Candy Swetkis

ESCANABA — For 57 years, Escanaba’s Candy Swetkis made an impact in some way, shape or form in the sport of softball.

Her efforts earned her a spot in the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame’s 2024 class. But that’s not the only Hall of Fame she’s entering this year.

The USA Softball of Michigan is proud to announce the election of Candy Swetkis (deceased) formerly from Escanaba of into the organization’s state softball Hall of Fame in the category of Player.

Candy’s fast pitch softball career spanned 36 years, she competed in over 1,000 games, at least 12 state fast pitch tournaments, two of which were state championships. This is remarkable because her softball career did not start while she was a youth playing organized softball. She didn’t compete in softball camps as

a teenager or college player. Title IX was not in force yet, so she taught herself how to play the game she loved. Because of Candy’s passion for the game, she helped many other female players, young and old in the region, providing coaching clinics, umpire training, and anything else needed to make softball accessible for all. While playing on teams in the Escanaba area, her teams often made the four-hour drive to play some of the top-notch teams in the Petoskey area. In the words of USA Softball of Michigan 2014 Hall of Fame member, Beverly Neville, Candy and her teammates would arrive in Petoskey ready to play and when they took the field, they never failed to entertain the fans with their excellent sportsmanship, coaching strategy, endurance, and fine skills. No other team ever entered a fast pitch tournament with only one pitcher. Candy wasn’t a power pitcher, but she was a smart pitcher and teams respected her ability to control the game.

Although Candy and Beverly were competitors on the field, they had many things in common. Both also served as MASA Commissioners in their respective districts.

They often discussed the future of women’s softball and in particular in the northern Michigan cities. Both knew that community support would make or break the future of Michigan softball. Candy acted on this and made a critical difference in Michigan’s northern softball because she cared.

Candy’s contributions to fast and slow pitch softball covered 57 years (1965-2021), illustrated by her participation and leadership in so many different aspects of the game. She spent her entire lifetime in service to the sport, fostering its growth an development: player, commissioner, umpire, tournament director, league president, youth and adult coach, and clinic director.

Candy passed away in April 2022 but even in death, her contribution to the sport continues: her endowment recently built three past pitch bullpens at the Escanaba Fastpitch Complex.

Here’s the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame class.

Mark Sirk, Sault Ste. Marie, Meritorious Service

Meritorious service is a term that means deserving honor or praise for some act or quality. If you were to ask anyone that has been involved with MASA/USA Softball of Michigan to give an example of someone that fits this description, two names always come up. One name that is always brought up is Mark Sirk. Mark’s career in softball began right out of high school in 1976 and he is still playing today. That is a 48-year commitment which is almost unheard of today. Mark began as a player and

a member of the Sault Men’s Slowpitch Softball League in 1976 playing weekly doubleheaders for numerous teams over his 48-year career. Most of his playing days were in the Soo, but in 1991-1992, Mark played in two other leagues at the same time. He worked for the MDOC and was working at the Standish Prison, so he joined the leagues in West Branch and Arenac County leagues. During this time, he still made it back to the Soo to play in 18 of the 24 league games. He always bats in the number three spot and as a left-handed hitter, he can deliver a clutch hit anywhere. Mark has played in several state and national tournaments. From 1993-

2018, he played on numerous MM35 and MM40 National Tournaments. But it was in

2018 while playing with the Yooper’s and Troll’s 60-Over AA Senior team, they won the National Championship in Burlington, NC.

Sirk was appointed District 22 Commissioner by Bill Humphrey. He continues to serve in this role today. Mileage wise, District 22 is the largest district as it includes the entire Upper Peninsula.

Ed Bernard, Marquette, Player

Bernard’s softball career began in the 70s and continued into the 2000s. Throughout the four decades of his softball playing career, he won 500 games. He began playing in the Superior Fast Pitch League in Marquette County where the competition was against some of the best teams in the area. Ed’s team was good, but it lacked one major component, they didn’t have a pitcher. So, Ed stepped up and began to teach and practice pitching until he mastered it. Pretty soon, his team was winning more games than they were losing. The team went on to play in tournaments down state, Wisconsin, and Canada. Ed played with some of the best teams in the Upper Peninsula including, Marquette Exec Air, Shoreland Bar, Remillard Bar, Marquette Fence, Bud Warriors. He pitched for 52 years, hurling 12 no hitters and 6 perfect games. He also accumulated 25 MVP awards, 10 Upper Peninsula Championships and five State Championships.

