Betty Hart Rowan Bland

Born Aug. 31, 1923 in Tacoma, Betty (Hart Rowan) Bland graduated from Stadium High School in 1941. At the age of 19, Betty started playing fastpitch softball beginning as a rightfielder with Lincoln Electric in 1942. She played a big role in the team winning a state championship in 1945, a feat that the squad duplicated in 1946.

Lincoln Electric won the local league championship before going on to take the state titles under the guidance of coach Bob Huegel. Tony Riconiscuito, owner of Lincoln Electric and brother of team member Marian Ricono, agreed to sponsor the team. Practices and home games were played at Jefferson Playfield and generally drew a good crowd. Road games often meant trips to Seattle, Canada or Bremerton, the latter of which they reached by ferry. Lincoln Electric played 1944 national champion Lind-Pomeroy from Portland and ace pitcher Betty Evans for the right to go to nationals, but the local squad managed just one hit and two total base runners in two games.

The 1946 state tournament championship, played at the Sumner High School athletic field, featured a battle between league rivals Lincoln Electric and Sumner AC “Maids.” The “Electrics” piled up 34 runs in three games to advance to the title contest, while Sumner, in only its second season, lost its opener to Spokane B.O.F. and was forced to win three straight to get a shot at Lincoln Electric. The Maids held down the Electrics in winning the first game, 8-4, but the Electrics regained their offensive prowess with a 15-8 decision in the finale.

A rightfielder by trade, Betty also played for another top club, the Sumner Athletic Club. She didn’t limit her athletic participation to fastpitch, however, also playing city league basketball for Big Six Service Station as well as the Red Streaks and Blue Streaks basketball teams as well.

Betty’s recollections of wearing flannel uniforms for softball and satin shorts and tops for basketball are as vivid as playing basketball games at the Tacoma Armory and baseball games at Jefferson Playfield, where spectators were plentiful in the 1940’s as television had yet to be an option. Road games included teams in Seattle and Canada and an occasional ferry ride to Bremerton since the Narrows Bridge didn’t exist. By 1952, Betty was answering to three children and her glove, cleats and uniform went into retirement.