Tired of the CC and Riverdale Bashing

[jusluvsports]

Enjoyable Thread . . . But, seriously, when were the first TENNESSEE high school fastpitch softball teams formed - who were they - where did they play? - when was the first school softball field built & who? - who were the coaches - just interested in how fast the sport has grown and the leaders in the formation - we might have missed a milestone and didn't know it!!

I did enjoy your story, Top G, on the history of "cow patty" softball (who's Goodlo?), but . . .

Any true "historians" out there?????

[softballkat]

Finney, you forgot to tell them that the first softball team didn't use gloves, they caught it bare-handed, and the pitchers threw 109 mph. Also, they had amazing take-out slides that would be illegal today and they didn't worry about running into the fence, they just jumped over it. That is the story I got from Nelson a few times anyway. And I am glad to finally know a word to describe you "colorful".

[supersteve17]

I think softball was recognized by the TSSAA in the late 1970's, probably 1978 or 1979. Red Bank (among others) was an early large school power and Memphis Skyview ruled the early years among the smaller schools.