2006 Membership Soars Past 150,000 Mark... USSSA Announces Restructuring, Inducts Eleven More Hall Of Famers At 39th National Meeting

Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, AZ.--The United States Specialty Sports Assocation (USSSA) celebrated reaching the 150,000 team milestone at its 39th Annual National Meeting November 12-18 at the Radisson Ft. McDowell Resort and Casino in Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, Az., by announcing an exciting new partnership with the Houston Astros, the restructuring of two of its three largest sports programs, and inducting eleven new members into its Hall of Fame.

The Association also passed twenty rule changes and six by-law changes at the convention, along with a constitution change to help streamline voting at its annual national meeting.

The world’s largest multi-sports organization continued to bask in its exclusive partnership with Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports, popular website, and its phenomenal growth at the convention, where it announced that membership had reached 152,911 teams, a staggering increase of over 10,000 teams from 2005.

“Year after year I have reported to you that we have exceeded our expectations in team registrations and tournament participation,” said USSSA CEO/Executive Director in his keynote address at the convention. “And this year is no different. In fact, it was without a doubt the most successful year in the 39-year history of this Association.

“We experienced continued growth in ten sports and our membership has increased two and a half times in the last eight years,” said DeDonatis.

“We are entering our fifth year with our Disney partnership, and we have doubled our commitment to Osceola County to bring in room nights to offset the costs of our Headquarters and Sports Hall of Fame,” added DeDonatis. “And we have also affiliated with Major League Baseball by entering into a partnership with the Houston Astros that has given us exposure on national TV.”

DeDonatis also trumpeted the astounding success of the Assocation’s website, www.usssa.com.

“This dynamic, real-time approach has taken us into the future of sports administration and given our directors the tools to give our teams the recognition they deserve,” said DeDonatis. “Our website will generate over 80 million page hits by year’s end.”

DeDonatis urged USSSA Directors help the Association “take control of the competitive sports market.

“We have established ourselves as the industry leader and set the standard for success,” he said. “We must remain aggressive and pursue our goals, stay creative and attentive to our customer needs, remain accessible and take pride in what we do.”

DeDonatis also announced that USSSA would be opening up a travel office at its Headquarters, and had changed insurance brokers in order to take a “hands on approach to the insurance side of our business.”

In addition, DeDonatis told convention attendees that its baseball and fast pitch programs were reorganizing due to their “overwhelming growth.

“Over the last eight years, we have all witnessed the rebirth of this organization,” DeDonatis said in closing. “We set our sights firmly on the future, rose to the occasion, and met those challenges head on. Set your goals high and your standards even higher. Dare to dream - anything is possible.”

Among the rule and by-law changes passed at its convention, the organization made dramatic changes in its pitching rule and mixed couples eligibility rules, initiated a new “Watch List,” and introduced tough new penalties against teams whose players are caught using altered bats.

Pitchers will now be able to pitch from an area the width of the pitching rubber and up to six feet behind the pitcher’s plate. And in the mixed program, team classifications will no longer be affected by a player’s participation in the men’s or women’s program except for men’s players participating at the “Major” or “A” level.

USSSA also put into effect a new “Watch List,” which prohibits players on the list from participating below class “B.” And now, under new legislation adopted pertaining to the use of illegal equipment, severe penalties will be imposed against managers, coaches and teams whose players are found to be using altered bats.

Other rule and by-law changes of note included giving tournament directors the option of using 65’ or 70’ base paths in all programs; removing the requirement that participants in the Church program must be active participants since June 1st; requiring the top ten percent of the finishers in the Women’s “D” World to play at a higher classification the following year; removing penalties for teams forfeiting out of tournaments; and lowering the number of finishers in the Mixed ‘C” World that are required to play at a higher classification the following year from six to two.

