Wendy Bolton
Elected : USSSA New York Hall Of Fame in 2015
Inducted : 2016, Rochester, NY
Wendy grew up in Penfield, NY graduated from Penfield High School in 1971, and was inducted into the Penfield Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. She majored in psychology at SUNY Oswego, and then later received her Master of Social Work degree from Syracuse University.
At Oswego, she competed in Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, & Swimming, was named Oswegonian Female Athlete of the year in 1972, and received MVP honors in basketball & field hockey. She remains the 2nd leading career goal scorer in SUNY Oswego Field Hockey history and was inducted into the Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
More importantly at Oswego, she met Tish Dwyer who invited her to join the Lums women’s softball team in 1972. They shared one of their greatest softball thrills by defeating the then World Champion Muxworthy’s team for the City title in 1973. For the next 30 years, Wendy had the privilege of playing with some of the finest female softball players throughout the country on A, B, & C class teams (Lums, California Brew Haus, Butlers, Kirby’s Pace/Wintonaire, etc.) in local, State, Regional, National, &World tournaments. She was a member of numerous State and Regional Championship teams and played for the Pace & Wintonaire teams that finished 2nd in the Class A World tournament in 1978 and 1980.
Although Wendy did receive MVP and other individual awards (including being inducted into the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame in 2012), her greatest attributes were her willingness to contribute whatever was necessary for her teams’ success, her knowledge of and respect for the game, her unshakeable never give up attitude, and a passion for the game that is enduring. She continues to play recreation softball in addition to indoor soccer, and pickleball, and competes in golf through the Women’s Executive and NYS Golf Associations.
Wendy will forever be grateful for the memories she shares with her many teammates and their willingness to share the field with someone far less talented than most of them.
Thanks to her family who always cheered her on, including her big brother, Ray who always let her tag after him and her father who drove all over the country to watch her play. Thanks also to all her coaches who supported her no matter what and especially to Bernie Dwyer who gave her her start in this great game, and to Duane McCoy who valued her undying love for the game and always found a place for her.
