Friend Encounters: Sierra Hyland and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

It's no secret how much I love softball. I enjoy women's college or pro softball more than any other sport these days. Still, I am not sure if anyone loves softball more than my Ohio friend Don.

I don't know exactly how far back Don goes with softball, but I know he definitely was a regular at the National Pro Fastpitch Akron Racers games years ago. Unfortunately, the NPF folded, leaving Don and others without pro softball.

Undaunted, Don gets his softball fix driving to college games. He posts so many great pictures on FB. He brings the games to us and I love it. I especially enjoy when he sees NPF alumni at games. Not only is Don a great photographer, he has a keen eye to spot and recognize famous softballers in the stands.

One of the best players Don has met is Sierra Hyland, a former member of the Comets, who played in the last stages of the NPF. Hyland also played for Team Mexico, including the 2021 Olympics. She also played a season for my Chicago Bandits.

In Don's words, " Sporting a Cal Poly tee with Cal Poly alum Sierra Hyland this evening at Avon...Second photo taken by Sashel Palacios." Wow, a picture with an Olympian, taken by another Olympian (and former Bandit, Sashel Palacios). This is typical Don with an awesome picture. 

Sierra Hyland and Don in Avon, OH-July 2019.

Friend Encounters: Tammy Williams and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Covering softball has brought me so many friends. Today I am featuring two of my favorites.

Don Martukovich is a big fan of softball. He logs in many miles attending games and take literally thousands of pictures. He has been kind enough to allow me to use some of his captures in my various coverage.

Earlier this year, his travels brought him to Columbus, Ohio for a double header between Northwestern and Ohio State. During one of the games, he sent me the picture below. I am sooooo envious.

Tammy Williams is one of my all-time favorite players. A star at Northwestern, she went on to play for my beloved National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. The shortstop was a huge fan of MLB Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith and even named her dog after him. Tammy was always a fun interview. It wwas always a pleasure watching her on the field or talking with her around the ballpark.

Unfortunately, the NPF folded, so I haven't seen Tammy in Rosemont in a few years. I did see her at a Northwestern game a couple seasons ago. Tammy still looks like she could put on the spikes.

This picture is bittersweet for me. I am happy to see these friendly faces, but sad I wasn't there in person. Next season, I need to mae a road trip to meet up with Don.

Don Martukovich and Tammy Williams in Columbus, OH-April 2022.

Friend Encounters: Buzz Beaver and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Today's feature is a shocker. Don Martukovich is a huge softball fan and is usually pictured here with Pro and college softball players. Here though, Don is pictured with a hockey mascot.

The Cleveland Lumberjacks were a team in the International Hockey League from 1992-2001. The team disbanded when the IHL ceased operations.

Don met Buzz, the Beaver mascot, at a Cleveland Lumberjacks throwback weekend in 2020. I knew Don loved softball, but look at the joy on his face here. I love this pic. It is pure fun. Who would have thought softball Don would trade his softball jersey for a hockey sweater, even if only temporarily?!

Don is a great guy. I absolutely love all of the pictures he posts on social media. He has also helped me many times with identifying players in pictures I took. I really appreciate Don's photographic work, his keen eye with identification and mostly his kindness over the years.

 Buzz and Don Martukovich in Cleveland, OH-January 2020.

Swag Week: Friend Encounters: Nadia Taylor and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities. Swag Week continues with a Friend Encounters Special Swag Week edition. 

Don Martukovich is another friend I never met. Based in Ohio, Don is a huge softball fan, who attends many games and posts hundreds (thousands?) of pictures of the action and players. I live vicariously through him at these games. I appreciate his pictures, but the players and families appreciate them even more. I occasionally reach out to Don for help in identifying players in my own pictures and Don always is willing to help.

Today, I feature Don with Nadia Taylor and her jersey. I am guessing Don won it in an auction.

Nadia starred at the University of Texas, before turning to National Pro Fastpitch, signing with the Akron Racers as an undrafted free agent in 2014.She played for the Dallas Charge 2016-2017 and then joined the Chicago Bandits.

I wonder how many other jerseys Don has. I would guess a few, but probably many more signed balls. Everyone knows Don. Players are great with signing autographs, but I bet they nejoy signing stuff for him even more, because of all he has done for the players.

With the NPF suspending play in 2020-2021, we are all hopeful for a return in 2022. Akron is gone, but the Cleveloand Comts are an Ohio team I might visit and maybe see Don finally.

Don Martukovich and Nadia Taylor in Akron, OH-August 2014.

Friendly Encounters: Jade Rhodes and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

After starring on the softball diamond at Auburn University, Jade Rhodes went undrafted by the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch). Undaunted, she earned a spot in the league and won a Rawlings Gold Glove for the 2018 season.

Rhodes played 2016-2019 in the NPF. With the last two NPF seasons cancelled, nobody knows what will hold for the league in the future. She has been an instructor in the past. Either way, I am sure Rhodes will continue her softball journey on some level.

Capturing a moment with Rhodes was Don Martukovich, avid softball fan and top notch photographer. I met Don through our mutual interest in softball. Don is known for posting hundreds (thousands?) of pictures on social media. Over the years, he has probably gotten pictures of every NPF player, as well as many collegiate players. Don doesn't take a ton of pictures with the athletes, but occasionally he will appear, as in the picture with Rhodes.

Don is a good guy and has helped me many times by identifying players in pictures I took. I missed a chance to actually meet Don several years ago when I made a road trip to see the Akron Racers. Hopefully, when the NPF returns, we will meet at a Cleveland Comets game. Maybe he will even consider a trip to Rosemont to see the Athletes Unlimited softball league. 

Jade Rhodes and Don Martukovich in Auburn, AL-February 2018.

Friendly Encounters: Angel Bunner and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends who have met celebrities.

In the middle of a long Chicago winter, my thoughts turn to softball. When I think softball, Don Martukovich is one of the many names coming to mind.

Residing in Ohio, I first came across Don because of my connection to the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. Don is somewhat of a Facebook legend because of his photography. While the majority of his pictures were of the NPF Akron Racers, he also posted plenty of pictures of other NPF and collegiate teams.

Unfortunately, the Racers folded a few years back, but Ohio got another team when the Cleveland Comets joined the NPF. The Comets play in several Ohio cities, making it tougher for Don to see as many games, but he still is a regular presence at their games.

Don is a great guy. He is always generous with his pictures, giving them to the players and allowing me to use some fr my various stories. He also has helped identify players for me.

O course, Don has many pictures with softball players over the years. I chose this picture with pitcher Angel Bunner because she has a connection to both of us.

Angel was a star pitcher at Auburn, one of Don's favorite teams, prior to joining the NPF. She eventually joined the Chicago Bandits midway through the 2016 season. She was the winning pitcher, pitching in the first six innings of game 3 of the championship series versus the USSSA Pride. She will always be loved in Bandit Nation because of that.

The 2020 NPF season will see a lot of changes in the schedule format. No matter the teams and schedules, Don will remain a passionate fan, as will I. I even hope to trek out to Ohio for some games.

Check out ChicagoBandits.com, ProFastpitch.com and ClevelandComets.us for more info on the NPF. If you come out to a game, look out for Don in Ohio and me in Rosemont.

Angel Bunner and Don Martukovich in OH-August 2018.