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2018 Free Agent Denis Fisher

 

 

 

Denis Fisher

USSSA Playing History

GoSoftball.com Player Page

Interview conducted on 10/18/2017

Who are you playing with in 2018?
I took a year off in 2017.  Played only local stuff with friends.  Played with Precision and Eurotech the previous seasons.

2018 Free Agent – dlfish35@yahoo.com

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
I was a SS or middle infielder forever.   These days I'm best used at 1st or 3rd.  Or catcher…I tried to eat my way to being a catcher a long time ago.   Still didn't get to play it much.

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
Way too many to name.  I've played a long time.  Too many to count.   There's been a ton of really good players.   Still is.

Why do you like the game of softball?
I've been addicted to playing since I first started.  Love the competition.   Love seeing old friends.

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
Only 2 come to mind and I'm not sure they'd be considered up and coming.   Curt Stewart from OA last year.  He might not be the most mobile guy out there but you'll never find more effort from anyone.   Plus he hits for average and power.  Does what needs done given the situation.  Corey Tapp is another.  Seminoles last year I think.  The kid is fast, great arm.   Outfielder that reads the ball well and gets it.

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?
Fish.   Just short for my last name.  My mom even calls me by it once in a while.

What is your height and weight?
6'0".   235lbs.

Where do you call home?
East Peoria, IL

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
Normally there's a cookout going on somewhere with a bunch of friends or family.  Hard to beat hanging out with either.

What do you do for a living?
A little bit of everything.   I'm a maintenance man who does home remodeling type jobs on the side.

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
Baseball/Basketball.   Played both forever and for a while in college.   Had a pro tryout for basketball for the old CBA before it became what it is now.   Got close…didn't make it though.

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
An old college buddy talked me into playing a league game.  While we were still playing baseball.  Next thing you know baseball is over and I'm still playing softball.  Never went back to baseball.  The next season I get asked to play with Snap-on ran by Mike Kluever.  I stayed with him for the next 9 years or so.  We played B most of that time and ended up playing A and Major the last couple seasons.  He was always putting us up against the best he could find.

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?
Besides talent level and how fast the ball moves, I don't think there's much difference.  Guys in any level still play hard and play to win.

Is there a player that you would compare your game to?
Not really.  Not in softball anyway.   Maybe Kareem Abdul Jabaar?   You know, those last couple seasons when the whole planet wanted him to retire but he still loved playing even though he had to pick playing offense or defense because he couldn't run the floor?  Hahahahaha.  Glad my body isn't in that bad of shape yet.

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?
Winning B World Series with Precision 2015.  We should have won the A also that year but didn't get it done.

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?
Lots.   I had a lot of help.  Mike Kluever (mentioned above).  One of the best sponsor/coaches ever I think.    There wasn't anywhere he wouldn't take us.   He'd load us up in his RV, his wife would have the fridge stocked and dinner cooked for the drive and we'd be off.    Jeff Ott spent a lot of time with me taking BP and showing me how to hit a softball better.   He'd pitch to me until my hands were bleeding.

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
Practice.  No such thing as too much practice.  Play hard.  Don't quit.   Eventually someone will notice and you can move up.  It also helps if you don't play for a sandbagging team afraid of teams a level above you.  Play the best you can find.

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?
Overlap?  Hammer?  Hell I don't know what it's called.  Two fingers on my bottom hand hang off the knob.   Too hand sort of rests on the lower.

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
When I'm not feeding my face or at work I'm in the gym.   Then at least once a week I get some swings at the cages until we can get back outside.

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?
Football.   Atlanta Falcons.   Baseball I really don't have a favorite.  I'm in the middle of the whole Cubs/Cards thing in the Midwest.   I kinda like em both.  I root for the opposite of whoever I'm with most of the time just for fun.

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
Not that I can think of.   I pretty much have the same routine no matter what the situation is.

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
I'd have to think about that.  I've used Stone cold Steve Austins WWE entrance music in the past.

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
Not real sure.  Seems it's been doing pretty well lately.

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?
Other than playing some beer fest with my friends I don't really have one these days.  It's all a good time to me.

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?
I always enjoyed Disney.  Probably because I was always down there for almost 2 weeks at the end of the year.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
I have no preference.   After playing all day, I'm so hungry I'll stop anywhere almost.   If there's a Wendy's around…that normally wins.

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
I was playin for an A team about 15yrs ago.  Give or take.   Thoroughbred in Lexington KY.   We're playing Benefield Electric, ranked 3 in the nation at that time.  It was a good game for 4 innings.   Then they got sick of messing with us.  We needed like 12 runs just to avoid the run rule.  We come back. 2 guys on.  Need 3 to stay.  2 outs.   The guy coming up to the plate who has been egging us on to ruin their day by making them play another inning says "Watch this!"   Instead of the bomb we all expected, he swings at the first pitch and dribbles it to the pitcher.   The ball stopped before he picked it up.  Never let that die until he quit playing.  Still funny.

Tell us something about you that most would never know about you?
I sat at the kitchen table for over 6 hours when I was a kid.   Parents were trying to make me eat liver and onions and wouldn't excuse me until I cleaned my plate.   I fell asleep sitting there.  I won.  Never tried to feed me that again.  Still won't eat that stuff.

What was your favorite sports related gift you have ever given or received?
I was put in the Illinois Hall of Fame a couple years ago.  One of my best buddies gave me an engraved bat with all of that information on it.   Besides my incredible fear of public speaking it was easily the best sports gift.
 


 

One response to “2018 Free Agent Denis Fisher”

  1. Jrock says:

    Great to see you getting back in it buddy, good luck to you and hope to see you around. This guy is a great pick up for any team, quality player and even better teammate and person.

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