John Larson - Manager, inducted in 2000

John "Moon" Larson managed to the powerhouse Bank of Westmont team throughout the 1980s. A contemporary of such legendary teams as Lilly  Air Systems, Joe Blacks, and Burla Construction, "The Bank" compiled a 954-307 mark under Larson over a twenty-one year period, 14 of them in USSSA ball.  During the eighties The Bank won two state titles, posted annual top five state finishes, and numerous top ten final national rankings.

In 1984, The Bank experienced their breakthrough, pulling off an upset win in a Class A qualifier.  They traveled to Anaheim, California to play in the Class A World and went 5-2 to finish in the top ten, at a time when "A" was the top division.

Larson particularly remembers enjoying competing against Ken Adam's One Hour Cleaners (now HRI), as well as banging heads with such top competition as the Kings, Lilly Air, Burla/Malnars, RMA, Rogers Drywall and Joe Blacks.  He prizes being respected by the guys on those teams.

"With any one of those teams, you knew you were gonna have your hands full," he says.  "They always battled.  They always came to play."

In fact, big games aside, he mainly remembers the people he competed against, noting that he made more friendships out of softball than anything else.
    

   
      
                                               
                        

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