by Carroll Lee Ashburn
The Texacos’ “big three” pitching staff of 1970’s state champions included John Rice, Leonard Rock and James Ashburn.
The Texacos won the state title in Richmond, despite a challenging schedule that included games with Washington, Baltimore, Richmond, Hampton, local teams, and Reading, Pa.—the 1969 national champs. The Texacos completed the season with a 38-15 record.
Among season highlights, there was a 14-inning come-from-behind win, a 1-0 victory against a Navy team at Yorktown without the benefit of a hit, and a perfect game pitched by Ashburn.
The Texacos, a men’s fast-pitch softball team, won over 500 games from 1957 to 1972.
Carroll Lee Ashburn is the author of Tales of the Legendary Texacos, coach and founder of the Texacos, president of the Kilmarnock Museum and lifelong community promoter.
