Christan Dowling has passed away unexpectedly

Christan Dowling one of the greatest offensive forces in women's slowpitch history passed away unexpectedly.

Here is an interview she filled out from 2013.

Christan Dowling

USSSA Playing History

Christan Dowling put on a display of power at the 2012 USSSA Major home run derby and hit two balls 400 feet! 

2013 Interview

Why do you like the game of softball?
 *The camaraderie, competition, and travel – I have played against the best in the world, met the coolest people around the world, and I get my competitive fix.

Tell us a little bit about the women's upper level game in the past and today?
 *Softball has changed quite a bit from the past compared with the sport today.  No different than the men's game, the balls were harder, the fences shorter, and there were 10x the amount of teams in a tournament.  I think when composites came along; the game started a slow decline.  The beauty of today's game is that the people who are playing really want to be there.  I think we are finally starting to see an increase in fastpitch players coming over to slowpitch.

What are the best women's tournaments to attend?
 *BSC Southeast Shootout in Columbus, GA
 *The Kiracoffe in Kalamazoo, MI (longest consecutively running in country)
 *The Fireman's in Bloomington, MN (longest overall year running in country)
 *The McQuade in Bismark, ND (largest overall tournament in North America)
 *The PIF in Sherbrook, Quebec (Fireworks every night)
 *Bud-Fest in College Station, TX
 *USSSA Worlds at Disney
 *ASA Words in Oklahoma City, OK

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
 *Best hitter: Sirene Johnson
 *Best Infielder: Stacy Symonds
 *Best Outfielder: Ruby Nugent
 *Best All-Around: Mary Hoff

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
 *There is so much fastpitch talent coming in, it is hard to say right now.  I have been following the progress of a girl that I met at Combat Spring Training [Kim Anders].  Hardest throwing girl in the game!
 *On the Men's side, I would have to say Luis Reyna or Nick Santana.

What is your nickname in softball?
 *"CD" or "Big Girl" (LOL, insert joke here_____!)

What is your height and weight?
 *5'10" & and did you seriously just ask my weight :o)?  (Sorry that was a part of the men's questions 🙂 )

Where do you call home?
 *Federal Way, WA

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
 *These days, off-weekends are rare… I will say if I can be on the water somewhere, that is good by me.

What do you do for a living?
 *I work for Combat, doing Promotions

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
 *Played softball in high school

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
 *I played some sort of softball my entire life.  After figuring out college and started down my career path, I traveled and moved around extensively.  Every town I moved to I would go to a local bar and ask about a women's or coed team.  It was an easy way for me to meet people and make friends in the new town.

 *I was playing in a women's tournament in the middle of nowhere WI, when a coach from a team asked if I wanted to pick-up with them and head to a tournament in Florida.  I told him I would check my schedule and get back to him.  Before he walked away, he turned around and said I would be going to the USSSA World tournament in Orlando.  I said "Cool… I don't know what that means."  I was clearly unimpressed; as I had no idea there was good-ball for women anywhere.  As far as I was concerned I was playing it (in a farmer's field).  So my first experience in competitive ball was playing women's USSSA 'B' Worlds @ Disney.  We won the whole damn thing, I received MVP, and I was absolutely hooked from there!!!

What was the best advice you were ever given?
 *Best pieces of advice were:
   "Be humble" – My Dad
   "Give back" – Ian Houston
   "Remember you are an ambassador to the game, somebody is always watching." – Brett Helmer
   "Left-center and go!!!" – Don Cooper

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
 *Work on all levels of your game
 *Be proficient at more than one position
 *Be a leader AND a good teammate

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
 *I have played them all.
 *My favorite is 2nd base

What batting grip do you use?
 *I use a two finger over-lap with one pinky on the knob and one under it.

What ounce bat do you use?
 *27oz

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
 *Cardio
 *Lot's of core exercises

What is your favorite sports team?
 *Packers, Badgers, Brewers

What is your favorite sport other than softball?
 *Mountain Biking or Fishing

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
 *The only superstition I have is when we go into a tournament and start winning; we have to keep everything the same.  Drivers of vehicles have to be the same; same person carries the keys, the dugout has to be the same setup as last time… just crazy stuff like that.  Oh, and I wear the same outfit, socks, visor… traveling as I had the previous weekend (washed of course).

What is your most memorable softball moment?
 *Competing in the USSSA Men's Major HR Derby, and hearing the crowd behind me.  It was a big moment for women's slowpitch.  I'm a big baby, gotta admit I cried in the dugout between rounds.

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
 *Walk-up song: The "Darth Vader" theme
 *Hitting song: Godzilla by Blue Oyster cult

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
 *Having a portion of the lower level teams entry fee (for worlds) go toward the upper level.  This would hopefully get people to play upper if they know that rooms [for example] were paid for.

What is your favorite non-World tournament?
 *The PIF in Sherbrook, Quebec
 *The Fireman's in Bloomington, MN

What is the best softball field you have played at and why?
 *Prettiest field – St George, UT
 *Best Atmosphere – The Fireman's or The PIF

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
 *Chic-Fil-A

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
 *A guy watching his 5 pitches go by in a HR derby, and throwing a fit that he didn't understand the rules!!!!

Christan Dowling put on a display of power at the 2012 USSSA Major home run derby and hit two balls 400 feet!