< Mighty Mike Macenko


The beginning of Steele's.

Story By Jerome Ernest.

Gary Coats, Paul Schroeder, Dennis Helmig and Glen Frey met at a Pizza Village restaurant in Lima, Ohio, in August of 1971. The Purpose of the meeting was to organize a slo-pitch softball team, with Coats, Steele's Automotive Parts Company as the sponsor.

The newly organized Steele's team played three late season tournaments that year before embarking on a full season’s schedule in 1972.. The teams first game ever was in the tiny Ohio community of Vanlue, and the first Steele's lineup read: Mickey Baughman pitcher, Ray Crisp catcher, Glen Eley first base, Dick Branovitch second, Don McGue third, Ted Keyser shortstop, Helmig left field, John Wellman left center, Vance Shuman right center and Wayne Frymeyer right field. Utility man was Mike Garver

Schroeder manage the team for those three fall tournaments in 1971, with Henry Johnson taking over as manager from 1972 through 1975. Schroeder returned as manager from 1976 through 1978, except for part of the 1978 season when Chris did the duties.

Helmig assumed the role of manager in 1979 and retaining the post for 1980 and 1981. Tom Rowan was the manager in 1982 when the team, known as the Steele's Stars, played in the professional softball league.

Then, when the team was moved to Grafton Ohio in 1983 Dave Neale took over as manager and has been at the helm ever since. Steele’s won that first game in Van Lew and went on to win the tournament, then won another tournament,
before finishing second to the strong Wilsman Truckers team out of Hamilton, Ohio.  Steele’s entered another tournament later that year at Muncie, Indiana…..

 

1976 - 1983 EARLY STEELE'S SPORTS COMPANY

Rick Hasty - Infield
John Brenner - Infield
Henry McBeth - 1st Base
John Geckle - Infield
Tim Haley - Outfield
Rick Hasty - Infield
Henry McBeth - ist base
Cliff Carpenter-Outfield
     
     
       


1983 Steele's Sports Company Softball Team.

Rick Trudeau - Shortstop
Cliff Carpenter - Outfield
Mike Macenko - Infield
Phil Higgins- Infield,Outfield
Ricky Citino - Outfield
Steve Blanchette- Infield
Jim Bizzell - C, Outfield
Dennis Graser - Infield,Outfield
Denny Helmig- Infield, Outfield
Dave Neale - Infield
Dane Andry - Pitch
Rocky Neale - Infield,Outfield
 

 


1986 STEELE'S SPORTS COMPANY

 
Charles Wright
Mike Macenko
Doug Roberson
Mighty Joe Young
Dennis Graser 1B
Dan Griffin OF
Mike Bolen 3B,!B
Greg Whitlock SS
Kenny "Kong" Loeri
Rick Weiterman
Doc Booker
Henry McBeth
Greg "Bull" Furhman
Scott Virkus
Craig Elliott
Rick Hasty
Rob O"Leath
Coach Okulovich
Coach Tom Pluto
Bat Boy Boo McBeth

 

 
After the great 1990 season that the Steele's Silver Bullets had in early spring we were forced to shut the team down.. It was In 1992 when Dave Neale and Denny Helmig decided to have another softball team.. They knew it was the best way to promote softball especially with Steele's line of softball bats.

1992 - 1997 Steele's Hitmen

Joe Albert - Coach
Steve Craven - Outfield
Scott Virkus-Outfield
Weelbarger - Coach
Kerry Everette - Indield
Mike Macenko - 1b-DH-C
Ernie Montgomery - Anywhere
John Meyers - Infield
KMonty Tucker - Pitch, 1b
Jason McCrae
DShawn Keene - Infiekd - SS
Jacque Millier - Infield
Ken Scobee - Infield
Boney Jeffers - Shortstop
Jim Powers - Outfield
Butch Ovens - Pitcher
Tot Powers - Infield
Randy Kortokrax - Infield
Scott Elliott - Pitch-Outfield
Danny Williams - Outfield-C
Rod Hughes - Outfield
Phil Jobe - Oufield - Pitch
Melvin Malernee - Infield
Derek Oliver - Outfield
Todd Martin - Infield-SS
Doug Burns - Pitcher
Doug Kissane-Outfield
Ed Starcher - Infield,Outfield
     
Silven Little - Catcher
   
       
       

1998 The Final Season For The Men Of Steel

Rod Hughes-Outfield
Jeff Ott - 1st Base
Robb Schleede -Outfield
Lonnie Fox-Outfield
Keith Brockman - Outfield
Lonnie Fox - Outfield
Jeff Ott - 1st Base
Ron Fields - Outfield
   
Dal Beggs - Infield
David Hood - Pitcher-infield
   

 

 

 

 
 
 

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