Dave's incredible rise to softball fame began in earnest at age 20 when he joined the Winnipeg Colonels as an outfielder in 1978. For two years, he excelled before spending the winter with United in New Zealand. In summer 1980, he returned to play 3rd. base and the outfield for the Vancouver Thirsk Seniors before rejoining the Colonels in 1981 where he became the league batting champion and where the Winnipeg Steel Kings selected him for their trip to the Canadian Nationals in Ottawa where he homered in the bottom of the 15th inning to win the game. He continued this excellence with a .500 batting average at the Canadian Amateur Softball Association (CASA) Nationals and the selection to the CASA All-Canadian Team. A remarkable fastball career!