Illinois ASA Hall of Fame 2010

Lyle Day Manager Sponsor Accepting for the Bloomington Lady Hearts

Bloomington Lady Hearts Softball Club - Bloomington

In 1986 The Bloomington Lady Hearts were formed and for the next twenty-four years this softball club has captured numerous Illinois ASA State Titles and ASA Regional Championships.

The Lady Hearts have also finished in fifth place at the ASA National tournament twice. The ball club has traveled to New Zealand to play softball on three separate occasions and hosted the New Zealand national women's team in Bloomington. They have also hosted the Netherlands national women's team and participated in four Canadian Cup Tournament Series. Japan's National Women's team once sent a bus from their Indiana training base just to have the opportunity to play the Lady Hearts.

In total the lady Hearts have been the opponent of Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Italy, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Taipei, the Philippines, China, Argentina, Sweden and, of course, the USA National Women's Softball Teams.
The US Olympic Women's Softball Team has participated in four Olympics and the Lady Hearts are one or only two teams that have played against the US National squad in preparation for all four Olympic Tournaments.

2000 Olympic Gold medallist Christy Ambrosi played for the Lady Hearts in 1998. And 2 time Gold medallist Michele Smith has been here 3 different times to lead youth clinics sponsored by the Lady Hearts. Michele was also one of the ESPN announcers for the 2008 Hearts-USA game.
The Bloomington Pantagraph wrote, "The Lady Hearts are known, not only for their softball talent and success, but for several items they stand for: sportsmanship, friendliness with the fans, the opposing teams and the umpires and hard but fair play. They make the game fun. Many of the youth players from the area attend Lady Hearts games so being a good role model to the kids is important to them. As one reporter put it, 'The Lady Hearts will make you proud'."

ASA Regional Director Carey Frey spoke on behalf of the Bloomington Lady Hearts by saying, "I have had the privilege of working with the Lady Hearts for over twenty years and I know how much they deserve this award." Frey went on to say, "It is the character and the team that has earned them respect from players coaches and fans from across the country."

Frey went on to red a note sent by US Olympian Michele Smith that said, "During my career I had the pleasure to complete against many great teams. When I make a statement like that most people think I am referring to the skills and abilities on the team on the field and the Lady Hearts were one of those talented teams. But when I use the wording 'great team' I am talking about the people and the character of the organization. The Lady Hearts are a class act from top to bottom."

The Lady Hearts manager / sponsor Lyle Day accepted for the ball club by saying, "First of all I'd like to thank the ASA for this honor." Day went on to ask the families of his players to stand and be recognized by the audience Day spoke about the travels of his team playing against sixteen teams from foreign countries. Day thanked his players from the first Lady Hearts Team from 1985 for getting this program started and he also made special mention of his long time coaching partners thanking them for all that they have done for the team over the years,

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