Ray Carver Memorial Softball Scholarship

Ray Curtis Carver's family knew him best as Pop, a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He spent countless hours hunting and fishing with his loved ones.  Everyone else knew him as, Coach.
Coach Carver spent a lifetime sharing his softball wisdom with players across Florida. He was often referred to as one of the best pitching coaches in the state.
Though the number of accolades he received during his career with various traveling teams, high schools, and as a head coach at Saint Leo College, are far too many to list, his family is most proud of him for his advocacy for equality in women's softball. It is for this very reason that, in lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations, to go toward a memorial softball scholarship in his name.

Ray Carver's service will be held on Monday, July 20, 2020 in Bushnell, Florida. Due to current restrictions, there can be only a limited number of attendees. If you would like to attend, please contact one of the family members and we will try to accommodate you.

Below, you will find a few testimonies from some of Coach Carver's players.

The world of softball lost a great man... Coach Carver (Ray Carver), who gave me, and many girls, the opportunity to go to college with a softball scholarship, passed away... Coach, you always had a big heart, and we all know how much you did to make us all better players, but more importantly, better people.  -Kim Leitner Rulison

Many years growing up playing ball in Dade City, FL, this man and his brother Leroy were mainstays in the girls softball programs. He and HJ Hartzog, after years of coming up short, took our Big League softball team to the World Series 2 years in a row. After this, he built the St. Leo College softball program.  On a much more personal note, after being recruited and abandoned for a pitcher out of CA by the USF softball program and abandoned and left to my own demise by another coach/teacher, I was lost, dismayed, and out of hope for any scholarships or college in my future. It was late in my senior year, Ray went down to the USF tournament where he struck up a conversation with the Winthrop coach. Whatever Ray told Winthrop’s Frankie Griffin, it struck his curiosity and Frankie left his team and the tournament for an evening to come see me pitch in little old Dade City. Because Ray took the time to do this, Frankie came, saw me play, and offered me a full scholarship. I don’t know where I would have been, if not for Ray doing this. I am forever grateful. RIP Coach Ray Carver. You have touched so many lives. And I don’t think I have the right words to describe what you have done for mine. -Laura Blackmore

What a kind and loving man he was.  So much of what he taught me I brought into my own coaching.  I will always cherish how he picked on this New Yawker, his “niner” back in the day, and am so thankful he gave me a chance to play college ball. He was a special, special man. Thoughts of peace to his family.
Godspeed Coach Carver. Go rest high on that mountain... Julie Mulder

He changed my life by bringing me to Saint Leo. I loved playing for him. Best years of my life! I used so many of his quirky sayings when I was coaching. And he was always chomping on those Altoids! -Thunder Wonder

He was a man that loved the sport of softball and stood up for all the young women he coached.  I am sure he will be missed by all that knew him. -Christi Wade

Thank you for continuing his legacy.