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2311 05590 Conversational AI Threads for Visualizing Multidimensional Datasets

by rocsoftballassoc | Dec 15, 2023 | Artificial intelligence

Best Practices for Building Chatbot Training Datasets

chatbot datasets

In addition, we have included 16,000 examples where the answers (to the same questions) are provided by 5 different annotators, useful for evaluating the performance of the QA systems learned. In conclusion, chatbot training is a critical factor in the success of AI chatbots. Through meticulous chatbot training, businesses can ensure that their AI chatbots are not only efficient and safe but also truly aligned with their brand’s voice and customer service goals. As AI technology continues to advance, the importance of effective chatbot training will only grow, highlighting the need for businesses to invest in this crucial aspect of AI chatbot development.

Obtaining appropriate data has always been an issue for many AI research companies. Chatbots’ fast response times benefit those who want a quick answer to something without having to wait for long periods for human assistance; that’s handy! This is especially true when you need some immediate advice or information that most people won’t take the time out for because they have so many other things to do.

We have drawn up the final list of the best conversational data sets to form a chatbot, broken down into question-answer data, customer support data, dialog data, and multilingual data. Chatbots have revolutionized the way businesses interact with their customers. They offer 24/7 support, streamline processes, and provide personalized assistance. However, to make a chatbot truly effective and intelligent, it needs to be trained with custom datasets. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through the process of training a chatbot with custom datasets, complete with detailed explanations, real-world examples, an installation guide, and code snippets.

Chatbot Training Dataset: The Foundation of AI Conversations

Keyword-based chatbots are easier to create, but the lack of contextualization may make them appear stilted and unrealistic. Contextualized chatbots are more complex, but they can be trained to respond naturally to various inputs by using machine learning algorithms. The objective of the NewsQA dataset is to help the research community build algorithms capable of answering questions that require human-scale understanding and reasoning skills. Based on CNN articles from the DeepMind Q&A database, we have prepared a Reading Comprehension dataset of 120,000 pairs of questions and answers.

However, before making any drawings, you should have an idea of the general conversation topics that will be covered in your conversations with users. This means identifying all the potential questions users might ask about your products or services and organizing them by importance. You can foun additiona information about ai customer service and artificial intelligence and NLP. You then draw a map of the conversation flow, write sample conversations, and decide what answers your chatbot should give. The chatbot’s ability to understand the language and respond accordingly is based on the data that has been used to train it. The process begins by compiling realistic, task-oriented dialog data that the chatbot can use to learn.

In this chapter, we’ll explore why training a chatbot with custom datasets is crucial for delivering a personalized and effective user experience. We’ll discuss the limitations of pre-built models and the benefits of custom training. Natural Questions (NQ), a new large-scale corpus for training and evaluating open-ended question answering systems, and the first to replicate the end-to-end process in which people find answers to questions. NQ is a large corpus, consisting of 300,000 questions of natural origin, as well as human-annotated answers from Wikipedia pages, for use in training in quality assurance systems.

They are also crucial for applying machine learning techniques to solve specific problems.
Intent recognition is the process of identifying the user’s intent or purpose behind a message.
Chatbot or conversational AI is a language model designed and implemented to have conversations with humans.
Before you embark on training your chatbot with custom datasets, you’ll need to ensure you have the necessary prerequisites in place.
Training a chatbot on your own data not only enhances its ability to provide relevant and accurate responses but also ensures that the chatbot embodies the brand’s personality and values.

HotpotQA is a set of question response data that includes natural multi-skip questions, with a strong emphasis on supporting facts to allow for more explicit question answering systems. An effective chatbot requires a massive amount of training data in order to quickly resolve user requests without human intervention. However, the main obstacle to the development of a chatbot is obtaining realistic and task-oriented dialog data to train these machine learning-based systems. Training a chatbot on your own data not only enhances its ability to provide relevant and accurate responses but also ensures that the chatbot embodies the brand’s personality and values.

Compress to Impress: Unleashing the Potential of Compressive Memory in Real-World Long-Term Conversations

Entity recognition involves identifying specific pieces of information within a user’s message. For example, in a chatbot for a pizza delivery service, recognizing the “topping” or “size” mentioned by the user is crucial for fulfilling their order accurately. New off-the-shelf datasets are being collected across all data types i.e. text, audio, image, & video.

chatbot datasets

This level of nuanced chatbot training ensures that interactions with the AI chatbot are not only efficient but also genuinely engaging and supportive, fostering a positive user experience. By focusing on intent recognition, entity recognition, and context handling during the training process, you can equip your chatbot to engage in meaningful and context-aware conversations with users. This aspect of chatbot training underscores the importance of a proactive approach to data management and AI training. Businesses must regularly review and refine their chatbot training processes, incorporating new data, feedback from user interactions, and insights from customer service teams to enhance the chatbot’s performance continually. Deploying your custom-trained chatbot is a crucial step in making it accessible to users. In this chapter, we’ll explore various deployment strategies and provide code snippets to help you get your chatbot up and running in a production environment.

Top 15 Chatbot Datasets for NLP Projects

As language models are often deployed as chatbot assistants, it becomes a virtue for models to engage in conversations in a user’s first language. The Yi model family is based on 6B and 34B pretrained language models, then we extend them to chat models, 200K long context models, depth-upscaled models, and vision-language models. The dataset contains tagging for all relevant linguistic phenomena that can be used to customize the dataset for different user profiles. The question/answer pairs have been generated using a hybrid methodology that uses natural texts as source text, NLP technology to extract seeds from these texts, and NLG technology to expand the seed texts. In the final chapter, we recap the importance of custom training for chatbots and highlight the key takeaways from this comprehensive guide.

A set of Quora questions to determine whether pairs of question texts actually correspond to semantically equivalent queries. Chatbot or conversational AI is a language model designed and implemented to have conversations with humans. This dataset can be used to train Large Language Models such as GPT, Llama2 and Falcon, both for Fine Tuning and Domain Adaptation. We deal with all types of Data Licensing be it text, audio, video, or image.

In the OPUS project they try to convert and align free online data, to add linguistic annotation, and to provide the community with a publicly available parallel corpus. TyDi QA is a set of question response data covering 11 typologically diverse languages with 204K question-answer pairs. It contains linguistic phenomena that would not be found in English-only corpora.

In the next chapters, we will delve into testing and validation to ensure your custom-trained chatbot performs optimally and deployment strategies to make it accessible to users. This chapter dives into the essential steps of collecting and preparing custom datasets for chatbot training. They are also crucial for applying machine learning techniques to solve specific problems. A data set of 502 dialogues with 12,000 annotated statements between a user and a wizard discussing natural language movie preferences.

You can use a web page, mobile app, or SMS/text messaging as the user interface for your chatbot. The goal of a good user experience is simple and intuitive interfaces that are as similar to natural human conversations as possible. Multilingually encoded corpora are a critical resource for many Natural Language Processing research projects that require large amounts of annotated text (e.g., machine translation). DROP is a 96-question repository, created by the opposing party, in which a system must resolve references in a question, perhaps to multiple input positions, and perform discrete operations on them (such as adding, counting or sorting). These operations require a much more complete understanding of paragraph content than was required for previous data sets.

In this chapter, we’ll explore the training process in detail, including intent recognition, entity recognition, and context handling. With more than 100,000 question-answer pairs on more than 500 articles, SQuAD is significantly larger than previous reading comprehension datasets. SQuAD2.0 combines the 100,000 questions from SQuAD1.1 with more than 50,000 new unanswered questions written in a contradictory manner by crowd workers to look like answered questions. In order to create a more effective chatbot, one must first compile realistic, task-oriented dialog data to effectively train the chatbot. Without this data, the chatbot will fail to quickly solve user inquiries or answer user questions without the need for human intervention. The datasets you use to train your chatbot will depend on the type of chatbot you intend to create.

More Datasets

Discover how to automate your data labeling to increase the productivity of your labeling teams! Dive into model-in-the-loop, active learning, and implement automation strategies in your own projects. Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. ArXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them. We leverage LLMs to generate challenging tasks related to hypothetical phenomena, subsequently employing them as agents for efficient hallucination detection. Effective feature representations play a critical role in enhancing the performance of text generation models that rely on deep neural networks.

chatbot datasets

It’s the foundation of effective chatbot interactions because it determines how the chatbot should respond. The dataset contains an extensive amount of text data across its ‘instruction’ and ‘response’ columns. After processing and tokenizing the dataset, we’ve identified a total of 3.57 million tokens.

It consists of 9,980 8-channel multiple-choice questions on elementary school science (8,134 train, 926 dev, 920 test), and is accompanied by a corpus of 17M sentences. Break is a set of data for understanding issues, aimed at training models to reason about complex issues. It consists of 83,978 natural language questions, annotated with a new meaning representation, the Question Decomposition Meaning Representation (QDMR). Intent recognition is the process of identifying the user’s intent or purpose behind a message.

This dataset serves as the blueprint for the chatbot’s understanding of language, enabling it to parse user inquiries, discern intent, and deliver accurate and relevant responses. However, the question of “Is chat AI safe?” often arises, underscoring the need for secure, high-quality chatbot training datasets. Ensuring the safety and reliability of chat AI involves rigorous data selection, validation, and continuous updates to the chatbot training dataset to reflect evolving language use Chat PG and customer expectations. The path to developing an effective AI chatbot, exemplified by Sendbird’s AI Chatbot, is paved with strategic chatbot training. These AI-powered assistants can transform customer service, providing users with immediate, accurate, and engaging interactions that enhance their overall experience with the brand. Each of the entries on this list contains relevant data including customer support data, multilingual data, dialogue data, and question-answer data.

OpenBookQA, inspired by open-book exams to assess human understanding of a subject. The open book that accompanies our questions is a set of 1329 elementary level scientific facts. Approximately 6,000 questions focus on understanding these facts and applying them to new situations. Deploying your chatbot and integrating it with messaging platforms extends its reach and allows users to access its capabilities where they are most comfortable. To reach a broader audience, you can integrate your chatbot with popular messaging platforms where your users are already active, such as Facebook Messenger, Slack, or your own website.

Dialogue datasets are pre-labeled collections of dialogue that represent a variety of topics and genres. They can be used to train models for language processing tasks such as sentiment analysis, summarization, question answering, or machine translation. Achieving good performance on these tasks may require training data collected under some domain-specific constraints such as genre (e.g., customer service), context type (formal business meeting), or task goal (asking questions). Chatbot training is an essential course you must take to implement an AI chatbot. In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the effectiveness of AI chatbots hinges significantly on the quality and relevance of their training data. The process of “chatbot training” is not merely a technical task; it’s a strategic endeavor that shapes the way chatbots interact with users, understand queries, and provide responses.

When it comes to deploying your chatbot, you have several hosting options to consider. Each option has its advantages and trade-offs, depending on your project’s requirements. Your coding skills should help you decide whether to use a code-based or non-coding framework.

LMSYS Org Releases Chatbot Arena and LLM Evaluation Datasets – InfoQ.com

LMSYS Org Releases Chatbot Arena and LLM Evaluation Datasets.

Posted: Tue, 22 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This Colab notebook provides some visualizations and shows how to compute Elo ratings with the dataset. Building a chatbot with coding can be difficult for people without development experience, so it’s worth looking at sample code from experts as an entry point. Building a chatbot from the ground up is best left to someone who is highly tech-savvy and has a basic understanding of, if not complete mastery of, coding and how to build programs from scratch. Our results show that SafeDecoding significantly reduces the attack success rate and harmfulness of jailbreak attacks without compromising the helpfulness of responses to benign user queries. Log in

to review the conditions and access this dataset content.

By proactively handling new data and monitoring user feedback, you can ensure that your chatbot remains relevant and responsive to user needs. Continuous improvement based on user input is a key factor in maintaining a successful chatbot. In the next chapters, we will delve into deployment strategies to make your chatbot accessible to users and the importance of maintenance and continuous improvement for long-term success. Customer support data is usually collected through chat or email channels and sometimes phone calls. These databases are often used to find patterns in how customers behave, so companies can improve their products and services to better serve the needs of their clients. QASC is a question-and-answer data set that focuses on sentence composition.

Chatbot training datasets from multilingual dataset to dialogues and customer support chatbots. The journey of chatbot training is ongoing, reflecting the dynamic nature of language, customer expectations, and business landscapes. Continuous updates to the chatbot training dataset are essential for maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of the AI, ensuring that it can adapt to new products, services, and customer inquiries. The process of chatbot training is intricate, requiring a vast and diverse chatbot training dataset to cover the myriad ways users may phrase their questions or express their needs. This diversity in the chatbot training dataset allows the AI to recognize and respond to a wide range of queries, from straightforward informational requests to complex problem-solving scenarios. Moreover, the chatbot training dataset must be regularly enriched and expanded to keep pace with changes in language, customer preferences, and business offerings.

chatbot datasets

As businesses increasingly rely on AI chatbots to streamline customer service, enhance user engagement, and automate responses, the question of “Where does a chatbot get its data?” becomes paramount. Customizing chatbot training to leverage a business’s unique data sets the stage for a truly effective and personalized AI chatbot experience. The question of “How to train chatbot on your own data?” is central to creating a chatbot that accurately represents a brand’s voice, understands its specific jargon, and addresses its unique customer service challenges. This customization of chatbot training involves integrating data from customer interactions, FAQs, product descriptions, and other brand-specific content into the chatbot training dataset. At the core of any successful AI chatbot, such as Sendbird’s AI Chatbot, lies its chatbot training dataset.

SGD (Schema-Guided Dialogue) dataset, containing over 16k of multi-domain conversations covering 16 domains. Our dataset exceeds the size of existing task-oriented dialog corpora, while highlighting the challenges of creating large-scale virtual wizards. It provides a challenging test bed for a number of tasks, including language comprehension, slot filling, dialog status monitoring, and response generation.

The delicate balance between creating a chatbot that is both technically efficient and capable of engaging users with empathy and understanding is important. Chatbot training must extend beyond mere data processing and response generation; it must imbue the AI with a sense https://chat.openai.com/ of human-like empathy, enabling it to respond to users’ emotions and tones appropriately. This aspect of chatbot training is crucial for businesses aiming to provide a customer service experience that feels personal and caring, rather than mechanical and impersonal.

These tests help identify areas for improvement and fine-tune to enhance the overall user experience. Conversation flow testing involves evaluating how well your chatbot handles multi-turn conversations. It ensures that the chatbot maintains context and provides coherent responses across multiple interactions. Context handling is the ability of a chatbot to maintain and use context from previous user interactions. This enables more natural and coherent conversations, especially in multi-turn dialogs.

This rich set of tokens is essential for training advanced LLMs for AI Conversational, AI Generative, and Question and Answering (Q&A) models. To keep your chatbot up-to-date and responsive, you need to handle new data effectively. New data may include updates to products or services, changes in user preferences, or modifications to the conversational context. In the next chapter, we will explore the importance of maintenance and continuous improvement to ensure your chatbot remains effective and relevant over time.

We encourage you to embark on your chatbot development journey with confidence, armed with the knowledge and skills to create a truly intelligent and effective chatbot. User feedback is a valuable resource for understanding how well your chatbot is performing and identifying areas for improvement. We recently updated our website with a list of the chatbot datasets best open-sourced datasets used by ML teams across industries. We are constantly updating this page, adding more datasets to help you find the best training data you need for your projects. Creating and deploying customized applications is crucial for operational success and enriching user experiences in the rapidly evolving modern business world.

The data were collected using the Oz Assistant method between two paid workers, one of whom acts as an “assistant” and the other as a “user”. It consists of more than 36,000 pairs of automatically generated questions and answers from approximately 20,000 unique recipes with step-by-step instructions and images. Testing and validation are essential steps in ensuring that your custom-trained chatbot performs optimally and meets user expectations. In this chapter, we’ll explore various testing methods and validation techniques, providing code snippets to illustrate these concepts. Before you embark on training your chatbot with custom datasets, you’ll need to ensure you have the necessary prerequisites in place.

John Diehl

A native of Middletown, N.Y., John attended Avon Central and Brockport State.

His softball career spanned five decades. He played for several teams including Jeremiah’s, MCM Fuel, Sunset Inn, Ridge Billiards and the Elmwood Inn, and won numerous championships along the way.

John is a charter member of the John Warren Senior Softball Organization. He was the cornerstone on which that team was built and helped it win several national titles, earning all-tournament honors numerous times.

“I had the privilege to play for knowledgeable and devoted coaches over the years, including Bud Johnson, Joe Nucci and Denny Warren,” he said. “It was my honor to play with great players, many of whom are honored in the Hall of Fame, and many others who were terrific ballplayers and great teammates, who are honored in my memory.”

John worked for Monroe County for 32 years and St. John Fisher for 10 years.

He spent much of his free time involved in community projects.

Mike Petramalo

A Rochester native, Mike was a three-sport standout at Rush-Henrietta Roth High School, where he earned Monroe County Player-of-the Year honors in baseball twice, was All-County in basketball on back-to-back Section Five championship teams and won his high school’s tennis title two years in a row.

Mike chose to attend Ithaca College rather than sign a professional baseball contract out of high school. He wound up earning a Bachelor of Science degree there and later earned his master’s degree at Roberts Wesleyan College.

He began his softball career with Bubba’s Inn in 1984 and over the next 20 years played for several different teams, including Pace Electronics, Leisure Time Marine, Eastern Demolition and MFP Thunder. His teams fared well in numerous regional, national and world tournaments. His batting average was over .700 in 11 of the 14 world tournaments he played in.

During a span from 1990-95, Mike amassed more than 400 home runs and 1,000 runs batted in. His best season was 1994, when he batted .738 with more than 100 homers and 300 RBIs. Along the way, he won numerous home run derbies including one in Williamsport where he smacked 10 homers on 10 pitches – a feat that’s never been equaled.

Mike is the CEO of MFP Advisory Group and Next Level Advisor Coaching and Consulting, which he founded after 30-plus-year career working for several Fortune 500 financial companies. He has received several national financial advising and community service awards. He has been involved in a number of charitable organizations, including Special Olympics, Helping Hands, Caring Hearts and the United Way.

He lives in Daytona Beach and Rochester with his wife Lisa and is the proud father of three adult children.

Chet Lochman

A Rochester native, Chet graduated from East Irondequoit in 1973, where he played soccer and baseball. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology at Brockport State, where he was a member of the college’s boxing team.

After graduating, he spent 26 years as a Sheetmetal worker, and also started Monroe Gutter Cleaning, LLC, and is still involved in the business.

Chet has been playing senior softball for 16 years and has competed in more than 75 national and world tournaments, winning 12 titles and 3 Tournament of Champions crowns. He has been named to the SSUSA All-Tournament 14 times and was voted MVP several times, including at the 2016 tournament in Las Vegas. Chet also was crowned the hitting champion at the Softball magazine training camp in Florida in 2015, beating out 80 competitors, ranging in age from 21 – 60 years old. In 2022, he helped lead Team USA to the championship in the Dominican Republic and was named the tournament’s top defensive player at shortstop. His greatest accomplishment was winning the 2019 SSUSA 60 Major World Championship in Las Vegas with Madalena Cardot.

In addition to sponsoring and running a successful Tuesday morning team at McAvoy Park, he has played for numerous travel teams, including Pace Electronics, Roc City, Madalena Cardot, Empire/Monroe, New Jersey Promotion,
Delaware Jackhammers and Syracuse Fat Nancy’s.

Jim Collins

Born and raised in Rochester, Jim graduated from Aquinas
Institute and Rochester Institute of Technology with an accounting
degree. He spent 37 years working for the City of Rochester as an
accountant.

He was introduced to the sport of softball through KPAA and the
Charlotte summer programs, and eventually wound up playing nearly
300 games a year. “Do the math,” he joked, “and you will find out how·
difficult that is.”

While playing for Art’s Market from York, N.Y., his teams won a
total of 14 tournaments in the Southern Tier region in a two-year span.
During his illustrious career, Jim played for teams that won more
than 125 tournaments. At the US SSA C World tournament with ABC/
Lyell, his team finished first in a field of more than 100 teams. Jim led
the way, earning All-Tournament and MVP honors. He also would wind
up winning the MVP award at several other tournaments, including
Softball Unlimited, ASA State B, Attica, Pittsford Woods, Spalla Farms,
Mansfield (Pa.), the Phoenix Classic, and Z on 88 Makanes Sporting
Classic. He was named Major League Rookie of the Year while playing
for Pace.

Jim and his wife Lucy have been married for 36 years, and enjoy
visiting their son, James, daughter-in-law, Kate, and grandson, Will, in
Virginia.

Billy Clauss

A native of Rochester, Billy pitched and played centerfield for legendary coach Eddie Nietopski at Cardinal Mooney, where he was teammates with Pete Castle and Doug Farrell. His finest season came in 1969 when he led a 23-1 Mooney team in batting average, home runs and stolen bases. He also played baseball for LeMoyne College and continued playing in the Muni leagues after graduating from SUNY Brockport and the University of Buffalo Law School.

Billy began his slow pitch softball career with Castle Insurance, where he primarily pitched and led off, and was named the starting pitcher on a “Super Team,” chosen by the Democrat and Chronicle. “He’s got his head in the game 100 percent,” Pace manager Dick Laughlin once said of him. “He hits, he hustles, he has excellent speed. He’ll turn a single into a double. He reminds me of Rick Pinto, all-world pitcher for World Champion Snyder’s of Detroit.”

Billy played a prominent role in helping the merged Castle-Mazzola team win the national USSSA championship in 1977. He later joined the Rochester Express, which won the Professional World Series in 1980. Billy batted .574 for the Express but didn’t have enough at-bats to qualify for the batting title (won by teammate Rich Brown) because of law school commitments.

In addition to softball, Billy has excelled as a distance runner, earning Rochester Track Club Runner of the Year honors in his age group three times. He qualified for and ran in the Boston Marathon in 2015.

After graduating with honors from law school, Billy worked for Harris Beach Wilcox Rubin and Levey, and later served as a Special Assistant Monroe County Public Defender and as the Chief Defender for the Western District of New York. He also worked as a confidential law clerk for John L. DeMarco and Stephen K. Lindley, and became a partner with Trevett Lenweaver and Salzer P.C.

He has two sons, Donald and Paul and two grandchildren, Mariana and Reece.

Billy was an inaugural inductee into the Cardinal Mooney Sports Hall of Fame.

Gary Kowalski

A native of Rochester, Gary graduated from Gates Chili High School in 1972, and earned a degree in accounting and finance from RIT in 1977, and his MBA from the University of Rochester in 1986. He enjoyed an outstanding athletic career in high school, earning ALL-County twice in basketball and once in golf.

After college, Gary became a successful businessman, rising to the top of several companies. Though he retired seven years ago, after serving as CEO of Menlo Logistics, a $2-billion company, he has remained semi active in the business world, serving on the board of directors for three different companies.

He earned numerous accolades during his softball career, guiding his teams to several championships, while earning all-tournament and MVP honors.

Gary and his wife, Rita, have one son, Adam, who was born in 1985. Gary keeps busy playing tennis, reading, spending time with his family and supporting local charities.

Andy Cardot

A 1973 graduate of Greece Arcadia High School and an alumnus of Monroe Community College, Andy has enjoyed a long and distinguished softball career.

    Along the way, he has won numerous MVP awards, including ones at the Sea Serpent Classic (1984), the Senior National tournament (2004), and the Buckeye Classic (2017 and 2021). He began playing senior ball in 2004 with Gubiotti’s and has been with that team ever since.

    Fittingly, Andy met his wife, Jan, at a softball banquet and the couple has been married 42 years. They have two children – Andy Jr., who lives in Rochester, and Jessie, who lives in Georgia. Their son and daughter-in-law Courtney have four children: Irene, Ashlyn, Andy and Opal.

    Andy has owned and operated his own business – Cardot Construction Inc., since 1979. He expanded it many years ago by buying rental properties.

    In addition to playing softball and spending time with his family, Andy enjoys golfing, gardening and fixing up the cabin on his new land.

Bernie Gauthier

After graduating from Aquinas Institute in 1973, following a star-studded career in football and baseball, Bernie distinguished himself in slow-pitch softball with Rochester Products, a powerhouse team in the Industrial Management Council League’s (IMC) top division.
A solid outfielder with a good arm and strong bat, Bernie was instrumental in helping his team win multiple Eastern States Qualifying Tournaments and two coveted Eastern States Championships. He also played an integral role in Rochester Products’ three Division AAA IMC league crowns.
Bernie was always in the top four in batting average, home runs and runs batted in for a very strong team.
He is the fourth Rochester Products player to be inducted into the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame and the third in the Industrial category.

Jim Adams

Known for his outstanding fielding and clutch hitting, Jim won a world championship in 1977 when the Mazzola and Castle teams merged. In the 1980s, he played for Doubledays, Jerry Earls, Ronnies, and in the industrial league with Rochester, Gas & Electric. Jim was selected to several all-star and all-world teams.
He worked for several decades as a cable splicer / lineman for RG&E before retiring in 2012. His father, Leo J Adams is deceased, but his mom, Dorothy, is still going strong at 93 years-old. Jim has one daughter, Kaitlyn Truelove, a son-in-law, Roland Truelove, and two grandsons, eight-year-old Roland and six-year-old Joe.
Jim enjoys hunting, fishing and golfing, and spending time with his fiancé Dianne Claud, and his grandsons, each of whom is heavily involved in house and travel-league baseball.