The USSSA inducted eleven new members into its Hall of Fame. They included Rusty Bumgardner (NC), Jeff Hall (NC) and Bob Louria (MI) in the male player category, Anna Clements (FL) in the female player category, Colleen Needham (OH) in the manager category, Rick Fortuna (KS) in the executive category, Tom Mattes (MI) and Dwight Gehring (KS) in the umpire category, Tom Kehoe (NY) in the sponsor category, and Hank Bassett (KY) and Tammy Totland (KS) in the special service category.

The eleven were inducted during a Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Radisson.

Ten new candidates were selected for induction in 2007. They were Doug Roberson (FL), Jeff Wallace (NY) and Brett Helmer (CT) in the male player category, Leslie Canter (FL) in the female player category, Tom Formosa (CA) in the manager category, John Usie (LA) in the umpire category, Dennis Helmig (OH) and Chuck Fischer in the special service category, Mark Linnemann (KY) in the executive category, and Bill Taylor (MA) in the sponsor category.

The ten will be inducted during a Hall of Fame banquet at the USSSA National Meeting on November 11- 17 at the Hilton Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fl.

Awards presented at the National Meeting included: Baseball Rookie Director of the Year: Jay Zetz, CA; Slow Pitch Rookie Director of the Year: Larry Green, MS; Fast Pitch Rookie Director of the Year: Jeff Castell, GA; Basketball Rookie Director of the Year: Ron Barris, ME; National Headquarters Award of Excellence: Don Mason, SC; USSSA-deBeer–Richard Pollak Memorial – Player Category: Reenie Fitzgerald, OH; USSSA-deBeer–Richard Pollak Memorial – Non-Player Category; the late Randy Smith, TN; Dwight Hall Spark Plug of the Year Award - Slow Pitch (West) - Dale McGregor, WA; Slow Pitch (East) - Rich Carlyle, VA; Dwight Hall Spark Plug of the Year - Basketball: Delaney Rudd, NC; Dwight Hall Spark Plug of the Year - Baseball: Don Mason, SC; Dwight Hall Spark Plug of the Year - Fast Pitch: Eddie Small, VA; Complex of the Year: Big League Dreams (various locations); Adair Park, Jackson County Missouri, Independence, MO; USSSA Official of the Year – Chuck Beckwell, MI; Director of the Year - Fast Pitch – Brenda Paulson, IL; Director of the Year - Taekwondo – Guy Laplant, VT; Director of the Year - Baseball – Wally Fortuna, KS; Director of the Year - Basketball – Jeff Foss, FL; Director of the Year - Slow Pitch – Gerry Turnberg; USSSA Award of Merit: Miken Sports and Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club, Kissimmee, FL; USSSA Distinguished Service Award: Mike McCarron, Dudley Sports and Michelle Fisher, Florida Hotels; Assistant Executive Director’s Award - Non-Slow Pitch Category: Don DeDonatis III, MI; Slow Pitch Category, Scott Cameron, CA; MI; E. A. Ramsey/CEO Award: Kelly Burke, MD and Steve Celuch, FL.

The 2008 USSSA National Meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Daytona Beach, FL November 11- 17.

Ten Elected To USSSA National Hall Of Fame; Induction Ceremonies Slated For November 12-16, 2007 In Daytona Beach, Fl..

Scottsdale, Az.-A four time USSSA World Series All-Tournament team selection, a nine team member of the USSSA Women’s World Series All-Tournament team, a sponsor and manager in the USSSA program for over twenty years, a 39-year veteran of the USSSA umpire program, a longtime sporting goods executive, a USSSA Executive VP, and a USSSA State Director, are among ten individuals who have been selected for induction into the USSSA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Elected at the USSSA National Meeting November 13-17 in Scottsdale, Az. were Doug Roberson (FL), Jeff Wallace (NY), Brett Helmer (CT), Leslie Canter (FL), Tom Formosa (CA), John Usie (LA), Dennis Helmig (OH), Mark Linnemann (KY), Bill Taylor (MA), and Chuck Fischer (KY).

