Raisor pushes toward highest levels of softball

It’s sometimes said that some people are born to do certain things. It’s not much of a stretch to consider that Kevin Raisor was destined to play softball from the beginning.

Raisor, a 2005 Hauser grad, started playing softball that same year - just as soon as his high school baseball career came to a close. However, if it were totally up to him, there’s a good chance his involvement in the sport might have come sooner.

“My older brother Ricky (a 2003 Hauser grad) started playing when he was 14,” stated the softball enthusiast. “Growing up, I couldn’t wait to play softball. My dad wouldn’t let me play in high school because he didn’t want me to get  hurt since I was playing basketball and baseball for school.”

To say softball is in Raisor’s blood would be quite the understatement.

“I grew up at the ball fields,” Raisor fondly recollected. “My mom and dad both played a lot of ball. I don’t remember my mom playing a lot, but I come across people all the time that tell what a phenomenal player she was.”

Raisor’s family softball roots run deep.

“We had a family team – from my dad’s side – for about 10 years,” Raisor remembered. “Uncles, cousins – you name it. We only had a couple of players on the team that weren’t blood.”

One memory Raisor is grateful for is being able to play with his dad on the same team for a season.

“My dad was about 50 when I started paying league ball, so we were able to play on the same team for one year,” said the former Hauser athlete. “One of the cool things about softball is that it is not bound by age. Another is it that the other players, spouses and their kids begin to feel like family.”

Raisor remembers the origins of his softball career well. He mentioned that the transition from baseball to softball was not entirely seamless.

“There are certain aspects of softball where you just have to experience them to understand,” explained Raisor. “I remember when I first started sprinting into the dugout between innings just as (Hauser) Coach Schoen expected from us in baseball. People told me not to do that in softball.”

It wasn’t long into Raisor’s softball career before he began to understand that bit of friendly advice. “It was meant to save our legs because we’d be playing so much,” chuckled Raisor. “In tournaments, it wasn’t unusual to play 8 or 9 games on any given Saturday.”

Raisor, who currently works on prototype exhaust systems at Faurecia, didn’t waste much time before he began taking softball to a higher level. By 2008, Raisor played in his first United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) World Series in Orlando, Florida at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex.

Since that first trip in the ‘E’ division, Raisor has been back several times in upper divisions. This past year, Raisor played in the ‘AA’ World Series at the USSSA complex in Viera, Florida. The only step above that is ‘Major.’ Raisor admits that going to the World Series in ‘Major’ is always a goal he’s had.

“The USSSA has its own park in Florida,” stated Raisor. “The fields are all turf and in great shape. It’s a super neat experience to have walk up music, have your name announced and see your picture on the video board.” 

Raisor’s softball experiences have taken him to Las Vegas, Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago and more.

“I’ve traveled just about everywhere but the west coast,” commented Raisor. “I’ve met so many people I consider to be good friends – from the North, South, East and West.” 

Raisor is quick to admit the road to get to the level he is at has not been easy.

“It is kind of a rare occurrence to start at the bottom and work your way up as I had to do” stated Raisor. “A lot of guys come in softball at the upper levels – either directly from playing baseball at a high level in college or from the minor leagues.” 

A part of putting in the practice and effort to get to the highest levels has involved both a transformation of his body and paying greater attention to the mechanics of the game. When Raisor, primarily an outfielder, was playing in the lower levels of USSSA, he weighed around 40-50 pounds less than his current playing weight. One byproduct of that transformation was hitting a ball about 475 feet during a batting practice session last season. In accomplishing that feat, Raisor is quick to admit “all the stars were aligned” to hit one that far.

“It took a hot bat, hard ball, little to no wind and 60-degree temperature,” credited Raisor.

Raisor went on to add his lengthier knocks typically travel somewhere in the 400-foot range.

On the topic of hitting, Raisor was also quick to point out one of his favorite bits of softball wisdom. Coach Mike Rosenthal once let Raisor know that it’s not about how you hit, but when you hit.

“It’s definitely cool to be seen as one of the top ball players,” said Raisor. “There are a lot of phenomenal athletes out there. Some of the things they can do are unreal.”

It’s obvious that there are a lot of things about softball that will keep Raisor involved for years to come. His continued playing at the highest levels pique his desire even more as the rules are a bit different.

“It’s a lot of fun trying to hit off pitchers trying fake pitches, knuckle balls that fall off the table, and throwing between their legs or behind their backs,” laughed Raisor. “What I love about softball is that it’s always moving and is so fast paced.”

Here’s betting that Raisor will achieve his goal of playing at the highest level at the USSSA World Series, in Space Coast Stadium, sooner than later.

There remains no doubt he will continue to play the sport he is so passionate about for many years to come.

His wife, Erica, is also a 2005 Hauser grad.