One of the finest fielding left-handed first baseman in women’s fast pitch, Ruth (Lefty) Sears’ fast pitch career spanned 1936-1955 with all part one season, 1948, spent with the renowned Orange, CA Lionettes. Ruth was one of the original Lionettes when the team was formed in 1937 and batted .585 with the team in 1938. In 1936 she batted .560 playing for Santa Ana, CA. Four times Sears was named an ASA All-American (1950, 1951, 1953 and 1954) and she participated in seven national championships. In six of those championships she had a .984 fielding percentage with 185 putouts, one assist and only three errors. She batted .363 between 1950-1955 with 41 hits in 149 at-bats in national championship play. Ruth’s first All-American selection in 1950 was a memorable one. Not only did she score the winning run in the championship game, but she batted .393 with 11 hits in 28 at-bats, which was fourth highest in the tourney. She followed with a .350 average in 1951 and a .343 average in 1953. Between 1949-1955 Ruth helped coach the team with her husband, Leroy (Chub) Sears.Winning that championship was, according to Ruth, her “greatest thrill in softball.” She retired June 1,1973 after working 22 1/2 years as executive secretary to the superintendent of the San Joaquin School District. Ruth was born August 23, 1917 in Taber, Alberta, Canada and passed away March 20, 2001 at age 83.
