Softball

The Titans play their home games on Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park, a facility that has had numerous upgrades in recent years, funded largely by Willis. Without her generosity, IWU would not be hosting the NCAA Division III World Series starting next week.

Jen Kuhn is clearly still softball driven. But the Illinois Wesleyan student-athlete and U-High grad has a lot more to give than line drives and diving catches.

Melinda Fischer is the winningest coach in Illinois State University history. A $100,000 fundraiser seeks to upgrade team facilities and provide professional development for student-athletes.

U-High softball coach Al Toliver will tell you his winning record is a credit to the talented players and assistant coaches he has had. He’ll also tell you the real reward runs deeper than triumphs and trophies.

Baseball is happening and all is right with the world. Today, though, let's hear about another bat and ball game — softball. It was big in Central Illinois for many decades with lots of semi-pro teams and even industrial leagues for men and women. it also offered an outlet for young women before they had opportunities to play other organized sports.

If you didn’t know Lyle Day, know this: if you were in his softball family, you were family. He cared about you unconditionally. His death last week at age 88 leaves a void in the softball community beyond wins and losses, trophies and championships.

Amber May routinely shattered records on the softball field, starring in the pitcher’s circle for Normal Community High School, Heartland Community College and Eastern Illinois University. Now May is at it again, setting a standard on – of all places – the football field.

Any remembrance of Rudy Klokkenga must include softball. He played it as a young man, becoming a pitching ace in an era when many small towns fielded men’s fastpitch teams. His name is on the Illinois State softball press box, a tribute to Klokkenga’s unwavering love and support of the Redbirds.

Illinois State University softball coach Melinda Fischer announced her retirement on Sunday after 37 seasons with the Redbirds. Her longtime assistant coach, Tina Kramos, was named her successor.

Just months after hosting a national softball championship in Normal, the town has just been picked to host another tournament that’s expected to give the…