One of our most popular presentations was about the Colfax Fireballs, the fast-pitch softball team that represented Colfax, California, from 1947-1993. On April 5, 2025, Colfax City Hall’s council room was overflowing with fans for Mike Ray’s presentation about the Fireballs.
Mike Ray, former sports editor of the Grass Valley Union and the Colfax Record, displayed memorabilia and photos, told stories, and shared a film about the Colfax Fireballs.
The team began as a hardball team in 1947 and switched to fast-pitch softball in 1956. The Fireballs competed against teams from Reno, Tahoe City, Grass Valley, Santa Rosa, Chico, Monterey, Pacific Grove, and other Northern California cities.
Beginning in 1966, the Colfax Fireballs hosted an annual fast-pitch tournament that continued until 2014. It began small, as part of a Recreation Day sponsored by the Colfax Recreation Department, which included activities at the swimming pool, games, softball, and a Saturday night dance.
The annual tournament would begin on Thursday or Friday and continue through Sunday. Over the years the number of teams in the tournament ranged from four to as many as 22.