Dunkirk Evening Observer

WNY Softball Hall of Fame Adds Till, Tworek, First Ward Falcons

The Western New York Softball Hall of Fame will formally open its doors to two local players and a local sponsor Friday evening at its annual induction ceremonies in North Tonawanda.

Recently selected to the WNY softball shrine from the Lake Shore Chapter in the player category were Robert “Sookie” Tworek and Dale Till, and in the sponsor category, the First Ward Falcon Club.

As a hard-hitting first baseman for 23 years (1967-1989), Dale Till played on 26 league championship fast-pitch softball teams – 15 in Dunkirk and 9 in Fredonia.

The left-handed slugger performed for Aldrich Dairy, Chautauqua Truck, Acquavia Post and BFI in the Dunkirk A League, for Aldrich Dairy and 3-D in Fredonia, and with the title-winning Castle team in the Brocton League and the First Ward Falcn Club team n the Gowanda League.

Till, who retired as a teacher from Cassadaga Valley Central School this year, is the head baseball coach at Fredonia State.

He played on six fast-pitch tourney championship teams, winning two titles in the Dunkirk Recreation event, and one apiece in the First Ward Falcon Club, Brocton, Eden Corn Festival tournaments and the Metro Buffalo Qualifier. Among Till's numerous second-place team finishes were stops at the First Ward Falcon Club, Erie, Meadville, Lackawanna and Olean tourneys.

A perennial .300-plus hitter in both league and tourney play, Till was often among the league leaders. When official Dunkirk A League stats were kept, he batted .415 in 1967, .315 in 1968, .477 in 1969, .458 in 1970, .351 in 1971, .485 in 1973, .454 in 1974, .340 in 1975 and .390 in 1976.

Till was named Dunkirk A League Most Valuable Player in 1970, and Fredonia MVP in 1969 when he batted .490. He earned batting titles in 1971 (Fredonia .529) and 1975 (Dunkirk .340).

He hit .500 with the First Ward Falcons in winning the Buffalo Metro Qualifier and the right to play in the 1992 Eastern Regionals, and regularly hit over .300 in fast-pitch tourney play.

A player-manager with at least 15 local championship teams, Till was an outstanding clutch hitter and a especially tough out. He struck out only three times in more than 120 league ad tourney at-bats in 1976.

Till was inducted into Fredonia State's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988 for his baseball accomplishments in the 1950s.


The additional financial assistance of the community is critical to the success of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.
We gratefully acknowledge these individuals and organizations for their generous support.