2023 Female Player: Colleen Douglas
/
Colleen’s softball journey began in 1975, when she was asked to play softball with the Woman’s 12-inch Slow Pitch ASA Team, Lee’s Deli out of her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin at age 16. After playing 3 seasons with Lee’s, Colleen had a career opportunity, which took her to Illinois in 1979. In May of that year, she was asked to try out for the Fox Valley Lassies out of St Charles IL. The Lassies decided to move from ASA 12-inch slow pitch to USSSA 11 inch.
Most athletes begin their love of sports at very young age, and Colleen was no exception. Her passion for sports was a gift her father, Andy introduced her to by watching their beloved Green Bay Packers & Wisconsin Badgers. That passion led Colleen to many opportunities in an era when woman’s sports just started up as organized girl’s athletics in schools. While she learned to adapt to finding any sport to play, Colleen grew up on the playgrounds and behind her garage in the back alley where she played basketball on a court, which was the pride of Wright Ave. Once girls were being able to play organized softball, it quickly became one of Colleen’s sports that she grew to love for many decades.
While playing 2 years of fast pitch softball for her high school team Washington Park Panthers and 1 year at UW Parkside, Colleen embarked on her slow pitch career playing for Lee’s at the same time discovering women’s slow pitch softball. They say you need to be fast, have an arm, not be an afraid to “take a cleat or too”. That is exactly what Colleen first learned as a second base woman. Her defense grew to record setting double plays, which were made possible by her teammates… The G.O.A.T Mary Stark, Deb Jurca, & Sue Pope.
During her nine years with the Lassie’s, to achieve one USSSA CLASS A State Championship is awesome, but to capture four USSSA CLASS A State Championships and being awarded All-Tournament Team (2 of the 4 years) in your career is priceless. The Lassie’s achieved great success by qualifying for the Big Dance (The USSSA CLASS A WORLD TOURNMENTS) 9 straight years. In 1979, they were robbed of the World Title by Hurricane David in Petersburg, Va and were awarded Runner up even though the title game was never finished and was called with the score being 2-1. In 1980, they again went to the World Tournament in Kinston, NC where they finished 4th. Onto 1981 World Tournament that was held in Hutchison, Ks where they went into the championship game and lost in extra innings to the Virginia Bells once again Runner-up.
In 1988 Colleen joined up with fellow players from the Lassies and other teams from their league and Clarks Wax Shop was created. After breezing through their summer Recreation League, the team decided to enter some USSSA Class B Tournaments. By winning the NIT Invitational tournament in Crystal Lake, Clarks qualified for the USSSA Class B Divisional Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. With nobody even knowing who Clarks Wax shop was, they went in with 12 players and won the USSSA Class B Divisional Championship. So not only did Colleen finally get a National Championship she wished for she was also awarded on to the All-Divisional Tournament Team. Throughout her softball career, Colleen always put her team first and did what she had to do to help her teams be victorious with not only her defense but also doing what was needed to get on base and score.
Colleen has been retired from softball for several years. She now spends her summers on the golf course. She plans to retire next year. Colleen is looking forward to this next chapter with her partner Doreen. She would like to thank not only her teammates throughout the many years in athletics but her friends and most importantly her family parents Andy and Helen and her six siblings Stuart, Julie, Peggy, Shelia, Tim and Terri for their continued support and love.
