RSA: When you started coaching the Cardot/Madalena, Empire/Monroe team, you were still
playing and in fact, kept playing for a few years after. How hard was it to do both well?
Rick: I was a player coach for years when I was younger, so I have been doing two roles
for a long time. The key is to have help. My brothers helped me when I was young
along with Wayne Pratt. As a senior player I had my wife, Laurie, help with scorekeeping
and Curt Kirchmaier helping with other things.
RSA: What did it feel like to win the SSUSAS championship?
Rick: Winning the SSUSA 60 major championship in Las Vegas was about the most fun you can
have playing a team sport. We beat a field of 32 teams from all over the country to
win the tournament. It was truly a great team effort with everyone making significant
contributions. The one word to describe it would be WOOOOOOOOO!
RSA: You have been one of the better players in your age group in Rochester when you got
hurt. What was it like being around the game and not being able to play?
Rick: It is fun being around the game and the players and it’s still fun when we play
well. That being said, it was a lot more fun when I was playing and contributing.
RSA: As a manager you’ve had to make some hard decisions over the years. What’s the toughest
decision you’ve had to make? And what decision would you take back given the?
Rick: The toughest decisions were when we had to let someone go or reduce their playing
time. Our teams have always been full of friends and great people which made it all more difficult.
Nothing comes to mind about taking any decisions back.
RSA: Where do you see Rochester Softball in 10 years?
Rick: I feel like our era of softball was the heyday of slow pitch softball. There will
always be great teams coming out of Rochester. It’s a great place for softball. Our era, however,
had so many great players and great teams that I don’t think it will ever be match.
