Steven “Pedro” Flynn takes time out of an Oldtimers softball game between his Marquette team and Gwinn at Hurley Field in Marquette on Friday evening. (Journal photo by Aleandria Bournonville)

MARQUETTE — Local legend Steven “Pedro” Flynn has been playing softball for half a century and still considers himself to be in his prime.

Now he’s set to join the USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame this fall after being nominated in May by fellow Marquette-area player Rick Schwemin, an inductee into the same hall almost a decade ago. Both play for the 62-years-and-over Marquette Oldtimers team.

Flynn is the only Upper Peninsula resident to be named in this year’s hall of fame class.

His athletic career started in 1972. During those 51 years, Flynn has played for the Third Base Bar team for nine years, Vango’s Lounge for seven years and Marquette Fence for 13 years.

In that time, he’s had eight perfect games and 15 no-hitters. He’s won 32 MVP pitcher awards, 18 MVP awards and seven MVP hitter awards. Flynn has placed second in three state championships, competed in four Great Lakes State Games championships as well as six national tournaments and four Class B Nationals, one of which he hit the game-winning grand slam.

“I have to thank my wife for 43 years of putting up with me taking my daughter and my son out of town every other weekend,” Flynn said. “We went all over the Midwest; Wisconsin, Illinois … Petoskey (and) Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.

“We played in national tournaments in North Dakota; Kissimmee, Florida; Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; and St. Louis, Missouri.”

Overall, Flynn has had 1,142 wins, 475 losses, 8,178 strikeouts, an earned run average of 2.07, 332 home runs, 1,121 runs batted in and a batting average of .298.

The USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place at the H Hotel in downstate Midland at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30.

Tickets will be available starting Aug. 21 until sold out or through Sept. 15 if they’re available for that long.

Flynn said he’s even started thinking ahead.

“They only let one Yooper get in a year,” Flynn explained. “Next year I’m trying to get our other pitcher in, too.”

In addition to Flynn this year and Schwemin in 2014, other area residents found on a list in the USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame are Werner Maki of Ishpeming in 1989, Gardner Bess of Ishpeming in 1995 and Francis L’Huillier of Marquette in 2008.

All five were inducted as players.

The hall was established in 1982, according to its website at www.usasoftballmi.org, and has six categories — players, commissioners, managers, meritorious service, sponsors and umpires. This year’s group brings the total to 338 in the hall of fame, which is located at the group’s office in Midland.

The list can be found on the USA Softball of Michigan website at https://www.usasoftballmi.org/page/show/1097122-usa-softball-of-michigan-hall-of-fame-members and clicking on attachment with the list.

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 506. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.