Non-Profi t Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 44 Garrison, ND Volume 33, Number 3 | NORTH DAKOTA STATE AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION | SPRING 2018 MARGE & CHUCK OBERG CURT KRAHLER GREG KAEDING DENNIS BENSE TOM HARTY HallHHaaalll ofof FameFFaame addsaaddds ssixix nneneweeww membersmemmbbbeeerrrss The Hall of Fame selection com- on Saturday evening, April 7 at active in recruiting new players. senden who played, managed and members. This year’s inductees will mittee, meeting during the Winter the Gladstone Hotel in downtown This year’s inductees include sponsored; and Chuck and Marge receive their Hall of Fame plaques meeting of the North Dakota Soft- Jamestown. This year’s group has Dennis Bense who played in both Oberg of Wahpeton who are now and Certifi cates at the annual Hall ball Association has voted in six experience at virtually every aspect Minot and Bismarck; Tom Harty, deceased but who sponsored one of of Fame banquet to be held in the new members to be inducted at of the game. All have played, some recently retired as the Deputy Um- the best slowpitch softball teams to Gladstone Hotel in Jamestown on the Hall of Fame banquet which is have managed, some have spon- pire in Chief in Jamestown; Greg ever play in North Dakota, Chuck’s Saturday evening, April 7, 2018. held at the same time and place as sored teams, some have administra- Kaeding of Fargo who serves as Off Sale. The addition of this year’s All previous members of the Hall the Spring meeting of the softball tive experience as League Reps or Secretary/Treasurer of the state class will bring total membership in of Fame in attendance will be rec- group. The banquet will be held Board Members and all have been softball group; Curt Krahler of Fes- the state softball Hall of Fame to 276 ognized at that time. CHUCK AND MARGE an electronic scoreboard to the After being recruited by his including two state championships TOM HARTY OBERG softball complex . neighbor Jack Arends to assist and co-sponsoring a girl’s softball After playing softball for ten One of the most successful and CURT KRAHLER with the local softball organiza- team along with fellow Hall of years, Tom Harty of Jamestown popular softball teams ever to play Curt Krahler of Fessenden has tion, Greg Kaeding has become Famer Stan Johnson. decided he would try umpiring the in North Dakota was the Chuck’s played slow pitch softball for over an almost indispensable person, DENNIS BENSE game. He spent the next 33 years Off Sale team sponsored by Chuck 31 years and has played every posi- not just with the Fargo Slow Pitch Dennis Bense, now living in actively umpiring and served as and Marge Oberg. Their Class AA tion during his career. His career Softball Association but with the Bismarck, played a total of 23 Deputy Umpire in Chief for the team won four state titles and had a batting average is approximately state organization, USA Softball years in North Dakota for teams Jamestown area for 20 of those record of 935 wins and 212 losses .600. He has been a team manager North Dakota. in Minot and Bismarck. He retired years before his recent retirement. over a 16 year span. They won for 28 of those years as well as a After a 29 year career playing from the game in 2015 with an Tom has an impressive resume two Regional titles and became sponsor. He has played in over 31 slow pitch softball in the state, approximate batting average near as an umpire, having worked over the fi rst team from North Dakota state championship tournaments he holds several positions on the 600. He describes himself as a 100 state tournaments as well as 10 to win a Class AA Regional to 2 Regionals and 7 Nationals. His local level, including member base hitter with some power. He Regional tournaments and 4 Na- advance to the National Tourna- teams have won four state titles, of the Board of Directors, Fargo played in 33 state championship tionals. He has also volunteered as ment. The team was also named one Regional title and added three Slow Pitch, Treasurer for 30 years, tournaments with teams sponsored a working umpire for 15 McQuade the Non-School Team of the year runner-up titles at National events. member of the Fargo Park Board by Toads Ride and Shine of Minot, Tournaments. and captured four McQuade Tour- Curt is credited with keeping All City Softball Board and tourna- Hair Hospital and Stadium of Bis- Tom is respected for his knowl- nament titles. softball alive in Fessenden and ment manager for a number of state marck and Dustex of Mandan. His edge of the