The “Laurels Story” started in 1966 at Hayward where they played their first season. Leland Olwell, a long-time friend of softball, was instrumental in rounding up the team and much travelled Millie Dixon was named manager. Experienced players moved in to give Northern California three top-flight women’s teams – the Redwood City Jets and the Fresno Rockets being the other two.

The seven time world champion Raybestos Brakettes sent two players in Laura Malesh and Stepheny Tenny, and also donning Laurel togs were Sally Carmen (Orange), Ginny Hanselman (Orange) and all-time great pitcher, Margie Law from Phoenix, Arizona. Diane Kalliam, one of the great players in the game also became a Laurel after playing for the Redwood City Jets and Linda Barneson, Marcia Watts, Sally Beckner and Ebie Faris helped round out the roster.

Hayward’s entry in major women’s competition registered a 46-11 season, won the state tournament and upset Fresno in the North Pacific Regional before losing to the same team in the finals. Kalliam and Law were named to the All-Regional Team.

In 1967 the team moved to Santa Clara with Malesh becoming the playing manager and coach. The Laurels entered the Pacific Coast Women Softball League (PCWSL) which brought some of the top teams in the nation to Lafayette Park. Kalliam was chosen to the PCWSL All-Star team. The Laurels hosted the Regionals at Washington Park and lost the final game to Redwood City which ultimately reached the National finals before bowing to Raybestos. Kalliam, Malesh, infielder Marva Eichelberger (from Salt Lake City Shamrocks) and pitcher Gloria Barron (former Redwood City Jet) made the All-Regional team. The Laurels very nearly won the Regional they still refer to as the “Casey Struck Out” tournament.

In 1968, Malesh saw her unselfish efforts starting to bear fruit as the team gained a sponsor (Ditz-Crane Homes of Santa Clara) and obtained a new coach in Carolyn Spady, one time standout with the famed Erv Linda Florists of Portland, Oregon. Spady’s building program started with the addition of Bonnie Bryant, Bennie Carroll, Charlotte Graham, Frankie DeRossitt and rookies Allie Henderson, Kathy Lowe and Eileen Lum.

Kalliam was the team standout as she was picked to the All-PCWSL team again and she, Bryant and Graham were named to the All-Regional team. Again the Laurels bowed to the Redwood City Jets at Washington Park – this time in the semi-final game. The Jets bowed to Fresno in the finals. Fresno went on to place third in the Nationals behind Raybestos and Orange.

Now well established, the 1969 squad got off to a fast start. They won 49 and lost 36. The great all-around player Kalliam again represented them on the PCWSL and Regional teams – Barron and Henderson joining her on the Regional squad in which a great effort put on by the entire team took them through the Regionals and they defeated the Fresno Rockets in a 12 inning final game to go on to the Nationals in Tucson, Arizona.

In 1970, the Laurels dropped from the PCWSL but new coach Ken Prim put the young talent together and took them right through to the Nationals in Stratford. Along the way the Laurels won both GSL and NCWSL titles and the Regionals. Graham was chosen MVP and what a year she had. Malesh, Kalliam and Brenda Gamblin joined here on the Regional team.

In 1971, the Laurels once again won the Regionals and took fourth place in the Nationals. Diane Kalliam and Cyndi Lillock were voted first team All-Americans and pitcher Charlotte Graham was a second team choice.

In 1972, the Laurels won the NCWSL crown but failed in its bid for a fourth straight Regional Championship losing to the Fresno Rockets. Despite this disappointment, the Laurels compiled a respectable 52-20 record.

In 1973, the Laurels game within one game of winning the Nationals and representing the U.S.A. in the Internationals the following year. Needing only to win one game out of the two games, the Laurels lost twice to Raybestos. The first game went 9 innings before Raybestos Joan Joyce doubled and subsequently scored on a sacrifice fly to win 1-0. In the second game, Raybestos scored two unearned runs to win 2-0. Graham, Kalliam, Mary Ann Ruedrich and Brenda Gamblin were name to the All-American team.

In 1974, the Laurels went on the capture the NCWSL Championship with a 23-1 record. The Laurels also won the Hayward Invitational Tournament, Portland Tournament and Yakima Tournament. The Regional Tournament turned out to be a tough test for the Laurels. The Laurels lost the first game to the Hayward Lifters, 5-4. After battling back through the loser’s bracket, the Laurels faced Hayward in the finals needing two wins the final night. The Laurels won both games advancing to the Nationals in Orlando. The Laurels won their first their first two games but lost to Indianapolis in the quarterfinals. After winning one more game, the Laurels were eliminated from the tournament losing to the eventual National Champions Raybestos, 2-1 in 11 innings. The Laurels ended the season with a record of 63-17 and Graham and Bonnie Johnson combined to pitch 44 shutouts.

In 1975, the Laurels once again finished second in the Nationals losing again to Raybestos. Gaining first team All-American honors was Diane Kalliam who broke a 25 year National record with a .651 batting average. Gaining second team All-American honors were Charlotte Graham, Bonnie Johnson, Karen Ambler, Diane Weiner and Merribeth Carlson. Despite losing the National Championship, 1975 was definitely a fine season for the Laurels who posted a 58-18 record.

For an in depth history of the Santa Clara Laurels, see below.