Tall, lanky, stoic, with the signature broom-stache, Gary Haning and the Batbusters are synonymous. Haning's relationship with the Batbusters spans three decades.

30 years of developing players, champions, and relationships in a sport he simply fell in love with. Haning writes a heartfelt reflection on his time with Batbusters.

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The article Carlos Arias wrote about Batbusters was very good and completely accurate as to the things we spoke of when he asked me about the team and its history.

Unfortunately, no story in the space he had available could begin to cover 30 plus years.

There are so many exceptional athletes and and giving coaches who have been involved with the Batbusters, both on my teams and others I could not begin to mention or thank them all in anything short of a book.

Athletes such as Julie Smith, literally the fastest softball player I have ever seen. Coaches drool over slappers who can run 2.7's and will kill for someone who can run 2.6's, Julie ran 2.4's from the right side when bunting for a base hit.

Sisters who have graced the Batbuster uniform are many… they include:

Julie and Terry Carpenter who pitched for us in the early years of my involvement with the team.

Jennifer and Christina Clark, a pitcher and a shortstop-utility player who both made huge contributions. Christina may well have been in the top 10 of every player ever to be a Batbuster.

Dominique, Brittany and Lauren Lastrapes who together played for us for 11 years.



Kelly and Lacey Hauxhurst, I have not seen Kelly in 15 years but I guarantee she still looks like she is 15!

Monica and Andrea Harrison, two fabulously talented athletes who were as different as night and day off of the field but played every out as if it was their last game unless they won.

Christa and Robyn Yorke who not only were great players but also brought their Dad Dave along who was very instrumental in our team's success.

More recently Talee, Tannon and Taylon Snow, as classy a group of girls as you could ever hope to meet, and soon you will see Taylon shattering every record in the SEC if the monstrously talented Amanda Lorenz doesn't do it first.



Sierra and Sydney Romero, one who has already blistered the Big 10 records and the other who will continue to destroy the Big 12.

From Jennifer Clark and Kelly Sparks to Taylor McQuillan, Mariah Lopez and Natalie Lugo, the Batbusters have been blessed with brilliant pitchers.

The extensive list includes Jennie Finch, Taryne Mowatt, Keira Goerl, Jessica Vanderlinden, Dana Sorenson, Lisa Dodd, Lindsay Parker, Toni Mascarenas, Amanda Williams, Donna Kerr, Teagan Gerhart, Nancy Bowling and soooo many others have labored in the circle for the benefit of our team!

We have seen great victories as well as stinging losses; for example, how does a team with a pitching staff of Keira Goerl, Jessica Vanderlinden and Dana Sorenson finish fifth at Nationals?

Probably bad coaching would be a reasonable opinion!

The last thing I want to say is how fortunate I and our athletes have been to have such great and self-sacrificing coaches.

No Batbuster coach on my team was ever paid and in fact some paid their own way.

Dave Yorke, Harvey Berg, Frank Braatz, Bruce Gomez, Tom Gray, Tyrone Davis, Julie Anderson, Dale Moore, Bob Wenk, John Sansone, Jim Dolan, Steve Conrow, Danny Murakami, Dan Hay, Doug Myers, Steve McNee, Jess Martinson, and of course the current coaches, Mike Stith, Mark Campbell, Toni Mascarenas, Nick Digeralamo, and all of the others too numerous to mention.

All of these people busted their tails at one time or another to make the name be something more than another name for another team.

And no history of the Batbusters could begin to be told without the mention and recognition of Dennis Frady.

Our coach from 1997 through 2013, Dennis is simply the most decent man I have ever known. He is highly intelligent with a good knowledge of the game but never had any agenda nor ego. He would suggest but never say a word if his suggestions were not taken. I could not possibly overstate my respect for Dennis, I can truly say my life is better for knowing him.

I apologize to all of the many players and coaches I did not mention here. There are way too many to count.

As for me, I am not retired from coaching; my life has changed and my time is not always free as it once was, I continue to have an interest and connection to Mike's team and as he is gracious enough to understand my time limitations,

I will continue to contribute as I am able and maybe someday I will return full time.

Gary Haning