2022 - Larry Huinker

Our first honorary pitcher is Larry “Whopper” Huinker. We would like to recognize Larry tonight for his countless hours right here at the complex. 

 

Larry had the opportunity to play ball at a young age where he rode his bike 5 miles one way to practice every day. 

 

Starting in the early 70’s, he joined the fast-pitch softball league and continued playing for the next 20 years. 

 

In circa 1983, Larry and a group of other softball players began the fundraising work to build the big field. They raised the funds, got the approval from the city, and physically built the field themselves. Over the years, the field has endured floods and even a tornado in 1985. Each time, you could find Larry and others working to repair any damages. When he wasn’t having to do repairs, you could often find Larry helping to maintain the field by spraying for weeds or using his time over his lunch break to come down and mow the field with his small C Farmall tractor and belly mower.

 

When Larry’s kids, Dustin and Dana, became old enough to play ball, he was asked to coach the 4th grade boys starting in the early 90’s. He would take 20 kids to weekend tournaments where they had enough to make two separate teams. Both teams would often come in 1st and 2nd, and many of those boys went on to play ball in high school and some in college. 

 

Over the last 20 or more years, Larry has volunteered countless hours umpiring behind the plate for youth baseball and softball games on these very fields as well. 

 

Larry’s wife, Marlis, was a part of Central’s State Championship fall softball team in 1969 and helped right along Larry throughout the years. 

 

Larry is a diehard Dodgers fan and our inaugural honorary pitcher to throw out this youth season’s first pitch on the very field that he helped build.