Joe Colombo

The son of Bill and Josephine Colombo, Joe was born in Rochester in 1951 and attended Edison Tech High School. He went on to receive degrees from Alfred and Buffalo State.

Joe is self-employed, and he and his wife, Judy, have three children. He enjoys bowling, racquetball, golf, pickleball and of course softball.

Joe has been involved with senior softball for more than a decade both as a player and a coach. He has coached numerous men’s and women’s team throughout the area, and has been involvrd with a local travel team.

Joe is a driving force behind many of the “upgrades” to daytime senior softball at McAvoy Park. As part of that role, he serves as commissioner of the highly competitive Tuesday morning senior league at McAvoy Park.

Jack Smith

Jack was born in 1936 to parents Fred and Kathleen Smith. Following graduation from Palmyra-Macedon Central High School in 1953, Jack spent three years serving in the U.S. Army, including an 18-month stint in Germany.

After returning to the states, he attended Springfield College for two years before transferring to Brockport State, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education. He put those degrees to good use, teaching and coaching for 31 years at Rush-Henrietta High School, leading the boys’ varsity baseball and girls’ soccer team to more than 300 combined wins and several titles. In 1992, Jack was inducted into the New York State High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

From 1960 through 1970, Jack played fast-pitch softball, and from 1990 through 2018, he was a senior softball player-manager.

He and his wife, Betty, were married for 63 years and had three sons, including Jeff, with whom Jack played senior softball.

Jack passed away last November at 85 after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Carl Simms

The son of Robert and Naomi Simms, Carl attended Batavia Norte Dame High School and Monroe Community College before embarking on a 28-year career with the Rochester Police Department.
A member of his high school’s athletic Hall of Fame, Carl also spent 10 years as an assistant baseball coach at St. John Fisher college and 2 years as an assistant baseball coach at Medaille college.
Carl played softball with the Rochester Police Locust club and also with teams in the Sunday morning Genessee Valley league and the Winton and Empire senior league. He played in world softball tournaments in places like Detroit, Toronto and Buffalo.
His hobbies include guitar, target shooting and bowling.
Carl still supports his brothers and sisters in Law Enforcement as a member Code 4 Alpha, which offers support to first responders.

Peter Kelderhouse

Peter started playing fast-pitch softball at the age of 9 and six years later was pitching for a tavern-league team. He later joined the U.S. Marines, and while stationed at the San Jaun Naval Base in Puerto Rico, he pitched his team to three consecutive Com-Ten championships.
After finishing his service, he played in several leagues in and around Rensselaer, N.Y., where he earned the nickname “Change Up,” for his devastating off-speed pitch that constantly caught batters off-guard.
Peter moved to Rochester in 1979, and after turning 50 began his slow-pitch career with the Rochester Olde Stars, where he became a slow-pitch player and hitter. He travelled throughout the United States and Canada for two decades, making several all-tournament teams.

Peter Post

Son of Peter and Angie Post, and brother to Ron and Tom, Peter was born in 1941. He spent 30-plus years working in the Churchville-Chili school district. Peter and his wife, Kathleen, who died six years ago, had three children – Lisa, Karen and Andrea. Peter was awarded an MVP award in a 1984 ASA-sponsored tournament in Auburn, where his team finished second. He has played and helped manage in the Empire and Winton leagues for several years. He has also played travel ball for several years. Peter’s other hobbies include hunting, fishing and billiards.

Tony Tepedino

Tony was born in 1947 in Batavia. His parents, Harry and Genevieve, raised him with his three
sisters and three brothers. Tony attended Saint Joseph’s grammar school, Notre Dame High
School and Erie Community College. He worked 35 years for LaMans Corp. Parts Unlimited,
retiring in 2015.

He has been married for 50 years and has four children. Tony’s love for the game of baseball
has been evident since the time he ran the neighborhood Whiffle Ball leagues all the way
to his current career as a senior softball player. For years, Tony was a mainstay in the
Canandaigua softball leagues, where he won many championships.

Tony is very popular no matter who he plays with. His unorthodox style of play adds to the
true meaning of what senior softball should be: “Play the game and have fun doing it.”

In addition to softball, Tony’s other interests include traveling, bowling and playing music.
He is a multi-instrument musician who has played in various rock bands since high school.

Mike Saporito

Michael Saporito was born in 1947 in Rochester to parents, Michael and Emma Saporito. He has four
siblings: John, Anthony, Carl and Paulette. Mike attended School No. 39, Franklin High School,
MCC and SUNY Brockport. He taught in the Rochester City School District for 33 years before
retiring in 2002.

Mike and his wife Kathy have two children: Kim and Michael. He has always been an person. His
hobbies include softball, pickle ball, tennis, biking, golf, bowling, fishing, and hiking.
He also shows his creative side playing piano.

Mike is well known as a fast runner and is often the main runner in tournament play. His
softball achievements include being named All-American in the World Senior games; playing
and winning several national and local softball tournaments, and being selected All-Tournament
and All-World. As a recreation player, Mike has been a part of several league titles at
McAvoy Park.

Sam Gallo

Sam, a Rochester native, was born in 1958 to parents Rosemary and
Salvatore Gallo. He started playing baseball at age 8 in a tee shirt
league. That led to playing in the Westside Little League at age 10
where he won a 1st Place trophy.

After moving to Williamson with his family, Sam played and lettered
in basketball, baseball and soccer. He holds a soccer scoring
record notching 15 goals over a 12 game season. Sam’s soccer
career culminated in 1994 when joined the Irondequoit Lancer club
team on a trip to Italy to play exhibition games.

After playing American Legion Baseball, Sam went to work for Kodak.
There, he had the opportunity to play in the KPAA league as
well as the ability to travel with the IMC league. As a Senior Player,
Sam has played on several travel teams including world championship
teams. Sam is a true steward of the game. He believes it is
not about winning but enjoying the mutual trust and friendships
with the people playing the game. Sam acknowledges a highlight of
his sports career was playing with his boys Christopher and Chad
(deceased 2015).

Phil Argento

A Rochester native, Phil was an outstanding athlete at John Marshall High School,
playing basketball, football and baseball. And his athletic prowess would continue after leaving
Marshall, as he made a name for himself playing fast-pitch softball for Kodak Park from
1958 through 1975. Tom Castle, a member of the National Softball Hall of Fame and a former
Kodak manager, called Phil the best he ever saw.

Phil was inducted into the Rochester Softball Association Hall of Fame in 2010. He
was not only a great player, but a great ambassador of the game. He promoted it through
his association with the KPAA program, and teamed with Art Held and others in the construction
of Gears Park.

Phil joined Art Fedele in organizing tournaments in the Rochester area, and worked
with the editors of the Democrat and Chronicle and Kodakery magazine to promote the sport.
Phil, Art Herd and John Dumau held classes at Brockport to teach girls how to
play fast pitch. He was one of the most respected and liked players the game has seen.

Randy Shaffer

A native of Waynesburg, Pa. and one-time resident of Pittsburgh, Randy moved with his family to
Churchville, where he attended grammar and high school. At Churchville-Chili High School, Randy
excelled in soccer, basketball and baseball. During his senior year in 1970 – 71, he was named a
high school All-American in soccer, established a school basketball scoring record with 44 points
in a single game, and earned All-County honors in baseball. For his exploits, he was named the
Saints Athlete of the Year.

Randy worked at Kodak for 37 years, retiring in 2008. He also played softball for Kodak Park, where
he starred in the Industrial Management Council league and the Eastern States Tournaments.
Randy’s softball career began at age 18 with Kodak Park. In 1976, he began playing for several
major league teams, including Sullivan Shoe, 0K Farms, Ronnies, Doubledays and MCM Fuel.

He played in numerous tournaments, locally and nationally, where he established himself as a solid
fielder and clutch hitter. A longtime baseball coach at his high school alma mater, Randy played
some Senior Softball until a knee injury in 2017 sidelined him. His brother, Bob Shaffer, also
is a Rochester Softball Hall of Fame inductee.

Dennis Riley

Born in 1952 to Jim and Marge Riley, Dennis graduated from Spencerport High School, where he played
three varsity sports.

Through the years, Dennis played softball with several Rochester powerhouse teams, including
Dutchman’s, Miller Brick, Mueseys, Max Spice and Pace. He has fond memories of two tournaments in
particular. One occurred in Las Vegas, where the Northern California team they had beaten, hung
around and rooted for Dennis’ team while they played a Southern California team in the championship
game. Dennis’ team wound up winning that contest and the title in the final inning. The other
memorable tournament championship occurred in Salem, Mass. when they won it all, despite having
to compete in a younger age bracket.

“I ended up with more rings and ribbons than I ever expected,” he said. “And I did that with all my
buddies.” Dennis said he was thrilled when senior softball came along because it gave him the opportunity
to continue playing and share in the camaraderie. Refereeing youth and school volleyball matches
and umpiring baseball games continue to be favorite pastimes.

“Throughout most of my life, and to this day, my closest friends have evolved around sports,” he said.

Scott Pitoniak

A native of Rome, N.Y., Scott attended Rome Free Academy, where he played baseball and
football for state-ranked teams. After graduating magna cum laude with a journalism degree from
Syracuse University in 1977, Scott began his sports writing career. He is in his 49th year as a
journalist, 2 5 of which were spent as a columnist with the Democrat and Chronicle, Gannett News
Service, and VSA Today.

Scott is the recipient of more than 100 national and regional writing awards. The Associated
Press named him one of tile nation’s top 10 sports columnists. Scott is the author of more than 2 5
books, included best-sellers about the Buffalo Bills and Syracuse. Through the years, he has written
numerous stories about Rochester softball, and is a regular contributor to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s
history magazine. Scott has been inducted into the Red Wings Hall of Fame, the Frontier Field Walk of
Fame and Camp Good Days and Special Times’ Ring of Honor.

He loves playing senior softball, but has been sidelined recently by illness and injuries, following
an eight-year stretch in which his teams won four championships at McAvoy Park.
When he’s not writing books or his column for the Rochester Business Journal, Scott enjoys
spending time with his wife, Beth, children, Amy and Chris, and granddaughters, Camryn and Peyton.

Jim Landon

Born in 1948, Jim and his brother, Gary, grew up in the town of Greece, where they attended high
school. As a youngster, Jim was an accomplished tennis and table tennis player, earning the
nickname “Pellet” because of his pin-point accuracy.

After college, Jim became an accomplished electrician, working for more than 50 years in the
field. Jim’s softball career spanned 40 years, playing for several major teams from that era,
including New York Life, Shakey’s and Mazzola Insurance. For most of his career, he was
managed by Hall of Fame skipper Andy Yazwinski.

Jim excelled anywhere in the infield as a defensive specialist, and had sneaky power.
Playing on mostly open fields locally, he was a lifetime .500 hitter. Although Jim never won a
world championship, he was named to several AllWorld and All-Star teams.

Jim’s fondest memories in softball were playing for Kartes Builders, the 18-time Town of Greece
champions, where he became life-long friends with Softball Hall of Fame members Bobby Kartes and
Gary Kaiser.

Ory Mee

Ory is best known for his accomplishments as a high school coach, particularly in baseball. He
spent 32 years at Hilton Central, coaching and teaching physical education before retiring in 2005.
During Ory’s 18 seasons as head varsity baseball coach, the Cadets became one of the area’s premier
programs, earning him induction into both the Section V Baseball and Hilton Sports Halls of Fame.

He also has enjoyed a long and illustrious softball playing career. A native of Jamestown and a
graduate of Falconer High School, Jamestown Community College and Brockport State, Ory has been
playing for Mahan’s softball team since 1976.Last year, he helped Mahan’s win a league championship
50 years after the team’s founding. Mahan’s also has won league and playoff titles in Brockport
recreational leagues, Ridgewood Park, Hamlin, Fork’s Park and the senior leagues at McAvoy Park.

Ory and his wife, Patricia, have three grown children – Cory, Eileen and Ryan. When he’s not
playing softball, he enjoys spending time with his family, camping, fishing, hunting and traveling.
Besides baseball, he’s also coached basketball and swimming at the high school level, and came out
of retirement to serve as an assistant baseball coach at Brockport State for nine years.

Kevin Fitzgerald

Born in Rochester in 1954 to parents, Richard and Sylvia Fitzgerald, Kevin grew up in a large family, with
six siblings – Barry, Dick, Maryanne, Shelia, Maureen and John. He attended St. Helen’s Elementary School
and Gates Chili High School. He wound up working 35 years for Wegmans before retiring in 2008.

Kevin has played softball continuously for almost 60 years. One of the high points came in 1985 when his
Marlen Floor team won the World NSA “C” Tournament. He has played Senior ball for 17 years, and has won
numerous tournaments, including the SSUSA World Championship in Las Vegas in 2004 and the ISSA Worlds
in Manassas in 2005. He earned All-Tournament honors in Manassas and at the 2017 Buckeye Classic.

He cites the many life-long friendships he’s made while playing the game, and is proud to have taken the
field with many of his friends, as well as his brother, John.

He and his late wife, Susan, had three children – Erin, Kevin, Jr. and Casey. When he’s not playing ball,
you can find him spending time with his kids, grandkids and long-time companion, Joan Lincoln. Kevin also
enjoys fishing and puttering around with old cars.

George Duke

Born in Rochester in 1953 to parents George and Agnes Duke, George attended Holy Ghost
grammar school, Churchville-Chili High School, the University of Notre Dame (where he earned a
bachelor’s degree) and RIT (where he received an MBA).

George made his mark in softball in the 1970s and ’80s, when he played for the Doubledays,
a highly regarded major league team. He was elected to all-star teams several times, and
was named All-World at the USAA tournaments in Rochester and Kingston, N.C.

George was considered a five-tool player who could hit for average and power, throw,
run and field. He is regarded as one of the finest outfielders in Rochester softball history.

He and his wife Freda have three children (Allison, Brennan and Rhiannon), and reside in
South Bend, Ind., where George has spent the past 27 years working at Notre Dame. During that
time, he has raised an astounding $200-million for the university.

His hobbies include biking, golf, kayaking, reading and traveling.

Jerry Earls' / Castle Inn

Through the years, Jerry Earls’/Castle Inn (JE/CI) played in the area’s top leagues, including the Rochester Major League at
Cobb’s Hill, Cordereo’s, Bayview and Edgerton Park. They also played in the ultra-competitive Tri-County League and Winton and
Empire (McAvoy Park).

JE/CI was one of the first Rochester teams to cross the line f rom ASA to USSA (now USSSA) in 1969, winning the city-wide
qualifier to earn a B Classification bid to the world championships. They handled themselves well that year, finishing just outside the
top 20 in the field of 64 teams.

In 1970, they went 71-9, and finished just outside the top 15 at that year’s B World Championships in Petersburg, Va.
The following year, JE/CI went 69-11, and again finished just outside the top 15 at the worlds in Hicksville, Long Island.
In 1972, they went 66-22, and finished one game out of the top 10 at the worlds.

JE/CI also played in many of the city’s top tournaments. They won Cordereo’s, and also captured the Fulton, N.Y. Memorial
Day and Fourth of July tournaments. Their three-season record was a scintillating 206-42.

Dan Bruinsma

Dan was born in Rochester in 1946, the fourth youngest of five siblings. He played center field for the Eastridge High School baseball team,
and after graduating in 1964, attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he earned a degree in chemistry. He immediately put
that degree to use in 1968 as an analytical chemist for Eastman Kodak. A product of the KPAA summer fast-pitch youth program, Dan joined
Bob Hyatt’s high powered Hi Fi team as a centerfielder for several years before playing for Kodak Park’s tournament team in the early 1970s.
During this time, he also played for the T.J. Frederico team when the league moved to Gears Memorial Park. Well-known for his defensive skills
and for his ability to make contact, Dan established himself as a high-average lead-off hitter with occasional power. He played in numerous
tournaments with Kodak and other travel teams. He also played in World Tournaments in Rock Island, Illinois, and Phoenix, Ariz., where he hit
a combined .400. In 1974, he was named the Rochester Fast Pitch leagues All-Star centerfielder, and, two years later, he won MVP in the Buffalo
Queen City Tournament for Kodak Park by batting .620 with three home runs – two of which were game-winners – to help his team win the championship.

Art Barrett

Arthur (Art) Barrett was born in Rochester on May 11, 1946 to parents Elton and Eleanor. He,
along with his brother Richard and sister Gail, grew up on Rochester’s westside. After attending
School No. 43 and Jefferson High, Art went to SUNY Brockport, where he earned bachelor
and master’s degrees in education. He taught in the East Irondequoit School District for 27
years before retiring. During his career, Art coached many sports, including softball and
basketball. Art’s senior softball career spans more than 25 years, playing for storied teams
such as the Rochester Classics and Rochester Royals. His honors include a 2012 Northeast
Championship; a silver medal at the 2013 National Senior Games; an MVP award at the
2017 ISSA Mountaineer Senior Classic; the 2017 ISSA World Championship, and AII-Tournament
selections at the 2018 Ocean City Classic and the 2019 Heart of Ohio.

Mike Luciano

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Mike graduated from Franklin High School and then earned a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering from RIT. In 1964, he took a job at Gleason’s and played IMC ball for them. In 1976, Mike went to Kodak Apparatus Division (KAD) as an Industrial Engineer and worked for 30 years before retiring in 2006.

Family Background
Mike is one of four children born to Anthony and Anne Luciano. He has three children: Michael, Anthony and Paul.

Biography
Mike played for the KAD team that won 8 straight IMC Titles. He was a member of the KAD team that won the 1982 USSSA Industrial World Title. Mike also played in the Town of Greece and Kodak Intramural leagues and helped win titles there.

John Dorris

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
John graduated from John Marshall High School in 1950. He attended RIT. He served in the US Army and was discharged in 1953. He then worked at Kodak Park for 36 years and retired in 1986.

Family Background
John has two children, Ed and Elaine.

Biography
John lettered in football, basketball, and baseball for John Marshall High School. He was a pioneer of the Kodak inter-plant softball program. In 1972, he assembled a team to play in the IMC League. During his 7-year tenure as manager, Kodak won an Eastern States title and was a two-time runner-up. In 1980, John became an ASA umpire. He also became an assigner for over 40 Kodak umpires. John retired from his 32-year umpiring career in 2012.

Stuart Rauber

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Stuart graduated from Webster High School in 1959. He earned a BA from St. Lawrence University.

Family Background
Stuart and his wife Barbara (deceased) had a daughter, Jennifer (Mark Allen). Stuart has three grandchildren: Max, Jackson, and Molly.

Biography
Stuart started his softball career in 1958 and played until 2002. He played the majority of his career on one team, Hegedorn’s, for over 32 years. He also played for Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn for nearly 12 years. He also played slo-pitch softball as a pitcher for over 44 years in many town and recreation leagues in Webster, at Bayview Stadium, Cordero’s, and McAvoy Park softball complexes.

Stuart’s pitching performances usually provided the teams he played on the extra ingredient needed to win several league championships, play-offs, and win berths to out-of-state tournaments. He played in several tournaments such as the Richmond Memorial Day Classic, Toledo, OH, and the Rochester City Championships. He played about 50-60 games per season and compiled an amazing 880 victories over his career. He loved the game and was a true sportsman and a great loyal team player.

Frank “Frankie” Mastrodonato

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Frank attended Aquinas and Monroe Community College.

Biography
“Loyalty” is the one word that best embodies Frankie Masters. He is loyal to his loved ones, his friends, his faith and to life itself. The loyalty translated to the “purest of dedication” in everything he does. Where there is great camaraderie, sacrifices to be made or just plain “all-out effort,” you will find Frankie Masters’ fingerprints all over it.

Frankie started practicing his skills at 10 years old at the neighborhood hardware store. All day long he would practice throwing a rubber ball against the wall, fielding it on the rebound. He continued to hone his skills, playing both Little League and Pony League baseball as a center-fielder. When the weather would turn cold, Frankie would turn to hockey. During the winter, he would walk to Edgerton Park with stick and skates to play on the frozen tennis courts.

In high school, Frank’s baseball skills earned him a spot on the Aquinas varsity baseball team as a first baseman. After high school, he went to MCC, where he continued to play and excel in his two favorite sports. After college, it would be softball that continued to benefit from Frank’s skills and talents. Frank’s major slo-pitch softball career spanned 15 years.

During this time, he played first base for three of Rochester’s greatest and most successful teams: Westside Merchants, Al’s Green and Mazzola’s. He played more than 125 games each season, including local league games as well as travel tournaments. Each year, his teams won most of their league championships. His tournament travels took him all over the country, winning an average of six-to-eight of the 12 tournaments they would play each season.

Frank has a way of taking winning or losing in stride. With either outcome, he always had a humble and appreciative satisfaction that found positives in both outcomes. No one displayed more grace and class then Frankie, either on or off the field. When Frankie hung up his spikes for the last time, he was described as the perfect teammate, a player’s player, a coach’s dream, and to those who knew him best – a great friend!

Jack Rossi

Birth Place
Tupper Lake, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Jack spent his young years in Henrietta in the Rush Henrietta school system. His high school years were split between Rush Henrietta and Tupper Lake. After high school, Jack enrolled at Monroe Community College to further his education. Upon graduating, Jack worked for more than 20 years at McCurdy’s and the B. Forman Company as a buyer. Today, he can be found at the Pittsford School District working as a bus driver and at the Home Depot.

Family Background
Jack was born in Tupper Lake, NY on August 3, 1955, to parents, John and Janet. He has five siblings: Bob Rossi, Pam Ireland, Carla Pointer, Trina Goodrich, and Kara Condon. Jack and his wife, Debbie, have three children: Andrea, Jaclyn, and Erica.

Biography
Jack has always been drawn to baseball. He played the sport at Rush Henrietta and Tupper Lake in the early 1970’s. However, his true calling was to be an official. While coaching his children in sports it was suggested to Jack that he become an official. Jack took the suggestion and started his umpiring career, first, with the RDUA as a Blue shirt ASA umpire, and later as a Red shirt USSSA umpire. He was named Rookie of the year in 2001 when he joined the RDUA association.

Jack has worked every level of the game at every venue in the Rochester area. It is not uncommon for him to run from a girls’ fast-pitch game to a boys’ baseball game, and then finish up the night umpiring senior softball. Jack is known for being a consistently objective umpire with a good understanding of the game. He is able to control a game without appearing to control the game. On the rare occasions that he feels he made a mistake, he has the humility and grace to talk with the players involved, admit it, and move on.

In addition to working between the lines with softball and baseball, Jack spends his Fall Season officiating high school football. Jack continues today to be one of the most active and respected officials in the Rochester area.

Chick Palmer

Birth Place
Brockport, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Chick attended Benjamin Franklin High School in Rochester, NY. He was employed at Bausch & Lomb.

Family Background
Chick has four children, all daughters: Wendy, Tracy, Christine, and Holly.

Biography
Chick Palmer was born on May 27, 1932 in Brockport, NY. Chick was a softball player from 1956 to 1970. He played in both the Major Slo-pitch leagues and Major Industrial leagues with Bausch & Lomb. The B&L teams he played on were considered the best in class for many years in the 1960’s. He played on six Major Industrial World tournament teams with B&L. The title years were:

1961 Louisville, KY

1962 Toledo, OH

1964 Jones Beach, NY

1965 Detroit, MI

1967 Jones Beach, NY

1968 Stratford, CT

Later in his career, he decided to umpire more as opposed to playing the game he loved. He eventually transitioned to all umpiring. Since he performed so well over the years as a player and understood the game, umpiring made a good fit. He umpired for 36 years overall.

For 13 years, Chick was the ASA Metro Rochester Umpire in Chief. He was the crew chief for the Pro Slo-pitch league and was on the board of directors for the Rochester District Umpires Association (RDUA). He umpired several Major Slo-pitch tournaments all over the country, including:

1971 Parma, OH

1972 Jacksonville, FL

1976 Chattanooga, TN

1977 Parma, OH

Charles “Chick” Palmer was an excellent player, great umpire, and most importantly, a good person representing the game.

Douglas A. McConnell

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Doug attended Aquinas High School and graduated in 1945. He served in the US Navy for 22 years and retired. He worked for Eastman Kodak for 23 years and retired in 1991.

Family Background
Doug and his wife Verna have two children, Deborah and Karen, and two grandchildren, Rachael and Chelsea.

Biography
Doug has officiated baseball, softball, and slo-pitch softball for over 42 years. His first seven years he officiated in the US Armed Forces. He then officiated 32 years with the Rochester District Umpires Association (RDUA) and four years with the 44 Blue Umpires Association.

While a member of the Executive Committee of the RDUA, he played an integral role in the merger of two rival umpire associations. The merger provided for a higher caliber officiating at all levels of competition.

