ASHLAND —
Fast-pitch softball is part of Adam Lalonde’s DNA.
The 13-year veteran of Team USA Softball Men’s National Team, who lives in Ashland with wife Chrissy and sons Tyson and Coalton, grew up watching and playing the game in Cheboygan, Mich., where his father, Michael Lalonde, was a fast-pitch star in town.
“My dad played it and I was always around it,” Adam said. “I played Little League (baseball) then Senior League. That’s about the time when I started getting involved.”
Lalonde played fast-pitch and baseball through high school and went on to play college baseball at Central Michigan University. His hitting coach at CMU, Tom Tresh, convinced him to play fast-pitch softball during the summer so, “that’s what I did. It really helped me.”
Lalonde, a shortstop in college, wasn’t drafted but did sign to play professional baseball in Australia for two years.
Eventually, though, fast-pitch softball kept calling him. He was playing on one of his father’s open-level fast-pitch teams when he was invited to a tryout for Team USA. He made an immediate impression with his bat and speed in 1999.
Lalonde has been a fixture on the team ever since.
He has been a first-team ASA All-American while playing for the Midland Explorers and the Tampa Bay Smokers. His softball teams have allowed him to travel the globe internationally.
On Saturday he left for New Zealand as Team USA competes in the world fast-pitch softball championships — the World Series of the sport. The tournament will be March 1-10.
Lalonde, who is the team captain, plays center field and bats leadoff. He hopes one day men’s fast-pitch softball will be welcomed to the Olympics. It has been accepted to the 2015 Pan Am Games which, Lalonde said, is a step in the right direction.
He is not sure if his playing days will be over by the time the sport becomes part of the Olympics. Lalonde is 37 but only recently suffered his first major injury setback. He returned from a four-day trip in Florida where on the first at-bat of a tournament he had a partial shoulder separation.
“God bless (Dr.) Terry Meredith,” he said of the local chiropractor. “He has worked on me every single day up to today. I’m so thankful for him and his staff. They have me back at 100 percent.”
Lalonde say it takes great reflexes and concentration to excel at fast-pitch softball. The pitchers are throwing from 46 feet at average speeds of 80 mph. The fastest thrower, who is from Australia, checks in at 89 mph. That is the equivalent of a major league pitcher throwing 116 mph.
“To be honest with you, it’s one of those things that once you’ve done it so many times you get adjusted to it,” he said. “One of the biggest things we pride ourselves on is being able to pick pitchers. As they rock back and throw ball, you can see the grip and know if it’s a rise ball, dropball or changeup.”
Lalonde can still hit as any of the many athletes in the area can attest. He teaches softball lessons at Championship Fastpitch, including team lessons. He has worked with the four-time defending 16th Region champion Ashland Kittens for four years. But his clients include many players from the entire Tri-State area.
“I know they look up to me, where I’ve been, what I’ve done,” he said. “My biggest supporter in this whole thing is my wife and family, staying behind me on this and letting me tackle my 37-year-old dream.”
Boyd County Sheriff Terry Keelin will accompany Lalonde on the trip to New Zealand. Chrissy, who is a personal trainer, is the daughter of Kathy Keelin, Terry’s wife.
“(Player) Expenses are paid for but the family expenses, unfortunately, are not,” he said. “Our wives aren’t real happy with us. They’re stuck home taking care of my two wonderful sons. They’ll have to watch it on ESPN.”
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648
Local Sports
Patriotic Pitch
Lalonde stars for Team USA fast-pitch softball
- Local Sports
-
-
62nd District Softball: East playing second fiddle no longer
East Carter’s Morgan Jacobs fired a pitch across the plate for strike three in the bottom of the seventh inning and jumped into the arms of first baseman Montana Fouts.
-
Salow Show: Ashland ace halts Boyd’s district streak
What’s the encore for a perfect game?
-
62nd District baseball: Staton strives after storm
East Carter’s Conner Staton hasn’t lost a 62nd District in his high school career. As a senior, he wasn’t going to let that change.
-
63rd District baseball: Greenup County outduels Lewis, 7-3
Lightning delayed the 63rd District Tournament championship game several times following the first inning on Tuesday, creating a late night for Greenup County and Lewis County.
-
Boyd’s Fraley commits to Herd
Boyd County sophomore basketball player Logan Fraley has announced her commitment to Marshall University.
The 5-foot-11 shooting guard informed Marshall women’s coach Matt Daniel of her decision on Monday morning, which was confirmed by Boyd County coach/father Pete Fraley via text message. -
63rd softball: Greenup leans on bunting, baserunning; Russell wins
Immersed in another district contest with little breathing room, Greenup County softball coach Eric Keeton resorted to the strengths of his lineup: bunting and baserunning.
Two bunts and a swinging bunt helped the Lady Musketeers scratch across three runs in the fifth inning of a 6-2 victory over Raceland in the 63rd District Tournament opening round on Monday night at Russell High School. Top-seeded Russell defeated Lewis County, also 6-2, earlier in the evening. -
Boyd pounds out 11 hits to go along with Grimm’s shutout, 14-0
Robbie Shivel might be a little sore after Monday night, but it was Fairview that left the game battered and bruised.
Boyd County belted out 11 hits to go along with Dylan Grimm's complete-game gem as the Lions roared past Fairview, 14-0, in the opening round of the 64th District Tournament at Ashland's Alumni Field. The game lasted five innings. -
Different look, same results for Lady Lions
A longtime fixture in the 64th District softball championship game, Boyd County looked different this return trip.
The Lady Lions defeated Fairview 10-5 in Monday’s district semifinal, which doubled as an Autism Awareness Night. Boyd County players wore light blue shirts and colorful, jigsaw puzzle socks for the event, which had to be rescheduled more than once due to weather problems. -
Musketeers explode in final 2 innings to beat Raceland; good times continue for Lewis
Through the first four innings of its 63rd District Tournament opener, Greenup County found itself hitless. The Musketeers made up for it over the next two innings.
Greenup County scored eight runs on eight hits in the final two innings to defeat Raceland, 9-1, at Russell High School on Monday. -
The will to win
Opponents get the same look from Emily Stewart whether it’s softball, basketball or soccer season.
Steely eyed and lips pursed, the Boyd County senior is keenly focused and all business between the lines. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
62nd District Softball: East playing second fiddle no longer
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