David Kwaiser, Birch Run, Player

David Kwaiser, who is known as O.J. has been a fixture on the mounds of Hoyt Park in Saginaw for most of his softball career which included slow pitch and modified pitch. He began playing in the 1980s and found his love for the modified game. Although he could play many positions, pitching was where he excelled. He had a classic style and was considered a leader in the game of modified as he displayed how the pitch should be done. In the words of umpire, Jeff Yorke, who began umpiring modified at the same time O.J. began pitching, “In the game of modified, legality is a problem – unless O.J. was pitching. He pitched the way the gamed should be pitched, hit spots, fooled batters, and never was a concern about whether his delivery was a legal pitch or not.”

His resume includes nine state titles, a national championship and earned All-American honors, pitching in over 15 National Championship Tournaments.

Harvey Miller, Ludington, Player

Harvey’s fast pitch softball career began while he was still in high school. He began playing in 1976 with the PCA team from Manistee, Michigan. He was considered a great second baseman who could hit for average, had good power, and great speed. He was a tremendous player both offensively and defensively which earned him All-American Team honors throughout his 26 years of playing.

From 1980-1983 Harvey served in the United State Air Force and played on various slow pitch teams during his military career. After finishing his enlistment in 1983, he began playing with the Scottville Cafe team. He played with some of the best fast pitch teams in the Ludington area. One team was Andrulis, which became the

Schoenherr Investment team. In 1985, this team won the MASA Class B Runner-up in the state tournament. While playing in the ASA National in Las Cruces, New Mexico that same year, he was on the 1st team All-American. In 1990, he was a member of the ISC Open Class State Champion with Schoenherr team. In 1991 He played with the Metalworks team that won the Class A Regional Championship and won the Leading Hitter award. He began playing with Greater Flint Sports Medicine in 1993, and the team finished in 3rd place in the ASA Men’s A Fast Pitch National Tournament in Las Cruces, New Mexico and was named to the All-America Team (Second Team). In 1994, his team, Greater Flint Sports Medicine won the Class A

State Championship and Harvey was named as the State Finals Tournament MVP, the team played in the ASA Men’s Class A National Tournament where they placed 3rd and he was named All-America Second Team.

While playing with McCormick’s Sawmill, the team won the MASA Men’s D Fast Pitch State Tournament. In his final year, 2002, he played with GLC Team and they competed in the ISC2 World Tournament in Kimberly, Wisconsin.

Rick Versalle, Muskegon, Meritorious Service

Meritorious service is a term that means deserving honor or praise for some act or quality. If you were to ask anyone that has been involved with MASA/USA Softball of Michigan to give an example of someone that fits this description, two names always come up. One name that is always brought up is Rick Versalle.

For over 25 years, Rick Versalle has been someone that you could rely on, and work with. He has been an amazing teammate and advocate for USA Softball and has helped whenever and wherever he is needed. His biggest impact has been with the slow pitch game. As an umpire and a player, he has a unique perspective that has helped Michigan’s program evolve over time.

Recently, another scorekeeper was needed for multiple Men’s Fastpitch tournaments that Holland Township was hosting. Darrin mentioned to Rick that he was short one scorekeeper… and he jumped right in. Why? Because I needed help and he wanted to experience that fastpitch game… and he keeps coming back. This is who Rick Versalle is… a teammate, friend and advocate for USA Softball of Michigan. He may think what he’s done is more of a “behind the scenes” type of role. But without his help and knowledge, our slow pitch program would not be where it is today… a fair, competitive, and enjoyable experience.

The USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at The H Hotel in Midland on October 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Social hour begins at 5:00 p.m. Tickets will be available on August 20, 2024, until sold out, or through September 15, 2024, whichever comes first. The cost is $50 per ticket.