Doug has umpired Little League, high school, American Legion, college, and Major softball tournaments in the city. In 1990, he umpired in the NYS Public High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament. In 1996, he officiated in the Monroe County Senior Games, as well. Doug has also volunteered many hours of service, umpiring for community non-profit health-related organizations.

Doug is well-respected among many area players for his services, as well as the manner he provided those services. He is a good person and a great human being.

James Kimble

Biography
Yazoo City, MS
1945

Educational & Professional Background
At the young age of 18, James moved to Rochester, NY. After arriving in Rochester, James held positions with several area employers, such as Pfaulders, Kodak, and General Railway Signal. In the early ‘70s, he began working for the City of Rochester, where he retired in 2001.

Biography
In his 30 plus years of umpiring, James Kimble has umpired with some of the best umpires. He learned many things about being an umpire from some who are no longer with us, like Tommy Castle and Tony Coco. He is one of the four Kimble brothers in Rochester, who have umpired for USSSA umpire organizations.

James started umpiring with the Metro Umpires Association, which was the original USSSA umpires group. In 1998, James joined the Sports Officials of the Rochester Area (SORA) to continue his USSSA umpiring experience. He has been able to travel all over the country to umpire USSSA events, including several World Tournaments.

James has worked at Disney for the last five years, umpiring all levels of World Tournament play, including the Men’s B, C, D, and E Divisions, as well as the Women’s B and C Divisions. James has also worked the Military World Series and the Black American World Tournament several times. He gets the most enjoyment out of his time traveling with other members of SORA and the great friendships he has made with umpires and directors from all over the country, especially John Hart and Rick Robertson.

James would like to thank the USSSA from the bottom of his heart for the nomination and induction into the RSA Hall of Fame.

Charlie Kimble

Birth Place
Holly Bluff, MS
January 1, 1943

Educational & Professional Background
Charlie graduated from Yazoo City High School. After high school, he went on to the New York State Welding Institution. Charlie was employed by SPX Corporation, and after 27 years of service, he retired in 2002.

Family Background
Charlie was born on January 1, 1943, to parents John and Martha Kimble. His brothers and sisters include: Ivory, Joe Sr., Ike, Thenia, Thomas, John, Anne, Lilly Mae, Lonny, Sam, and James.

Charlie has four children: Curtis, Sabrina (Richardson), Wanda (Varnado), and Lawrence.

Biography
Charlie has many accomplishments as a sports official:

Section V Football for 34 years

RCC Section V Executive Committee Member for 10 years

Football official for the Eddie Meath All-Star Football Game in 1990, 1992, and 2000

Football Official of the Year in 1991

Charlie was given a NYS Merit Award, as well. Another great honor for Charlie was his 2010 induction into the Hall of Fame for officials.

Paul Conley

Birth Place
Hamilton, ON, Canada

Educational & Professional Background
Paul Louis Conley moved to Rochester at a young age and attended John Franklin High School, where he was a four-sport star in baseball, basketball, soccer, and wrestling. He then attended MCC and became their Hall Of Fame’s first 3-sport inductee in baseball, basketball, and soccer. He was an All-American goalie on their 1965 NJCAA National Championship team. He then attended St. John Fisher. He has just joined Xerox after working at Kodak, IBM, and Hewlett Packard.

Family Background
Paul and his wife Ethel reside in Rochester. They have two children: Phoebe Angela and Paul Ramon (“Chipper”).

Biography
Paul played two years of winter baseball in Puerto Rico for the Pirates organization. He was a 5-time All-Star centerfielder in the Kodak Fast Pitch League and the same for the Kodak team in the IMC League. He was a 2-time batting champ and 5 times All-Star in the Liga Alomar/Clemente Softball League. As a college baseball umpire, Paul spent 30 seasons with CBUA, ECAC, and NCAA. He was also an alternate umpire for the International League. He was Clinic Chairman for IAABO 60 high school basketball for 18 years and was the United Sports Board Council for LAABO Board 60 to negotiate contracts for high school sports in Section Five. Paul was voted Basketball “Official of the Year” and received the Jim Uhly Unsung Hero Award. Also, Paul spent many seasons umpiring softball and later scheduling for the umpire’s association.

Vinny Cimino

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Education
St. Peter’s Grammar School Madison High

Family Background
Frances Children: Vincent (Marie) Thomas, Francine (Ron)

Biography
Vincent J. (Vinney) Cimino was born in Rochester on 1/15/32. He attended St. Peter’s Grammar School and Madison High. He has been married for 61 years to his wife, Frances. They have 3 children – Vincent (Marie), Thomas, Francine (Ron) – 4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Vinney served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He was Captain of a bowling team in those years. He also played and managed softball during that span. In 1968, he helped the USSSA get started in Rochester. His umpiring career spanned 45 years, from 1955 to 2000. Vinney assigned umpires throughout Monroe County for those 45 years. Since Vinney is rather shy about his successes.

Part of an endorsement letter from Gates Deputy Town Supervisor Frank Allkofer is as follows: “I have always found Mr. Cimino to be professional in every aspect of the sport. He was an excellent official who always handled the most challenging and difficult leagues and teams. The teams always had the utmost respect for Mr. Cimino. He was an excellent assignor of officials, and his duties covered 7 days a week. Mr. Cimino was a valuable asset to the overall success of the leagues. I wholly endorse and support Mr. Cimino’s induction into the RSA Hall of Fame.”

Peter Bandera

Coming soon!

Alan Klee

Birth Place
Sodus, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Alan attended Sodus Central High School and then graduated from SUNY Brockport and Fresno State. He worked in the Monroe County Probation Department and retired in 2002.

Family Background
Alan and his wife Gail have three children. He has a brother, Jeffery, and parents, Theodore and Doris.

Biography
Alan played four years of high school soccer and baseball. He also won the Class B Sectionals for Sodus Central in 1965.

Alan has five All World team appointments:

2000 ISSA

2002 ISF

2005 ISSA

2006 ISF

2009 Senior Games in San Francisco

He made two All Tournament team appointments in 2002, Syracuse and again in Dorchester, ON, CA.

Alan is an excellent all-around team player who always gives 100% effort in his play.

Ross “Butch” Ciulla

Coming soon!

August Billitier

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Edison Tech and R.I.T. Worked at Bausch & Lomb from 1959-1980 and Kodak from 1980 until retirement in 2000

Biography
Augie Billitier was born in Rochester, NY, on 7/6/1938 to Michael and Carmella. Augie attended Edison Tech and R.I.T. He worked at Bausch & Lomb from 1959-1980 and Kodak from 1980 until retirement in 2000. Augie played for B&L for 11 years as they won 7 industrial tournaments. He played for Rochester’s senior travel teams from 1994 to 2012. He played with two teams in South Florida: The 65-year-old category Cougars from 2009-2011 who won the winter national championship in 2009, and the 70-year-old Barracuda’s from 2011 to 2012. The former team was the winter national champions in 2009. The latter team was the 2011 Winter National Champs and 2012 National Runner up. Augie was named to the 2012 All-Tournament Team. At Edison, he was an All-Scholastic in baseball and basketball.

Ragu

Ragu is one of the first teams to travel to tournaments around the USA. The team, with many players who are now in the RSA Hall of Fame, traveled to Toledo, OH, for the first ASA World Tournament. Then, they were one of the first teams to cross the line from ASA to USSSA, which lead to USSSA titles. Ragu won many Rochester area titles. They started their history as N&S Auto.

Whitey Proietti

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Whitey attended Ben Franklin High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Whitey is married to Sandy and has two sons, Tony and Jason, and seven grandchildren.

Biography
Whitey has been associated with slo-pitch softball for over 30 years either as a player or sponsoring major players in the game. In his playing days, he covered 1st base and pitched. Later on, he moved to managing and then became one of the area’s best softball sponsors. Through his many friendships, Whitey was able to secure top quality players and build a highly competitive team.

His teams were made up of young guns in the game that proved to be over time great successful players, Rick Palmero, Jr. Twist, John Demo, and others. These teams were highly aggressive and displayed a great defense to make up for their lack of power hitting. They won many local tournaments and then started traveling to great tournament sites around the country. Their style of softball was respected and not to be taken lightly or Proietti’s would win out over their opponents.

Great or good teams need the money and other support to be successful in the game, especially traveling to tournament sites around the country. Expanding their recognition beyond local boundaries was an important factor that drew quality players. Proietti’s was one of those sponsors, like Al’s Green Tavern, Mazzola Insurance that loved the game and supported their players financially to showcase their abilities.

Gary Muxworthy

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Gary attended Irondequoit High School in Irondequoit, NY. Gary worked in, and then later owned, the family hardware store and a ski/sports shop for many years.

Family Background
Gary and his wife Pam have three children: Glenn, Douglas, and Karin.

Biography
Gary started playing baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization in the Florida State & Appalachian league farm system during the mid-1960s. He ended his softball career in 1998. He is most proud of hitting a rare back-to-back, father and son (Glenn) home run feat in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Gary was a member of several outstanding area major teams over the years, including Al’s Green Tavern, Brenton Motors, Hegedorn’s, and Ragu Foods. Gary was a valued player and played a critical role in the success these teams had both in and out-of-town tournaments. He went on to sponsor both men and women world tournament teams and other local teams, as well. In 1972, the Muxworthy women’s team brought home a USSSA World Championship.

Today, Gary is still involved in sports. He is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Branch.

Pat Kehoe

Patrick resided in Ontario, NY, and was a positive and inspirational influence in all the endeavors he pursued. Patrick sponsored men’s, women’s, and youth softball for over 40 years. He was a USSSA supporter since 1969. His teams won numerous NITs and National Championships.

Since 1991, his men’s softball teams had played on the Major Tournament circuits, which included AA-A and Major teams. The men’s team that Patrick sponsored had always been nationally ranked in the top 20. His men’s teams won 19 World Championships – senior 6 times and black 13 times – which is unprecedented in the history of any association. The women’s team had also been ranked as one of the top 10 ‘A’ teams that had won more than 2000 games. His teams were very well respected.

Patrick’s fierce competitiveness in business and his love for sports, which included car racing, softball, and Notre Dame football, is reflective in his team’s drive and determination to succeed. Pat passed away in 2012 and the Rochester slo-pitch scene will sorely miss him.

Bill Huther

Bill played for and sponsored slo-pitch teams from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. His teams played in the Bayview Major League, traveled to many tournaments in the Eastern US, and won many titles at Edgerton. His Paddock Restaurant became a meeting place for many teams.

Bruce Hegedorn

Birth Place
Webster, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bruce Hegedorn graduated from Webster High School in 1945. He earned a BS degree from Springfield College.

In 1953, Bruce and his wife Mary opened their food market store in Webster on “The Ridge”. It did not take them long to be successful and realize their dream of expanding the family business that Bruce’s father Clifford started back in 1936. In 1958, and again in 1963 and 1968, their little corner store expanded and today employs nearly 200 friendly people with superb neighborly service.

Family Background
Bruce and Mary have four children: Shari, Brian, Lindsey, and Dana. They have eight grandchildren.

Biography
Hegedorn’s Market softball team sponsorship has been around the Rochester area as far back as the early 1960s. They started sponsoring softball teams in Webster and Ontario and then moved to the Major Leagues at Bayview Stadium and Cobbs Hill Park.

Hegedorn’s has always had some of the best players in the area and were very competitive against the other major teams at the time, including Al’s Green Tavern, Mazzola’s Insurance, and Pace Electronics. Their players were very loyal largely due to the sponsor’s support and love of the game.

“Hometown Proud” is declared on the sign out front and in the walkway of Hegedorn’s Market. Hegedorn’s backs this up through involvement in just about every community organization in town. A high priority for Hegedorn’s has always been to give back to the community. They have helped in so many ways, from selling tickets to a high school production, providing funding for the high school stadium lights, sponsoring both girls and boys summer softball programs through the Webster Athletic Association, or just collecting food for the Webster Community Chest.

Continued support and loyalty over time, and not necessarily by victories or championships won, is how a great sponsor is measured. Hegedorn’s is such a sponsor.

Culver Dodge

Yet another team with future Hall of Famers. As pioneers in slo-pitch, they won various titles and traveled to tournaments around the Eastern United States. They then became Huther’s and we’re coached by Bill Huther. Their winning ways then continued for another few years. They will be forever linked to the lore that was Bayview.

Brenton Motors

This was also one of the pioneer travel teams in the Rochester area but only played in the Bayview Major League one year, 1963. Their founder and first manager was Charlie White. That team won the City Title, Mid-Atlantic Title, and went to the World Tournament. The team had many future Hall of Famers on it.

Bruce Williams

Coming soon!

Dennis Warren

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Denny was born in Rochester, NY on November 25, 1950. He attended Jefferson High School, graduating in 1969. Denny earned an Associate’s degree from MCC and a Bachelor’s degree from Brockport State. Denny recently retired after 30 years of service with General Motors Corporation.

Family Background
Denny is married to Carm. He and his sister Kathy established the John Warren Foundation in honor of their brother, RSA & USSSA NYS Hall of Famer, John Warren.

Biography
Denny started playing slo-pitch softball in 1965 for Delta Electric and then moved up to the softball Major leagues at an early age, playing with Mazzola Insurance, Al’s Green Tavern, Pace Electronics, Wintonaire, and Crest Lounge.

During this early period, and for about 20 years, he also played for Rochester Products in the IMC Industrial League. In 2000, he started playing senior softball for JWF/UAW, Genny Light, Perna Homes, RallyTime Sports, and Prince George’s.

Denny has three World Championship titles: 1977, 2002, 2005. He has two Industrial Eastern States Titles: 1982 & 1983. He has appeared in three USSSA World Series tournaments: 1975 & 1977. He also has two All World appointments, both in 2002 at ISSA and again at the LVSSA Tournament.

In 1974, Denny was appointed Co-MVP at the Niagara Falls Tournament and made team defensive players in the ISF 2005 Tournament. Denny has been a great player over his career, both defensively by being able to play many positions well and offensively by hitting to all fields with both power and average. Besides his playing ability, his dedication to organized slo-pitch softball in the Rochester area and helping others in need is unmatched. Denny Warren is a great player and a person with heart.

Charlie Walker

Coming soon!

Frank Taccone

Birth Place
Pittsburgh, PA

Biography
Elected USSSA National Hall of Fame:
November 1980, San Francisco, CA
November 1981, Freeport, Bahamas

Taccone, who earned All-World Honors in 1973 in Detroit, MI, and in 1974 in Pinole, CA, was a member of the Mazzola-Castle team that won the World Series in 1977 in Petersburg, VA.

A big man who tipped the scales at over 300 pounds, Taccone also played for Roger’s Inn, Al’s Green Tavern, Pace Electronics, Mazzola Insurance, and the Dupont Industrial team. Taccone compiled a .500+ lifetime batting average and belted over 600 home runs in USSSA play. Frank also recorded over 200 wins as a pitcher in national play.

Charlie Stark

Coming soon!

Mike Shoniker

Biography

Before becoming one of the area’s top softball players, Mike was an All-City Catholic League selection in baseball and basketball while playing for legendary coach Ed Nietopski at Cardinal Mooney High School. While at Mooney, he set a school scoring record in basketball with 42 points in a single game.

Shoniker went onto Monroe Community College, where he continued to play both sports. He earned All-Region honors in baseball for the Tribunes, while leading them into the National Junior College Division 2 World Series. His exploits earned him a Division I baseball scholarship to Florida International University.

While playing for a variety of teams, including Pace, Masters Del, Pace/Bootlegger, and Marlen Floor, Shoniker earned All-World honors three times. His best season was 1987 when he was named MVP of the Class AA World Series in Chattanooga, Tenn., after leading Pace/Bootlegger to the title.

Shoniker batted first or second in the lineup for most of his career, and finished with a career average around .650. He has been officiating high school and college basketball for more than 35 years. He was selected by the New York State Basketball Coaches Association as “Official of the Year” for Section V in 1994. He earned similar honors from the IAABO Board 60 in 2016.

Bob Shaffer

Birth Place
McKeesport, PA

Educational & Professional Background
Bobby moved to the Rochester area, where he attended high school at Churchville-Chili. Bobby’s secondary education started here at Monroe Community College and ended down south at Florida International University. After college, Bobby returned to this area and took a teaching job at Attica High School. He taught there for 30 years before retiring this year.

Family Background
Bob was born on July 6, 1958 to parents, Melvin and Maureen. He has a sister, Sheryl, and a brother, Randy. Bobby is married to Elana and has two children, Evan and Brett.

Biography
Bobby’s athletic career spans over 40 years. At 16, he was playing softball on the “Ok Farms” team with his father. He was the Churchville-Chili Athlete of the Year in 1976. While at MCC, he pitched in the Junior College World Series and at FIU, he pitched in the NCAA DII College World Series. As a softball player, Bobby’s career is long and impressive. During his 12 years that he played for his brother Randy as an outfielder, he won numerous Class B state titles. In the 1990’s, Bobby played with quality teams such as Leisure Time Marina, Marlen Floor, Sneezy’s, M&M, Ronnie’s, D&D and Tut’s, winning many local, state and national championships.

In the 2000’s, Bobby left the outfield and came back to the infield to pitch for such teams as Fallone’s, TJ’s Plumbing and Ferra’s, as well as Gubiotti’s/Genesee 50’s travel team. Bobby takes pride in knowing that he always plays on “family oriented” teams. While he doesn’t consider himself the best player on the team, he always works hard to be a “difference-maker”. Bobby works hard to be a good teammate and was a winner of the “Pete Castle Award” at Ronnie’s ball park.

John Sens

Coming soon!

Joe Scarpulla

Coming soon!

Max Robertson

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Max attended Irondequoit High School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Geneseo State and his Master’s degree from Brockport State. He taught in the Greece Central School District for 38 years and retired on April 1, 2010. Awards given to students in his name include:

Coach Max Softball Scholarship (Brockport High)

Max Robertson Honorary Award (Arcadia Middle School)

Max Robertson Excellence in Art (Greece Central School District)

Family Background
Parents, Paul and Doris Robertson. Max was one of three children: brother, Scott, and sister, Linda. He and his wife Kathy have two daughters: Katie and Corey (Johnson). They have five grandchildren.

Biography
Max got his start in baseball by being the bat boy for the 1966 International League Champion, Rochester Red Wings. He was an All-County high school as an Irondequoit High School baseball player.

Max began his slo-pitch career by playing for Bob Hyatt Stereo in 1968. Among his many awards include:

1975 Class C World Championship MVP (Gaze Real Estate)

1977 Class A World Champions (Castle/Mazzola)

2004 50AA World Champions (Gubiotti)

All-World in 1975, 1981, & 1988 (most home runs)

Played in 34 World Tournaments

World Runners-up in 1973 Class B, 1981 Class B, and 2005 50AAA

All National team for 60 and over, 2010

Max was also presented with the Peter Castle Humanitarian Award in 1985.

Peter Pavia

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Peter attended Aquinas HS. He graduated from Lafayette College in 1961.

Family Background
Wife, Deborah.

Biography
Over the years, perhaps no one has exemplified the courage of competition better than Peter Pavia. In 1956, he captained the Aquinas HS basketball team. Peter attended Lafayette College, where he played from 1958 to 1961. Peter was a top-notch basketball official both in the college and professional ranks. Peter officiated the 1986 NCAA Division I Championship game in Dallas, TX.

Peter played for Al’s Green Tavern in many ASA National Softball Championships over the years in Detroit and Toledo. He started his slo-pitch softball career with the outstanding World Tournament Ragu team. He was a fleet-footed outfielder with excellent baseball sense and strong competitive spirits, as well as a team player who exemplified true sportsmanship on the field and was a good human being off the field. He’s been acknowledged through his work with Camp Good Days. Peter is no longer with us. He left behind his wife Deborah, but his spirit lives on.

Al Orlebeck

Coming soon!

Joe Hafner

Coming soon!

Noe “Pipa” Gonzalez

Birth Place
Puerto Rico

Educational & Professional Background
Noe attended a boy’s high school in Brooklyn, NY.

Family Background
Pipa has three children — two sons, Noe Jr. and Joel, and a daughter, Sonia.

Biography
Pipa started his career playing fastpitch in 1972, and upon moving to Rochester in 1997, he began playing slo-pitch in the Puerto Rican League. He continued to play in this league for 33 years. During that time he also played for the Loft, Scutti Pontiac, Avon Ford, Polo’s, Scotts/Pace, Legends, Gubiotti’s, and Max Spice.

Pipa continues to pitch today for PACE with whom he has won numerous individual awards and five World Titles and been selected to several All-Tournament Teams. Pipa would like to thank Polo, Mike Grace, and especially Pat Kehoe for their support and friendship over the years. He is very appreciative of being honored as the first Hispanic inducted into the RSA Hall of Fame.

Glen Eichelberger

Birth Place
Syracuse, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Glen attended Eastwood High School in Syracuse, NY, and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Engineering.

Family Background
Glenn has three children, two daughters, Lori Maria and Beth Ann, and one son, Glenn Joseph, and nine grandchildren.

Biography
Glenn’s softball career covered 18 years and was split between the junior and senior divisions. He played in the junior division from 1965 to 1978 and a senior group from 1988 ending in 1992. He played on several area major softball teams, Briton Motors, Pace Electronics, Mazzalo Insurance, Mazzola – Castle, Al’s Green Tavern, and Uniroyal of Detroit. Glenn “Ike” Eichelberger was considered a power hitter with consistency, and a .610 lifetime batting average.

An outfielder, catcher, and pitcher, he played in a dozen National & World tournaments, including four World Series Tournaments, Petersburg, Virginia, Rochester, New York, Wyandotte, Michigan, and Pinole, California. He played on the Mazzalo – Castle World Champion team in 1977. This outstanding player was one of the toughest outs in the game, and was named to four “All World Teams”. He was inducted into the USSSA National Hall of Fame in 1983, Greater Syracuse Sports HOF in 1995, USSSA New York State HOF in 2004, and is a member of the USSSA All-World Team, 1970s decade.

Michael “Mike” Decillis

Birth Place
Newark, NJ

Educational & Professional Background
Mike graduated from Irvington High School in Newark, NJ and attended Ocean City Jr College and Ithaca College for his secondary education. He taught physical education at Gates-Chili High School for 36 years.

Family Background
Mike is married to Maureen. He has three children, daughter Abby and sons Mike and Peter.

Biography
While attending Ocean County Jr. College in New Jersey he lettered both years in four sports, and twice being selected “Male Athlete of the Year”. While at Ithaca he lettered in basketball. He began his slo-pitch softball and coaching career during his senior year of college.

Upon graduation in 1971, he moved to Rochester where he taught physical education at Gates-Chili High School. Over the next 36 years he became a very successful high school (Gates Chili) and college (Nazareth & Canisius) basketball and softball coach. Mike played for the best teams in the area, Pace Electronics, Mazzola Insurance, Peterson Sporting Goods, Mazzola-Castle Insurance, Rochester Zeniths/Express, Prince George’s, Rochester Legends (40’s, 50’s, & 55’s) Shamrock Jack’s and currently with the Rochester Legends 65’s.

During this period, he was involved in two World Tournament Championships, the Mazzola-Castle Team USSSA winners in 1977 and the Pro World (APSPL) Championship Title in 1980. He has played in numerous other tournaments around the country as well. Mike is a solid player as either a pitcher or first baseman with good defensive skills and above average hitting ability to all fields with power to go deep.

He is a loyal team player and true sportsman in the game. This RSA induction is Mike’s fourth “Hall of Fame” honor.

Dennis “Dutch” Clement

Biography
Born on April Fool’s Day in 1951 to Peter and Beulah Clement in Canandaigua, NY, Dennis “Dutch” Clement married Ellie, and they have two children, Brad and Gina. At Canandaigua H.S., he was a three-sport star, excelling at football, baseball (tryouts with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia), and bowling (209 and 211 averages). After graduation, he worked at Eastman Ko dak (33 years) and played for its IMC softball team from 1973 to 1982. “Dutch” was a major contributor during that period helping his team win the Eastern States Championship. He was named MVP for those games. Besides his achievements at Kodak, Dennis played in the Canandaigua recreational leagues from 1970-2001. Known as a long ball hitter with an exceptional and accurate arm, he played 6 years in the Rochester slow pitch major leagues for several of the most successful teams including Al’s Green Tavern, Peterson’s Sports, Mazzola Ins., and Muxworthy’s.

Ron Bianchi

Biography
Ron was born in September 1949 to Frank and Virginia Bianchi. One of seven, he attended No. 17 school and Madison High School. He attended MCC and the Rochester Fire Academy. He was a member of the Rochester Fire Academy for 33 years, before retiring in 2009. Ron has participated in several recreational sports activities including golf, basketball, football, and senior softball. As a major contributor to his Firemen’s teams, he has been named several times to All-Tournament and League MVP teams.

Mazzola Castle Team

The team started playing USSSA slo-pitch in the late 1960s under several different team names. Managed by Joe Nucci, they made it to their first Men’s Major World Series as Pace Electronics in 1974, where they went 2-2 and finished in third place in Pinole, CA.