rules and his ability to Chuck and Marge followed surrounding area. For 20 years, he tournaments which hosted over teams played in two National Class communicate clearly at any level their team to every game and has built and rebuilt teams almost 4,000 teams. On the state level, A Coed tournaments, a National of the game. He is regarded as an were much more than monetary annually in his home town. Every Kaeding has served on the Board 35 and over tournament and fi ve excellent clinician and an umpire sponsors. Softball became their year many of his better players of Directors, been Secretary/ additional National tournaments. who takes pride in sharing his summertime passion including move on to college or to bigger Treasurer, is on the Classifi cation He also served as the manager of knowledge and experience with invitational tournaments virtually cities to fi nd employment. Curt Committee, the Hall of Fame Se- Toads Ride and Shine and was the new umpires. Players respect his every weekend. The team won often sponsored teams as well as lection Committee the Financial sponsor for Scheels. He is a mem- judgement and his ability to handle over 100 games in a single season, playing and managing. His teams Committee and was awarded a ber of the McQuade Tournament diffi cult situations with a minimum a nearly impossible feat in North always entered state tournaments Distinguished Service Award in Hall of Fame and played on the of attention. He was always pre- Dakota. It goes without saying that as well as invitationals including 2015. Toads Team which set McQuade pared for his assignments, properly Chuck and Marge put a lot of time the McQuade and normally did All of those administrative tournament records for the most dressed and equipped. He gained and money into their sponsorship very well against teams from big- accomplishments have over shad- runs scored in one inning when admission to the National Indicator of this highly successful team. ger towns and cities. owed his playing career which in- they plated 27 runs in the first Fraternity in 1994 and earned Elite They also helped the team with clude over 500 pitching victories, status in 2005 GREG KAEDING inning of a game during the Mc- equipment expenses and donated playing in 25 state tournaments, Quade tournament. Annual Spring Meeting April 7 Hall of Fame Banquet, Jamestown. Pitch Division, the JO Fast Pitch open at 4:30 with a buff et dinner to of the Hall of Fame Committee same date and place The Spring meeting of the NDU- Division and the Umpires. follow. All current Hall of Fame at 1226 4th Ave. E, West Fargo, SA Softball Association will begin The Hall of Fame banquet and members are invited and urged to ND 58078. Her telephone number State Softball Commissioner with coff ee and rolls at 8:30 a.m. induction ceremony for six new attend. Each will be individually is 701-799-0772 or fax 701-893- Dick Gulmon has announced the followed by a general meeting at members is also scheduled for that introduced prior to the induction 2638. Please get your tickets early date for the annual Spring Meet- 9:00 a.m. Separate meetings of evening with the banquet begin- ceremony for new members. Any- so that a head count for the banquet ing and Hall of Fame Banquet and the various divisions will follow ning at 5:30 so attendees at the one interested in attending is also may be obtained. induction ceremonies. Both events before the group meets again to state meeting can stay for the Hall invited. Tickets are $25 per person; will be held on Saturday, April 7 at hear reports from the Men’s Slow of Fame ceremony and still get Tickets may be obtained by con- inductees for this year will get 2 the Gladstone Hotel in downtown Pitch Division, the Women’s Slow home that evening. A cash bar will tacting Amy Anderson, Secretary free tickets. 2 – Softball News Spring 2018 President’s Report Wow, it is 19 below this morning tional Tournaments in 2018. Fargo Masters rosters must be submitted series for you. So please look into as I write this letter. It does not will host the Northern D on Aug. by July 1st. This is very important participating. The winning teams feel like softball weather but is is 31-Sept. 2nd. Mandan will be the because of the National Masters will receive some great prizes at the not that far away. I have already home of the Mens Masters 35, tournament is again in North Da- end of the year. received my High School fast 45 and the Women’s 35 Masters kota this year- Mandan. A make-up I would like to congratulate pitch schedule which starts early on Aug. 24-26.