Softball News SUMMER 2018.Indd
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Non•Profi t Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 44 Garrison, ND Volume 33, Number 3 | NORTH DAKOTA STATE AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION | Summer 2018 Another successful Hall of Fame event Six new members inducted at banquet Another record crowd gath- ered at the Gladstone Inn in Jamestown the evening of Sat- urday, April 7 for the annual Hall of Fame banquet which this year welcomed six new members to the Shrine bringing the total to 277. Approximately 130 persons attended including this year’s inductees and 31 current Hall of Fame members who were individually intro- duced prior to the banquet. This year’s inductees include; Dennis Bense, Curt Krahler, Tom Harty, Greg Kaeding and Chuck and Marge Oberg who were inducted All the 2018 Hall of Fame inductees line up with their Hall of Fame plaques. From left to right, Dennis Bense, Curt Krahler, Tom Harty, Greg Kaiding posthumously. and the daughters and son of Marge and Chuck Oberg who accepted for their parents who are deceased. The North Dakota Softball Hall of Fame was among the fi rst in the United States to rec• ognize and honor those players, coaches, manager’s, sponsors and umpires who had been rec- ognized for their contributions to the sport of softball in North Dakota. It was also the fi rst in the nation to establish a special building to house the memo- rabilia from its members. The location has been moved to the Jamestown Civic Center where it shares space with other ath- letic Halls of Fame. This year State Umpire in Chief Mike Wolf presented the Umpire Award of Excel- Randy Oberg and his sisters accept the Hall of Fame plaque on behalf of marked the 61st anniversary of lence to Joe Vuolo of Bismarck. The award is named after long time their parents Chuck and Marge Oberg who were inducted posthumously the softball shrine. umpire Walt Stack at right. to the Hall of Fame. State Commissioner Dick Gulmon presents 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Bense 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Greg Kaeding of his Hall of Fame plaque to 2018 inductee Commissioner Dick Gulmon presents Hall of Curt Krahler. Krahler joins his father Chuck Fame plaque to Tom Harty of Jamestown. shows his Hall of Fame plaque just presented Fargo in a pensive moment. by Commissioner Dick Gulmon. who is deceased in the Hall of Fame.. State Commissioner Dick Gulmon presents a Distinguished Service Award to long time State Umpire in Chief Mike Wolf and Fargo State Umpire in Chief Mike Wolf presents State Umpire in Chief Mike Wolf and new Elite Fast Pitch Commissioner Jim “Rip” Collins of umpire Chris Coleman of Hillsboro with his Bismarck umpire Wade Blumhagen with his umpire Tom Hamkens of Bismarck. Minot. certifi cate as an Elite umpire. certifi cate of Elite umpire. More photos page 12 2 Softball News Summer 2018 President As I write this letter it is the fi rst McQuade Softball Tournament this Northern National will be held held in Fargo. For more info on day of Summer- longest day of the weekend. It is the largest charity in Liberty, MO. this year on Aug. both events please to to the State year- where did Spring go? We are Softball Tournament in the World. 24-26. The Men’s C National will Website. well into the softball schedule for I have been told there are over 450 be in Prairie Island, MN. Aug. 31- The Monster Tournament Series the year. With about half the regu- teams signed up to play. If you Sept. 3rd. The Masters rosters must is again going well. You still have lar season already behind us we have never played in or umpired be submitted by July 1st. This is time to pick up some ground on need to start looking at upcoming in this huge event I would highly very important this year since the your total numbers. The winning State and National tournaments. recommend you give it a try. It is Nationals Masters tourney is again teams will receive some great I have sent out my letter to quiet an event. The Wounded War- in North Dakota. A make-up roster prizes at the end of the year. the League Reps to classify their riors Amputee Softball team will is allowed for both the State and Good luck to all teams heading teams. Please get these back to again be playing in the McQuade National tournament but we must to the McQuade this year. Also to me as soon as you can- Deadline again this year... have them in hand by July 1. teams