Remember when the bases were 45 feet apart, the pitcher fired a 12-inch ball from 35 feet away, and 10 men played in the field?&t;!–key-highlights–&t;.

Saturday, July 28, 2001

Remember when the bases were 45 feet apart, the pitcher fired a 12-inch ball from 35 feet away, and 10 men played in the field?

Bill Hanson does.

The year was 1927 or ’28. Hanson, 90, isn’t sure. But he remembers the game, as a 16-year-old catcher playing with men. He was known not only for his rifle arm but as one of the league’s top hitters.

&uot;There were no home run fences, and I was a line drive hitter,&uot; said Hanson. &uot;If it was in the gap or down the base line, that was a home run.&uot;

Hanson hit a home run of sorts Friday night. He was one of six men inducted into the Freeborn County Fast-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame during the 35th annual banquet at the Albert Lea Union Center.

Joining Hanson in the class of 2001 are Ron Bergstrom, Bob Berthelsen, Donn Drommerhausen, George Morley and Odean Vangen.

Here’s a brief profile of each inductee:

* Bill Hanson – Hanson, who still lives in Albert Lea, played the longest of the inductees with a fast-pitch career that spanned 37 years and ended at age 53. He started playing for Manchester but later was part of the &uot;Coyotes,&uot; which Hanson called the best team he ever played for.

&uot;We won the league in 1932,&uot; said Hanson. &uot;We cleaned up everything. Irvin ‘Cabby’ Olson was our pitcher.&uot;

Hanson, who received a long ovation when presented his hall of fame trophy and plaque, said he felt truly honored.

&uot;I think it’s just great to be able to get into the hall of fame,&uot; said Hanson. &uot;I really appreciate it. I enjoyed the game, I really did.&uot;

* Ron Bergstrom – A hard-throwing pitcher, Bergstrom played for Geneva teams for about 20 years and was a key in winning back-to-back state championships in 1984 and ’85.

Said Bergstrom, &uot;I always had some pretty good teams behind me.&uot;

For Bergstrom, the 1984 state tournament stands out.

&uot;In the first game, nothing went right and I was pulled,&uot; said Bergstrom. &uot;But we got things turned around and won the state championship.&uot;

Bergstrom, 52, lives in Austin and was Austin High School’s head softball coach for four years; he still works with the pitchers.

&uot;It’s a real humbling experience,&uot; said Bergstrom of his hall of fame induction. &uot;You can’t help but appreciate the work they put into it.&uot;

* Bob Berthelsen – For about 15 years, Berthelsen was the catcher for the esteemed Trinity Lutheran team that won three consecutive league titles ending in 1957.

&uot;I caught the infamous Cliff Petersen,&uot; said Berthelsen. &uot;When he wore out, then it was his son Larry. Whew – they were fast. We had good teams.&uot;

And good competition.

&uot;St. Theodore’s, Grace, First Lutheran, we were always after each other,&uot; said Berthelsen. &uot;It was a great time to be part of that league.&uot;

And how does it feel to be part of the hall of fame?

&uot;I think it’s an honor to belong,&uot; said Berthelsen. &uot;It’s something you share with a lot of people.&uot;

* Donn Drommerhausen – A 1951 Albert Lea High School graduate, Drommerhausen was the shortstop for the Trades & Labor team from 1967 to ’73.

&uot;We won the league title and went to state almost every year,&uot; said Drommerhausen. &uot;I think almost every member of the team I played on is in the hall of fame.&uot;

Drommerhausen, whose father Donald was a 1977 hall of fame inductee, also played for First Lutheran in the Church League.

What stands out for the 51-year-old Drommerhausen is the fellowship.

&uot;Just the camaraderie,&uot; he said. &uot;One highlight was playing with some of the people my dad played with; that was a real thrill for me.&uot;

Drommerhausen went on to make a name for himself as a 28-year assistant football coach at state powerhouse Stillwater, receiving the Butch Nash Award as the top assistant in the state.

&uot;I’ve been away for 28 years,&uot; said Drommerhausen. &uot;It’s just an honor that people remembered me. It speaks highly of Albert Lea and the people I played with.&uot;

* George Morley – An Albert Lean for all but four of his 75 years, Morley started playing fast-pitch in 1946 and, starting in 1951, played shortstop for nine years for American Gas and Trinity Lutheran.

&uot;I just had a lot of fun,&uot; said Morley. &uot;I enjoyed it. Everyone was good sports all the time.

&uot;I remember our pitcher, Cliff Petersen, he never wore a glove. How about that?&uot;

And how does he feel about joining the hall of fame?

Said Morley, &uot;I like it.&uot;

* Odean Vangen – An Ellendale resident, the 64-year-old Vangen was recognized mainly for his contributions as a coach for Geneva teams.

His playing career began with the Thompson Grocery team and included stints with the Kath Bros. and A & P Bar.

A first baseman, Vangen was known for a good glove and a head for the game.

&uot;He was a great promoter in Geneva,&uot; said 1981 hall of fame inductee Hank Thompson. &uot;He lined up all the ballgames, went all over the U.S. for tournaments.&uot;