The ten will be inducted during a Hall of Fame banquet at the USSSA National Meeting on November 12- 16 at the Hilton Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fl.

Doug Roberson captured USSSA World Series championships with Superior-Apollo, Ritch’s Superior, and Team TPS, and was a four-time USSSA All-World Series selection. He was the Series home run leader in 1987.

Leslie Canter won five USSSA Women’s World Series championships while competing with teams like Steele’s Sports, Canton Softball Center, Lady Blue, UPI and the Shooters. She was a six-time All-World Series pick, was named to 45 All-Tournament teams, and claimed 21 Outstanding Defensive Awards. She compiled a career batting average of .585.

Tom Formosa sponsored and managed the Classic Glass softball team for over twenty years. His teams competed in five Men’s B World Tournaments and two Men’s A. In 1998 he piloted Classic Glass to the USSSA Men’s B World Championship and was named manager of the year. Classic Glass has also won numerous other NIT, state and regional championships.

John Usie remains an active umpire to this day with 42 years of experience, including 39 with USSSA. Usie has attended five National Umpire Clinics, and has officiated in the dozens of State and National Tournaments, and the Men’s Church, Men’s A, Men’s Major and Girls’ Youth World Tournaments. He was an inductee into the Louisiana USSSA Hall of Fame in 2000.

Dennis Helmig was a founding member of the famous Steele's Automotive softball team in 1972. Capitalizing on that teams' notoriety and success, Helmig co-founded Steele's Sports Company. He is believed to be one of only a handful of individuals to play, manage, and sponsor a team in the USSSA World Series. In 1992, Helmig joined Star Sports, then in 1996 became a territory manager for industry giant Worth Sports of Tullahoma, Tn. In 2005 Helmig became one of two National Regional Sales Managers for Worth.

For over 33 years Mark Linnemann has been involved in virtually every aspect of the USSSA program, including player, manager, umpire, area director, and state director. He served on the USSSA Executive Board as Great Lakes Division Vice-President from 1988-1998, then on the association’s Board of Directors as Great Lakes Division Vice-President in 1999-2000, and as Executive Vice-President from 2000-2006. He received the USSSA President's Award in 1985.

Kentucky USSSA State Director Chuck Fischer recently completed his 26th season with USSSA. After starting his career as an area director in Louisville, he was appointed as the Girls’ Youth State Director in 1982, then as Women’s State Director in 1986, and eventually succeeded Ed Williams as Kentucky State Director. Fischer received the President’s Award in 1999, a year after being named Great Lakes Director of the Year. He has served the Association as Director of three Women’s World Series, and has hosted two Girls’ Youth Worlds in the Louisville area. Over the last five years at Kiliansky Sports Complex in Ft. Knox, Ky., he has hosted a Men’s 45-Over and Women’s 35-Over World, a Women’s World Series, and the first USSSA Military world tournament to be played on a military base. He has conducted an estimated fifty USSSA NIT’s, thirty State Championships and twenty five National Championships.

Fischer says his most exciting experience with USSSA has been serving as Master of Ceremonies for the Association’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies from 1994-2006. He credits his Hall of Fame election to the 21 park operators in Louisville and his area directors around the state.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bios for Jeff Wallace, Brett Helmer and Bill Taylor were not available.

Eleven Inducted Into USSSA National Hall Of Fame In Scottsdale, Az.

Scottsdale, Az.-An infielder who has played with five USSSA Men’s Major World Series champions, a first baseman who has been named to nine consecutive Men’s Major All-World teams, an outfielder whose teams have captured six Women’s World Series titles, a manager who has coached or managed sixteen USSSA World Championship teams, a former USSSA Division Umpire-In-Chief who has officiated in seventeen Men’s or Women’s World Series, a 35-year sponsor whose teams have won over 1,000 tournaments, and the USSSA Executive Vice President credited with navigating the USSSA baseball program into national prominence, are among the eleven individuals who were formally inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame last fall at a ceremony concluding the organization’s National Meeting in Scottsdale, Az.