The following year, they reached the World Series again, this time in Rochester. Playing that year under the sponsorship of Mazzola Castle, they finished with a 0-2 record. The games were played at Silver Stadium, where Tom Miller of Sol Mintz hit the longest home run ever, clearing the scoreboard in left-center. The ball was measured to have gone more than 500 feet and is on display at the USSSA National Hall of Fame.

In 1977, Mazzola Castle made it to their third and final World Series in Petersburg, VA. They went 4-1 and won the championship over the heavily favored Snyder’s Softball Club. Several members of the team were named All-World, including Dick Rogers, Doug Farrell, Rick Palmieri, and Andy Santillo. Jerry Laspanara was named the tournament MVP and Nucci was the winning manager.

Gene Duffey

Birth Place
Boston, MA

Educational & Professional Background
Gene attended East High School in Rochester, NY. He graduated in 1964. He attended the Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University. He currently lives in Houston, TX.

Biography
Gene really got interested in slo-pitch softball when his father took him to a game at Bayview Stadium. His first big game that he attended, as a spectator, was considered one of the greatest slo-pitch softball games played in Rochester history. It was a classic between two powerhouse teams at the time, Ragu and Al’s Green Tavern. Both teams were fighting for a City Championship at Bayview, and Ragu won a very close game 20-19.

Some years later, while working at the sports desk for the Rochester Times-Union, a cover story about a Breton Motor’s player named Ronnie LaRose and his team’s third place finish in the Toledo, OH tournament led Gene into his coverage of slo-pitch softball in Rochester. At the time, sports editor, Frank Cardon, wanted a story about softball and assigned Gene. This was the beginning of Gene’s coverage of softball in Rochester.

Gene wrote several softball articles over the years. Gene suggested writing a weekly column about softball, and Frank approved. The softball sports column was written until 1985 and covered many aspects of the game, players, teams, and tournaments, both locally and nationally.

In 1985, Gene moved to the Houston Post, covering the University of Houston. While working the sports desk, he was assigned to cover Heisman Trophy winner, Andre Ware. The Houston Post closed in April 1995, and Gene took a position at the Huntsville Times in Alabama, covering the University of Alabama.

Late in 2000, Gene moved back to Houston as a freelance reporter and covered the Astros, Rockets, and Texans teams. His career highlights include covering eight Final Fours, a World Series, a Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, two Major League All-Star games, most of the major bowl games, both a Summer and Winter Olympics, the Tokyo Bowl, numerous golf tournaments, and softball in Rochester.

Dick Stella

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Richard attended grammar school at #36 in Rochester, NY and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1955. He has worked in the bowling business at AMF Empire Lanes for 45 years.

Family Background
Richard and his wife Lucille have three children, daughters, Cheryl and Kim, and son, Rick. He also has a sister, Rosemary Petruzao, and parents, Louis and Susan.

Biography
Richard was great with handling players as good managers often are, especially when making sure all had enough playing time and understood their role as a player.

One great player who was coached by Dick was Frank Taccone. Here was a player who went from the coal mines of Pennsylvania to playing at Concord playground in the City of Rochester, and then to playing the Major Slow-pitch softball leagues and national tournaments, and then onto several halls of fames.

The fast pitch softball leagues are where Richard got his start playing for the great Bon Jon’s team. Later, he moved on to play slo-pitch softball for Culver Dodge, Militello Brothers, and Henco and Trimaldi’s. As a player/coach on the 1973 Henco team, he helped them to a third place finish in the Cincinnati, OH Worlds.

Managing the Trimaldi’s team, he guided them to several local championships. Richard’s biggest achievement, however, came in winning the 1971 City Major League Championship with Mazzola Insurance, at a standing room only Bayview Stadium against a great Al’s Green team. His team was up for the challenge and delivered. The “Little Cuban”, as he was called, was a true player’s manager and loved by all who played for him.

Herb Jennings

Educational & Professional Background
The Eastman Kodak Company

Family Background
Herb passed away in 1978 at the young age of 52.

Biography
Herb Jennings got his first taste of managing during his fastpitch career in the early 1950’s. At that time, he was pitching and managing the Hotel DeMay team. Four times, that team went to the city softball tournament finals. Unfortunately, three of those years they ended the tournament losing to the Kodak Park team.

After joining the company as an employee, Herb pitched for the Kodak Park team for four years. Although he was a very good pitcher, his best talent was his managing skills. Herb was picked to manage Kodak Park from the mid-1960’s until he retired at the end of the 1970 season.

Kodak Park dominated league play during those years. But what made his managing career so amazing was the “Kaypees” incredible success in tournaments. Kodak played some of the best teams from the U.S. and Canada in these tourneys. During Herb’s time managing the Park, they were undefeated on annual trips to Elmira and Ekland, Pennsylvania. They even won the prestigious Eastern States in his final year of managing.

Kodak had a great infield at the time, which included Hall of Famers Phil Argento and Tony Fedor, and an even better battery in starting pitcher Charlie Stogner and catcher John Nayman. When anyone tried to give Herb credit for his managing, he would reply, “You have to have the horses.”

Herb always kept his team organized and disciplined. Just watching this team taking pre-game infield practice was a thing of beauty, between the timing and precision. Herb always seemed to exactly know what to do in every situation. He even had the knack to know when to call an occasional trick play, most of which were successful.

Herb was a guy who loved the game. He had an unmatched understanding of fastpitch softball and its strategies and intricacies. He was loved and respected by all who played for him.

Tom "Boney" Delehant

Educational & Professional Background
St. Augustine’s grammar school, The Aquinas Institute, and Maritime College. Worked as a firefighter for twenty years and retired in 1993.

Family Background
His sister Ann, brother Buck, wife Martha, and three kids: Amy, James, and Elizabeth.

Biography
Thomas (Boney) Delehant was born on October 22, 1949, to Mary and Joseph Delehant. Tom has one sister Ann and brother Buck. Thomas married his wife and love of his life, Martha, and together they have three children – Amy, James, and Elizabeth. Tom attended St. Augustine’s grammar school, The Aquinas Institute, and Maritime College. He worked as a Rochester Firefighter for 20 years and retired in 1993. Boney’s love for softball began in the early 1970s as a player and ended in the early 1990s as one of his era’s most respected individuals in softball. His greatest contribution is believed to be the formation of the Doubledays Blue team. This team would eventually produce several Hall of Fame players and compete on the national level. His teams were considered among the best teams in Rochester’s softball history. Tom Delehant passed away suddenly on November 18th, 1993.

Anthony E. (Hammy) Barone

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background & Professional Background
Anthony attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY. He worked for Ritter Phaudler for 40 years.

Family Background
Anthony and his wife Violet have four children: Linda, Sharon, Gary, and Steve.

Biography
Anthony “Hammy” Barone started his slo-pitch softball career in 1959 by managing Santillo and Zona’s at Bayview Stadium in Rochester. Other notable teams he managed with great success included Ragu Food, N&S Auto, and Roger’s Midway. Over the years, he won several City of Rochester Championships with these teams.

They went on to represent Rochester in National Tournaments. Hammy managed some of the best teams and players in the Rochester area. Several RSA Hall of Fame members are on the list: Andy Santillo, Frank Taccone, Gary Kaiser, Fred Prince, Willie Sheppard, Don Corey, Charlie McKay, and Peter Pavia.

Francis Steffen

Educational & Professional Background
Frank Steffen attended schools in Honeoye Falls until 1940. He served in the U. S. Medical Corps in the South Pacific from 1942 to 1946. After the military, Frank worked at Bausch and Lomb, Ritter, and Kodak, where he spent 36 years until he retired in 1983.

Biography
He joined the Kodak Park team in the Major Fast Pitch League in 1962 at the age of 40. He played softball for 25 years at Gears Park until 1985. At the age of 58, he pitched Kodak to the 1980 City Title. He has played slo-pitch and still is – since 1983.

Rick Mondo

The youngest of the Mondo sons also followed suit. While starting off as the bat boy and learning from his older brothers, it didn’t take Rick long to make his impact. He began his playing career in 1968 at the age of 16 with Datagraphic. He went on to play for teams such as Burroughs, Amplaco, Gingellos, Blue Gardenia, Fireside, and the Garage Door. In 1977, Rick won the MVP in the ESI Regional Tournament. While batting .750, he led his team to the Philadelphia Industrial World Tournament.

Joe Mondo Sr.

Joe Sr. started his playing career in 1947 with the Phaudler Corporation of the Rochester Industrial Fastpitch League. During his 10 year reign at Phaudler, this speedy centerfielder was a defensive All-Star who led his team to multiple City Championships. Joe was his team’s leading hitter every year, and in 1952, he won the City Batting title while propelling his team to another championship. After enjoying a successful playing career he went to coach his four boys, Chuck, Carl, Joe, and Rick.

Joey Mondo

Growing up in his softball family, Joey was eager to emulate his family’s success. By the age of 12, he was an All-Star pitcher in the Kodak Park fastpitch leagues. His unique windmill style of pitching and change up were weapons the league had never seen. He is on record as being the only youth to throw a no-hitter in Kodak history, and during the 1984 season, he tossed two no-hitters.

By 1989, Joey had jumped right into slo-pitch softball, where he also enjoyed a great playing career. His league championships and tournament victories with TJ’s Plumbing and ArtWalk Tile are his most memorable. From 2003 to 2007, he coached Varsity softball at Greece Athena High School. Today, he is the Senior Softball Commissioner at McAvoy Park. Joey is a huge advocate for senior softball and his annual tournament, The Rochester Softball Classic, which has raised thousands of dollars for local charities.

Chuck Mondo

The eldest of the sons, Chuck grew up playing many sports. While he excelled in baseball, bowling, and golf, his true passion was the game of softball. After graduating from Aquinas in 1958, Chuck went on to play for a number of local slo-pitch teams. During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Chuck played for Dynacolor, Skinnys, JM Forster, and Hardees. As a member of the JM Forster team, Chuck helped lead his team to victory in the 1960 State Championship, as well as the 1964 Black Label Championship in Toledo. He went on to play in world tournaments, as well as national tournaments all over the country.

Carl Mondo & Joe Mondo Jr.

For over a 30-year span, this brotherly combo played on some of Rochester’s premier teams, including Amiels, Datagraphic, Pepsi, Rochester Bakery, Colonial Realty, Henco, Proietties, Garage Door, and Lane Construction.

These two brothers grew up playing ball on the Carter Street playground, but by the mid ‘60s, they had moved to Edgerton Park, Densmore, and Basil Field. In 1968, their young Datagraphic team won the City Gauss Tournament and that was only the first of many titles to come. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, they played ball at Bay View, Cobb’s Hill, and McAvoy Park, with and against some of the area’s finest major teams.

Whether it was competing locally or playing in tournaments around the country, the Mondo boys were always fierce competitors. They prided themselves on the fundamentals of solid pitching and superb defense. With Carl manning the infield and Joe on the mound, this duo was not only extremely competitive, they were extremely tough to beat.

The Mondo Family

For well over 60 years, the Mondo name has become synonymous with Rochester Softball. Starting with Joe Mondo Sr. in the 1940’s, this softball family has branched down through four generations. The Mondo’s have played on some of Rochester’s premier teams and have competed in tournaments all over the country. Their dedication to Rochester softball has become a family affair and their love for the game is unmatched.

Tony Alomar

Founder of the historic “Roberto Clemente League.” More coming soon!

Rich Rago

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Richard attended Jefferson High School, where he earned All-City honors in baseball and was second-team All-City in football. Rich worked at Gleason’s for 35 years and retired in 2004.

Family Background
He was one of 3 children born to Dick and May Rago. He has one sister, Barbara Ippolitto, and a brother, Thomas Rago. He and his wife, Carolyn, have been married 47 years. They have two children, Richard and Lisa.

Biography
While at Gleason’s, he played for their softball team, and they went to 3 Industrial World Tournaments. He went to many other World Tourneys while playing for great teams such as Al’s Green Tavern, Pace Electronics, Mazzola’s, and the Rochester Legends. He is a member of the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame and ARA Hall of Fame. An all-around athlete, he played basketball, football, and baseball at Jefferson. He was named to the All-City team in baseball and was second-team All-Scholastic in football.

Ken Mundt

Biography
Brockport, NY

Educational Background
Ken attended Rochester Public School #41 and then graduated from John Marshall High School. At JMHS, he was President of the Student Association in 1962 and a member of the National Honor Society that same year. Ken then went on to Lekester Jr. College and RIT.

Family Background
Ken was born in Brockport, NY, on March 5th, 1944. He is the son of William and Harriet Mundt and is one of eleven children. He is married to his wife Dorothy and together they have raised three children: Michelle, Tiffany, and Kenneth.

Biography
At an early age, Ken was recognized for his athletic ability when he was awarded MVP honors in his 1954 Little League, and the following year, making the Little League All-Star Team. During his time at John Marshall HS, he was named Captain of both the football and wrestling teams for 3 years. Like most young people at the time, he played in the KPAA League and played well enough to help win the 1957 Championship. Ken was a late bloomer when it came to slo-pitch softball and mostly played in the senior leagues at McAvoy Park.

In 2009, his big chances came at the Akron, Ohio Buckeye Classic, and the Can-Am Tournaments, when the Rochester Classics recruited him. They won both tournaments. In 2010, he played for Bathtub Bill’s, where he helped them win the Northern Championships. In 2011, he helped his team to a third-place finish in the Tournament of Championships, and again that year, he helped Athletic Outlet to a Silver Medal in the National Senior Games. For both of these teams, he was awarded All-Tournament Player Award 3 times.

Jim Kraus

Educational & Professional Background
Jim Kraus went to John Marshall High School and SUNY Brockport, where he received his BA and MALS. He taught for 29 years in the Rochester City School District as an English and reading teacher. He also worked at the YMCA of Greater Rochester for 14 years.

Biography
Jim’s softball career has been both as a player and manager. In the 1970s, he managed a city recreation team. He has played and managed teams, such as Flaherty’s, The Boulevard Grill, Bay Front, and Merchant’s Grill at McAvoy Park, from 1999 to the present.

Today, Jim travels with the Rochester Royals 70’s team. In May 2019, Jim hit a walk-off homerun to finish a three-game winning day for the Royals.

Jim has always been active in the community, having served as President of the Brockport Student Government, as well as Chairperson of both the R.T.A. Legislative Political Action Committee and L.D. Democratic Party.

Jim continues to give back to the community by being an instructor at Oasis. He teaches mature adults a wide variety of courses including: Frank Sinatra, LBJ, Baseball in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Western movies, female vocalists, immigration, and Lewis and Clark. Jim enjoys traveling and has visited many Major League ballparks.

Dave Eike

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Dave attended Monroe High, SUNY Brockport (1967), and Nazareth College.

Family Background
Dave and his wife Jennifer have two children, Taylor and Riley.

Biography
Dave was born in Rochester, NY in 1946. He lettered in football, basketball, and track at Monroe High. He received his Master’s degree from Nazareth and taught social studies at Rush Henrietta, where he coached modified girls’ soccer, boys’ cross country, and girls’ varsity track. He retired in 2001, after serving 34 years.

Dave played senior softball for 15 years. Not only has he served as captain of his team, but he also served as league director and was a travel team organizer. His commitment to softball earned him the prestigious John Warren Award.

Don Beeley

Birth Place
Port Allegany, PA

Educational & Professional Background
Don attended John Bay #10 Grammar School and John Marshall High School. Now retired, Don’s employment totals 40 years of service which encompasses Kodak, Stromberg Carlson, Wegman’s, and the University of Rochester.

Family Background
Born to parents Linda and Don on April 29, 1947 in Port Allegany PA., Donald R. Beeley now resides in Penfield, Monroe County, along with his wife Linda and two children, Casey and Kelly.

Biography
Don has had many highlights in his sporting career. They are as follows:

Sponsor of Beeley Popcorn slo-pitch team for 20 years

Kodak Park pitcher from 1980 – 1985

Kodak’s Industrial Tournament Champs in 1982

Kodak’s Industrial Tournament 2nd place in 1983 and 1984

Rochester City Tournament 1979

Xerox B Division Champs as Beeley Popcorn 1980, 81, 82, and 84

Finished 3rd in the World Tournament in Cleveland, OH, 1984

Other achievements include:

Kodak President of NASCAR for 4 years

1979 Rochester City Bowling Champion

Masters Bowling Champion in 1984 & 1990

Don umpired for over 40 years and was Rochester Umpire Rookie of the year in 1970 and awarded Umpire of the Year 1987 and 1995. Don retired from the RDUA (Rochester District Umpires Association) in 2010.

Mike Allen

Birth Place
Cortland, NY

Educational Background
Mike graduated from Cortland High School and then moved to Rochester to attend R.I.T.

Family Background
Mike and his wife Beth have two children (Nathan and Scott) and seven grandchildren.

Biography
Mike was born in Cortland, NY in September 1958. After college, Mike played for several recreational softball teams, including Sage Rutty and GSP. He started his senior softball career in 2008.

While a good softball player, Mike is better known for his organization and management skills. He has managed or assisted in the management of several teams, including The Boulevard Grill, Monroe Gutter, and Argyle Grill.

Mike is currently the co-commissioner of the McAvoy Tuesday 55 League and a member of the RSA board. Mike is also a scratch bowler.

Maureen Skovrinski

Birth Place:
Auburn, NY

Educational and Professional Background
Jordan Elbridge High School, Ithaca College. Went on to work at UPS for 31 years.

Biography:
Maureen Skovrinski, female slo-pitch player Mo was born in Auburn, NY – one of 6 children born to Adam and Miriam Skovrinski. She attended Jordan Elbridge High School near Syracuse and graduated in 1977. She then attended Ithaca College and graduated in 1981. Mo worked at UPS for 31 years before retiring in 2014. Mo is in the Jordan Elbridge Hall Of Fame. She played 4 years of basketball at Ithaca and was their Captain. She spent 10 years coaching girls’ soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball. She coached several league champs and was named Coach Of The Year. Her softball career spanned 25 years. At Ithaca, Mo also played softball and was Captain of her team. When she turned to slow-pitch, she won numerous honors. She was a 4-time USSSA Regional All-Star and an ASA Regional All-Star. After moving to Rochester, she played 11 years in Rochester leagues with such teams as Wintonaire, Ronnie’s, John’s, Cal’s, and Kirby’s. Her league and tournament awards are many too many to list in the amount of space allowed. She has been selected for 4 All-World or All-National teams. Long time coaching opponent Duane McCoy calls Mo one of the 10 greatest players ever to play in the State of New York. “If each of the 10 positions were chosen for all-time players in New York, Mo would be the shortstop.” To further that point, Mo was inducted into the New York State USSSA Hall Of Fame in 2008.

Bonnie Jones

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Monroe Community College

Biography
Bonnie is a native of Rochester and worked at Xerox as a financial analyst for 29 years. In 1968, she was awarded the first Rush Henrietta Female Athletic Scholarship. She received All-Star, MVP, and All Round Athlete awards in high school. She has competed in many sports but has a love for softball and volleyball. She graduated from Monroe Community College in 1970 with a Liberal Arts degree and began her long standing professional career. In the 70’s she played for Messmer’s, Tommy’s Travelers, Kelly’s Tavern, and the Rochester Imperials, led by coach Lou Assenato. As captain and leadoff hitter, she played left-center field and earned numerous All-Star, MVP, and Golden Glove awards. Lou’s teams were all top contenders during the ’70s and as part of the 1975 Kelly’s Tavern All World Team. Kelly’s also defeated Stan’s Auto, the 73/74 defending World Champions that year and finished in 5th place, their best ever. Bonnie has had the privilege of playing for many other coaches and sponsors including: Duane McCoy (PACE), Lynne Miller (Butlers, Ridgehouse, and Playground Tavern), Bill Dunphy, and Carol Colombo. She has always been a consistent hitter with an on-base percentage of .450. Bonnie has accumulated more than 2000 lifetime career hits and is the all time leader in the Rochester area. She prides herself on her defensive ability, speed, and passion for the game. Bonnie has also coached/played both Softball and Volleyball for many years. Recently her Volleyball team won 5 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals at the Empire State Senior Games. Bonnie was inducted into the New York State USSSA Women’s Softball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Mary Ellen Burt

Biography
A graduate of Webster Thomas High School, Mary Ellen attended the University of Southern California on a full athletic scholarship. She lettered in basketball for four seasons before graduating in 1982 with a degree in business administration. She then spent six seasons as an assistant basketball coach at the University of Rochester and earned her MBA at St. John Fisher College in 1989. After two years in a similar position with Southwest Texas State University, Mary Ellen returned to UR for one year before becoming the executive director of the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association.

In 1999, she became the head basketball coach at Union College, where she has posted a 299-232 record, won two Liberty League regular season titles, and earned three ECAC invitations and one NCAA tournament berth. In 2011, she was named the first head coach of Union’s women’s golf program.

An outstanding softball player, Mary Ellen lists her game-winning hit in the 1977 championship game with Pace Electronics as the highlight of her playing career.

She is the daughter of Joan and Bob Burt.

Dubby Herman

Birth Place
Manchester, NY

Biography
Dubby Herman was one of the hardest throwers ever to pitch in Western NY. He had a blazing rise ball and tantalizing changeup. Dubby’s 30-year career began in the late 50’s and saw him win 1,002 games while losing 265 for a 79.1 winning percentage. He pitched 69 no-hitters and 16 perfect games. He pitched in 12 leagues in Rochester, Elmira, Buffalo, Syracuse, Oswego, Decatur, IL, Scranton, PA, and Lorraine, OH.

Dubby’s teams won eight ASA Metro Titles, two Eastern States Industrial Titles, and finished 2nd three times in the Mid-Atlantic Regional. He was named Most Valuable Pitcher in 21 invitational tournaments and Most Valuable Player three times. He was named to the All Regional team three times and was a league all-star 23 times. One of his greatest games was stopping the Poughkeepsie Brewers six-year winning streak in regional games by beating them 1-0 in 1973.

Several injuries caught up to Dubby by the end of 1987, and he retired from playing the game. However, he did not leave fastpitch. He became a pitching instructor and works with high school girls in the Rochester area.

John “Demo” DeMagistris

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Gordon Wenner

Educational & Professional Background
After graduating from White Plains High School, Gordon attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Gordon worked at Eastman Kodak for 27 1/2 years before retiring in 1991.

Family Background
He and his wife Mary Jane reside in Penfield.

Biography
Gordon is a veteran of many years in the Senior League in Brighton and McAvoy Park. He played in all the senior age brackets starting at 50 (night) and then graduated into day time ball—55, 60, 65,68. Gordon played many years in the Kodak Elmgrove and Penfield Open Leagues.

Bill Conge

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Billy “Loader” Conge was born in Rochester, NY on April 27, 1949. He graduated from Monroe High School in 1967, where he played both football and baseball. After high school, he continued his education at Monroe Community College, where he completed studies in the Recreation Leadership Program. Bill has worked in the City of Rochester Recreation Department for 27 years.

Family Background
Bill and his wife Raquel have two sons, Adam and Alex.

Biography
Bill started his softball career in 1964 as a KPAA manager in the youth softball program at Kodak. He was League Director for 20 years (1967-1987) in the City of Rochester Recreation Department’s women’s softball program at the Field Street Community Center.

From 1987 to 1992, he was League Director of the men’s softball program at the South Avenue Community Center. From 1989 to 1994, he worked with the NYS Special Olympics. In 1995, he worked in the Empire State Games women’s fast-pitch tournament.

At John Marshall High School, Bill coached both the freshman and JV teams to city championships from 1975 to 1977. In addition, Bill has coached, managed, and played on many local teams in both City, State, and National tournaments over the years. He is still playing senior slo-pitch softball today.

Bill has played multiple positions including catcher, first base, and pitcher. He has been affiliated with several area teams, such as Fireside Lounge, Hegedorn’s, Al’s Green Tavern, and Proietti’s. Bill was also a member of the Rochester District Umpires Association for over 10 years. Bill has been associated with slo-pitch softball for over 40 years, either as a coach, manager, or player. He has freely given back to the community through his work on the Special and Empire State Olympics, youth, women, and senior league support, and as an umpire. He is a true humanitarian and leader.

Carol Colombo

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Carol Colombo attended Saint Agnes and Saint Joseph High School and graduated in 1953. She attended Nazareth Academy, RBI, and MCC. She earned a high school softball coaching certificate. She worked at Eastman Kodak for 28 years, retiring in 1991.

Biography
Carol began her softball career prior to graduation from high school by playing semi pro fast-pitch softball for Roy VanGraaflind’s TNT and Daw’s Drugs women’s teams. In 1953, she organized, managed, and played for the Security Trust Bank women’s softball team and won the league. She went on to play shortstop for Eastman Kodak from 1964 to 1968. She was a player/coach for Eastman Kodak from 1964 to 1968 in the IMC Eastern States tournament and placed second.

During a 10-year period between 1969 and 1979, she managed/coached the Al’s Green Women’s city team, which maintained a .800 winning percentage. In 1972, she was awarded the Sportsmanship Award at the Firecracker Tournament in Louisville, KY. She became the women’s World Tournament program chairperson, which was held in Rochester, NY, that year.

