Passing of Former ISC President Ed Kirner

Blair Setford • November 28, 2023

Ed Kirner 1931 - 2023

The ISC is saddened by the passing of former president and Hall of Fame Administrator Ed Kirner, who passed away on November 24, 2023.


Ed Kirner was a giant in fastpitch circles in Aurora, IL - one of the game's biggest hotbeds - in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.


He played a large role in breaking down the barriers between ASA and ISC teams which divided the game. In 1980, the Aurora Home Savings and Loan team, due to the efforts of Carrol Forbes, Ed Kirner and Chuck Lockinger,  entered the ISC World Tournament. They became the first ASA team to do so, opening the door for today's modern game in which nearly all teams play in both the ISC and ASA.


Ed started in fastpitch in 1951. While health issues cut short his playing career, over the years he's served in many, many roles, including 31 years with the ISC as Illinois Regional Commissioner and ultimately as ISC President from 1982 - 1993, the longest tenure in the organization at the time. He retired from the ISC in 2011.


Just some of his other service in the game included:

  • Secretary of the Aurora City League for seven years; 
  • Associated with Hartman’s Supermarket team through eight city championship seasons; 
  • Publicity/Public Relations Director for the Aurora Home Savings and Loan team beginning in 1973; 
  • Publisher/Editor for 15 years of Grand Slam Fastpitch, a newspaper dedicated to men’s fastpitch - each year spending three months selling ads, writing stories, and soliciting articles from teams across the U.S. and Canada - with all profits going to help finance the Aurora team; 
  • Raised more than $9,500 to help weather a financial storm for Ray Anderson and his Fastpitch Softball News Bulletin; 
  • Developed the concept of a team “Yearbook” in 1981; writing all the contents, selling the ads, did the layouts and paste-ups and sold the books to finance the Aurora team’s trip to Japan for that year’s Friendship Series.


Ed was honored in 1992 by the Aurora Men’s Fastpitch Association as “Man of the Year” and was cited “for Outstanding Contribution to Fastpitch Softball” - certainly an award richly deserved.


Editor's note: With his printer's background, Ed was also involved with the ISC Guide and I fondly recall him encouraging me to get more involved with the Guide in the mid-2000s as his time was winding down.


More recently, Ed and his lovely wife Carole have lived in Montgomery, IL, enjoying life one day at a time. For Ed's full Hall of Fame bio, please click here.

Megwan Muswaggon – Pride of the North on the Mound

By Brian Eradus • April 29, 2025
At 25 years old, Megwan Muswaggon has already become a household name in fastpitch circles across Northern Manitoba. Pitching and playing first base for the Can-West Thunder , Megwan brings power, precision, and pride to the game every time he takes the field—carrying the hopes of his hometown, Cross Lake , wherever he goes. Carrying on a Family Legacy For Megwan, fastpitch isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life. “I was about 7 or 8 when I started pitching,” he says. “My father, David, was a pitcher himself and introduced me to the game. I grew up watching him and always wanted to be like him.” That influence became even stronger over time, with Megwan also spending three summers training under Canadian fastpitch legend Darren Zack . Fastpitch has deep roots in his community. “It’s the top sport in Cross Lake. We have over 25 youth teams, eight women’s teams, and up to 18 men’s teams. Fastpitch is alive and well in Northern Manitoba.” From Local Diamonds to the World Stage Transitioning from community games to the global fastpitch scene hasn’t always been easy. “Early on, learning the mechanics of pitching was a challenge. But later, the biggest test became mental—adjusting from reserve ball to the world stage,” Megwan explains. Now entering the prime of his career, Megwan sees himself as a key piece of the Can-West Thunder roster. “Without pitchers, your team falls apart,” he says candidly. “So I know I’ve got a big job—keeping the score close and giving my team a chance to win.”

Mathieu Roy: A Force in Left Field

By Brian Eradus • April 25, 2025
At 36 years old , Mathieu Roy stands as a seasoned presence in left field—sporting jersey #16 . Having played for the New York Gremlins in 2024 and playing for the newly named Bear Creek Gremlins next season, this St-Gervais, Québec native has crafted a storied career that’s still going strong. Off the field, he’s a strength and conditioning coach , as well as a baseball and softball coach, using his expertise to guide the next generation of athletes. Early Start and Family Ties Mathieu’s fastpitch journey began at an incredibly young age—he was swinging at a tee by 18 months old and playing organized softball by the time he was four. The main inspiration? His dad, Jean Roy , who played fastpitch and passed on his love for the game. Growing up in a hotbed of softball, Mathieu quickly discovered his passion for the sport’s high intensity and sense of community. Rising Through Challenges When Mathieu first started playing in ISC-level competition, he noticed a significant gap in pitching velocity during local practices—few pitchers could throw over 75 mph. Still, he found ways to adapt. “I worked on my arm strength in the offseason, and I gained two or three miles per hour,” he explains. “At my age, that’s a big win.” He also aimed to increase his hitting power, recognizing that consistent performance at the plate would help anchor the top of his team’s lineup.