Montana Hall of Fame
Gary Evans District 8
Class of 2023 Montana HOF
Gary Evans was an integral part of a strong fast pitch community in Havre and across
the state. His career spans many years and multiple teams. Mr. Evans is one of the best
pitchers to ever put his toe to the pitching rubber in the state of Montana. In addition to
his outstanding playing days he has been one of the greatest ambassadors of the game
of softball in Montana. In the sport of men's fast pitch Gary's peers were not aware of
any more highly decorated player when it came to team championships and individual
accomplishments. In his career he amassed double-digit state championships in five
different decades as well as multiple regional tournament appearances and an
appearance in the NAFA national tournament in 2017. Multiple times at regional
tournaments he was named All-American and was constantly in the running for the
MVP. Gary Evans was the premier pitcher in the state of Montana from the mid 80’s to
late 90s all the way to when he retired in 2021. No pitcher has more wins or no-hitters or
championships then him in that time span. Gary withstood the test of time competing all
the way to the age of 59. Gary left it all on the field and his accomplishments speak for
themselves.
Hi Ho Bud Inducted into Montana State Softball Hall of Fame July 22,2023
Crane
Klemencic/Twi-Lite Drive-In/KMON
Inducted into
Montana Softball Hall of Fame.
It is not too often that
you can celebrate slow pitch softball “the way it used to be
played.” That is what happened when the
Crane Klemencic/Twi-Lite/KMON men’s slow pitch team was inducted
into the Montana Softball Hall of Fame.
The Great Falls team captured four state championships in five years
in the Open Division. In 1964, they won their first title,
then lost out to a Miles City team in 1965 for the state
championship. They came roaring back the next three
years: 1966, 1967 and 1968. The team traveled to Parma, Ohio in 1966
to play in the Open Slow Pitch World Softball Tournament.
They won their first game over Oklahoma State 20-5, but then fell
7-4 and 10-9. The team represented Montana well and five days
later the winning pitcher was back for his wedding. They made their
mark on the sport.
Congratulations and may the “glorydays” be remembered!
Montana Hall of Fame List
(Updated December 2021)
USA Softball National Softball Hall of Fame