1964 to 1996 — Floyd Varney — 32 years of softball excellence.

Trailblazers — 1978 to 1996.

Floyd Varney's passion is team sports. Softball has been the major part of this passion. He has managed, played and sponsored softball teams since he was eighteen years old.

Thanks to Floyd, every Trailblazer player has been fortunate enough to have been involved with the greatest names in Michigan softball, and nearly every player in the Softball Halls of Fames.

Floyd is the only man who could be elected into the USSSA Michigan Softball Hall of Fame as a Manager, a Sponsor or a player. No one has spent more of their own personal money on his teams than Floyd Varney, and Floyd never got credit for what a great hitter the man is. Floyd Varney was inducted into the USSSA Michigan Hall of Fame as a General Manager — and rightfully so.

Floyd GM'ed his way into having some of the greatest players in Michigan history play for him at one time or another. And with any combination of players, either the great players of just great competitors, Floyd's Trailblazers Softball team won more games, league titles and tournaments than any other Michigan team.

In a stretch from 1980 to 1988, in 98 tournaments in which 61 were won by the Trailblazers, the Trailblazers NEVER finished second in an in any tournament. If in the finals, loser's bracket or not, the Trailblazers won the tournament. No other team can say that.

In one spring tournament "The Free Press Pre-season Classic", the Trailblazer men came out of the loser's bracket — winning 9 games in a row — to win the title.

In 1981 the Class "B&qout; Trailblazers men's team won 11 tournaments, including 5 in a row without a loss.

In 1985, 1988 and 1990, Trailblazer's men were state champs.

Trailblazers men won an NSA Class A World Tournament in 1988.

In 1990 Trailblazers Class B men won the Divisional World Tournament.

Trailblazers Co-ed teams won a NIT tournament in 1990, and state champs six times and was runner -up one year — out of seven. years!

In 1991, Trailblazers men's Class A team was Runner -up in the State Tournament.

In 1992, the Trailblazers men were Class A State Champs.

In 1995, the Trailblazer women were ASA State Champions and ASA World Champions — winning 11 games on the last day — surpassing the men's record of nine in a row!

Total: 16 State Championships between the Trailblazer Men, WOmen and Co-ed A, B, and C teams.

In addition, the multiple league championships at Softball City, Liberty Park, Canton SOftball Complex, Suburban Softball Complex, Detroit Jane Field, Oak Park, Sterling Heights, Ferndale, Hazel Park, etc.

No softball team at any level won more games, leagues and tournaments than the Trailblazers — and no team ever will.1993

Article contributed by: Sandra Birtch-Newell

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Link to: MI USSSA HOF click here.