
BETH BELLEVILLE - INDUCTED 2006
BETH CREDITS HER INTRODUCTION TO SOFTBALL TO HER FATHER, WHO COACHED HER ON HER
FIRST TEAM AS A 6TH GRADER. FROM THAT
POINT ON, SOFTBALL BECAME HER PASSION AND JOY IN LIFE. IN RECOUNTING HER
HISTORY, ONE CAN VISIBLY SEE THE GOOD THOUGHTS
AND FEELINGS ON HER FACE AS SHE FONDLY TALKS ABOUT HER SOFTBALL CAREER. FOR HER,
THE GREATEST JOY IN LOOKING BACK IS
REMEMBERING ALL OF THE LIFELONG FRIENDS SHE HAS MADE THROUGH THIS GREAT SPORT.
BETH CONTINUED COMPETING AFTER GRADUATION FROM WMU. SHE SHE PLAYED FOR A NUMBER
OF TEAMS IN THE SLOW PITCH "A" LEAGUE,
THE KALAMAZOO AREA WOMEN'S LEAGUE AND ALSO COMPETED IN THE CO-ED PROGRAM. THE
DETROIT AREA SHE PLAYED FOR THE RAIDERS,
HAWKS AND CANTON AND WON THE WOMEN'S WORLD SERIES IN 1989.
BETH HAS BEEN TEACHING IN THE KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 1986. IN THE
ATHLETIC ARENA, SHE WORKED AT WMU AS A PITCHING
COACH. SHE BECAME HEAD SOFTBALL COACH FOR KALAMAZOO CENTRAL HIGH 5 YEARS. BETH
DOES NOT COMPETE ANYMORE, BUT HER LOVE
FOR THE SPORT HAS NEVER DIED.
WHEN ASKED TO REFLECT ON HER SOFTBALL CAREER SHE SAYS, "IT WASN'T MY STATS
DURING MY CAREER OR OUR TEAMS' WIN/LOSS RECORDS
THAT I REMEMBER OR EVEN WANT TO REFLECT ON. RATHER, THE THING THAT I'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER WERE THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE I MET
ALONG THE WAY AND THE JOY OF JUST PLAYING A GAME THAT I WAS TOTALLY IN LOVE
WITH."