Inducted were Rusty Bumgardner (NC), Jeff Hall (NC) and Bob Louria (MI) in the male player category, Anna Clements (FL) in the female player category, Colleen Needham (OH) in the manager category, Rick Fortuna (KS) in the executive category, Tom Mattes (MI) and Dwight Gehring (KS) in the umpire category, Tom Kehoe (NY) in the sponsor category, and Hank Bassett (KY) and Tammy Totland (KS) in the special service category.

The eleven were honored during a Hall of Fame banquet ceremony November 17th at the Radisson Hotel in Scottsdale, Az., where they were formally inducted into the USSSA National Hall of Fame, located in Kissimmee, Fl.

Rusty Bumgardner has been a member of five USSSA World Series championship teams, including Resmondo/Smith/Menosse in 2005. He has been named to five Men’s Major All-World teams and from 2000-2004 ranks third in home runs, second in at bats, first in total runs and third in rbi’s in World Series Action.

Jeff Hall is a 12 year USSSA veteran with over 5000 career home runs. Playing for such teams as Steele’s Hit Men, Sunbelt-Steeles, Bell Corp, Sunbelt-Bell Corp, Sunbelt, Dan Smith-Sunbelt, and Dan Smith, he amassed a .765+ career batting average. Primarily a 1st baseman, Hall has been selected Tournament MVP 20-plus times and to 50-plus All-Tournament teams, including the last nine Major World Series. He was the first player to hit over .800 (.817) in World Series play. His greatest softball achievement was being selected MVP of the 2000 World Series. He praises USSSA’s efforts to make World Series play more competitive by limiting home runs.

Anna Clements retired in 2001 after 19 years of participation in the USSSA program. Playing primarily in left and center field with Action Awards, Lady Comets, Women of Steele’s, Lady Blue, Rockets and Shooters, she attained a lifetime batting average of .600. She was named MVP in the 2001 Women’s World Series, and has earned MVP honors more than twenty times in State Tournaments and NIT’s. She was named the DeBeer Sportswoman of the Year in 2001 and has won numerous Outstanding Offensive Player and Best Defensive Player awards.

Colleen Needham managed and coached successful teams in the USSSA program for 23 years. She was general manager or manager of Famous Recipe (1982-’85), Empress Chili (1986-’97), Northern Cincinnati Sports Medicine (1994-’99), Cincinnati Pride (1998), Ty-1-On (2000-present) and Ohio Cardinals (1999- present). Her teams won USSSA A World Championships in 1986, 1986 and 1988, and were runners-up in 1982, 1989, 1990 and 1995. In the Masters’ program she has managed six 35-over World Champions, five 50-over World Champions, and the 2005 45-over and 55-over World Champions. Her won-lost record in the Women’s A program was 685-189, and in the Masters’ program was 261-56, for a total of 946-245. She was named the DeBeer Sportswoman of the Year (non-player category) in 1996, and Greater Cincinnati Manager of the Year in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Tom Mattes is a 34-year veteran of the Michigan USSSA program. Mattes served five terms on the National Playing Rules Committee. He has been the Michigan USSSA State Umpire-In-Chief for 17 years and was Great Lakes Division U-I-C for two years. He has worked in twelve Men’s Major World Series and five Women’s World Series and numerous World, National, National Invitational and State Tournaments. Mattes has conducted several national, divisional and state umpire clinics during his career, and was inducted into the Michigan USSSA Hall of Fame in 1987. He received the National UIC award in 1994 and the Great Lakes Division UIC Award in 1984 and 1989.

