danny's won a State and a National Championship in 1974-75. In 1976, Cubby's won a State Title and then travelled to Fargo, North Dakota to represent Bay City at the National Tournament on Labor Day 1976.

The names in the Bay County Sports Page article read like a "Who's Who" in Bay City women's fastpitch softball. Bay County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Nancy Kiesel, Wendy Greenwood, Betty Taylor, Linda Eastman, Sue Post, Cindy VanDriesche, Sue Burke, Cheryl Ruthig, Judy Warmbier, Shelby Brinkman, Cindy Shaheen and Jerry Karner (Manager of Cubby's).

On this particular night in July of 1976, Cindy VanDriesche rocketed a fifth inning, two out, two-run homer (over the fence at Defoe) off the slants of Nancy Kiesel to lead Cubby's to a 4-2 win over Danny's. It was one of so many battles between the two teams during the Summer of 1976.

Guy Manke was brilliant on July 8, 1976. Manke fired a no-hit, no run Perfect Game for Made Rite Potato Chip in Tri County Fastpitch League Play. Manke struck out 6 and his team-mates played flawlessly in the field as the Chipmen handled Sweebe Construction of Midland 3-0. The win gave Made Rite a 4-0 second half record in league play and moved them one full game ahead of second place Arrow TV.

NOTE: This is one of a continuing series of flashback article to be taken from the archives of the Bay County Sports Page & Bay City Enterprise newspapers published from 1976 through 1984 by O.J. Advertising, Inc. This Publisher hopes you enjoy the time travel as much as he does! If Sports Page and Enterprise are the grandparents of our newest arrival - mybaycity.com- then they are (as expected) very proud granparents, indeed.