Hedgecock Among Greatest Softball Players Ever

By  //  May 9, 2013

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

ABOVE VIDEO: Judy Hedgecock started playing softball in high school at the age of 16, coming into her own as a pitcher and earning accolades for her ability to dominate games and hold opponents in check. Having mastered the art of slow-pitch softball, she went on after high school to enjoy phenomenal success in the amateur ranks and later taught the game to young women in Brevard County as a teacher and a coach.

JUDY HEDGECOCK – 2013 INDUCTEE

Judy Hedgecock
Judy Hedgecock

• Seven-time ASA All-American

• Two-Time National Champion

• 20 Titles As High School Coach

Growing up as the daughter of Percy Hedgecock, one of Satellite Beach’s founders and its first mayor, Judy Hedgecock was always on a quest to be recognized in her own right.

With her father as her coach, Judy found her calling on the softball field where life-long local, state and national success as player and coach makes her a lock for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2013.

Growing up as the daughter of Percy Hedgecock, above, one of Satellite Beach’s founders and its first mayor, Judy Hedgecock was always on a quest to be recognized in her own right. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Growing up as the daughter of Percy Hedgecock, above, one of Satellite Beach’s founders and its first mayor, Judy Hedgecock was always on a quest to be recognized in her own right. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

She started playing in high school at the age of 16, coming into her own as a pitcher and earning accolades for her ability to dominate games and hold opponents in check. Having mastered the art of slow-pitch softball, she went on after high school to enjoy phenomenal success in the amateur ranks and later taught the game to young women in Brevard County as a teacher and a coach.

In the era that Judy graduated from high school there were few opportunities for young women to continue a softball career in college. Nevertheless, Judy earned her college degree in education, and, with a singular determination to continue playing the sport that she loved, accepted an invitation in 1965 to play amateur softball for her father’s Satellite Beach Comets team.

That close father-daughter confederacy lasted nine years before she succeeded her dad as the Comets coach. Her partnership with her father launched one of the all-time great amateur softball careers.

ASA TEAM OF THE DECADE

Judy’s many honors are testimonial to her softball prowess. She was a seven-time Amateur Softball Association (ASA) All-American pitcher and played on two national title teams in 1975 and 1978. During the Comets 1975 national championship season, Judy was honored with the ASA’s Most Valuable Player Award and to date is the only pitcher to be so honored by the ASA.

Judy’s many honors are testimonial to her softball prowess. She was a seven-time Amateur Softball Association (ASA) All-American pitcher and played on two national title teams in 1975 and 1978. During the Comets 1975 national championship season, Judy was honored with the ASA’s Most Valuable Player Award and to date is the only pitcher to be so honored by the ASA.
Judy’s many honors are testimonial to her softball prowess. She was a seven-time Amateur Softball Association (ASA) All-American pitcher and played on two national title teams in 1975 and 1978. During the Comets 1975 national championship season, Judy was honored with the ASA’s Most Valuable Player Award and to date is the only pitcher to be so honored by the ASA.

Six times she was awarded first-team All-America honors as a pitcher in 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978. In 1970 she was second-team All-America selection. She was named to the ASA Team of the Decade for the 1970s, was chosen as ASA’s Player of the Decade for the 1970s and was inducted into National Softball Hall of Fame in 1982.

As a coach in the amateur ranks, Judy guided the Satellite Comets to three ASA national championships and three United States Slo-Pitch Association world championships.

As a coach in the amateur ranks, Judy guided the Satellite Comets to three ASA national championships and three United States Slo-Pitch Association world championships.

Her pitching career in amateur softball spanned 13 years. When she finally retired she was a member of the legendary Marks Brothers and Bob Hoffman North Miami Dots team.

Her love of and ability to teach the game propelled her on to a stellar career as a coach, leading an 18-Under girls’ team to world championships in 1978, 1981 and 1985; the Eau Gallie High School softball team to more than 20 prep titles, including five district crowns, five regional championships and one sectional championship; and the Satellite High Scorpions to a 94-29 record that included three district and regional titles, one sectional championship and the state championship in 1990.

THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 10 with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. – and dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m.

FOR INFORMATION & TICKETS to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction dinner call 321-615-8111 or e-mail MaverickMultimedia@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE 2013 INDUCTEES