WESTIN "DANNY" HILL

Class of 1945
​Inducted in 2013

Westin “Danny” Hill was inducted into SHSAA Packer Sports Greats in 2013.
 
​Danny is being recognized for his achievements in fast pitch softball after graduating from SHS.  He won two Class B Championships at the historic Falstaff Park at the age of 15, and he struck out 15 batters in the final Championship game.  While serving in the US Army Air Force at Lowry Field in Denver in 1946, he compiled a record of 20-2 in the fastest class league in Denver.  He played softball overseas in Osaka, Japan in 1947 with the Air Force.  Danny pitched for the Corn States Serum and won the American League Championship in the 1948–1949 seasons.  He also played for City and State Championships.  He made the roster as a starting pitcher with the Iowa City Cardinals, a professional fast pitch league in 1949.  When he was informed that if he pitched one game with the pro team he would never be allowed to play amateur softball again, he changed his mind and came back to Omaha, never pitching for the Cardinals. 

Over the next 18 years, he played in Omaha’s best league at Falstaff Park - the Greater Omaha League.  He was one of the outstanding pitchers and his teams won many City Championships and competed in many National Championship tournaments.  Danny played in 24 Class “A” City tournaments, six State Class “A” tournaments and four Class “A” Regional tournaments. 

Dan was honored by the Amateur Softball Association of America Hall of Fame in 1972 for his contributions to softball, and was inducted into the Omaha Softball Hall of Fame in 1996.