Dwight Gehring has been an active umpire for 33 years, including 22 with USSSA. He has attended a National Umpire Clinic every year since 1983. Gehring has officiated in 53 world tournaments, 12 nationals, the 1988 Men’s Major World Series and 1989 Women’s World Series. He was the UIC for the 2003 Women’s B and C and Men’s B World Tournaments and the 2004 Women’s B, C and D World Tournaments. He has also served as UIC for six fast pitch World Series. He has been the Kansas State UIC since 2001, served on the National Rules Committee from 1992-’94, was named the Southwest Division Umpire of the Year in 2000 and received the Director of Officials Award in 1999.

Rick Fortuna served as the USSSA baseball State Director for Missouri for the past ten years. He was part of the team that devel-oped the USSSA baseball program, and in 1999 he was appointed the first Executive Vice-President of Baseball. He has served on the USSSA Board of Directors, National Baseball Committee, the Tournament Award Committee and the New Sports Committee. He was recipient of the coveted President’s Award in 2000, and the Association’s highest award - the E. A. Ramsey Award - in 2002. His most exciting event was seeing the first USSSA Baseball World Series in 1997.

Tom Kehoe has been sponsoring men’s, women’s and youth softball for over 35 years, and sponsoring USSSA teams since 1969. His women’s Pace team won the USSSA Women’s World tournament in 1977. Since 1991, his men’s softball teams have played on the A, AA and Major circuits. His Black American men’s team has won the world tournament seven times and finished runner-up on three occasions. Cumulatively, his teams have won over 1,000 tournaments, none of which would have been possible without his sponsorship. His proudest moment came when his 1992 Pace team won the Cleveland Major NIT and defeated number three ranked Steele’s and number one ranked Bellcorp. for the championship.

Hank Bassett is a slow pitch promotion and marketing consultant with the Hillerich & Bradsby Company (a.k.a. "Louisville Slugger" and "TPS"). He has worked for H & B for over fourteen years. Before joining H & B, Bassett spent 20 years in the game of slow pitch softball as a sponsor, manager or player. His teams posted a 73.6 winning percentage, winning 1,060 games while losing 381. He co-sponsored and managed teams that were considered top ten teams for almost a decade, which was highlighted by his Starpath team's '88 season in which they won the Smoky Mt. Classic and the ASA Super Nationals. He also managed the '87 ASA National Champions and the 1989 squad that won the Gold Medal in the Olympic Festival. His Starpath teams were the first USSSA team to win berths to play in seven consecutive USSSA World Series ('85 thru '91). Bassett went to work for H & B in November of 1991 and was charged with the responsibility of heading up TPS's slow pitch promotional program as well as maintaining relations with the various governing associations in the game. He was instrumental in helping to institute changes in the game using H & B's influence or by working with the associations. He began the TPS Power Ratings which provided a method by which the better teams in the country were ranked according to their participation and success at the upper levels of the game. He also instituted and maintained the TPS Player Statistical Awards by which the players who posted the best numbers in Home Runs, Home Run Frequency and On-Base Percentage were recognized at the end of each season. His enduring wish is that all who run & serve the game of slow pitch softball continually work towards bettering & strengthening the game.

Kansas State Director and Women’s and Youth Program Vice-President Tammy Totland is entering her 25th year with USSSA in 2007. She was appointed the State Youth Director in Kansas in 1982, then was elevated to State Director in 1988. Ten years later in 1998, she was named Women’s National Program Director, then Mixed National Program Director in 2004. The following year she was named the USSSA’s first female Vice-President.

Totland has served on the USSSA Slow Pitch National Committee since 1998. She has directed over seventy National and World Tournaments at Fun Valley Sports Complex in Hutchinson, Ks., where she was promoted to manager in January, 2006.

In addition to receiving several prominent awards at the division level, she received the Richard Pollak Memorial Award in 1989, the USSSA President’s Award in 1997, and the USSSA National Headquarters Award of Excellence in 1999.

Totland said that she is most proud of the fact that Kansas is the national leader in team registrations per capita, and of the friendships she has made within USSSA.