SOFTBALL Davenport inducted to state softball 'Hall`

March 5, 2002
Section: Sports
Matt Lynch, For the Camera

Randy Davenport is a lot like Chico Escuela. Fans of "Saturday Night Live" will remember Escuela, a fictional Cuban shortstop for the Mets who made famous the line, "Baseball been 'berry, 'berry good to me." 

By anyone's definition men's fastpitch softball has been very, very good to Davenport. He's traveled across Europe and America, won a national championship, and tossed his riser past more batters then could fit in a barn. Saturday, Davenport, a Louisville resident, added the distinction of being the youngest player ever inducted into the Colorado Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame to his resume. "I'm quite amazed," said Davenport. "I wasn't expecting it. Generally they look at people who have been out of the game for a long time. At 43, I thought I was too young. At least I hoped I was." After a short pause Davenport added, "It doesn't hurt to have a national championship." Davenport was the star pitcher for the Springer's, a Longmont-Boulder team in the late 1980s and early `90s. They were national champions in 1991, and the only Colorado team ever to win a national tournament in men's fastpitch. "What was really special was that we didn't lose any tournaments that we played in that year (1991)," said Davenport. "That team hardly lost. It was just too good to be true." Davenport is widely regarded as the best pitcher in the state of Colorado over the last 20 years, a four time All-American and a 10 time Most Valuable Pitcher or player in major tournaments. As recently as 1995 Davenport was chosen to participate in the United States Olympic Sports Festival, where the top 48 players in the country compete. Some of his accomplishments read like tall tales of the American West -- 50 innings in a day, back to back no-hitters. He even helped the Oxford Tigers win the British championship in 1979. But if you ask Davenport, he'll say it was his teammates that got him to that level. "We didn't dominate in pitching," a modest Davenport said. "If anything we were a very good defensive squad." From the powerful outfielder John Givens, to the lightning fast Kurt Culver, his team was loaded. "I'm sure I'll be seeing some of them in there (Hall of Fame)," Davenport said. What's the greatest opportunity the game has ever given him? For Davenport the answer is easier than facing the number nine batter with the bases empty -- his wife Patty. Davenport was just a freshman at Northern Arizona University, serving as a pitching coach for the women's softball team. He was just looking for a chance to keep his arm in shape. He ended up marrying the trainer. "Men's fastpitch is kind of a dying sport but the women's sport is growing," said Davenport. He need look no further then his 14-year-old daughter. She started as a freshman at Monarch, and might vie for a starting position on the mound this season. Her true strength lies elsewhere, however. "She looks like more of a hitter," said her father. Davenport still plays the game, and at a high level. He's starting to get his teammates in shape for this year's Boulder City League. The game he loves continues to give back.