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Message: [QUOTE="AZHuskiePop, post: 4264926, member: 1609"] Since she was pretty much a hero of mine I will relay a few of my favorites stories I got to know a number of guys from Waterbury in college who grew up with her and here brother Apparently all the Boys in LL knew even at 12 she was the best pitcher in the city.As she had played sandlot like kids all over the country did in those days. . LL was pretty new and she wasn’t allowed to play. The Boys on the Waterbury all-star team hatched a plot where she would pretend to be her brother . They swore she would have pitched them to Williamsport. I was a BB junkie /gym rat. Who would go to any interesting game nearby.bum a ride hitchhike or walk if I had to. As luck would have it The Ansonia Norwood AC and the Milford Chiefs developed a rivalry that escalated as outside the area ringers were brought in . The Ansonia team brought in two former All American giants who were banned from the NBA and rumor had it Wilt Chamberlin who was in a contract dispute was going to be added to the Chiefs lineup. He didn’t show. We were all surprised the preliminary game was between two women’s semi pro teams. The local team was lead by Joan Joyce who even then as teenager already was a star in softball. I can tell you she had a great handle saw the court well and had a pretty 18 -20 ft legitimate jump shot and scored 27 points in a win as well as hitting teammates with crisp passes. She would be starting for any team in the NCAA . Think Diana Taurasi good . She was born at the wrong time for women’s BB What she was born at the right time for is the heyday of fast pitch softball and living near Stratford Ct it’s epicenter . Where she became a living legend. We all know her great career . My final story pertains to an event that took place long after she retired while she was coaching . The US Women‘s Olympic team was putting on an exhibition close by. That team had gotten extensive television coverage and were idols to her young players. As a treat she took her team. When they got there it wasn’t just her kids that were gushing with excitement as much as it was the veteran US Olympic team’s excitement at the prospect of meeting the legendary Joan Joyce. Her players knew she was good ,but she was coach to them , they we amazed at the reaction. RIP Joanie one of my boyhood idols [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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