In 1975, she helped to lead the Al’s Green women’s team to a victory in the City Tournament and earned a berth to the Class B World’s in Beloit, WI. From 1976 to 1979, she managed the Eastman Kodak IMC Women’s team to victory in the City Tournament and the Eastern States in Wilmington, DE.

From 1979 to 1987, she managed the House of Trophies Women’s team and led them to a .850 winning percentage over eight years. She was also appointed Rochester Women’s Director for slo-pitch softball, assisting the USSSA men’s executive directors, Al and Frank Ciaccia.

Carol organized benefit softball games for Heather Farr LPGA golfer, Rochester area Red Cross, the RG&E community heating fund, and the Mary Cariola Children’s Center. In 1994, she received the Jean Giambrone Sportswoman of the Year Award. In 2005, she was inducted into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Most recently, she was inducted into the USSSA NYS Hall of Fame in March 2008.

A great human being who has earned her way to recognition, not only through her playing and managing abilities, but by caring about people, as well.

Dave Boundy

Coming soon!

Charlie Burroughs

Birth Place & Family Background
Born in 1927, Charlie started playing softball as a kid with the Precious Blood Church and the YMCA boys league. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and was stationed in Italy during World War II. He married his wife Jean in 1947. They were married for 61 years and had three children, Chuck, Cheryl, and Gary, six grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. Charlie’s wife passed away in 2008.

Biography
Charlie was involved with fastpitch softball for 60 years, including 30 years as a pitcher playing for teams such as Mclouth Chevrolet, Rochester Antiques, Nagel Ford, and the Rochester Zeniths. He also played fastpitch in the KPAA noon-hour league and the Twilight League.

Charlie was also an outstanding table tennis player and enjoyed playing golf at Braemar Country Club. He also umpired high school baseball and girls slo-pitch softball at Kodak Park. He and Art Held helped build and maintain Gears Park. Because of Charlie’s outstanding contributions to fastpitch softball, he has been selected to receive the inaugural “Art Held Award”.

Bob Hyatt

Bob started playing fastpitch softball with Cooks Liquor in 1946. At age 15, he pitched for the Dundee All-Star team against Shifty Gears. In 1948, he also pitched a game against Eddie Feigner (The King and His Court). In 1954, as a member of the 540th military police in Frankfurt, Germany, his team won the European Championship. On that team, Bob was the #2 pitcher. However, he played two other positions and batted .365 (second highest on the team). In the late 1950’s, Bob pitched in the Genesee Valley Church League. In 1960, he played in the Kodak league. From 1960 to 1970, he played in leagues on the state hospital grounds and at Gears Park.

While Bob had a storied career as a player, spanning over 50 years, he made even more significant contributions to Rochester sports as a sponsor of various teams. Bob started sponsoring teams in 1970. He sponsored women’s fastpitch teams, as well as men’s and women’s bowling and basketball.

It was in the role of sponsor that brought Bob and Art Held together. Shortly after meeting, Bob Hyatt’s Stereo became the major sponsor of the Art Held team. Because of Bob’s 50 years of playing and his significant sponsorship of fastpitch softball, the Rochester Softball Association selects Bob Hyatt as the 2018 recipient of the Art Held Award.

Billy Rouse

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Billy attended Rush Henrietta High School in Rush, NY.

Biography
Upon completion of high school Bill was signed to a minor league contract and played in the Houston Astro organization from 1962-64 as a pitcher. His softball career covered over 30 years. He played on several area major softball teams, Jerry Earls, Pace Electronics, Mazzalo Insurance, Mazzalo – Castle, Al’s Green Tavern and the Rochester Zeniths Professional Slo-pitch Softball Team.

Bill was considered a left hand power hitter that could go “yard” to all fields. He played mostly at first base. He played in several National & World tournaments. He played on the Mazzalo – Castle World Champion team in 1977 and was named to the World team. He joined the Rochester Zeniths in 1978.

Henry Mandera

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
Hank and his wife Arlene had one daughter and four sons. He passed away in 1992.

Biography
Hank was always involved in the game of softball, but his career took a giant step forward in 1953 when he founded the Industrial Softball League, comprised of six teams. In 1963, the Industrial Management Council asked him to coordinate an IMC-sponsored league.

By 1991, the league had grown to more than one-thousand men and women players representing 51 industrial teams in the Rochester area.

His leadership was instrumental in earning him a seat on the Board of Directors with the Eastern States Industrial Championship for 25 years, including a term as its president.

Earlier in his career, he helped form the Gates Recreation softball leagues. He chaired the organization for 25 years, and served on the Gates Recreation Commission for 30 years. His efforts inspired nearby communities to develop recreation softball leagues of their own.

Jenny Bellavia

Birth Place
East Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Jenny graduated from East Rochester High School.

Biography
Jenny started her playing career by pitching for the Rochester Fillarettes women’s’ hard ball team at the age of 15. When that team folded, she went on to play for various fast pitch teams and then joined the Fighting Green & Gold in 1971. Regarded as one of the greatest players ever to play the game, she won many league and team honors. Jenny was named to 10 All-Tournament teams as an All Star or MVP. She was captain of the FG&G in 1975 and ’76.

A great clutch hitter, especially in big games, Jenny had a .473 lifetime average with the FG&G topped off by a .515 average in 1973. Her slugging average was .908 that year and overall .769 for her career. When it came to the World Tournaments, her average ballooned to .616. The highlight of her career came in 1972 when she was named the MVP of the 1972 Women’s USSSA World-Tournament. She was a 3 time All-World player and was well on her way to her 4th such honor when she blew out her knee in the 1976 World Tourney. She was hitting .667 at the time for the undefeated Pace FG&G team. Jenny could play any position and had one of the most powerful and versatile arms ever seen in the girls’ game.

She could throw from her toes to over her head with equal ability – and the throws were hard. Coach Duane McCoy says of her: “Jenny was one of the greatest all-around players I have ever seen. She could play any position on the field and play it extremely well, and was a great hitter — especially in big games. She even won some games as a pitcher. The USSSA also noticed her exploits as Jenny was selected to be the first woman ever to be inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame. Sadly and inexplicably, she was removed from nomination soon after when that organization found out she decided to have a sex change operation.

The RSSSA, by this Hall of Fame induction, and the NY State USSSA Hall of Fame, by inducting her into their Hall in the spring of 2010, have helped rectify this situation and have given her the honors she so richly deserves.

Floyd Salter

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Biography
The man most credited with writing the USSSA rule book, Floyd was the first person inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the umpire category. A native of Rochester, NY, Floyd was appointed as USSSA National Umpire-in-Chief in 1970. He established the National Umpire’s Clinic that was held annually in each division. He has traveled to numerous states conducting umpire clinics and promoting the USSSA umpire’s program.

Under Floyd’s direction, umpires’ registration increased from 1,000 to over 10,000. His continuing efforts have produced many benefits that are enjoyed by umpires serving in the program today.

In 1978, Floyd earned the USSSA executive board president’s award the same year that he was elected into the Hall of Fame. As Umpire-in-Chief, Floyd handled the administrative duties for the National Umpires Program. Each year, he has personally supervised the umpires assigned to the Softball World Series. Floyd has served as chairman and a key member of the National Playing Rules Committee. He has served on the Executive Board of the association for many years.

John Warren

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
Deceased September 6, 1999. John Warren and his wife Angela have two children, Tina and Andrea, and four grandchildren.

Biography
John Warren played, coached, and managed the Rochester/Express/Rochester Zeniths of the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL). He played on three world championship teams in 1977, 1980, and 1987 with Mazzola/Castle. He was also co-manager of Pace/Worth and ranked #1 in the Northeast for three years. He was inducted into the ARA (Adult Recreation Association) Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievements in sports.

Andy Santillo

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Andy Santillo attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY.

Biography
A smooth fielding shortstop who led Mazzola Castle to the World Championship in 1977, Andy Santillo was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category in November 1991 in Las Vegas, NV.

His Mazzola team participated in the USSSA World Series four times between 1974 and 1977. Andy played in nine World Tournaments over ten years. He was named to the All-World Team three times in 1973, 1975, and 1977. He held a .599 batting average in World Tournament play.

While he was good in the clutch at-bat, it was Andy’s defensive skills that kept his team competitive. He compiled a .944 fielding percentage, with 1,941 putouts and 3084 assists out of 5,484 chances during his ten-year playing career. Andy compiled a .555 lifetime batting average.

Gene Mazzola

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Under Development

Family Background
Under Development

Biography
Under Development

John Walsh

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

More coming soon.

Frank Vendette

Birth Place
Renovo, PA

Educational Background
Frank attended St Joseph High School in Renovo, PA. He also attended RIT and the University of Rochester.

Family Background
Frank and his wife Lou are deceased, also his son Frank Jr. He has another son Rico.

Biography
Frank, “Van”, as his players call him, was around slo-pitch softball for over 50 years. He has sponsored many teams over this period in both the city and town recreation leagues and world tournaments. Al’s Green Tavern, under Van’s sponsorship, claimed 12 World Tournament titles and collected nearly 200 trophies from championships over the years.

Before his death, Frank, with help from some of his players, would attend his team’s games. Frank Vendette, a kind and charitable man, was truly a player’s sponsor and a great person.

Ange Sulli

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Ange Sulli attended Ben Franklin High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Ange is married to Loretta and has one son. Paul. They reside in the Greece area of Rochester.

Biography
Ange Sulli’s softball career is easily approaching a Guinness book record. It started when he joined the Major Industrial Softball League at Eastman Kodak in 1944. This was his first “official” league, having already played the game for years. He played twice a week with the majors, twice with other leagues, and still was able to play baseball with a semi-pro team, the Irondequoit Cardinals on Sundays.

He played baseball until 1965 and continued his involvement with the Kodak leagues even after retiring in 1983. Ange won many team and individual awards through the years including coaching Kodak’s IMC league team to the World Slo-pitch Championship in 1982. He still plays today with an unmatched passion and is always a true gentleman both on & off the field. Ange is a wonderful man playing in his seventh decade of softball. His memories are many; he says, “every baseball and softball game I play in.”

Donal Stiner

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Donal attended Monroe Community College and SUNY Brockport. He worked for the City of Rochester’s Recreation Bureau for 36 years.

Family Background
Donal is married to Mary Beth and they share four children, Brendan, Beth, Donal E. and Kevin.

Biography
Major Contributor Category Donal has played either fastpitch or slo-pitch softball for nearly 50 years. He is being recognized tonight for his major contributions that lead to advancing the game and ensuring continuance through city leagues, tournaments, and service excellence.

Sunday mornings during the Rochester summers from 1963 – 1986 meant Adult Recreation Association (ARA) softball leagues at Edgerton Park and Donal was the driving force that made this happen. His leadership and organizational skills enabled others to enjoy the softball experience.

Willie Shepard

Birth Place
Butler, AL

Educational Background
Willie attended Butler High School in Butler, AL.

Family Background
Willie is married to Sandra and has two children.

Biography
Willie started his 38year slo-pitch softball career in 1959. He was affiliated with several of the top World Tournament teams in the area such as, Al’s Green Tavern, Ragu, Pace Electronics, and Mazzola Insurance.

In 1984, Willie was selected on the All World Tournament Team while playing for Pace Electronics. Willie was a contact hitter from the left side with exceptional speed. Rumor has it; he beat out world-class track star Trenton Jackson in a home plate to second base run. Most teams would bring in both the infielders and outfielders to try and stop Willie — if the ball got through the infield it was automatic for him to be standing on second base.

In most cases, even if the infielder made the play, he would beat it out for an infield hit. Willie was a classic team player with loads of talent and a cheerful personality.

Joseph Nucci

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Joe Nucci attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY.

Biography
Joe Nucci, a colorful fighter from Rochester, NY, who always found a way to get the most out of his ball club, was inducted into the USSSA National Hall of Fame in the Manager category. He was inducted in November 1987 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

The highlight of Joe’s career came in 1977 when his Mazzola-Castle team pulled a stunning upset to capture the Men’s Major World Series Championship. Joe managed one of the first teams to cross the border and compete in the USSSA.

He constantly had a team ranked in the top 10 and traveled the country to play in NIT’s. His teams are remembered more for guts and pride than overall talent. Joe enjoyed more than 600 victories in big tournaments. The spirited manager gave umpires and opposing coaches all they wanted and more, but he gained respect as a fierce competitor who knew how to win, especially the big ones.

Charles McKay

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Charles attended Edison Tech High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Charles and his wife Barbara have three sons and one daughter. They have seven grandchildren.

Biography
Charlie’s 25-year slo-pitch softball career started in 1958 with the Tobin Packing Company team. He played for many outstanding tournament teams, including Al’s Green Tavern, Ragu, N&S Motors, and Mazzola Insurance. He also played on five World Tournament Teams with a combined .580 batting average.

In 1967, at Toledo, he connected for three homers in one game, batted nearly .600, and made the all-tournament team that year. Charlie lived for the long ball, and during one game at Bayview Stadium, he had four homers.

Charlie is also recognized for hitting a homer “one handed” off the great softball pitcher Jim Burns during a game. Truly one of the game’s nicest guys, Charlie is always considered the quiet man with the big bat.

Thomas Cotten

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Tom attended West High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Tom and his wife Carolyn have two daughters, Karen and Laura.

Biography
Tom started his slo-pitch softball career while still in high school during the 10th grade back in 1953. In 1954, as an 11th grader, he played in the first organized league at Bayview Stadium. After spending two years in the Army (1959-1961), he came back and played for Rogers Midway.

In the early ’60s, he played for many different teams and went to his first World Tournament in 1964 in Springfield OH. Over the next twenty years, Tom managed to keep himself busy. Besides having two children, he coached CYO Basketball and played a few games of softball along the way.

In 1987, Tom started his senior softball career and played his first of many Senior Olympics in 1989. Tom helped to organize the Thursday Night Senior League back in 1985 and the 50s + traveling team. Today, because of Tom’s efforts, Rochester is well-represented in four senior softball age groups and several World Titles and national rankings, as well. Tom’s contributions to slo-pitch softball span 50 years and he is righteously recognized as a major contributor to the sport in the Rochester area.

Fred Cohen

Birth Place
Rochester, New York

Educational & Professional Background
Fred attended Benjamin Franklin High School in Rochester, NY. He also attended Western Illinois University and graduated with a teaching degree in Physical Education. He taught and coached in the Penfield, NY High School system for 34 years.

He coached both boys and girls varsity basketball, softball, and baseball. Fred assisted in the women’s basketball program at Nazareth College and was head coach of the women’s basketball program at MCC before retiring several years ago.

Biography
During high school, Fred excelled in basketball, and in 1958, he was Benjamin Franklin’s leading scorer, averaging 20 points per game. At Western Illinois University, he was all-conference for two seasons between 1963 and 1965 and averaged 18 points per game.

Fred’s slo-pitch softball career started in 1965 and he is still very active in senior softball today. He was associated with the following softball teams:

Ragu Foods

Culver Dodge

Sunset Recreation

Shakey’s

New York Life

Mazzola Insurance

Pace Electronics

His All-World appointments include Industrial World in 1968 with Pace Electronics. In the senior division, he was appointed eight times while playing for the Rochester Legends.

His most recent World appointments were in 2003 in Syracuse, NY, and in 2004 with the Jersey Jags. He played on two World Tournament Senior Teams under the Rochester Legends, Prince Georges in Manassas, VA, and Des Moines, lA.

Over his outstanding career, Fred is highly recognized for his hitting ability, averaging well into 800 plus with occasional power by hitting the long ball. He’s considered the best all fields bad ball hitter in the game.

Ron Blaessig

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Ron attended Irondequoit High School, where he starred in four sports and played All-County basketball. He also attended Syracuse University and Hobart College, where he played both basketball and baseball. He graduated from Hobart College in 1958.

Family Background
Ron is married to Ann and they have two daughters and one son.

Biography
Ron has played on several World Tournament teams, including Al’s Green Tavern, Mazzola Insurance, Pace Electronics, Canada Dry, and Breton Motors. He helped to win four Mid-East Regional Championships.

In 1972, he made the All-World Tournament Team. During the Herkimer Tournament, his team hit 30 home runs and he contributed eight of them, including two game-winning home runs.

Over the years, Ron has helped to win several city and town recreation championships. In 2001, he was selected MVP with a .750 batting average for Al’s Green Tavern. Ron still plays softball today in the 50+ leagues and on the 65+ tournament team.

Ron Blaessig, a giant of a man, with a big heart and soft personality, is the Mr. Dave Kingman of slo-pitch softball.

Andy Yazwinski

Birth Place
Bayonne, NJ

Educational Background
Andy attended Bayonne High School in Bayonne, NJ. He also attended Alfred University.

Family Background
Andy and his wife Bobbi have three children and six grandchildren.

Biography
After four years of high school baseball, Andy went on to play semi-pro baseball in the New Jersey Traveling League. His slo-pitch softball career started some years later in a bank league while playing for Marine Midland. With a job change, New York Life became his new team. He also played a little fastpitch softball for Broadway Sports in Bayonne, NJ, and then with Harding Sports in the Kodak Major League.

Near the end of his playing days, Andy umpired and was in the Rochester District Umpires Association for five years. Andy’s first managing assignment was his old New York Life Team. He went on to successfully deliver great results for the teams under him, such as Shakey’s, Mazzola Insurance, and Peterson Sporting Goods. He compiled 385 wins against 127 losses over the years.

Andy’s great leadership and interpersonal and administrative skills were the key ingredients to his managerial success. After his managerial duties, he went on to help advance the game of slo-pitch softball. His first assignment was President of the Independent League. He then moved up to the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), first as Commissioner of Metro Rochester, then working his way up to Regional VP, then Vice-Chairman.

Patricia Ann Schmit

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Patricia attended Irondequoit High School and RIT. She has worked at Bausch & Lomb for 35 years.

Biography
Patricia’s slo-pitch softball career covered 12 years from 1967 until 1979. The Fighting Green & Gold teams she played for included Muxworthy’s Ski Haus, Wintonaire, and Pace Electronics. Pat played on two World Tournament Teams: Muxworthy’s Ski Haus in 1972 and Pace Electronics in 1977. She was named to the All-World Tournament Team in both these tournaments.

Her major achievements include:

A .500+ lifetime batting average

USSSA Hall of Fame inductee at both the state and national levels

Elected to USSSA National “Team of the Decade” in 1970, Western NY

Sal Ruvio

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Sal attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY. He was a member of the Rochester Police Department for over 30 years and retired as a detective.

Family Background
Sal and his wife Bonnie have four children: Susie, Robbie, Mike, and Russell.

Biography
Sal was recognized in his playing days as an outstanding first baseman and savage hitter. He had exceptional fielding ability and was very smooth with soft hands and a strong arm. He was considered both a defensive and offensive strength on any team he played upon. He played on the best teams, Ragu and Al’s Green Tavern, and with the best players, such as Ron LaRose, Charlie McKay, Ron Blaessig, and others during his softball career. His playing partners respected and recognized his quiet and gentle leadership and true sportsmanship both on and off the field. Sal Ruvio was a coach’s dream player and a team’s secret formula for success.

Fred Prince

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
Fred and his wife Pat have three children.

Biography
Fred Prince started playing semi-pro baseball for the Rochester Bullets and Ragu. Fred was a member of seven World Tournament Teams over his softball career and has four Al-World Tournament appointments. Major teams he played for were:

N&S Auto

Erdle’s

Ragu

Roger’s Midway

Al’s Green Tavern

Kodak Park

Rochester Old

Stars

Rochester Legends

Currently, he is still playing in the local senior leagues and is a member of the Rochester Legends 60s Traveling Team. Fred is considered an excellent outfielder with above-average talent. He plays like a 30-year-old, can still take the ball deep with a very strong and accurate throwing arm, and can run like a deer.

Besides playing for World Tournament Teams and his appointments to All-World Teams, Fred played in the Senior Softball Olympics in San Antonio, TX, in 1995. He is an excellent bowler as well, with 3-300 games under his name and a .225 bowling average.

Roger Pascarella

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Roger attended McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY. He also attended Villanova University in Philadelphia, PA.

Family Background
Roger and his wife Fran have two children, Gina and Paul, and one grandchild.

Biography
The Roger’s Midway team of 1966 is recognized as the first slo-pitch softball team to win a USSSA local tournament title. They also went on to represent Rochester in the World Tournament in Milwaukee, and again in 1969 in Pittsburgh. This team, sponsored by Roger, was the first big powerhouse type team in the area. They were well-balanced with
speed, power, and great defense.

Linda McCoy

Birth Place
Champaign, IL

Educational & Professional Background
Linda attended John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, NE, and SUNY Brockport in New York. She has a degree in Physical Education and has worked as a teacher and coach in the Webster Central School District for 33 years.

Family Background
Linda and her husband Duane have four children.

Biography
Linda’s slo-pitch softball career covered 17 years from 1973 until 1989. The “Fighting Green & Gold” teams she played for included Muxworthy’s Ski Haus, Wintonaire, and Pace Electronics. Linda played on two World Tournament Teams with Pace Electronics and was named on the All-Time USSSA Team in 1987. She also was awarded MVP honors in the ASA National Tournament in 1976 and MVP honors again in the USSSA NYS Tournament in 1979.

Linda was also inducted into the USSSA slo-pitch Softball Association National Hall of Fame in 1987 and the USSSA New York State Hall of Fame in 2004.

Duane McCoy

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Duane attended Aquinas High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Duane and his wife, Linda, have four children.

Biography
He started his women’s slo-pitch softball managing career in 1972 with the Muxworthy’s Ski Haus Team. Other notable women teams he managed over some 23 years included, Wintonaire and Pace Electronics.

Duane had an outstanding managing record of three World Tournament Titles, two World runner-ups, seven times in the top 5 in the World, and 12 times in the top 10 in the World. His overall win / loss record is 1361 wins against 390 losses, for a very respectable winning percentage of 78%. His teams were the only ones to compete in the first 13 Women World Tournaments in the country.

Dan Maddalena

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Don attended Edison Tech High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Dan had three brothers and two sisters.

Biography
TBA

Gary Kaiser

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Gary attended John Marshall High School in Rochester, NY, and SUNY Geneseo State College. He taught English for several years at John Marshall High School before changing careers and becoming a Real Estate Broker.

Biography
Gary played for many outstanding teams over his softball career, such as:

Kartes Builders

Sunset Recreation

Ragu Foods

Al’s Green Tavern

Pace Electronics

Peterson Sporting Goods

Shakey’s

Mazzola Insurance

Gary won several All-Tournament and league awards during his shortened slo-pitch softball career. He was an outstanding hitter, who could hit for both average and great power to all fields. Gary died suddenly in November of 1993. His teammates, friends, and family all miss this truly great person and competitor.

Ron LaRose

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Ron attended Eastridge High School in Irondequoit, NY.

Family Background
Ron is married to Judy and they have two children and two grandchildren.

Biography
He started his softball career in 1961 and has played for several outstanding area teams, Ragu Food, N & S Auto, Al’s Green Tavern, Pace Electronics, Mazzola Insurance, Pederson Sporting Goods, Rochester Express and the Rochester Legends 50’s, 55’s, & 60’s. Ron played on 3 World Tournament Teams, and was named to 2 All World Tournament Teams.

He has also played in numerous sectional & regional tournaments over his career. His great ability to play any position on the field and hitting strengths of both power and average made him a tremendous asset on any team he played for. He is truly a great player with above-average ability and his actions on and off the field truly defined the word “sportsmanship” in the game of slo-pitch softball.

Don Corey

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
Don and his wife Jean have three children.

Biography
He started his softball career in 1956 with the Rochester Merchants Team at Bayview. Other notable teams he played for included, Ragu’s, N&S Auto, Rogers Midway, and Al’s Green Tavern. Don played on 3 World Tournament Teams, in both the USSSA & ASA associations, they were, Roger’s Midway, Ragu / Al’s Green, and the Rochester Legends.

He is still playing in the senior leagues and many weekend tournaments today with the 65 Traveling Team. Don is a multi-talented player, since he can handle all infield & outfield positions equally. He is most proud of his membership to the Adult Recreation Association Hall of Fame.

Frank Ciaccia

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Frank attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Frank and his wife Mary have three children: Frank Jr, Tom, and Robert.

Biography
Frank’s career started in fastpitch softball as a star pitcher for Ritter’s in the Rochester Major Industrial League during the 1940s. Over the years, as a new game of “slo-pitch softball” advanced, he was instrumental in bringing a national softball organization to the Rochester area in support of this game.

Operating from his Gauss Sporting Goods store in 1968, he brought together softball associates from around the country and organized a new national slo-pitch softball association, the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association, USSSA.

Frank’s vision brought together thousands of teams from around the country to compete in Regional & World Tournaments. In 1979, he was elected president of the USSSA and inducted into the USSSA National Hall of Fame in 1981.

