All-out. That was the only way Linda Polley played slow pitch during a 30-year career that ended in 1989. Linda set high goals for herself and former coach Ed Ghostley said, “ Linda was as good as anyone who has played the game.” Polley earned ASA All-American honors six times and twice was MVP of the Women’s Major Slow Pitch National Championship, 1982 and 1989. From 1982-1989, Linda had a .412 batting average for the Anoka, MN Spooks and was a member of three national championship teams. Linda started playing softball at eight and by 17 had played in her first national championship (1969), hitting a home run in her first at-bat in a national championship for Avanti’s of Minneapolis. Twice Linda earned All-American honors during her 13 years with Avanati’s, 1972 (.411BA) and 1975 (.346 BA). She also played in the 1973 national and batted .459 (17-for-37), but wasn’t named All-America. She joined the Spooks in 1982 and batted .360 in the national tourney. She increased that average to .552 (16-for-29) in 1983 as the Spooks won their first national title and Linda won the first of two MVP awards. The Spooks repeated as national champs in 1984 with Linda batting .360 in the national tourney. In 1985 and 1986 she batted .476 in the national tourney as the Spooks placed fifth and ninth. Polley retired after 1989 season. She was born October 30, 1951.
