Category Archives: Sports and recreation

Mary Lou “Smokey” Schneider (1928–2015) was born and raised in Jacksonville, where she developed a passion for fast-pitch softball at an early age. She played for several teams over her career, including the Springfield Merchanettes and the City Water, Light … Continue reading →

Bernice “Dutch” Renken (1932-2022), born on a farm outside of Pleasant Plains, joined the powerhouse Madison Furniture Co. women’s softball team in 1950. Madison Furniture dropped its sponsorship in 1951, but the team, including Renken, remained together as the Californian … Continue reading →

Betty Wanless Decker (1928-1995)  got her start playing softball with the Trinity Lutheran and the Madison Furniture Co. women’s softball teams while still attending Lanphier High School. After graduation, she joined the Caterpillar Dieselettes in Peoria; from 1949 to 1952, … Continue reading →

Eleanor “Rudy” Rudolph (1928-2022), the daughter of Giuseppe and Chiara Rodolfi of Springfield’s Devereux Heights neighborhood, played one season for Springfield’s Madison Furniture Co. softball team and then joined the famed Caterpillar Dieselettes of Peoria. Rudolph, a catcher and sometime … Continue reading →

Rose Folder Powell (1926-2014) was born in Auburn and grew up in Springfield, where she graduated from Feitshans High School in 1944. Folder was still in high school when she began pitching for some of Springfield’s top women’s softball teams, … Continue reading →

Ruth “Gabby” DeFrates Miller (1917-1996) was a freshman at Jacksonville High School when she began playing  high-level softball throughout central Illinois. Over the years, she played for Jacksonville, Springfield’s Madison Furniture Co., the Springfield Merchanettes, and the Californian Packing Co. … Continue reading →

Some of the best women athletes in Springfield history drew throngs to the Iles Park softball diamond in the 1940s. Madison Furniture Co. sponsored men’s teams in multiple sports, but its women’s softball team – fast-pitch, of course – was … Continue reading →

Helen Westerman Austin (1926-2006) graduated from Feitshans High School and grew up playing softball with the Springfield Merchants and the Madison Furniture Co. women’s softball teams. Westerman was a shortstop and catcher. Westerman and her Madison Furniture teammate, Janice “Jerry” … Continue reading →

Janice “Jerry” O’Hara (1918-2001), a talented athlete who excelled in basketball and softball, was born in Beardstown and graduated from Springfield High School in 1937. O’Hara was a mainstay of several of Springfield’s top softball teams in the 1930s and … Continue reading →