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ORIGINAL ARTICLEÂ by Bob Otto
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SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Ron “Doc†Simmons of Broken Bow, Neb. sponsored, managed and coached a men’s fastpitch team for over 50 years.
He led his Broken Bow, Neb. Travelers and collaborative teams to six ISC World Championships, and his teams competed in 11 title games since he began competing in the ISC World Tournament in the early 1980s.
He formed his first team in Broken Bow (pop. 3,100) in 1971, and along with his ISC titles, won 21 state ASA championships and two ASA Major National Championships. Simmons was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame in 2013
During the 1999 ISC World Tournament in Sioux, City, Iowa, the Travelers finished runner-up to the Farm Tavern of Madison, Wisc., losing 4-2 in the championship, and it seemed that the whole town of Broken Bow came out to support their team. Photo By BOB OTTO
The 1999 Broken Bow team
Keith Clark (scorekeeper), Tommy Kempp, Mark Sorenson, Kyle Simmons, David Frank, Doug Kozney, Gerald Muizelaar, Mike Piechnik, Thomas Makea, Brad Hoffman, Aaron Blenderman, Steve Kooser (coach), Mike Schwieger, Jarrad Martin, Casey Moeller, Cliff Wisdom, Mat Moeller, Jim Holm, Joe Morales, and Ron “Doc†Simmons, manager.
Mike Piechnik of Canada helped the Broken Bow Travelers to the runner-up spot in the 1999 ISC World Tournament. Now retired, Piechnik has been inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame and the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame.Photo By BOB OTTO Several players had outstanding tournaments and were named to the All-World team
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FIRST TEAM
SECOND TEAM
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