The Eastman Fast Pitch Hall of Fame will welcome five individuals to its hall of fame at the Eastman Ball Park this Saturday, July 4 when they induct these five gentlemen: Ron Hollenberger, Chris Klema, Darryl Martin, Bob Slama and Friends of the Game inductee Greg Russell.
First inductee is Ron Hollenberger. “Ron began his ball playing career in the mid-1950s in Eastman. He developed excellent skills as a catcher at Prairie du Chien High School, from which he graduated from in 1957. During these same years, he played with the Eastman Village Sunday traveling baseball league, as well as several softball teams in the Eastman, Seneca and Prairie du Chien areas until the early 1960s.
He then moved to Kenosha, where he played in a softball league until 1967. At that time, he returned to Prairie du Chien to work at 3M. He then played with the Slama’s Bar team of Eastman as a quality player on both offense and defense until the early 1980s, when he retired from the game.
Ron’s fondest memories are playing with Slama’s Bar and always remembering all the good times he enjoyed at the Eastman Ball Park with his teammates and friends.”
Next up is Chris Klema. According to Chris, “My softball career started like most kids from Eastman. You played little league and then moved into softball. I started out as a catcher playing 18 and under ball and had moderate success but when I turned 18, I switched to playing with the Hy-View Dairy team, where I was their only catcher. I was a good catcher and an average hitter. Over the next seven years they turned me into a much better player. I loved catching but always wanted to pitch, so I switched to the Horseshoe Bar where I had an opportunity to pitch. It started out rough but eventually I got the hang of it.
I pitched for several teams over the years. I was never great, but always very competitive. When I turned 40, I started pitching for Johnson’s One-Stop and have been there since. I’ve played in a few state tournaments and four national tournaments, but nothing compares to pitching on the Fourth of July in Eastman. I love the game but I will miss the people more. I would like to thank my family for their support. I would also like to thank all the players I played with and against for making me a better player and a better person.”
The third inductee is Darryl Martin. Darryl explains his history with the game, “My softball story starts like many around here. Softball was the only game around growing up. We spent our summers at the ballpark hoping a player or two would not make it to the game so we might get a chance to play. As we got older, I got in with Scott Feye, Dave Wall and Lloyd Beers, Jr. We started out as Pintz Construction and made our way through the junior league. Then we became Hilltop and joined the senior league. We won the consolation bracket in the Fourth of July Tournament that first year.
Shortly after that life started happening and I stepped away from softball, but just like deja vu all over again, I ended up getting back together with Scott and Wally and for the better part of 19 years as I finished my career. I played with and against several hall of farmers and I played with or against several of the future nominees. I played with my brothers and also played with and against my sons. I would say my best attribute was that I was consistent.”
Klema continues, “My claim to fame is I pitched during my last 10 years and I won more games in the Fourth of July Tournament than I lost. I also played at a lot of different ballparks, but the length of time I played overall is a testament to Eastman because a lot of those other ballparks are no longer in use. This group I am going in with represents over 60 years of fast pitch softball in Eastman. I don’t think many ballparks in Wisconsin can boast that, which makes this honor even more special.”
The fourth player to be inducted in the class of 2026 is Bob Slama. “Bob played for Slama’s Bar. In the day, Slama’s Bar was known to be one of the best, if not the best, teams in this part of the state. Bob was a sure handed shortstop and leadoff hitter who never swung at the first pitch. He loved playing softball in Eastman and was enjoyed by his teammates. Bob entered the service and was the starting shortstop for the United States Army team at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. After his time in the service, Bob started his career as a lineman for Wisconsin Power and Light with many location moves. He also played for teams in the Mineral Point and Beloit areas. Bob also helped install new poles and lights at the Eastman Ballpark in the mid-1970s.”
Finally, being inducted as a Friend of the Game for 2026 is Greg Russell. According to Greg, “I started playing ball for Horseshoe Tavern at Bush Park when I was 12. They needed the team to fill the league, so a bunch of us young guys from Wauzeka put a team in. A couple years later I got on with Suckow Dairy Implement out of Postville, Iowa and then Lorenz Masonry in Eastman. After a couple years with them, a bunch of us 14 through 18 year olds started Frank’s Market in Eastman. I played with that bunch until I got a job working nights. A couple years went by and I was back working days so I was asked to play with the Timber Lanes team out of Prairie du Chien. When the Timber Lanes team broke up, me and some of the players brought back the Horseshoe Tavern ball team. We played for five years or so, as by then we were getting older, raising kids and coaching little league, which took a lot of our free time so I gave it up. It was great while it lasted. I miss all the people that used to be around the ballparks that I knew and played with. It was an awesome time of life but I don’t miss the umpiring though, haha.”
“I kept helping around at many parks with repairs and donating as much as I could. RTI, a company I’m part owner of, donated the batting cage at the Eastman Ball Park as well as the bathroom doors and partition for the new concession stand, amongst other donations too numerous to recall. I was an owner of Wolf Machine which also donated a lot over the years. My wife and I ran the beer stand on the Fourth of July for over 20 years while also working it for many years before that. It was all a great experience. I still get to see a lot of old friends on the Fourth of July, which is great.”
The 2026 Eastman Fast Pitch Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place this Saturday, July 4 at the Eastman Ball Park between fast pitch games at approximately 4 p.m.
