Tacoma Firefighters (1977-1980)

TACOMA FIREFIGHTER SLOWPITCH TEAM TOPS IN STATE FROM 1978-1980
The Tacoma Firefighters slowpitch softball team was the product of a childhood friendship
between Ken DeForrest and Dave Wilsie, carried out years later when the duo reunited as
members of the Tacoma Fire Department. After growing up playing sports with various boys
clubs in Tacoma, both joined the TFD in the mid-1970s and expressed a desire to form a
slowpitch team with members of the department.
DeForrest and Wilsie began organizing the team in the fall of 1976, contacting firefighters for
the TFD to gauge interest and experience. While they found very few players with any previous
baseball or softball experience, they built a team comprised entirely from professional
firefighters at TFD and worked quickly to improve and become competitive.
Starting in the spring and summer of 1977, the team played mostly state firefighters tournaments
on several weekends, participating in both 12-inch and 14-inch slowpitch. That first year the
team sponsored itself, donning a simple “TFD” on its jerseys.
With the rotating schedules of firefighters, the team faced numerous challenges in terms of
finding practice times. DeForrest praised the TFD supervisors and officers for offering
tremendous help in scheduling to allow the players a chance to practice and travel out of town
for weekend games and tournaments.
The team dominated the regional firefighter slowpitch circuit throughout the late 1970s and early
‘80s, winning state and local tournaments in both 12- and 14-inch slowpitch from 1977-80 and
winning berths to the ASA National Tournaments five times between 1977 and 1985. In 1978 the
team traveled to the International Firefighters’ Tournament in Bowie, Md., and placed fifth out
of 49 teams, with two losses to the tournament champions from Detroit, Mich.
The Tacoma Firefighters played in the first slowpitch games ever held at the Tacoma Dome in
1984. Called the “Fireball Classic I,” the series pitted TFD against the Seattle Firefighters team
in two seven-inning games with a three-inning tiebreaker. The Seattle Firefighters prevailed in
the tiebreaker, but TFD returned the favor the following year in “Fireball Classic II,” defeating
SFD at the Tacoma Dome. In 1986, TFD defeated the Bellevue Firefighters in “Fireball Classic
III.”
Over the years the team was sponsored by Foss Tire and B&I Sports, and Mac Northwest helped
promote the three Fireball Classic series at the Tacoma Dome. Working as professional
firefighters and playing sports together as a team helped the players and their families come
together as a team family.

Ken DeForrest (coach) was born in Tacoma in 1947 and graduated from Lincoln High School
in 1965, where he played baseball and basketball. At age 11, he began playing organized rec
baseball, football and basketball for the East Side Boys Club, and he continued playing rec sports
until 1991. Ken joined the Tacoma Fire Department in 1976 and retired as a Lieutenant in 1998.

Ken organized the Tacoma Firefighters team in 1977 and was a player/coach throughout the
team’s existence. He also played in regional, state and national tournaments with other teams in
1982, ’85 and ’90. In all, he has played in seven national slowpitch tournaments and received all-
star and MVP trophies in each decade from the 1960s through the ‘90s. He and his wife Adele
live in Tacoma.
Bob Bender was born in 1947 in Tacoma and graduated from Wilson High School in 1965,
where he played football and basketball. He attended Olympic College in Bremerton and joined
the Tacoma Fire Department in 1970, working there for more than 28 years.
Bob traveled to four national tournaments with the Tacoma Firefighters and also played in the
Fireball Classic games at the Tacoma Dome. He was primarily a pitcher and infielder for the
team. He now lives in McCall, Idaho, with his wife Nancy and enjoys golf and snow skiing.
Dave Carr was born in Bellingham in 1948 and graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in
1966, where he played varsity basketball and earned all-conference honors as a senior. He
attended Pacific Lutheran University and played basketball for two years at PLU. He joined the
Tacoma Fire Department in 1972 and retired from the department in 1995.
Dave played outfield for the Tacoma Firefighters and was selected for the All-World team at the
International Firefighter Tournament in 1978, among the numerous honors he received as a
member of the team. In addition, he played rec basketball, flag football and golf. Dave lives in
the Tacoma area.
Tim Chandler was born in 1947 in Brush, Colo., and graduated from Brush High School in
1965, where he played football, baseball and basketball. In 1965 his basketball team won the
Colorado State Championship, and Tim was a first-team all-tournament selection. He went on to
attend Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, playing football and basketball at PLU and
graduating in 1970. He was a 1969 all-Northwest Conference performer for the Lute football
team, also garnering third-team All-American honors that season.
Tim joined the Tacoma Fire Department in 1974 and retired as a safety officer after 30 years. He
was a long-time member of the Tacoma Firefighters slowpitch team, earning numerous
individual all-star awards over the years. He and his wife Nancy live in Spanaway.
Dave Deskins was born in 1954 in Tacoma and graduated from Wilson High School in 1972,
where he played football and basketball. He attended Pierce College in Lakewood, where he
played basketball for two years and served as a team captain in 1974 before graduating that year.
He joined the Tacoma Fire Department in February 1978.
Dave earned numerous slowpitch all-star tournament awards and was named MVP of the first
Fireball Classic series in 1984. He also participated in numerous rec sports, including basketball
and flag football, and he also enjoys running.