In March 2004, Frank was inducted into the First Class of the New York State Hall of Fame. Frank went the extra mile by going international. He was asked by the United States State Department to introduce slo-pitch softball to Russia under a goodwill exchange program. He organized a USSSA All-Star Team to travel around Russia to play and give clinics to advance the sport. This sport is very popular in Russia and Eastern Europe today because of his effort.

Al Ciaccia

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Al attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY.

Biography
Al, along with his brother Frank, were considered one of the early founders of slo-pitch softball in Rochester, NY. They were very instrumental in bringing the United States slo-pitch Softball Association (USSSA) to the Rochester area. This enabled area teams and players to expand their competition through regional and district tournaments.

Rochester became recognized for its quality of play in the softball community largely due to its USSSA exposure. Al served as a Regional Vice President of the USSSA from 1971 to 1984. He was then promoted to Eastern Division Executive Vice President in 1985.

Known as a stable force in the USSSA, he was recognized for his unique ability to listen to teams, umpires, and players, as well as his efforts to improve the game of slo-pitch softball. Al joined the USSSA during the difficult years and stuck with it through thick and thin. He became one of the longest veterans in service to the USSSA. He never looked for headlines but worked long hours promoting the goals of the association and the game of slo-pitch softball. Al was elected to the National USSSA Hall of Fame in 1985.

Don Brown

Birth Place
Gowanda, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Don attended Jamestown High School in Jamestown, NY. He graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Physical Education. He is retired from the Greece School District.

Family Background
TBA

Biography
Don started his slo-pitch softball career at age 30 and is still playing in major competition today. Major slo-pitch teams he has been affiliated with include, Hotel DeMay, Sunset Recreation, Pace Electronics, Rochester Express and the Rochester Legends 50’s, 55’s, & 60’s.

Over his outstanding career, Don has played on seven World Champion Teams. He has been named to seven All World Tournament Teams as well. As a player on the Rochester Pro Softball Team, Express, he won 36 games in his first year and was All Pro 2 years.

In addition, he has been instrumental in the success of the Rochester Legends Traveling Teams, 50’s, 55’s and 60’s as both a player & coach. These teams are well known and highly ranked in the senior slo-pitch softball organization throughout the United States. Don is a great hitter, with excellent organizational skills to deliver slo-pitch softball championships.

Ronnie & Jackie Board

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
Ronnie & Jackie have three daughters and two sons, along with seven grandchildren. Jackie is deceased.

Biography
The Board’s were truly great supporters of slo-pitch softball since 1966. Over the years, it became a family undertaking for the love of the game. Ronnie and Jackie were married in 1966. Their softball involvement started under the sponsorship of the Ronnie’s Suburban Inn team in 1966. Bill Wyle, as the manager, lead their team to ASA National Champs, in the Ohio 8 Team Tournament.

The next big step for them covered 12 years, over 200 games under Ronnie’s Suburban Inn. In 1979, the Board’s built and opened the Bubba’s Inn, a two-field softball complex with lights in Pavilion, NY, which held many leagues and tournaments. Then in 1986, they took over the Scottsville, NY, softball complex called “The Dugout” and renamed it to “Ronnie’s Ball Park”.

Over the years, they hosted numerous leagues and several State, Divisional, and World-Class Tournaments in support of slo-pitch softball.

Today’s life is a lot simpler and peaceful. Ronnie is active in the “Loyal Order of the Moose” and supports their softball team. He is also enjoying grandparenthood. They both are being recognized as pioneers in support of this area’s slo-pitch softball.

Jim Billitier

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
Jim and his wife Jane have three children and seven grandchildren.

Biography
Jim Billitier started his softball career in 1944 in the Kodak Park Athletic Association (KPAA) league. He also played semi-pro baseball from 1954-1961. In 1958 and 1959, he played for the champion Schantz Cardinals. Jim switched back to softball and became an outstanding player for the Bausch & Lomb Industrial World Tournament Teams of 1960, 1962-65, 1967, and 1968. From 1960-67, the B&L teams he played for were also city champs, and they went undefeated from 1962 to 1963.

Over the last 10 years, Jim has been very active in senior softball and has played and traveled with the tournament division teams in the 55’s, 60’s, and 65’s brackets. He is still playing in the local senior leagues and attends weekend tournaments today with the 65 Traveling Team. He is most proud of playing in the Senior Softball Olympics held in San Antonio, Texas, in 1995.

Gene Williams

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Gene has been employed with the Rochester Recreation Department for 31 years.

Family Background
Gene resides in the city of Rochester, NY.

Biography
Gene has great success in turning around many young Women and Men to lead very productive lives. Coaching youth and adult teams at the Recreation Center is where his coaching career began. In 1974 he started coaching teams in the USSSA Leagues and Local Tournaments. In 1983 Gene’s Scott’s Cobra’s won the USSSA New York State “D” Championship followed up in 1985 with the USSSA New York State “C” Championship.

Gene joined the Pace Organization in 1986 to form a Class “B” traveling team to play in more competitive tournaments throughout the country. The emergence of Gene’s team to a National status began in 1991 when he merged the Pace “A” and “B” teams to form the Pace “AA” team with the outstanding support of Patrick and Karen Kehoe. Gene’s Team Pace has played in 11 Black America World Championships, winning 8 World Titles with an unprecedented 6 titles in a row. Gene has won over 1,100 USSSA games in his career.

Robert “Thunder” Thornton

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
September 11, 1942

Educational & Professional Background
Robert graduated from Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY, in 1960. He served in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1966. He also attended San Diego State University and St. John Fisher College.

Robert earned degrees in Applied Mathematics and Criminal Justice. He served at Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and retired after 20 years of service in 1991. He also worked as Corporate Security at Eastman Kodak until retiring in 2004.

Family Background
Robert and his wife Kathleen have three children: Robert, Jodie, and Matthew. They have eight grandchildren: Miah, Milana, Tegan, Robbie, Brooklyn, Roman, Taia, and Nickolas.

Biography
Robert “Thunder” Thornton played varsity football while at Jefferson High School and then played semi-pro football with the Lockport Bulldogs. In 1966 and 1967, Bob was invited to the Buffalo Bills training camp as a linebacker.

Thunder played for several teams over his career, including:

Chase Lincoln First Bank

BKB

Delta Electric

Kartes Builders

Mazzola Insurance

Pace Electronics

Rochester Legends.

Bob has played in over 50 World and National Tournaments. He has won six championships: in 2000, 2001, twice in 2003, 2007, and 2009.

He has been appointed and named 17 times as All-World Tournament Player. In 2003, he was named the NASCS World’s MVP.

Thunder is a big power hitter who can hit for average to all fields, as well as drive it deep if needed. He is a good team player who plays to win and doesn’t worry about individual stats; only the team “W” for National Titles.

Jerry Montemarano

Birth Place
Dansville, New York
March 24, 1942

Educational & Professional Background
Jerry attended York Central High School in Dansville, NY. Jerry attended the University of Buffalo under a basketball scholarship and earned his bachelor’s degree in Education from there. He went on to teach physical education and coach at York Central High School for 33 years and retired in 1997. During his coaching career at York Central, his teams won three Sectional V baseball championships.

Family Background
Jerry and his wife Marty have one daughter, Traci Bush.

Biography
Jerry played four years of varsity football and baseball at York Central High School, including three years of varsity basketball. He was inducted into the York Central High School Hall of Fame for these achievements.

While attending the University of Buffalo, he played basketball and baseball. In 1963 and again in 1964, he played in the NCAA Eastern Region Baseball Tournament. The tournament in 1964 was held at New York’s Yankee Stadium.

Jerry’s softball career started in 1968 and he is still active today. He has played on several Major slo-pitch softball teams. He started with Art’s Market and the Livonia Hotel. Later, he played for Al’s Green Tavern, and then played on all the Rochester Legend’s teams, including the 50s, 55s and currently the 60s.

Jerry has played in 35 World Tournaments over his career and helped deliver six World Tournament titles, one with the Livonia Hotel and five with the Rochester Legends. He has been selected to six “All World” player appointments including one MVP and one Defensive Player of Year.

Jerry is a great all-around player both on defense and offense, a true sportsman, team leader and competitor, and an enormous asset for any team he plays for.

Max Grossman

Birth Place
Wellsville, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Max attended Wellsville High School and graduated from Rochester Business Institute and Bryant & Stratton College. He works as a real estate broker.

Family Background
Max has three children, Susan, Amy, and Mark.

Biography
Max has played competitive sports for most of his adult life. It really started for him in High School where he had outstanding sports accomplishments in track, basketball, and baseball. It carried over into the Armed Services from 1945-48 where he competed in football, track, basketball, and baseball. From 1980 – 2004 Max played softball on several local teams. He has played in the Irondequoit

Senior Softball League for over 12 years during this time frame he was also serving as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the league. From, 2000 – 2002, he competed in the Monroe County Senior Games where he demonstrated outstanding ability and determination, symbolizing the best spirit of American Sportsmanship. This spirit was evident during “The Friendship Softball Wars” between senior players from Ottawa, Canada, and Rochester. Max was instrumental in organizing this home and home event. Currently, Max splits his time playing slo-pitch softball between Florida and Rochester. It’s said, “Max may own the title of the oldest active Jewish softball player”.

Danny Guilfoyle

Birth Place
Salamanca, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Danny attended Waterford High School in Waterford, CT, where he graduated in 1961. He attended Fordham University from 1961 to 1964 and the University of Rochester in 1965. Dan was the General Sales Manager of Clear Channel’s seven Rochester Radio Stations, including WHAM.

Family Background
Dan and family consist of wife Carolyn and children: Rick, Carrie, Danny, and Ryan, and grandchildren: Laura, Matthew, Paloma, Pablo, and Tallulah.

Biography
Dan moved to Rochester in late 1964 and played for Ruby’s hardball team in the MUNI league in 1965. The first slo-pitch softball leagues that he played for were in East Rochester and Pittsford with the C.C. Riders. In 1968, he played for numerous teams including Roger’s Midway in the Major League and went to the first USSSA World Tournament in Milwaukee that year.

He helped form the Nelson Development Team and Tobin’s Hot Dogs in 1969 and began his first year as a player-coach, and has been coaching at least one team a year ever since. He has been playing for and coaching the Thirsty’s team in the Pittsford Leagues since 1972 and has won either the league or playoff titles all but three of those years, often winning both. Other notable teams that he has played for through the years are the Cobbler Lounge, Henco, the Hampshire House, House of Bacchus, Conkey Grill, Grannas, Coors Light, and Genesee Beer.

He has been a member of several tournament teams:

Coors Light / Perna Homes in 2002

Rochester Area Merchants in Glen Burnie, 2003

Rally-Time Sports

55’s and 60’s Las Vegas Masters in 2005 and 2007 respectively

He has hit for an average of over .700 in nine World Tournaments, twice hitting .900. Although he has never stopped all-age leagues, he has had lots of fun playing in the Senior Softball Leagues, reuniting with many old friends. He continues to play in many senior softball leagues in the Rochester area and major annual tournaments around the country. He was a founding board member of the Rochester Senior slo-pitch Softball Association (RSSSA), established to recognize outstanding performance and participation in slo-pitch softball. Dan is a good player and great ambassador of the game who is giving back to the game we all love.

Joe DeGeorge

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
March 29, 1940

Educational & Professional Background
Joe attended Aquinas High School in Rochester, NY. Joe is an acoustical contractor. He owns and operates a family business, Joe DeGeorge Ceilings.

Family Background
Joe has one son, Dan, and a daughter Deneen.

Biography
Joe DeGeorge is the 2006 recipient of the RSSSA Committee Award, given to a person whose love for the game combines with an endless devotion to team excellence and success. His efforts go well beyond the extra mile to achieve great success. He was affiliated with several teams for nearly over 50 years in slo-pitch softball, including the Rochester Old Stars, Al’s Green Tavern, the Boulevard, and Prince George’s.

The major tournament traveling teams he played on were the Rochester Legends 50’s, 55’s, 60’s, and currently the 65’s. Joe has been on five World Tournament Teams, one in 2000, two in 2001, and two in 2003.

Joe is a great player to have on any team. He displays a wealth of intangibles such as devotion to the game, encouragement to teammates, leadership, and most importantly, heart, a never-ending strength that uplifts everyone on the team. He is truly a team player with great values and ability that helps deliver team success in the game we all love, slo-pitch softball.

Harry DeDee

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Harry attended James Monroe High School and RIT in Rochester, NY. He worked as a tool and die maker at Xerox Corporation.

Family Background
Harry and his wife Joyce have a daughter, Donna, and a son, Michael. Harry passed away in 2007.

Biography
Harry’s softball career encompasses 56 years. He was affiliated with several teams, including the Rochester Old Stars, Rochester Generals, and the Xerox Devils in the company recreation league. He also coached Bishop Kearney High School’s girl’s softball team.

He played on and later managed the Prince George’s team in the Irondequoit 50+ league. The PG team won seven division titles and seven league titles. Harry loved the game, and both teammates and competitors recognized this passion through his compassion for others. He was always a gentleman and displayed a willingness to help those in need.

Jimmy DiBuo

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Jimmy DiBuo went to Aquinas High School in Rochester, NY. He worked for Monroe County Pure Waters group for 30 years.

Family Background
Jim has one daughter, Stacy.

Biography
After serving in the US Army, he joined the workforce and began 30 years of employment with the Monroe County Pure Waters group. He started playing organized softball at the age of nine at #9 School in the city. Over the early years, he played in various leagues including the VFW, KPPA, CYO,
PAL. Then he continued on the fastpitch league circuit with Guas, Industrial, and Kodak. Over this span of time, teams he played on won several league and City championships.

In 1964, Jim fine-tuned his skills and decided to stay with slo-pitch softball and joined the Coca Cola team at Basil’s. He moved up to the Bayview complex the following year and played for Ray’s Lounge in the Major Slo-pitch League. Other great teams he played for over the next 12 years included Santillo’s, Corey’s, Trimaldi’s Landscaping, and Mazzola Insurance. Jim retired from the junior circuit in 1977, however, during the last tournament played he went 21 for 24 and batted an astounding .875.

Jim came out of retirement in 1990 to join the Al’s Green Tavern team playing in the Town of Irondequoit Senior Recreation league on Thursday nights at McAvoy Park. The following year he added Tuesday mornings to his schedule. Both teams over the years won league and division titles several times with Jim’s offensive and defensive skills. As Jim played on for the love of the game, he participated in many National Tournaments in the senior circuit in all divisions, 55’s, 60’s and 65’s.

Over his career, Jim played against or with all current male members of the Rochester Senior Slo-pitch Softball Hall of Fame. He was a great competitor with proven skills, a sportsman, and a gentle human being that all would want to play with or for. He’s an excellent player and a true friend to all.

Mike Callahan

Birth Place
Dansville, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Michael attended Batavia High School and graduated from St. Bonaventure.

Family Background
Michael is married to Margy and has three children, sons Mike (Carrie) and Dan, as well as daughter Jamie. He has one granddaughter, Brianna.

Biography
He was born on August 18, 1949, in Dansville, New York. Mike started playing slo-pitch softball in 1968 and is currently playing in the senior circuit. He has played for several outstanding teams over the years, LeRoy Casino, Greenleaf Losers, Kozak/Bud Light, Rochester Legends 40’s, John Warren Foundation, RAM Sports, Prince George’s, and Rally Time Sports.

Mike is a big-time tournament player with above-average skills both offensively and defensively. He has nearly a .700 lifetime batting average including the power to go yard anywhere, anytime. He is a great clutch hitter as well. Mike has played in more than 20 World Tournaments and has 5 World Championships.

He has been appointed to 2 “All World” Tournament teams both occurring in Manassas, Virginia. Mike exemplifies all the Hall of Fame attributes necessary and very noticeable in great players. These actions set Mike apart; team leadership, unselfishness, caring and helping others, competitive spirit, and drive to deliver what’s required, sportsmanship, and be a gentleman both on and off the field are always evident.

Carol Aselin

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Carol graduated from West Irondequoit High School in 1967. She graduated from RIT in 1977 and received a degree in Accounting.

Family Background
Carol has a brother Dan.

Biography
Carol was part of a young group of players who came to the Fighting Green & Gold (FG&G), then known as Muxworthy’s, in 1967. Carol arrived as a catcher and was converted to a pitcher in 1969. From that point on, she became the greatest “big game” pitcher in slo-pitch softball, and the FG&G became a national powerhouse.

In her seven years pitching, Carol started 266 games and won 219 against 41 losses for a .842 winning percentage. She had three straight years of 50 wins, topped off with 55 in 1973. During her career, her earned run average (ERA) was an unbelievable 1.56. Her lowest ERA was in 1973, when she posted a 0.85, almost unheard of in slo-pitch softball.

In her pitching career, she had 107 earned run shutouts (games where there were no earned runs scored), 51 shutouts, five one-hit games, and two no-hitters.

Carol was a great hitter, especially in the clutch. She was said to be just as tenacious at-bat as she was on the mound. Carol had a lifetime batting average of nearly .400 and a slugging average of over .500. Her best marks for those two categories were: .471 in 1971 and .698 in 1969.

Carol was an eight-time tournament All-Star or MVP. Her greatest honor came in 1972 when she was named to the All-World Tournament Team as she pitched the FG&G to their first World Title.

Bob Alves

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bob attended Edison Tech and Madison High School in Rochester, NY. He also attended RIT and was employed at Kodak. He retired after 32 years of service.

Family Background
Bob and his wife Sharon have one daughter, Michelle.

Biography
Bob was a slo-pitch softball player, pitcher, and manager from 1964 to 1982. He played with Kodak Apparatus Division (KAD), Hidden Creek, and Double Days. In 1982, he was named All-World Industrial Manager as KAD won the Industrial World Tournament. In that tournament, he managed KAD from a first-game loss to 11 straight victories to win the title.

For ten consecutive years between 1972-1981, KAD won the Eastern States Industrial Tournament (single elimination) with his leadership. From 1980 to 1982, he managed KAD to 58 straight victories, including the league, playoffs, and tournaments.

Leadership, teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship were key factors he brought to his team’s success.

William Vivian

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bill attended Jefferson High School. He retired from Eastman Kodak Company in 1991 and since 1992 he has been working for Laidlaw Busing Company.

Family Background
Bill and his wife Sandy have two children, a daughter Laurie and a son Steven. They have five grandchildren Johnny and Mariah (Laurie), and Jordana, Anthony, and Steven (Steven).

Biography
Bill played both slow and fastpitch softball from 1963 – 1997 winning many leagues, playoffs, and tournaments. He played for the Kodak Apparatus Division (KAD) Industrial team from 1974-1981 winning both the leagues, playoffs, and even the Eastern States Industrial Tournaments over that timeframe.

In the late 1970s, he played for the Marine Midland Bank team and went on to win three New York State Tournament titles. In 1990, while Bill was managing the women’s KAD team, they won the first-ever USSSA Women’s World Industrial Championship in Stratford, CT. One of his players, Jean Griffin Troast, hit the first “out of the park” home run. That softball today, along with Bill’s jersey, is on display at the National USSSA Hall of Fame.

The women’s KAD Team was the first to defend a World Industrial Championship by winning in 1991. This team placed 2nd in 1993 and 1994. In addition, the women’s KAD team participated in the Eastern States Industrial Tournament placing 1st in 1983, in Rochester, NY, and winning again in 1984, in Stamford, CT.

By winning the USSSA Women’s Industrial Tournament in Rochester, NY, major industrial softball has come full circle from world titles (Tommy Castle and Harold “Shifty” Gears era), 30’s & 40’s to the 90’s. The Kodak Park men’s fastpitch team won 2 world titles, the men’s KAD slo-pitch team won a title in 1982 (Bill played on) and with the women’s slo pitch team titles (Bill managed) both in 1990 & 1991, the cycle is complete.

Carm Urzetta

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Carm graduated from East Rochester High School and holds degrees from St Bonaventure and Nazareth College. He is the Assistant to the President at Bishop Kearney High School where he has been a teacher, coach, and school administrator for 42+ years.

Family Background
Carm and his wife Rose Marie have four children; three sons – Patrick, fiancée (Lauren), David (Judy), Brian (Melissa), and one daughter, Lisa. Carm and Rose Marie have four grandchildren, Elizabeth, Emily, Allison, and Kacie.

Biography
Carm started playing slo-pitch softball in 1965 and retired in 2001. Over his 36 year career, as a slick fielding shortstop and second basemen, he played for the best teams in the area; Ragu, Al’s Green Tavern, Mazzola’s Insurance, New York Life, Shakey’s Pizza and the Rochester Legends.

He was appointed to five All-World Teams; Ragu 1968 & 1969, Shakey’s Pizza 1971, and the Rochester Legends in 1998 & 1999, and was MVP in the Major Slo-pitch League in 1971. Carm was a classy team player who loved to compete. He is a true sportsman. He was a consistent hitter with plenty of spirit, hustle, and excellent playing ability.

Adrian “Junior” Twist

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Junior attended McQuaid High School and graduated in 1971.

Family Background
Junior and his wife Barbara have three children — two sons, Brian and Adrian Jr., and one daughter Jenelle. Adrian and Barbara have one granddaughter.

Biography
Junior has excellent skills and is considered a multi-talented and versatile player who skillfully plays positions in both the infield and outfield. He is an all field hitter with surprising power. He started perfecting his softball career in 1969 and is still playing the senior circuit today. He has played for many of the top teams in Rochester over the years; Proietti’s, Zambito’s, Fireside Merchants, ABC Collision, Lane Construction, Trimaldi Landscaping, Prince George’s, Max Spice and others.

Playing in nearly 35 Championships over a career spanning nearly 40 years and still counting, Junior has been selected Tournament MVP 7 times, and made All Tournament Team Player 12 times. He has appeared in more than 10 World Tournaments and has 8 World Titles. Junior has had a very successful career in softball because of his hard play and never give up attitude that continues to drive himself and his team mates to victory.

Don Trimaldi

Birth Place
Brooklyn, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Don graduated from Ben Franklin High School. He is retired from the Monroe County Public Works Department, where he worked for 26 years.

Family Background
Don is married to Rose. Don has four children — three sons, Dominick, Tim and Tom and one daughter, Crystal. In addition, he has nine grandchildren; Cory, Casey, Tim, Dillan, Kenny, Jacob, Jessica, Nicole and Sky.

Biography
Don started in his softball career with B & C Barber in 1961. After serving in the military he continued playing again with Rae’s Lounge and then with Santillo’s. He played with many of the top teams at the time such as Skinny’s, Henco, Fountain Bleu, and Mazzola Insurance. Then in 1994 he started playing senior softball with Al’s Green Tavern, and the Rochester Legends.

Currently he is playing with the Rally Time Sports 60s traveling team. Don has played on two City Championship Teams, Mazzola Insurance in 1971 and Henco in 1973. He was elected MVP in the City Major Slo-pitch Softball League in 1973. He played for two World Tournament Teams; three years with the Rochester Legends and two years with RallyTime Sports. He has one All World Team appointment with the 2005 Rally Time Sports team in Manassas, Virginia. In late September of this year(2007), he helped his team win the “AA” Bracket 60s World Masters Tournament in Las Vegas.

In 2007, Don was inducted into the City of Rochester Adult Recreation Association (ARA) Sports Hall of Fame. Don is an excellent infielder, who mostly plays shortstop with above average skills. He has great fielding range and hits to all fields with consistently good results.

Ken Reed

Birth Place
Tallahassee, FL

Educational & Professional Background
Ken graduated from Ben Franklin High School in Rochester, NY. He continued his education at Monroe Community College where he received an AAS Degree in Recreation and RIT where he completed a Social Worker Program. Ken is retired after serving 34 years at the Baden Street Settlement. He now is enjoying playing senior slo-pitch softball.

Family Background
Ken and his wife Annie Pearl have three children; Aleaha, Sharlene, and Gwen. In addition, they also have one grandchild, Quinton

Biography
Ken started his softball career in 1961. He has played on several major slo pitch teams over the years such as, Bausch and Lomb, Roadrunners, and the Rochester Legends. He was a player on several World Tournament teams, the Roadrunners in 1972, 1974 and again in 1979, the Rochester Legends in three different age bracket titles (50s, 55s, & 60s) from 1995-2007.

In 1987, he was named an All-Star in the Inner City League with the Roadrunners. Ken was instrumental in the development of the Roadrunner Softball Club and both played and guided them as their manager. They competed against all the best local, state, and national teams with a major victory coming against the very strong Pace team at the Ridgewood complex. In addition, he helped his Roadrunner team defeat the nationally ranked Sol Metz Team in a World Tournament. The highlight of his career came when playing for the Rochester Legends when they won their First World Championship.

Ken still is involved in slo-pitch softball today through his play with the Rochester Legends and others as well as managing teams in the senior recreation leagues. He is actively involved and was instrumental in the development of the Roadrunner Fraternity. He ensures that club members keep in touch with former players and support one another. Ken is a great team player, an excellent coach and manager, and truly a good human being who consistently gives back to the community.

