From an early age, Jody Hennigar could be found at the ball fields in Halifax. He and his older brother, Stan Jr., were often watching their father when they weren’t playing themselves. Little did they know at the time Jody would become one of the best softball players in Canada and the world. Hennigar first got noticed on the national scene in 1983, winning a Canadian midget softball championship with (Halifax) Fisherman’s Market. It snowballed from there. He was a dominating pitcher and a feared batter. His left arm and big bat helped him make a living playing softball for more than 20 years.

His first out-of-province team was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but he soon became known around the world. From 1987 to 1992, Hennigar played softball year-round  in North America during the summer and in New Zealand during our winters. Hennigar played 12 years on Canada’s national team. He says his biggest thrill came in 1992 at the International Softball Federation World Championship. The final game has been dubbed the other Thrilla in Manila. With Canada trailing New Zealand 3-0 in the seventh inning, Hennigar cracked a three-run pinch-hit game-tying homer. Canada won 5-3 in an extra inning for it’s first world championship in 20 years.

In November 2008, Hennigar was inducted into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame. He says, “With so many great ball players getting inducted there  just to be named with them is a huge honour.” Hennigar lives near Tampa, Florida, where he teaches softball to girls seven-to-20 years of age. He also offers private hitting and pitching lessons and coaches a girls 18-and-under team. His brother, Stan Jr., was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame two years ago for softball, hockey, and football.