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Joanne Mick took up softball as a catcher in Bullen Park, Esquimalt with the Colwood and District Softball Association. It was a time when woman’s sports news was barely a blip on any radar.
Her softball journey began in 1964 when her friend, Brenda Green, wanted to play softball. Their fathers, “Smokey” Green and Paul Mick, coached that first pitcher-catcher combo with Brenda pitching and Joanne catching. The first year, they lost all but the final league game, but that win lit Joanne’s competitive flame!
In 1973, she formed a new combo with pitcher Rosemary Fuller under coach Walter Yeamans. The duo caught the eye of coach Adrian Lavigne who courted the duo for the 1974 National Championship. Both joined the team and won their first National Title that year. Recognizing the outstanding organization of Coach Adrian Lavigne teams (first called the Green & Louie Realtors, then DOC's Blues, and Alpha Sports) they stayed with him for the balance of their careers.
Patty Polych joined the squad in 1980 and, like Rose, loved to pitch, train, practice and learn the tools of the strikeout. The duo of Rose and Joanne started a new era, winning both Provincial and National Championships. Joanne played in two World Women's Softball Championships in 1982 and 1986. Highlights included winning the famed Warren Paine Umpires' Tournament in 1984 and 1985 in Texas, as well as a victory against the Raybestos Brakettes.
If Rose and Patty were the pitching stars, Diane Materi, Tracy Huclack, and others were just as capable to strike out batters. “Their pitching talent was awesome,” said Joanne. “But I loved their other positions more. They were outstanding in their field – right, left and centre.”
Joanne’s motto of “Have glove will travel” was coined with early pickup roles. She coached all pitchers when requested, relaying observations and encouragement, catching what was thrown. That glove proved to be a plane ticket to travel to the world’s best softball tournaments. Joanne played in all Canadian National championships from 1974 through 1987. Leagues played included North West, Pacific Coast, Intercity, and Vancouver City. In the USA, Joanne played in California, Texas, and Florida. Even further afield were trips to New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Japan, China and Taiwan with repeat visits. Adrian called Joanne the “best pitching coach to ever play the game.”
The highly decorated DOC's Blues team represented Canada in the International Softball Federation (ISF) IV Women's Worlds in 1978 and dominated their first seven games of the tournament, setting a record for runs scored and outscoring their opposition 66-5. Their only defeat came in the final, losing 4-0 to the USA. This 2nd place still stands as the highest showing for a Canadian team at a World Women’s Softball Championship. Their 1978 season finished with an amazing overall record of 113 wins, two ties, and just 16 losses in 131 games. DOC's Blues with Joanne Mick have been inducted into the Softball BC, Softball Canada, and BC Sports Halls of Fame.
Mike Piechnik |
A native Victorian and youngest of five, Mike tragically lost his father in 1976 and the many changes in his life that year resulted in Mike joining a group of friends playing fast pitch softball.
Beginning as an outfielder, he quickly became interested in pitching. His dedication to fitness and his strong work ethic, shaped by his father, quickly propelled him to become one of the topleft-handed pitchers in the game. Mike also credits Ron Hill, his coach for the first six years, as making his remarkable career possible.“Ron was especially valuable to me during the difficult months following my father’s death. He always encouraged me during those tough times. He was a good coach and became a father figure to me.”
Mike honed his skills in Victoria’s Stuffy McGinnis League (which produced many of Canada’s National Team players) before playing top-level fast pitch in New Zealand in 1983-84.In 1984, he returned to join the defending National Champion Victoria Royals, where he was mentored by superstar Rob Guenter who helped prepare him for much of his success to follow.
As a left-hander, he was a huge asset in a game of predominantly right-handers. In 1985, Mike was recruited to play for The Farm of Madison, Wisconsin. With Rocky Vitale catching, he pitched a record four perfect games at the International Softball Congress World Tournament and established himself as one of the game’s elite pitchers. Mike returned to Victoria in 1990 and over the next 18 years played for numerous Canadian and American club teams. He was most proud when playing for Canada’s National Team, which he considered an honour.
Mike says that he was blessed with the best catchers in the game. “Without my catchers - Doug Chase, Tim Wahl, Rocky Vitale, Gary Bachus - I wouldn’t have had such consistency in my game and I willingly and gratefully share my accolades with them.”
Mike has won four Canadian Championship Gold medals and numerous awards including Top Pitcher, Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Player. Some of his major accomplishments included pitching six games in two days to win Gold (1991), winning Gold and pitching with an earned run average of 0.00 (1992) and pitching back-to-back perfect games (1993). He has also won two USA National Championships (1993, 1996) and won top pitcher honors in both. He is the current record holder for most strike-outs (140) in a US National Championship tournament (1988). Other career milestones include a 20-inning 46-strikeout game (1988 USA Nationals) and pitching four perfect games within three weeks (1993).
Mike was a valuable member of Canada’s National team from 1987 to 1999. Highlights include winning two Gold medals at the Pan American Games (1995, 1999) and Silver at the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships (1996).
Mike resides in Victoria with his wife, Heather, and sons Lucas and Caleb. He has been inducted into the Softball BC (2006), U.S. Fastball (2009), Softball Canada (2012) and ISF (2014) Halls of Fame.
SPONSORED BY VICTORIA HARBOURCATS
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