PETER MEREDITH

Power Pitcher

By Ron Chambers

March 11, 2007

It will come as a surprise to most people that softball was not Peter Meredith’s first sport. Pete, like many young lads in New Zealand was a cricket player. He did not start playing softball until the age of 13 and then it was as a catcher, first baseman, or an outfielder. In fact at the age of 15 he was selected to the New Zealand National under 17 Team for his hitting ability.

It was not until Peter was 16 that he started flinging the ball underhand. A teammate named Graham Evans starting working with Peter on his pitching, pushing him to improve his mechanics and to utilize his size.  Graham would even make Pete work out inside a warehouse during the cold winter months in Dunedin. 

It paid off!  Oh brother, did it pay off!  At the age of 19, Peter made his first trip to the United States.  Like many of the Kiwi pitchers before him Peter spent his first season in Arizona pitching for Sportsman Enterprises out of Prescott.  In 1980 Peter spent the summer pitching for Dave Frye Plastering in Bakersfield California.  It was also the year Peter recorded his first ISC victory.  There would be fifty-nine (59) more such victories to come. 

After six years with the Farm Tavern in Madison Wisconsin, three seasons with Trans Aire International in Elkhart, Indiana, and twelve years with Larry Miller Toyota in Salt Lake City Utah.  Peter called it a career.

After pitching in a record 23 consecutive ISC World Tournaments, Peter Meredith left a legacy that any athlete would envy.   Most no hitters (8); second all time with 57 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, second in lifetime wins with 60; named to the All World Team 7 times, numerous strikeout records, and a record 34 inning game in 1981. 

In addition to the ISC games there were also the ISF Championships.  In 1988 he pitched Team USA to a 4-0 win over New Zealand to win the tournament.  In 1992 in Manila he helped New Zealand to a runner up finish behind Canada, beating the USA Team 2-0 and taking 17 strikeouts in the semi-final game.  1996 he again pitched for the States as they took 4^th place.  Also, Peter pitched Elkhart, Indiana to an ASA Championship.  There are also the six games Peter struck out all 21 batters he faced.  In addition, there were numerous New Zealand Club and National Championships. 

When asked his biggest disappointment, Peter responded, “his failure to win an ISC Championship.”  But as the fates would have it, Peter’s teams were not great run producing teams.  They relied on solid defense and his pitching to take them as far as they could go.  Peter understood this and accepted the challenge of shutting down the opposition often pitching extra inning games that put tournaments behind schedules.

In 2001 Peter was elected to his final All World Team as he pitched Larry Miller Toyota to a 4^th place finish.  It was to be his final ISC Tournament.  Peter still resides in Salt Lake Utah with wife Angie and daughter, Olivia.  The same competitiveness and desire as he had as a pitcher have carried over into his “other” profession as he has a successful career in Real Estate. 

Peter Meredith was the most dominating and overpowering pitcher of the 80’s and 90’s.

It maybe awhile before we see another pitcher like him come our way again.