Ralph Guelfi was born in Tacoma in 1934 and graduated from Bellarmine High School. After
graduation, he served in the Navy before joining the Tacoma Fire Department. He worked for the
department for nearly 30 years, retiring as a Lieutenant.
Ralph was a catcher and utility infielder for the Tacoma Firefighters, and as the oldest player on
the team he was affectionately referred to as “Pops.” As a member of the firefighter’s union
executive board, he played an instrumental role in helping the team members arrange trading
days to allow for tournament travel. He and his wife Nancy hosted many of the team parties over
the years.
Jim Hook was born in Bremerton in 1946 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965 and
was an all-state athlete in basketball and track. He joined the Air Force in 1969 and served four
years before returning to college at Pierce Community College. He joined the Tacoma Fire
Department in 1974 and retired in 2002.
Jim played for the Tacoma Firefighters throughout the team’s existence as a pitcher, catcher and
outfielder. He earned several all-star awards during that stretch and was a member of the All-
World Team in the 1978 International Firefighter Tournament. He and his wife Judy live in
Orting.
Mike Krueger was born in Tacoma in 1950 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969,
where he ran cross country and track under coach Dan Watson. He joined the Tacoma Fire
Department in 1976 and retired as Captain of the Hazardous Materials Unit and Engine 12 after
28 years with the department.
Mike was a longtime third basemen for the Tacoma Firefighters, and his speed on the basepaths
allowed him to score from second on fly balls to turn long outs in to run-scoring sacrifice flies.
He was named to several tournament all-star teams during his playing career. He and his wife
Denice live in Tacoma.
Dick Moore was born in 1947 in Portland, Ore., and moved to Tacoma in 1951. He graduated
from Franklin Pierce High School in 1966 and joined the Tacoma Fire Department in June 1966.
He retired from the department in February 2000 and became the chief of the Sumner Fire
Department until his final retirement in 2003.
Dick spent several years with the Tacoma Firefighters, typically playing as a pitcher and
outfielder. He and his wife Robin live in University Place.
Bob Schierman was born in Tacoma in 1951 and graduated from Wilson High School in 1969,
where he played football, basketball and baseball. He attended Green River Community College
in Auburn and played baseball there for two years. He joined the Tacoma Fire Department in
1973 and retired as a captain in 2003.

Bob had earned all-star honors in baseball as a senior at Wilson H.S., and he pitched the second
game of the annual City-County All-Star game that year. As a member of the Tacoma
Firefighters team, he earned several tournament all-star honors. He and his wife live in Tacoma.
Gary Shiesz was born in Bremerton in 1953 and graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in
1971, where he played junior varsity baseball and basketball. He joined the Tacoma Fire
Deparmtnet in 1976 and retired as Deputy Chief in 2003.
Gary was a member of the Tacoma Firefighters from 1978-80, playing first base for the squad.
He stays active hunting and fishing and enjoys traveling with his wife Johnette. The two live in
rural Pierce County.
Ron Stephens was born in Port Huron, Mich., in 1953. After high school he enlisted in the
Army and served for four years. He joined the Tacoma Fire Department in 1977 and recently
retired as the Fire Chief for the City of Tacoma.
Ron joined the Tacoma Firefighters in 1978 and primarily played catcher and outfielder. He and
his wife Martha live in Tacoma with their family.
Dave Wilsie was born in 1947 in Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965,
where he lettered in basketball and baseball. He served in the Army from 1966-68 and joined the
Tacoma Fire Department in January 1973, retiring as a Lieutenant in March 2000.
Dave was a key proponent in the creation of the Tacoma Firefighters team, and in 2001 he was
voted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Old Timers Baseball/Softball Hall of Fame. He played
many years of rec basketball and flag football and now focuses on golf, where he is a four-
handicap, seven-time Senior Club Champion at Meadow Park Golf Course and 12-time Tacoma
Firefighters Golf Club Champion.