45 Years Ago, a 20-Year-Old Pitcher Struck Out 64 Batters in One Game

As we count down to the upcoming ISC World Tournament, we’re kicking off our “ISC Stat Leaders” series by honoring one of the most legendary pitching duels in fastpitch softball history.

Forty-five years ago at the 1981 ISC World Tournament in Saginaw, Michigan, a 20-year-old Canadian phenom named Peter Finn stepped into the circle for Midland Valley Mechanical. What followed wasn’t just a game — it was an endurance marathon that rewritten the ISC record books forever.

7 Hours, 20 Minutes, 34 Innings

In a marathon matchup against the powerhouse Madison Farm Tavern (WI), Finn went toe-to-toe with fellow legend Peter Meredith. The two iconic pitchers locked into a legendary duel that stretched an incredible 34 innings over 7 hours and 20 minutes — officially the longest game in ISC World Tournament history.

When the dust finally settled, Midland earned a thrilling 2-1 victory, but the box score stats were staggering:

• Peter Finn: 64 Strikeouts (ISC Single-Game Record)
• Peter Meredith: 42 Strikeouts
• Art Tolfree (Midland catcher/infielder): 64 Putouts (ISC Single-Game Record)

Finn went on to set an all-time tournament record with 126 strikeouts (a record that was broken by Darren Zack in 1992), leading Valley Mechanical to a 3rd-place finish and earning the first of his many All-World honors.

“It was a pretty unique game with pretty unique statistics,” Finn later recalled. “Setting tournament records as a 20-year-old kid was pretty special.”

Finn went on to play 12 more elite seasons — mastering rise and drop balls with pinpoint command — and was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame in 2005. But that 34-inning masterpiece in 1981 remains one of the pinnacle achievements in fastpitch history.

Game Stats Spotlight: 1981 Saginaw, MI