Richard Prince

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Dick graduated from East Rochester High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Dick has three children, Kym (husband Ed Schifino), Robyn (husband Bill Connell), and son Richard (wife Cindy). He has five grandchildren; Jacyln and Jordan (Kym), Hanna Rose (Robyn), and Carter and Madeline (Richard)

Biography
Dick has owned Prince George’s Restaurant (PG’s) in East Rochester, New York, for over 30 years. He has been very involved in community sports support over the same timeframe. Dick has watched many players that have played for his sponsored teams start from Little League to high school sports, through college, and even some today play in senior softball.

Over the years, softball teams sponsored / co-sponsored under PG’s have participated in more than 100 Tournaments, divided between World, State, City, and National Championships. Those teams have returned with more than 70 tournament wins, including ten World Championships, five National Titles, and over five Canadian (London, Ontario) Open Championships. His teams have included most of the best players, coaches, and managers in the area for nearly three decades.

Dick is a great supporter of slo-pitch softball in Rochester, an excellent friend to all the players, and a good human being with a kind heart.

Dave Maddalena

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
He attended Ben Franklin High School and then transferred to Edison Technical High School graduating in 1963. After graduation, he attended RIT and studied Building Technology/Construction Management and Business Administration. Dave retired from Xerox Corporation in 2001 after 27 years with the Corporate Real Estate Group.

Family Background
Dave and his wife Mary Ann have been married for 27+ years and reside in Penfield. Dave has one daughter, Michele, who resides in Chili.

Biography
Dave learned his baseball skills on the playing fields of Coleman Terrance, Carter Street, and Lincoln Street playgrounds alongside many of the other inductees. He played baseball for both Ben Franklin and Edison Tech High Schools. He began his softball career in 1964 and played with such teams as Skinny’s, Fountain Blue, Henco, and Trimaldi Landscaping. He advanced to the Major Division with Mazzola Insurance, Peterson Sporting Goods, and Proietti’s. He played on the Mazzola Insurance City Championship team and enjoyed playing in many major tournaments for a variety of teams in such places as Detroit, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Long Island, Virginia, and New Jersey.

Dave also played in the Xerox Recreation League from 1979-2000 for “The Strokers” who won 14 Xerox Recreation League Championships from Xerox in 2001, Dave was encouraged by his brother Dan, to join the competitive ranks of senior slow pitch. He began playing in the McVoy Park 55+ league with Prince George’s and currently plays for Al’s Green Tavern and Advance Hearing at McAvoy Park.

He also plays for the Rochester Legends 60+ Tournament Traveling Team and the Naples Heat 60+ team out of Naples, Florida. He has played in 8 World Tournaments winning 4 World Championship titles, including one with the Naples Heat Team.

In addition, while playing for the Rochester Legends they have won 3 championships in London, Ontario, and three SSWC Buckeye Classic Championships in Akron, Ohio. Dave has had a lifelong passion for baseball. He has always enjoyed the competition and valued the camaraderie the game has brought to his life. The committee would especially like to recognize Dave’s many efforts on behalf of RSSSA and his commitment to growing and strengthening the RSSSA organization.

Mark Lucas

Birth Place
Lewisburg, PA

Educational & Professional Background
Mark attended Charlotte High School in Rochester, NY. He is currently employed by Delphi Automotive.

Family Background
Mark has two children, a son Steve (wife Nancy) and a daughter Jenny, (husband John Beseau) and five grandchildren, Nicole, Jaclyn, Casey, Emily, and David. He also has one great grandchild, Wesley.

Biography
Mark started his slo-pitch softball career in 1966 and is still playing today. He has been affiliated with such teams as Kartes Builders, Mazzola Insurance and the Rochester Legends. In 1970, he was part of the Mazzola Insurance City Championship Team. Mark has eight World Titles in various age groups mostly with the Rochester Legends.

He has been a member of area traveling teams that have won many Tournament Championships which were held in Akron, Cleveland, Ontario Canada, and others. He was appointed All World Tournament Player in Minnesota in 2003, and again the same year in Des Moines, lowa where he batted 941 for the tournament. Mark is a multi-positional player with excellent skills in both the infield and outfield. He is truly a team player with exceptional leadership and drive to help his team achieve success.

Jim A. Hughes

Birth Place
Eastman, GA
January 11, 1946

Educational & Professional Background
Jim moved from Georgia to the Rochester area and graduated from Williamson Central High School. He graduated from Monroe Community College in 1972 with an A.A.S. degree in Police Science and from RIT in 1975 with a B.S. in Sociology. Jim served as a Rochester Police Officer for 21 years, until 1988. He then became a Program Coordinator at MCC for 19 years, until retiring in September 2007.

Family Background
Jim is married to Yvette Craver Hughes and they have two sons, Wade Jonathan and Michael James, and one daughter, Cheryl Elizabeth. They also have seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Biography
Jim Hughes began playing slo-pitch softball in 1965 with the Williamson Merchants. He later played with the Police Locust Club. He also played for Westside Merchants, Master’s Deli, Ronnie’s Suburban Inn, and the Brook House.

He has played in many World Tournaments around the country for RallyTime Sports, Prince George’s, and the Rochester Area Merchants (RAM). He has been selected to five All-Tournament Teams in Springfield, MA; in Ontario, CA, in 2002 and 2003; in Glenn Burnie, MD, in 2003; and in Las Vegas, NV in 2007.

Jim was a player on four title-winning World Tournament Teams, one with the Police Locust Club, two with the John Warren Foundation (JWF) teams, and one with Rally Time Sports 60s team.

Jim is a great hitter with excellent skills, a team player who exemplifies sportsmanship and leadership in the game.

Gary Gooden

Birth Place
Oswego, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Gary attended Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, NY. Later he attended the University of Phoenix. He worked for Blue Cross & Blue Shield for 20 years and is currently employed at ECC Technologies.

Family Background
Gary and his wife Sue have two daughters, Lacey and Sarah.

Biography
Gary started umpiring in 1975 as an ASA official and served with them for 20 years. In 1981, he attended the first annual ASA Softball Umpiring Developmental School in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1995, he joined the USSSA organization. He is currently the USSSA New York State District 5 Area Director and the New York State UIC. He umpires baseball, slow and fast pitch softball. In addition, he is a high school football and basketball Official.

In 1990, the Sports Officials of the Rochester Area (SORA) was created and became an independent officiating group handling multiple sports. Today, this group provides officials for basketball, baseball, fast & slow pitch softball and flag football. SORA has been a big part of Gary’s life for the last 18 years.

Gary has officiated at all levels in the USSSA including World Tournaments for both men and women in all brackets — A, B, C, D and E. He also officiated in the 2003 Black American Worlds in Atlanta, Georgia. A highpoint in his career came in 2001 and again in 2006 when he was assigned to officiate in the USSSA Men’s Major World Series Tournament in Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

In 2006, Gary joined the USSSA Conference Umpire Staff. These umpires handle all the elite tournaments with all the major teams from around the country. Gary has crafted his officiating skills to rank among the very best. He has moved up in the ranks and is well respected by all the major softball organizations.

Carol Dwyer

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
June 22, 1950

Educational & Professional Background
Carol attended Greece Olympia High School and graduated in 1968. Carol completed studies at MCC and RIT in Business Management and currently works at Thermo Scientific in Rochester.

Family Background
Carol has two children, Ryan and Elliot.

Biography
Carol Dwyer started her slo-pitch softball career in 1971 and retired after 11 years in 1982. She played for Lum’s from 1971 until 1974 and then went on to join the outstanding Pace Electronics World Team from 1975 until 1982.

As a member of the Pace team, she helped to lead them to a World Title in 1977, two 2nd place finishes in 1978 and 1980, and a 3rd place finish in 1975. During the 1978 championships, she was selected to the All-World Tournament Team. Her other accomplishments include:

League MVP for Lum’s

Gold Grove Award with Pace Electronics

Co-MVP in the Petersburg, VA Tournament

Carol coached and managed the Kodak Park Industrial Major slo-pitch Women’s Team to several Eastern States Championship Titles. Carol was a smooth fielding shortstop and played second base with the ultimate skill. She displays great leadership and spirit both on and off the field.

Charles “Bo” Bertino

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
July 22, 1947

Educational & Professional Background
Charles “Bo” Bertino attended grammar school at Holy Rosary and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1965. Bo is a 1969 graduate of Brockport State College in Physical Education and Health.

Family Background
Bo and his wife Robyn have four sons, Greg, Louis (wife Emily), Charles, and Lucas, and one daughter, Peyton (husband Brett). Bo and Robyn have three grandchildren, Marissa, Michael, and Joseph.

Biography
Upon graduation from Brockport State College, Bo signed a one-year minor league free-agent contract with the Seattle Mariners and then a two-year minor league contract with the Montreal Expos.

Bo has been playing slo-pitch softball for nearly 40 years for many of the top major teams in the area including Al’s Green Tavern, Prince George’s, RAM 55’s, Coors Lite 55’s, and RallyTime Sports 55’s. He has played on two World Championship title teams, one in 2002 with the Coors Lite/Perna Homes team, and again in 2005 with RallyTime Sports/PG’s. Bo has two All World Tournament Team appointments, both in 2002 with Coors Lite/Perna Homes.

Besides his excellent baseball and softball careers, Bo has been coaching high school sports in both baseball and football for over 40 years. He started at Ben Franklin High School and eventually moved on to Charlotte and East High Schools. He also coached at Monroe High School, Penfield High School, and Brighton High School. Bo currently coaches at Pittsford Mendon High School.

Sports have played a major part in Bo’s life. He has achieved many proud victories on the field. Perhaps more importantly, Bo has always been there to help others in times of need. Over the years, he has unselfishly answered calls for help many times with the same positive attitude and energy he brings to sports and his personal life. Bo is a true humanitarian and leader. The smiles and gratitude from those he has helped drive him to continue to give back to the community and take endless actions to help his fellow man.

Dario Arminini

Birth Place
Elbon, PA
August 14, 1933

Educational & Professional Background
Dario was born in the small coal-mining town of Elbon, PA. Later, his family moved to Erie, PA, where he graduated from Erie Technical High School in 1951. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1961 after serving in the US Navy in the Special Services Group, where he played baseball and basketball. Dario is retired after nearly 60
years in the printing business. He is now enjoying senior slo-pitch softball.

Family Background
Dario and his wife Elaine have been married for 46 years and have two daughters and one son: Dawn (husband Dave), Lorin (husband Doug), and David (wife Brenda). Dario and Elaine also have nine grandchildren: Kelly, Arin, Mitchell, Jordan, Tyler, Dylan, Ellie, Doug, and Jack.

Biography
Dario started his baseball career in the Navy from 1952 to 1956 where he set a league fielding record of 148 consecutive chances without an error for a second baseman. While attending college, he played varsity baseball and was voted team captain for three of the four years he played. Upon graduation, he was named the freshman baseball coach for three years.

After college ball, he played both fastpitch and slo-pitch softball on area teams such as Radex, Boulter Carting, Xerox, and Al’s Green Tavern. In 1983, he was one of the founding fathers of the 50+ league in the Town of Brighton. Players from this league have gone on to form the various senior tournament traveling teams, such as the Rochester Legends, Rallytime Sports, Shamrock Jack’s, and others. In 1989, he was inducted into the RIT Sports Hall of Fame and was a member of the Hall of Fame Induction Committee.

Dario still is involved in slo-pitch softball today. He is the Director of Operations, coach, and part-time player on both the 65 & 70s tournament traveling teams. He’s a great team player, excellent coach, manager, and a true ambassador of the game.

Rick Palmiero

Birth Place
Batavia, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Rick attended Edison Tech High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Rick and his wife Karen have three children, sons Rich Jr. and Nicholas, and a daughter, Brianna.

Biography
He began his softball career in 1969, while still attending high school and advanced to playing with the best teams during that period, Mazzola-Castle, Proietti’s, and the Rochester Zeniths APSPL. He had two professional baseball tryouts — one with Pittsburgh and the other with Philadelphia. Rick had three All World appointments; 1977 Easterns in Detroit, 1977 World Series in Petersburg, Virginia, and 1979 APSPL All Star player.

Other major achievements include:

1975 MVP Pittsburgh Invitational

1976 MVP Roundtowner Invitational

1977 Mazzola-Castle MVP (HR & RBI leader)

1977 the Louisville Slugger Award (52 HR & 186 RBl)

Rick was a big asset to the teams he played for by providing the big hits and making big plays in the field. In addition to his playing career, he gave back to the game as well. He was a board member of the Eastside Little League and coached baseball for eight years. He helped to build the Eastside Little League facility complex at Tryon Park. He was the assistant varsity baseball coach for eight years at Bishop Kearney High School and was the head Varsity girl’s softball head coach for three years.

Richard (Dick) Huether

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Dick graduated from Aquinas High School and worked at Pfaudler Company for 35 years.

Family Background
Dick is married to Chris.

Biography
Dick has managed both men and women slo-pitch softball teams from 1981-2000. Winning games with good leadership with sound softball knowledge was the formula for his success through this period. His first good test came in 1984, when he managed a group of young kids, including his brother, to a berth in the “C” Division Eastern States Tournament in Brookhaven, Long Island.

In 1993, he brought home a City Title and in 1995, a Town of Greece Recreation League championship. In 2001, Dick took his proven skills to the next level and entered into senior slo-pitch softball. He has compiled an amazing overall record of 203 wins against 58 losses. In 2002, his 50’s AAA team won the ISF World Championships in Manassas, Virginia. Then again in 2002, he managed his team to a 2nd place finish in the ISF World Cup Tournament in Manassas.

This venue /tournament served him up with another 2nd place finish in 2003. In 2006, and again in 2007, the Las Vegas Masters, LVSSA Tournament he was able to manage his team to a 3rd and 2nd place finish respectively. Good teams are always driven to their success by good coaching and strong management skills and Dick displays both.

Maureen (Tish) Dwyer

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Maureen graduated from Greece Olympia High School and received a Bachelor’s in Mathematics & Structural Engineering.

Family Background
Maureen has three siblings, Carol, Steve, and Tom.

Biography
Tish had a glove in hand at age 5, since both her parents were good athletes. Riley playground in Rochester is where she acquired her softball skills where her and along with her siblings played on the same team. Her first World Tournament was in Virginia and was coached by her father. Shortly thereafter she became a member of the “Fighting Green and Gold” coached by Duane McCoy and won both City Championships and World Titles.

Her stats for nine years of play with the Fighting Green & Gold covering 400 games were; 1302 at-bats, 356 runs, 561 hits (one of 7 members of the 500 club), and 84 extra bases and 712 total bases, .431 lifetime batting average and .547 slugging %. She was an outstanding defensive outfielder to complement her great hitting.

Alan Drechsler

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Al Drechsler graduated from Greece Olympia High School. He attended Monroe Community College and SUNY Brockport and earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education.

Family Background
Alan and his wife Trudy have two children, daughter Amy and son Alan.

Biography
During his high school years, Al was named All-American goalkeeper in soccer. He was also named All-County Times-Union Super 15 in basketball and All-County in baseball.

Al was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth round in January 1972 and again in June of 1972. He played two years with the Pirates and one year with the Baltimore Orioles Minor League system. Al started playing slo-pitch softball in 1976 and is still playing today.

Some of the outstanding teams he has played for over the years include:

Pace Electronics

Rochester Legends

Prince George’s

Max Spice

In addition to these great teams, he also played two years for the Rochester Zeniths in the APSPL-Pro League. His major achievements over the years include:

29 World Tournaments attended

Selected to nine All-World Team appointments in four different decades

One SPA All-American Award

2006 LVSSA Tournament MVP

Al batted .966 with 11 home runs, carries a lifetime senior slo-pitch softball batting average of .787, and has played in over 20 National Invitational Tournaments during his long career with Pace Electronics. Al is a great player with excellent slo-pitch softball skills. He can beat most teams with his bat, either the long ball or average or with his slick-fielding; however, it’s his great sportsmanship, team spirit, and love for the game that many players look up to.

William “Bill” Dunphy

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bill attended John Marshall High School and worked at the Xerox Corporation for 22 years. He passed away in early April 2008.

Biography
Bill’s love of baseball started with friends getting together in neighborhood games on local fields and then moved to high school ball at John Marshall until graduation. After high school he served in the Marine Corp until 1961. During his time at Xerox, he played and coached the Xerox Local 14A Team from 1965-1972. This team was a power house in the Industrial Management Council League (IMC) and participated every year over this period in the annual IMC Eastern States Tournament.

During this period he played and coached the Outcasts and Strokers in the Xerox Recreation League and won mostly every year the league playoffs and championships. He also played in many leagues at Cordiero’s in Ontario, at Bayview Stadium and Cobbs Hill Park. In 1973, Bill started his women’s slo-pitch softball coaching career. His first team was the Xerox Corporation’s “D” women’s team. This team grew in talent and moved into the City “B” league and was sponsored by Proietti’s. This team qualified for many Regional and National Tournaments from 1974-1976.

In 1977, he coached Dave’s Mobil women’s team and in 1978 the Imperial women’s team. In 1979, he joined forces with Duane McCoy and became the 3rd base and hitting coach for the Wintonaire / Pace team. Bill’s hitting expertise had a direct result in this team’s success both in City Championships and Regional and National Tournament wins. From 1982-1984, Bill coached / managed several women’s teams; the Wintonaire, Cal’s Lounge, Ronnie’s Ballpark, and the Four Brothers Tavern. In 1988 under a team called John’s, he guided this team to an ASA Regional “B” Championship in Maryland.

In 1989, and for the next 11 years, the team changed sponsorship to Kirby’s Lawncare. They were very successful by winning several ASA NYS Championships and the 1991 USSSA “B” Championship. In addition, this team was very successful in the “B” Division Regional Tournaments and won the 1999 USSSA “B” Northeast Regional Championship in Brantford, Connecticut. Bill retired from coaching women slo-pitch softball after the 1999 season.

Michael “Mike” Decillis

Birth Place
Newark, NJ

Educational & Professional Background
Mike graduated from Irvington High School in Newark, NJ and attended Ocean City Jr College and Ithaca College for his secondary education. He taught physical education at Gates-Chili High School for 36 years.

Family Background
Mike is married to Maureen. He has three children, daughter Abby and sons Mike and Peter.

Biography
While attending Ocean County Jr. College in New Jersey he lettered both years in four sports, and twice being selected “Male Athlete of the Year”. While at Ithaca he lettered in basketball. He began his slo-pitch softball and coaching career during his senior year of college.

Upon graduation in 1971, he moved to Rochester where he taught physical education at Gates-Chili High School. Over the next 36 years he became a very successful high school (Gates Chili) and college (Nazareth & Canisius) basketball and softball coach. Mike played for the best teams in the area, Pace Electronics, Mazzola Insurance, Peterson Sporting Goods, Mazzola-Castle Insurance, Rochester Zeniths/Express, Prince George’s, Rochester Legends (40’s, 50’s, & 55’s) Shamrock Jack’s and currently with the Rochester Legends 65’s.

During this period, he was involved in two World Tournament Championships, the Mazzola-Castle Team USSSA winners in 1977 and the Pro World (APSPL) Championship Title in 1980. He has played in numerous other tournaments around the country as well. Mike is a solid player as either a pitcher or first baseman with good defensive skills and above average hitting ability to all fields with power to go deep.

He is a loyal team player and true sportsman in the game. This RSSSA induction is Mike’s fourth “Hall of Fame” honor.

Paul Curran

Birth Place
Rochester, New York

Educational & Professional Background
Paul attended Aquinas High School in Rochester, NY, and graduated in 1954.

Family Background
Paul and his wife Aleen have three children: Kevin, Colleen (John Celentani), and Maureen (Patrick Dispenza). They have three grandchildren: Paul, Jacqueline, and Rachael.

Biography
Between 1947 and 1950, Paul began his slo-pitch softball career as most kids growing up in Rochester who played in the KPAA summer leagues. He played shortstop and outfield. Then in 1951, while playing in the Police Athletic League (PAL), a City Championship was won, along with a trip to NYC. He played American Legion baseball from 1952-54 as a pitcher, striking out 16 batters in several games. He then played for Aquinas High School as a pitcher.

After high school, he played in the district semi-pro league with the Rochester Braves. From 1955-62, Paul played on many of the area’s best teams and played with or against many of the best players, including Art Frantz, Jim Billitier, Peter Pavia, Tom Castle, and others. He was not active in either softball or baseball from 1962-76.

From 1976-1992, Paul played on the Irondequoit Towne Lounge team and also managed the team in 1977. Then in 1992, he began playing senior slo-pitch softball at McAvoy Park in Irondequoit.

Between 1993-2007, he played and managed the American Valve Automation team to several league championships and playoffs and maintained over this period a .600+ batting average. He was league MVP (1994-96), leading the league in eight offensive categories in 1994 and 10 in 1996.

From 1996 to the present, Paul has played for Al’s Green Tavern and Shamrock Jack’s traveling tournament teams, which have participated in many tournaments both locally and in other cities, including Akron, Cape Cod, Dorchester, Elmira, and Ontario, CA.

Besides his playing career, Paul serves as the League Commissioner of the Tuesday Morning Senior League at McAvoy Park in Irondequoit. Paul has had a long playing career which has not only shown great achievements and success on the field but good leadership off, as well.

Tom Castle

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Tom attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY. He worked at Eastman Kodak Company for 34 years before retiring in 1971.

Family Background
Tom was married to Lina and they had two children, Mary Ann and Jeanie. He passed away on April 24, 2003 at age 89.

Biography
Tom was one of the area’s premier fastpitch players in Rochester. He was an outstanding player on the Kodak Park World Championship Teams of 1936 and 1940. He played for 25 years beginning in 1935. He was a great fielding and power hitting first baseman who played in six State Championships, 11 Mid Atlantic Championships, and 10 National Championships all over the country.

In the 1936 championship game, he batted .375 and in the 1940 series, he batted .353. He maintained a .340 fastpitch lifetime batting average and was a great ambassador of the game. After his fastpitch playing days, he moved on to umpiring the new game in town, slo-pitch softball. He learned his skills well and became one of the best USSSA umpires in the area earning many honors over a long career. Tom has three hall of fame inductions to be proud of the ASA National Hall of Fame in 1964, NYS ASA Hall of Fame, and the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame. A great player on the field and person off.

Pete Castle

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
He attended Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, New York graduating in 1969. Niagara University and St Edward’s University graduating with a degree in Sociology. He worked for the Rochester School District for nine years before his tragic and unexpected death.

Family Background
Peter was married to Mary Lou and they had no children.

Biography
Upon graduation from HS, Peter was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitcher, however he decided on a college education. After college, Peter gained a great love for the game of slo-pitch softball. He played on the Castle Insurance team for 10 years competing in the best leagues and against the best players at the time. With his talent, the Castle Insurance team quickly climbed to the top of the Rochester “A” league.

Peter was instrumental in the merger of two great teams, Mazzola & Castle Insurance. That merger brought home the USSSA World Championship in 1977. The Mazzola Castle team, after the 1977 Championship, moved up in class by joining the Professional Slo-pitch Softball League (APSPL). Their new team name became the Rochester Zeniths / Express. Peter, through his outstanding skill helped this team win the 1980 World APSPL Championship.

Peter was a leader in the outfield with a strong arm and solid glove. However, his clutch power hitting earned him his reputation as the player you wanted up with two outs. He was the first player to hit four consecutive home runs at the Scottsville Complex. Peter, unfortunately, had a shortened career. He was a great team player with excellent skills and a good human being.

Mike Castle

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Mike attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Mike was married to Konnie and they had three children, Peter, Mitch, and Robert.

Biography
Mike enjoyed being around softball so much that he was encouraged to sponsor an up and coming softball team. The players were young with many talents — strong arms, ran like deer, and good hitters. Mike supported their dreams of becoming the best they could be in the Rochester slo-pitch softball community.

For over ten years, he fulfilled those dreams and provided the funding necessary for the leagues, uniforms, and entry fees for both local and national tournaments. In 1977, when the Castle Team merged with the equally strong Mazzola Insurance Team, a winner was born. This co-sponsored team won a National Title. Mike was a great sponsor and a true supporter of the game for over a decade.

Jim Burns

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Jim Andrews attended St Andrews Grammar School and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1950. He attended the University of Richmond on a football scholarship. He also attended St. John Fisher College.

Family Background
Jim and his wife Dolores have four sons, James, Mark, Scott, and Todd, and three girls, Patricia, Kathleen, and Kimberly. Jim passed away on December 14, 2005.

Biography
While attending Aquinas High School, Jim was a member of the football and baseball teams. During the 1948 baseball season, Jim played shortstop for the American Legion Cooper Marines Team. They went on to become the NYS American Legion Champions by defeating Yonkers, NY, at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.

In 1949, as the starting quarterback for Aquinas, Jim led his team to a 6-1-1 record. In the year that followed, this team, along with fellow teammate Don Holleder, ended up undefeated 8-0. It proved to be a great year for Jim; he won MVP honors, and D&C/T&U All-Scholastic in both football and baseball. In 1951, Jim was again awarded MVP in football, and was chosen to the National HS All-American Football Team in Oklahoma City, OK.

