Looks Can Be Deceiving So Can A Good Changeup, As Marge Udahl Knows After 30 Years In Game

At first glance, 54-year-old Marge Udahl may seem like an ordinary woman of her age. But at that age, most women are not pitching for a softball team made up of players as young as 18.

Udahl pitches for a B-league modified softball team in Spokane and will throw out the first pitch at this year’s Amateur Softball Association Women’s Major Modified Pitch National Tournament Aug. 25-27 at Franklin Park.

Udahl has played in the Spokane Metro Softball Association for 30 years, and is well known by everyone involved in women’s modified softball.

Fuzzy Buckenberger, Spokane Metro commissioner, approached Udahl at one of her games to ask if she would throw out the first pitch in the 6 p.m. opening ceremony Aug. 25.

“I thought it would be a great reward for someone as highly respected in the modified program,” Buckenberger said.

“I really was at a loss for words,” Udahl said. “I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding!”’

Udahl started playing modified softball in her early 20s, but gray streaks in her hair earned her the nickname “the fossil” from teammates.

Even now, most people think Udahl is much older than she is, partly because her hair is completely gray.

“I’ve had people say to some of my friends, ‘My God, how old is that lady?”’ Udahl said. “I finally started saying, ‘Well, I get senior discounts.”’

Although she began her career playing left field, it wasn’t long before Udahl started pitching. She’s been there ever since.

“I’ve always been fairly consistent,” Udahl said. “I don’t walk very many. I’ve found out over the years that if I can hit the catcher’s glove, and if it’s within a fairly close range, they will usually call it a strike.”

Although Udahl can’t get as much speed on the ball as she used to, she makes up for it with excellent control.

“I caught a line drive right on the shoulder in a tournament and, since then, I haven’t had the speed,” she said.

Udahl usually doesn’t put a lot of spin on the ball, but uses a couple of different changeups in addition to her fastball.

“You’d be surprised how some people can’t come up with it,” Udahl said.

Udahl’s team, Hitchcock Construction, won its league and played in last weekend’s Women’s Metro Tournament.

Hitchcock faced four AA teams, battling for two berths in next weekend’s national tournament. Pyramid was first, Waffles ‘n More second and Kimmel third.

Hitchcock finished fourth, but Udahl said the team could receive an at-large invitation to the national tournament if an out-of-town team can’t attend.

“I just hope we can play in it,” said Udahl, who has never played in a national tournament. “Let’s face it: At my age, there’s not going to be many more opportunities.”

Udahl has four grown sons who are supportive and somewhat amused that their mother continues playing.

“One of them keeps saying, ‘Mom, don’t you think it’s about time you thought about slowing down?”’ Udahl said. “But I enjoy it; I look forward to it every summer.”

According to Udahl, much has changed in modified softball since she started.

“There’s a lot more competition,” she said. “When I started, it was called the Women’s Rec League, which was for housewives that needed an outside activity.”

Ten years ago, Udahl started using a designated hitter so she wouldn’t have to bat anymore.

“I’ve always had a fairly good bat,” Udahl explained, “but I don’t run real well.”

Overall, Udahl has had a successful career, collecting 25 trophies in addition to a special award from the softball association for playing for three decades.

Her proudest moment, however, was when she and another pitcher received the first Gene Kelly Award more than 10 years ago.

“He was a coach and school teacher here in town,” Udahl said. “It was quite a surprise.”

Udahl was pleasantly surprised when Buckenberger told her he was trying to get 56-year-old Dee Carper, Udahl’s catcher from when she started playing, to catch the opening pitch at the nationals.

“We used to have some good times,” Udahl said. “When Dee and I started playing and she was catching for me. If I didn’t strike ‘em out and she didn’t throw ‘em out getting to second base, then we didn’t get ‘em out. That was just the way it was.”

Udahl plans to continue playing “as long as I enjoy it and the health holds out; no major injuries or anything.”

Her husband of 12 years, Jack, supports her and comes to see her games when he’s not working.

“I grumble a little bit, but she’s having a ball with her softball, and she really enjoys it,” he said.

Asked whether she would toss a fastball or one of her changeups for the first pitch, Udahl laughed.

“I don’t know,” she said. “It’s hard to say.”

“It depends on whether Dee can catch it,” Jack added.