Player
2005
Introduce to the sport by her father she played in the 1974 World Tournament junior girl's division winning one of seven games with 89 ringers out of 400 shoes, for a 22.2 percent ringer. She learned about defeat losing to eventual champion Lynn Harrison of Hamilton, Ohio, 50-8. That didn't discourage her in fact it made her the tough competitor that she has become.
She rose to prominence by winning the 1993 state women's Class A title with a seven game sweep, and 69.50 percent ringers. In 1994 she captured the New England Class A championship with seven wins, no losses, and 76.50 percent ringers. One of the games was an 85.4 accuracy mark.
At the World Horseshoe Tournament, in 1994 she placed 28th overall for world title play at the National Horseshoe Pitcher's Association. In 1995 she moved up to a ninth place finish, averaging 74.1 ringers. In 1996 she placed eighth with 72.13%. She also had three games in the 80 percent range
At the 1996 New Hampshire States, Debbi won her 2nd State Title with an average of 81.34%. Another perfect slate of seven wins and a 79.30 percentage gave her the 1996 New England women's Class A championship.
Debbi was inducted into the New Hampshire hall of fame in 1997. In 1997 she won her 3rd State Title with an average of 74.04%. Then it was the New England title with an average of 79.52%.
In 1998 Debbi took the Keene Warm-Up with a record of 7-0 and an average of 77.6%. At the State tournament that year, she went 5-0 and 81.60%. This was the second highest average shot in the New Hampshire States for women. The same year at the New Englands, played in Augusta, Me. Deb made it her 4th title averaging 74.73%.
In 1998 Debbi took the Keene Warm-Up with a record of 7-0 and an average of 77.6%. At the State tournament that year, she went 5-0 and 81.60%. This was the second highest average shot in the New Hampshire States for women. The same year at the New Englands, played in Augusta, Me. Deb made it her 4th title averaging 74.73%.
In 1999 in a mixed class at the Keene Open, she finished 3rd with a record of 5-2 and 70.7% average. With big butter-flies she just made the championship class at the Worlds in Greenville Ohio. In the championship class she settled down to finish 5th at 13-6 and 75.2%. Next, the New Hampshire States which she won for the 5th straight time with an average of 76.80%. The New Englands that year was a dinger. She was tied a 6-0 with Gerry Brooks. The pair put on a show of ringers that will be hard to beat. Brooksie had 102 ringers for an average of 83.6%, while DeeJay had 108 ringers for an average of 88.5%, and a days end average of 84.65%. This being a new N.E. record for ladies, and was her 5th straight N.E. title.
In 2003, Debbi won her 6th New Hampshire State Title with a 6-0-68.64%. She is well know throughout New England, and respected as a tough competitor. It is a pleasure to welcome Debbi to the New England Hall of Fame.