Vern pitched his first Fast Pitch Softball game in the spring of 1947 and threw his last ball 30 years later. During the interim years the teams: Andy’s Jewelers, John Wheeler Loggers, Crater Lake Ford, Southern Oregon Dry Kiln, Lithia-Allen Motors, Valley Office Equipment and Malots Mudhens played there was into many Oregon State and Northwest Regional tournaments with Vern as pitcher.

For more than 20 years, he officiated football games in this area. He also managed and coached Babe Ruth Baseball teams, both 13-15- and 16–19-year-olds.

Vern was inducted into the Oregon State Softball Hall of Fame at Fagone Field on the final day of the State Classic A fast pitch tournament in 1980.