Softball party to celebrate longtime Wadena city league organizer Dale Miller who died last fall

In August 2022 I was appointed the publisher of a group of three community newspapers, collectively known in Forum Communications Co. as the "Lakes Group." I hadn't been a full-time publisher in a number of years, but I saw an opportunity to return to working in the community newspaper space. And while the gig only lasted 10 months before an eventual company restructuring, it was one of the most rewarding professional stints I've ever had. Hats off the the staffs at the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena Pioneer Journal for welcoming this old newspaper hack for a great run!

May 2, 2023

By Devlyn Brooks

Jim Young fondly remembers his 20 years of playing softball with his longtime friend and teammate Dale Miller, a name ubiquitous in the Wadena area softball circle.

Some may remember Miller as the guy that spent years organizing the Wadena city softball league, but Young also could claim him as a friend and teammate.

The pair spent a lot of time together, not only on the softball diamond, where they both played for Miller’s self-sponsored team, Miller Signs, but they also golfed, fished and hunted together for more than 20 years. But, unfortunately, Miller died last fall after battling cancer.

In honor of his teammate and buddy, Young is hosting a “softball party” on Saturday, May 6, that is part reunion and part memorial, but most importantly focused on fun.

“I organized it in Dale’s name to honor him. Dale ran the Wadena city league for years, and many knew him for that,” Young said. “And to Dale, that was his life … softball. When he got into something, he went big time.”

This will be the second time that Young has hosted such a softball reunion and get-together. He hosted one just before the pandemic several years ago, and he’s hoping for an even bigger turnout this time to pay tribute to Miller.

He even took to Facebook to announce the event, and he was intentionally very loose with the restrictions about who could attend: “Softball party for anyone that played with Jim Young, Sunny, Hogger or Dale Miller (and their spouses, significant other, or anyone else you might want to bring) over the years. If in doubt, come. I have a big yard. Spread the word.”

Young and Miller’s softball roots go deep. The two started playing together in 1976 when Young joined Miller’s Miller Signs team. In 1986, they finally won the Wadena city league title together. But they didn’t stop at just one championship; over the next decade, they won six more titles together. Finally, after they won their last title in 1996, the team folded. Young said the competition was much stiffer and they were getting older. They knew it was time to hang up the cleats.

“That last year, we won the championship against a better team,” he said. “They were better, but somehow we won.”

During their competitive years, Young and Miller played softball all over the region, including in towns such as Clarissa, Bertha, Hewitt, Staples, New York Mills, Detroit Lakes and more.

“We played softball four nights a week, and then tournaments on the weekends. All summer long,” Young said. “We played two nights a week in Wadena, two nights a week in Clarissa and then one-off tournaments on the weekends.”

For those interested in attending the Miller memorial softball party, Young says he will provide the yard and cooking grills. You bring your own meat and other snacks, and your drinks. He also encourages bringing lawn chairs, folding tables and lawn games.

Young’s address is 10473 107th Ave. in Wadena.

“As the owner of Davey Jones Liquor Locker told Dale and I at closing time, ‘Let's have a party.’” Young’s Facebook post about the event says. “For anyone who knew Dale, you didn't have to tell him a second time. And party we did. We stumbled out of there about 3 or 4 in the morning."