Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame
Ashland County Sports
Hall of Fame
 
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Class of 1996
'Dan Bowersox
'Charles Chuck
''Campbell *
'Dave Crecelius
'Jim Diffendorfer
'Randy Fierbaugh
'Larry Hastings
'Jim Reynolds, Jr.
'Tim Richmond *
'Tammy Eisel Shaw
'Dr. Mel Woelfling *
''( Deceased * )
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Selection Committee
'George Valentine ,
'''Chairman

'Gaylord Meininger
'Marvin Sprang
'Wayne Dessenberg
'Ron Marquette
'Tom Herron
'Don Sprang


 

Larry Hastings

Larry Hastings

In high school, other coaches called him “little Larry’ and basketball coach Dan Baker called him “hard nose.” Larry Hastings didn’t like to lose.

Larry attended Red Haw one-room school through the sixth grade and then went to Chester School and on to Northwestern High School. At the age seven, he started playing hot stove baseball. In high school, Larry lettered in baseball and basketball (1954-57). In his senior year, he averaged 15 points and was selected by his teammates as the most valuable player. He was voted all-county guard and he held the foul shooting record of 71% for two years.

In baseball, he was billed as “a good hitter and fielder par excellence.” While playing shortstop or third base, he had batting average of .475; his team had a record of 103-10.

In over 30 years of softball, Larry’s lifetime batting average was .350. His softball career began when he player for the New Pittsburg Merchants. He then played for Faultless Rubber, Wooster Shearers, Jeromesville and Myers fast-pitch teams.

Larry’s love of sports and especially softball led him to build Oiler Field in Red Haw. One of the greatest thrills was when the Oilers qualified for the National Tournament in Sacramento. He managed the team to two more national tournaments. After playing and managing the Oiler for 20 years, he still continues to run the field and helps out where needed in managing and sponsoring the team. A second field was built this past summer to help in promoting the sport of softball in Ashland County.

After high school, Larry became a farmer in the Red Haw are. He and his wife, Karen, have three sons: Ken (wife Sarah), Rob (wife Molly), and Dan There are also five grandchildren: Stacy, Ben, Jillian, Brice, and Addie.

“Two coaches that had the most influence and guidance in my sports career are Roy Bates and the late Dave Jones,” stated Larry.

Nominator: Dean Chance



 
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