The beginning of Steele's.

Story By Jerome Ernest.

Gary Coats, Paul Schroeder, Dennis Helmig and Glen Frey met at a Pizza Village restaurant in Lima, Ohio, in August of 1971. The Purpose of the meeting was to organize a slo-pitch softball team, with Coats, Steele's Automotive Parts Company as the sponsor.

The newly organized Steele's team played three late season tournaments that year before embarking on a full season’s schedule in 1972.. The teams first game ever was in the tiny Ohio community of Vanlue, and the first Steele's lineup read: Mickey Baughman pitcher, Ray Crisp catcher, Glen Eley first base, Dick Branovitch second, Don McGue third, Ted Keyser shortstop, Helmig left field, John Wellman left center, Vance Shuman right center and Wayne Frymeyer right field. Utility man was Mike Garver

Schroeder manage the team for those three fall tournaments in 1971, with Henry Johnson taking over as manager from 1972 through 1975. Schroeder returned as manager from 1976 through 1978, except for part of the 1978 season when Chris did the duties.

Helmig assumed the role of manager in 1979 and retaining the post for 1980 and 1981. Tom Rowan was the manager in 1982 when the team, known as the Steele's Stars, played in the professional softball league.

Then, when the team was moved to Grafton Ohio in 1983 Dave Neale took over as manager and has been at the helm ever since. Steele’s won that first game in Van Lew and went on to win the tournament, then won another tournament,
before finishing second to the strong Wilsman Truckers team out of Hamilton, Ohio.  Steele’s entered another tournament later that year at Muncie, Indiana…..