Snowbirds from Washington Visit NHPA/NHPF Hall of Fame

by Rich Altis

On their way to warmer climate in the south, Darrel and Lorraine Koistinen of Washington stopped by the facility on Wednesday, February 22.  Darrel pitches with the Skagit Valley Horseshoe Club.

Darrel won the NHPF raffle at the 2016 World Tournament in Montgomery AL. They used that money to purchase some of the seven bricks that he has bought for family and friends.  They were anxious to see those bricks that they had purchased in the Dr. Freeman’s Brick Memorial Walkway. They were also interested in finding bricks that other pitchers had bought from the state of Washington, in particular Russ Phillips, Barry Chapelle and Phyllis Quist.  As they found Barry’s brick, Rich informed him that he was a brother to Vicki Winston who was the only 10 X Women’s World Champion and 20 X Missouri State Champion. 

After they spent about forty minutes going through the Hall of Fame Museum they left, as it was time for them to check into their hotel.  As today was a Wednesday I told them we would be open until about 11pm, as the Wednesday Night Men’s League would be pitching.   Darrel said they would return to watch the players pitch.  When they returned Darrel had two American Flags on standards and gave them to the club for usage, in which we were most grateful.

I enjoyed showing the Koistinen's around the facility and found that we had several things in common.  We were in the Army, both of us in the Medical Core and we were both stationed Germany.

J-Net’s notes. . . . .When Phyllis Quist was here for the Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in May, she reported to me, that the Koistinen’s said the visit to the HOF facility was the highlight of their trip. Rich was an outstanding host and they learned many things while visiting.  So maybe some of you will be passing through Missouri sometime and would like to stop by for a visit.  Just call J-Net Claas at 636-734-9095 for more information.  We’ll leave the light on for you.