Schweizer, Ferguson Named to Softball Hall
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Two Southern Illinois men's fastpitch standouts are part of the Illinois Amateur Softball Association's (ASA) Hall-of-Fame class for 2009.
Jeff Ferguson of Marion and Lew Schweizer from Pinckneyville will be formally inducted into the ASA shrine during the annual ASA State Hall-of-Fame banquet April 4 in Decatur.
Fellow fastpitch players Buster Chumbley (Monticello) and Jack Mintun (Decatur) will join Ferguson and Schweizer as new inductees, along with umpire Ron Kramer (Taylor Ridge).
Legendary men's fastpitch teams Bloomington Beer Nuts and Casey Truckers will also go in, joined by the Springfield/Decatur Rockettes women's fastpitch team and Peoria/Pekin Melton Electric Outlaws of girls junior olympic fame.
"The Hall of Fame is the highest honor attainable in the Illinois Amateur Softball Association- the governing body of softball in the state," Illinois State Commissioner Don Brewer of Murphysboro said. "From our area, Jeff Ferguson and Lew Schwiezer are very worthy additions."
Schweizer-a retired administrator in the Pinckneyville school system-played in 1964 and 1965 before returning to play 17 more seasons (1972-1988).
During his career, Schweizer played for Du Quoin Merchants, Pinckneyville Keene Road Builders, Pinckneyville Provarts, Murdale Martin Oliers, Southern Illinois Jakes and the Pinckneyville Celtics.
A designated hitter-outfielder on two ASA state championship winners (Murdale, 1972 and Pinckneyville Celtics, 1981), Schweizer was a three-time all-state pick and hit over .300 eleven different seasons before retiring with 929 hits and a career average of .321.
"Lew was an excellent lefthanded hitter who occasionally could hit the long ball. He hit 16 home runs for the Oilers in 1973 and 18 for the Keene Roadbuilders in 1978. He was very coachable and got along well with all his teammates."
Brewer coached Schwiezer for several seasons with the Oilers, Jakes and Celtics.
One of the state's most feared power hitters, the 6-foot-6 Ferguson began playing for the Urbana Merchants and was part of a state title team there (1967).
A Benton native and basketball player for the University of Illinois, Ferguson joined the Martin Oilers in 1969. He began playing with Whittington and the Belleville Don's before stints with the Oilers and S.I. Jakes. Ferguson also played for Brewer on three master level teams.
From 1969-1975, Ferguson hit .309 with 61 home runs for the Oilers as the team captured three Illinois ASA Class "AA" state titles. In 1973, Ferguson was named MVP of the state after smashing a long-standing tournament home record of five.
"Jeff epitomized the importance of having a good utility player," Brewer said. "With the Oilers, he played every position except pitcher, catcher and shortstop."
A longtime teacher and coach at Herrin High School, Ferguson is retired but continues to serve as a volunteer assistant coach at John A. Logan College. He also coached for several summers in the Southern Express girls junior olympic program.
Ferguson and Schweizer become the 21st and 22nd ASA fastpitch Hall-of-Fame members from Southern Illinois.
The list includes Brewer, Bill Pierson, Clem Quillman, Gary Rosendohl, Jack Herring, Marion Poggas, Gary Endres, Lindell Martie, Rich Spiller, Bob Keith, Kevin Hicks, Gene Dickerson, Jerry Raney, Barrett Rochman, Ray Wise, the late Stu Schmidt, Harrell Lerch , Tim Broy, Rich Tillitt and Terry Linton.