going to State and National Jack Lukes is June 30th. Classify all of your We will be hosting 2 National We will be adding 2 new State tournaments. Hope to seeing you teams even if they are not going to Tournaments this year. Mandan tournaments this year in North on the diamonds somewhere this State. Send one check to me for will be the home of the Men’s Dakota. Both will be one day Summer.... all the teams that are going to State Masters 35,45and the Women’s events. First will be the Fall State Tournaments. The Classifi cation Masters 35 on Aug 24-26th. Fargo on Saturday Oct. 6th. And the new Jack Lukes- meeting this this will be July 6th. will host the Northern D on Aug. 5 on 5 on 5 State the following I will be heading to the 43rd 31- Sept 2nd. The Men’s E/Rec day Oct 7th. Both events will be From the Sidelines This is written the day after the Tournament, Mike Wolf. several years and getting certifi ed as August 24 through 26. Masters 43rd annual Sam McQuade Char- It was another exciting three an international qualifi ed umpire. 35 will feature 3 Divisions of play ity softball tournament concluded days and I saw many players and She had worked Regional and even depending on classifi cation with a its three day run in Bismarck and umpires I knew. Steve Riswold, Super Regional before but this 3 game guarantee. The Masters 45 Mandan. There were over 700 the Regional Umpire in Chief from year she worked Regional, Super will feature an open division with a games played in the three day event Sioux Falls came up as he has for Regional and fi nally, the College 3 game guarantee. At the same time and only four of them got rained out nine years now. Also, former Re- World Series. Not only that but she and place the Women’s Masters 35 on Sunday before a championship gion Umpire in Chief from Region was one of the umpires who worked will take place with one open divi- game could be played. Two on the 12, Dave Epperson from Topeka, what turned out to be the National sion and a 3 game guarantee. Men’s Divisions and two in the Kansas drove up and enjoyed the Championship game. The format Also on the calendar is the Men’s Women’s Divisions. The weather tournament. Those two and I spent pits the fi nal two teams left in the Northern Class D tournament in was chancy all weekend but didn’t part of Saturday touring the softball tournament against each other in a Fargo August 31 through Septem- Walt Stack aff ect play until the fi nal day. Huge complexes in Bismarck, talking three game series. It turned out that ber 2. Which I think will be held at and Chris Coleman of Hillsboro. crowds as usual, special events with players and watching umpires Florida State won the fi rst game and the new Fargo Northern complex. Tom Hamkens was also presented including the Wounded Warriors working tournament games. We followed up with a win in game two If you haven’t seen that complex the USA Softball National Indicator for the fi fth year in a row. These picked a good day to observe um- which meant they were the National yet, you will be impressed. Fraternity award. amputees are really remarkable and pires since they were wearing lime Champions. Naomi was one of the A couple of other thoughts. I Long time fast pitch Commis- are an inspiration to everyone who green shirts and caps with special three umpires selected to work the was honored at the Hall of Fame sioner Jim “Rip” Collins of Minot sees what they can do despite their McQuade logos on them. Pretty second game. I am so proud of her, banquet when the Umpire award of and Gary Tharaldson of Fargo were handicaps. Also, there was an exhi- easy to spot and nowhere to hide she worked hard, traveled many Excellence was named after me and the recipients of USA Softball of bition game between North Dakota if you blow a call. miles to work in this environment presented to Joe Vuolo of Bismarck North Dakota Distinguished Ser- Military All Stars and North Dakota Speaking of umpires, I need to and has earned every accolade she whom I have known and admired vice Awards. First Responders which drew many say several kind words about one gets. She is a remarkable woman since he came to town in the l970’s. Enjoy the rest of the Summer and spectators. Another feature was the of my favorite umpires, Naomi and a terrifi c umpire. I know great From now on that award will be the I hope to see some of you around Connie Wolf Cancer Awareness Ex- Erdahl who became the fi rst North things are still in her future.