Jim’s slo-pitch softball career began around 1960 where he played for the best teams of this period, including Breton Motors, Tobin’s, and Al’s Green Tavern. They won major championships all over the country. Jim was a fierce competitor, a pitcher who was the first to develop and throw the knuckleball or floater. He could hit for average as well as deliver the long ball.

Jim loved the game of softball. With great sportsmanship and an everlasting spirit, he would help his team to victory. Jim was well-known for his continuous community involvement. He used his magnificent athletic abilities and knowledge to train future generations of sports stars. Jim will be remembered as the kind of individual we all strive to be: a true role model for today’s youth, one who exemplifies the true essence of what it means to be an athlete.

Jim Stacy

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
February 13, 1945

Educational & Professional Background
Jim Stacy graduated from Aquinas Institute in Rochester, NY. He attended Northeastern Jr. College in Sterling, Colorado. He then attended St. John Fisher College in Rochester and graduated from there in 1962 with a BBA in Accounting. He retired in 2005 as president of the Lakelands Concrete Company.

Family Background
He and his wife Gayle have two sons; Tadd is an architect in Toledo, Ohio, and Ryan is in the Drug Enforcement Agency in San Diego.

Biography
A third-baseman, Jim played ball from 1960 to the present. He played for 12 years for George’s Lounge, 10 years for the Conkey Grill, and in the over-55 league for 13 years. Playing with the same basic core of players and friends throughout his playing years, playing against all levels of players, and establishing new friends through softball are Jim’s fondest memories.

Francis "Lefty" Parnell

Birth Place
Caledonia, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Lefty attended Caledonia-Mumford School and completed his secondary education at Clarkson College, SUNY Brockport and Boston University, earning a degree in physics and chemistry and education. Lefty taught for 30 years in the Churchville-Chili School District before retiring in 1996. There he also was on the baseball coaching staff for 4 years.

Family Background
Lefty married Kitty Brown in 1964, and they have 3 children; Kathrine, Katrine, and Nicholas. They also have three grandchildren.

Biography
Lefty is left-handed both glove and bat, and he played left field in high college and town team ball. When hardball and fastpitch softball fizzled out, he played slo-pitch softball for the next 50 years; 33 years at shortstop and 17 years in the outfield and 1st base. Teams of note included; Iroquois Hotel, Village Inn, Scoreboard Lounge, Par Five Restaurant, Nothnagle’s, Art’s, Bootlegger’s, Leiderkrantz, Alls Green, Rochester Old Stars, and Shamrock Jack’s.

He played in numerous regional and national tourneys over the years. In New York State they included Batavia, Rochester, Olean, Perry, Syracuse, Elmira, and Albany. The out of state tournaments included; Harwich, Cambridge, and Springfield, MA, Manassas VA., Harrisburg and Penn Hills, PA, Bridgewater and Princeton, NJ, Brook Park and Akron, Ohio, Glen Burney. MD, Chattanooga, TN, and London, Ontario Canada.

Lefty was a team player, a skilled competitor, a role model sportsman who was dedicated to the game. Teammates enjoyed playing with him as a player and always encouraged by him as a coach.

Nicholas James Nucci Sr.

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
August 20, 1920

Educational & Professional Background
Nicholas Nucci Sr. attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Rochester, NY, and graduated in 1938. Shortly after high school he joined the Air Force and graduated from Pilot Training School in 1945. His plane was shot down in WWII. He remained in the Air Force for 10 years and left with high honors. He then moved to NYC for a few years and became a commercial pilot for United Airlines.

After moving back to Rochester, he then decided to own and operate a TV and radio repair business. The business lasted for the next thirty years. Later in life, he worked as a bartender at Roncone’s Restaurant and then a teller at OTB until retiring. Nick Sr. died in October of 1997.

Family Background
He was raised on Ambrose Street in the city of Rochester, to Italian immigrant parents, Joseph Steven Nucci and Mary Mastroianni. He married Jean Rose Roncone in 1944 and they had three children, Joseph, Nicholas Jr., and Darlene. They have eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Biography
Nick loved sports, and baseball was his true passion. He played hardball at Thomas Jefferson High School and continued in the Air Force.

Once his children started growing up, he changed from playing to coaching. He started with the T-Shirts, Little, and Pony leagues in the old 9th Ward Youth Baseball Association. They played at the Edgerton Park fields.

Once his children were grown, he decided to get into coaching slo-pitch softball. He teamed up with Ange “Babe” Furioso as his assistant and started the Westside Merchants team, which had former Jefferson HS and college players. He led them to many league and tournament championships in the area. Nick’s greatest accomplishment in softball was establishing and developing the Westside Merchants team. Through his leadership and guidance, many of his players are HOF members today and have won both Regional and National Titles.

Under his son Joe, and through some team name changes, they became the first team to play a 100 game season, switched associations to USSSA, and won in major tournaments in Toledo and Columbus, OH, Pittsburg, PA, and Syracuse, NY.

Nicholas Nucci Sr. was a great husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him, especially to the players who played for him. He will always be remembered for his core values of patriotism, respect, commitment, and dedication. He was a good human being who gave something back and is missed.

Don Morgan

Birth Place
Elmira, NY
January 10, 1936

Educational & Professional Background
Don Morgan graduated from Elmira Catholic High School. Now retired, Don was employed for several years in the northeast as a field office manager in the highway and building industry. He then settled in Rochester, where he finished his career as a corporate Chief Financial Officer and President of the company, which developed the Woodcliff Project in Perinton.

Family Background
Don and his wife Sally have five sons: Tom (wife Debbie Lussier), Jim, Patrick (wife Cheryl Farley), Mark (wife Suanne Dickson), and Christopher. They have seven grandchildren.

Biography
Don Morgan played left field on his high school team and in the town league in the southern Adirondacks where he also played first base. In the ’60s, he played ball in Southington, CT, and played in tournaments in the Hartford area. He eventually graduated from hardball to fastpitch softball, where he pitched.

In 1965, he came to the Rochester area and played in various leagues. In 1986, at the age of 50, he joined the new senior league which started in Brighton and eventually moved to McAvoy Park in Irondequoit. He became a member of the Rochester Olde Stars, Rochester’s original travel team. He is now in his 24th year of senior softball. Don says that he has a lifetime of memories too numerous to mention.

Carl “Champ” Masters

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Carl graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School and worked for Eastman Kodak Company for 26 years.

Family Background
Carl and his wife Terri have been married for 35 years and have three children, two daughters Gina and Melissa, and a son Mike.

Biography
He started playing slo-pitch softball in 1970 and is still participating either as manager or player today. Some of the outstanding teams he has either managed or played for over the years include; Masters Del, Garage Door, Pace/Bootlegger, and Gubiotti Insurance. His major achievements over the years are; played and managed in over 30 World Tournaments.

In 2005, he was a member of the Gubiotti Insurance Team that won three World Championships; Northeastern Championship in Syracuse, NY, ISA World Tournament in Manassas, VA, and the LVSSA World Series in Las Vegas, NV.

In 1987, his Pace / Bootlegger Team won a NSA world Tournament. In addition, during the three 2005 Championships won, he was appointed to two All World positions, the Northeastern Championships and the ISA World Tournament. Over the years, Carl has had many great moments against many great teams but most will say he is a class act in the game whether he is managing or playing. He is a good sportsman who provides both team spirit and leadership on his teams and displays a great love for the game that many players look up to.

Frederick Lohrman

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
March 3, 1950

Educational & Professional Background
Fred Lohrman attended Edison Technical High School and graduated in 1968. He went to Clarkson College in Potsdam, NY. He worked for Xerox Corporation for 29 years and retired as a machinist.

Family Background
Fred was born to Eugene and Theresa (both deceased). He has three sisters, Mary, Bernice, and Karen, and one brother, Ron. Fred’s wife Karen has three children from an earlier marriage: Rod, Kyra, and Ryan. Fred also has five step-granddaughters.

Biography
Fred started playing slo-pitch softball in 1969 and is still playing today as an outfielder and infielder. For over 40 years, Fred played on some of the area’s earliest and most outstanding teams, including:

Kirby

TJ Ferras

Sunset Recreation

ZAB Electric

In the senior circuit, he has played for:

Coors/Tuts/Perna

Rochester Area Merchants (RAM)

RallyTime Sports

Pace Electronics

Max Spice

Other senior league teams include Middlebrook Collision, Al’s Green, and the House of Bacchus.

Fred has played in over thirty senior world tournaments around the country and three in the junior circuit. He has contributed to winning six World Tournaments:

2002 ISF

2005 ISSA in Manassas, VA

2006 LVSSA

2008 & 2009 SPA in Dalton, GA

2009 USSSA in Connecticut

He has been appointed to four All-World Tournament Teams: 2002 Manassas, 2004 LVSSA, and two again in Manassas in 2005.

Fred has also been on several league championship teams over the years, both on the junior and senior levels. Fred is an excellent hitter who loves the right side of the field and takes advantage of his hitting strengths. He has had many great moments against many great teams and through it all he has been a great sportsman, ambassador, and gentleman in the game.

Eddie Joe Lee

Birth Place
McComb, MS
April 2, 1956

Educational & Professional Background
Eddie Joe Lee attended James Madison High School in Rochester, NY, as well as Monroe Community College. He also attended the University of South Alabama. He is currently employed by the Rochester City School District and is School Safety Officer at Ben Franklin High School. He is also the current basketball coach (fourth year) and baseball coach (20th year) at Ben Franklin High School.

Family Background
Single, some family still living in Mississippi.

Biography
Eddie Joe Lee’s prominent baseball career began at MCC as he led that baseball team into the Junior College World Series. He earned a full scholarship to play baseball for South Alabama, under Coach Eddie Stanky. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox, in the 13th round, where he played three seasons in their farm system.

Eddie started playing slo-pitch with Pace Electronics in 1984 and played in ten World Championships held in Detroit, Michigan. Some of Eddie’s many honors are:

Section IV Boys Varsity Basketball “Coach of the Year” in 2007

Inducted into the MCC Hall of Fame for baseball and soccer

Inducted into the NY State USSSA Hall of Fame (male player category) in 2004

Eddie is still playing hardball in the 30 and over MSBL League with the A’s.

Roger C. Gross

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
April 23, 1935

Educational & Professional Background
Roger attended James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson High schools in Rochester. He went on to attend SUNY Brockport and the University Of Rochester. He has a BS and a Master’s in Education and History. He taught for a total of 33 years in Rochester and Henrietta and retired in 1995.

Family Background
Roger and his wife Mary have three daughters: Debra of Phoenix, AZ; Karlene and her husband Don of Rochester, NY; Colleen and her husband Louie of Rochester, NY.

Biography
Roger umpired from 1960 to 2000. He has umpired for the Rochester District Umpires Associaton and CWNY, where he also did rules, interpretation, and assigning for the Amateur Softball Association. He also assigned and umpired under the Professional Softball League for the Zeniths and Express Men’s slo-pitch teams.

His many achievements include umpiring in the ASA Major Women’s Tournament in Jacksonville, FL, the 1979 Women’s Major in Cleveland, OH, and the 1989 CWNY High School Tournament in Binghamton, NY.

Some of his all-time favorite memories include the first slo-pitch game at Potter Park in Fairport, as well as getting paid in quarters on the field at Avon by having them thrown on the ground. He also recalls the “wire call” by Chic Palmer at an Express game, when “all hell broke loose” as a runner was called safe at third and then scored on a catcher’s obstruction.

Joseph H. Gogolsky

Birth Place
Jeannette, PA
October 18, 1948

Educational & Professional Background
Joe Gogolsky attended Jeannette Senior High School, where he graduated in 1966. He continued his education at West Virginia University, graduating with a BS Chemical Engineering in 1971 and an MS Safety Engineering in 1974. He later attended MCC, graduating with an AAS in Fire Protection Technology in 1977. In 1974, after graduating from WVU, Joe went to work for Eastman Kodak Company and retired after 32 years of service.

Family Background
Joe is happily married to Karin, a Spencerport High School graduate who is an active triathlon participant. Karin won many medals in the Empire Games and Penn Relays before moving on to triathlons. Joe has three children, Heather, Brett, and Holley, from a previous marriage, and Karin has two children, Jennifer and Jeff, from a previous marriage. Together, they have seven grandchildren.

Biography
Joe started playing Industrial Softball in 1971 while attending WVU for Superior Photo. They were the USSSA State Champs. After leaving WVU and working for KAD, he continued his softball career from 1975 to 1984. KAD held the ESIRA championship title from 1975 to 1981. KAD also won the USSSA World Industrial Championship in 1982. In the KAD Recreation League, he played on nine championship teams from 1975-1989.

Rounding out his Industrial softball career, he played for Ashley Audio, Gil Teggs Mobil, and Tuts Villa. Joe has been appointed to three Industrial Softball All-World Tournament Teams and was made MVP six times in league play.

Joe also split a lot of his time over the years by playing baseball starting back in 1989 until the present, with several teams, including the Rochester Royals and Rochester Red Stockings in the MSBL. He attended several Roy Hobbs MSBL World Series Tournaments (Cleveland Indians, Washington Nationals, New England Yankees, and California Cardinals) in various cities around the country, such as Fort Myers, FL, and Phoenix, AZ.

To his credit, Joe was selected MVP six times in various MSBL Tournaments over the years. His love for baseball continued and Joe pitched batting practice for the Rochester Red Wings from 1989 to 1994. From 2006 until the present, he became a Mod A baseball coach at Webster Thomas High School.

In 2006, Joe started playing senior slo-pitch softball in the Town Leagues for Al’s Green, the Boulevard, and Keenan’s. He also played for Bathtub Billy’s/Rally Time 55 & 60 Traveling Teams. He has helped them win three championships, the LVSSA in 2006 and 2008, and the Memorial Day Classic in 2008 in Springfield, MA.

He has two All-World appointments and has been selected to three All-Tournament Teams. Joe is a very versatile player who has proven to be very effective both in baseball and slo-pitch softball. He loves the game and it shows in the high level of performance he displays to help propel his teams into winning championships.

John Kennedy Fitzgerald

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
July 30, 1961

Educational & Professional Background
John Kennedy Fitzgerald went to Monroe County Community College. He worked for Eastman Kodak Company for 20 years.

Family Background
John and his wife Donna have two sons, John II and Ryan.

Biography
John Kennedy Fitzgerald started playing slo-pitch softball in 1981 and played until 1996 as an outfielder/infielder. Some of the outstanding teams he played for over fifteen years included:

Marlen Floors (1981-1983)

Davies/Marlen (1984 & 1985)

Pace/Marlen (1986-1989)

Worth/Pace Electronics (1989-1996)

He also played in the Gates Town League for LLAMA’s. His major achievements over the years include:

Member major players list from 1987-1996

27 USSSA Regional and National Qualifier All-Tournament Team selections

While playing for LLAMA’s, they won the league championship seven out of 12 years. In addition, he was named the three-time Major World Series player. Over his career, he maintained a .600+ batting average, hit over 1,200 home runs, and over 2,900 RBI’s.

John has had great moments against many great teams during his playing career. He was a good sportsman and a true competitor who provided both team spirit and leadership on this team. He loved the game and the special friendships with other players.

Leonard Ike Eisenhauer

Birth Place
Olympia, WA
July 30, 1943

Educational & Professional Background
Leonard Ike Eisenhauer graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1961. He attended MCC and was a graduate of their first graduating class in 1964. He later graduated from RIT with a BS major in Business/Accounting. Len went on to work for Itek/AB Dick Company for 35 years before retiring.

Family Background
Len and his wife Patricia “Patti” (deceased 2002) had three children; Amy, Kim, and Richard. He has two step-children, Lindsey and Jacob, with his current wife, Heidi. The couple has four grandchildren: Lexi, Alex, Carli, and Alyssa. Len has a brother Ronald, and his mother Evelyn is his greatest softball fan. Evelyn attends most of Len’s local league games.

Biography
Len played for the Ben Franklin High School baseball team in the early ’60s and then jumped around for a long time before joining the senior softball circuit with the Rochester Legends’ slo-pitch softball team in 1992. Over the next 16 years, Len became a fixture on that team by playing in over 50 World and National Tournaments all over the country.

He was a member of the Rochester Legends during six World Titles:

2000 NASCS in Canton, MI

2001 ISSA in Manassas, VA

2003 USSSA in Blaine, MN

2003 USSSA in Des Moines, IA,

2007 SSWC TOC in Winter Haven, FL

2009 NASCS World in Canton, MI

In addition, Len has been appointed to four All World Tournament Teams: 2000 Canton, MI, 2003 USSSA, and NASCS Worlds and in 2009 Canton, MI.

Len is a very versatile player who can effectively play many positions, including pitcher, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base. He is a great team player, with good leadership and playing skills and is a feared competitor with an inner drive to win. Len loves the game and the friendships and camaraderie that have developed over the years with his teammates and others.

Ross “Butch” Cuilla

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Butch graduated from Ben Franklin High School in 1962, and then attended Rochester Institute of Technology where he earned an Associates Degree in Refrigeration Engineering. He attended Long Island University Rockland Campus in 1990-1992. He became a certified Energy Manager after attending Georgia Institute of Technology in 2000-2001. He retired in 2007 as Director of Buildings and Grounds for Board of Cooperative Educational Services Monroe #1.

Family Background
Butch, and his wife Ida have been married for 46 years, and have 3 children; Ross Jr., Sam and wife Sara, and Jennifer and husband Ben Trybus. They have six grandchildren; Elizabeth, Christopher, Nicholas, Ross, Carly, and Dylan.

Biography
Butch started playing softball in 1961 for Miletello Brothers and the City of Rochester team. In 1963, he moved to California where he played for 10 years on various teams. When he returned to Rochester, he played for Sofia Brothers, Stecher Traung Lithograph, Ridge Carpet, Pelcher Cowboys, Hitchcock’s, Empire State Gym and the Dirty Dozen. He played for DeGeorge Ceiling for 17 years.

He started playing Senior ball in 1994 with Al’s Green Tavern, Rochester Legends, Rally Time Sports, Rochester 55, Olde Stars, Florida Jags, Ram, Cortese Ford and PG’s. The Legends won the NASCS World in 2000, the ISSA World in 2001, the SSWS World in 2003 and the Eastern Winter National in 2003.

As a member of the Rochester 55 team in Las Vegas, Butch was MVP with a .810 batting average. He made All-World by hitting .724 as Rally Time Sports won the ISF World Championship. In 2007, he made the All World team with a .674 average as a member of the Rochester 60 team in Las Vegas, LVSSA.

Jim Brady

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
January 8, 1942

Educational Background
Jim attended Thomas Jefferson High School, Alfred State, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Family Background
Jim and his wife Peggy have four children: Jim, Jennifer, Gina, and Beth. They have four grandchildren: Christian, Noah, Silvauro, and Ethan.

Biography
Jim started to play slo-pitch in 1959. He played for:

Tobin Packing

Jim Forester

N & S Auto, Ragu

Al’s Green Tavern

NY Life

Shakey’s Pizza

Mazzola Insurance

Pace Electronics

Eastman Kodak

Kartes Builders

His major achievements included taking part in eight different World Tournaments with various teams. He was named to All-World teams on four different occasions; 1964 with Jim Forester, 1966 with Ragu, and 1973 and 1974 as a pitcher with Kodak.

Regarded as a line line-driver with power to all fields, Jim maintained a lifetime average close to .700. Jim has several great memories. One is playing for the first time at Bayview Stadium and winning the 1960 City Tournament with Tobin Packing. Another is hitting five home runs in one game – an ASA Tournament record at the time – to help beat O’Loughlin’s in the opening round of the 1966 Tournament. He is proud of playing on three World Championship teams for Kodak during the ’70s and ’80s.

Harry Rauber

Birth Place
Ontario, NY
May 25, 1913

Educational & Professional Background
Harry attended Ontario High School. He worked for Huther Brothers for 42 years and retired in 1978.

Family Background
Harry married Elizabeth Beh (deceased) and had a son, Stuart. Stuart and his wife Barbara (deceased) had a daughter Jennifer (Mark Allen). Harry’s three great-grandchildren are Max, Jackson, and Molly.

Harry and Stuart Rauber are the first father-and-son induction into the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame.

Biography
Harry played recreational softball for many years until 1961 when he came to manage the team his son was on. That team was Hegedorn’s, and Harry was instrumental in getting Bruce Hegedorn to elevate the status of that team to a major powerhouse in the Rochester area.

Harry managed Hegedorn’s for 26 years until he retired from the game in 1987. During that time he led the team to over 500 victories, including many league and playoff championships. They took part in city, state, and regional championships. Each year they traveled to Richmond, VA, for the Memorial Day Tournament and Toledo, OH for the July 4th Tournament.

He was a hard-nosed manager who often squabbled with other managers and umpires, much like Earl Weaver, the manager of Harry’s beloved Orioles. Harry was all about winning and he always took care of his players.

Harry had a bit of notoriety as this article regarding his nephew Bobby appeared in the D&C on 5/5/52 entitled ‘Rauber Strikes Out 21.’ Although Bobby is gifted and has an abundance of natural talent, it should be mentioned that the lefty’s uncle, Harry Rauber, is the painstaking individual who developed Bobby and brought him along. Harry was regarded as the top mound specialist in this area when he threw for the Ontario town team in the early 1930s. Bobby signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and played in their system for three years.

Jim Kolesar

Birth Place
Pittsburgh, PA

Educational & Professional Background
Jim attended grade school and high school in Pittsburgh, PA.

Family Background
Jim and his wife Evelyn and they have two daughters, Mary and Theresa.

Biography
Jim played Little League as a child in Pittsburgh, PA, and then not again until after retirement when he waited two years to join a 55+ team in Rochester.

For the next 13 years, he played on various age group teams several times a week. In the intervening years, Jim pitched horseshoes in the Rochester Industrial League and competed successfully in the Senior Olympics.

In 2005, Jim and Gerry Murphy managed the Lessord Chrysler 55+ softball team, transforming a last place playoff position into the Championship. Jim was recognized as a D&C Weekend Warrior that same year.

Jim and Evelyn can usually be seen volunteering at the annual senior softball tournaments, operating the electronic scoreboard. In 1999, Max Grossman and Bernie White of Ottawa organized a 60+ co-ed Friendship Tournament, with Jim assisting and crafting the coveted Can-Am Blue Collar Traveling Friendship Trophy. In 2001, in response to the 9/11 tragedy, Jim and Max quickly put together a pick-up softball tournament to raise money for the NYC Firefighters. That first charity game raised $1,100 and began a popular annual fundraising tradition, attracting players of all ages from as far away as Syracuse.

Over the years, with the help of his wife Evelyn and their local daughters, Mary and Theresa, the charity games have contributed more than $10,000 to local charities including Golisano’s Children’s Hospital and Gilda’s Club of Rochester. Those events are replete with snacks, health foods, and drinks for all the participants, all furnished by the Kolesar family.

When health issues slowed Jim down, his daughter Mary Adams stepped in and conducted the charity game activities. Jim has a file full of “thank you” letters from the many charities which have benefited from his endeavors.

Jim has always had a charitable heart. While working at Delco, he and a co-worker started “Cans for Kids”, collecting over 260,000 pop cans during five years, donating the funds to charities such as St. Joseph’s Villa and the Mary Cariola Children’s Center.

As an active member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club of Rochester, Jim has helped raise money for Special Olympics, Hospice, and Children’s Hospital. Jim and Evelyn have been formally recognized for their volunteer work with Special Olympic Poly Hockey. His latest volunteer effort is with Angel Food Ministries through his church.

Art Held

Birth Place
Elmira, NY
October 11, 1925

Educational & Professional Background
Art Held attended Southside High School in Elmira, NY. He then joined the army. He worked at Kodak in Rochester for 20 years before retiring in 1985.

Family Background
He was the only child to Arthur and Katharine Held. He and his wife Teresa had five children: Rich, Cheryl (Decamella), Mary (Jessup), Genine (Coleman), and Barb (Giordano).

Biography
Softball was not the only sport that Art excelled in. He pole-vaulted for his high school and in the army. He bowled a perfect game in 1962 and had numerous 700 series. In 1984, he was a billiards champion in the Kodak Park Recreation League. He was also a horseshoe champion with the Greece league in 2007.

His softball career, as an outstanding pitcher, started in 1946 in Elmira. In 1948, he pitched in his first World Tournament. In 1953, he moved to Rochester and pitched over 100 games that year, winning 72 and losing 28. From there on, he became one of the top pitchers in our area. From 1960 to 1968, Art won 470 times against 61 losses and won numerous city titles while pitching for Charlotte Merchants, Bon Jon’s, and Beggy’s. During that time, he won 11 invitational tournaments.

He helped Kodak win many titles including three straight Classic League and Playoff titles. At the age of 66, Art retired in 1962 because of a knee injury. In his 16-year career, Art won approximately 1,400 games in 1,800 starts and pitched 102 no-hitters. He played in six National and World tournaments. In 1984, he was inducted into the Elmira Hall Of Fame. In 1994, Art was inducted into the NY State Hall Of Fame.

Harold “Shifty” Gears

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Family Background
“Shifty” was born in Rochester, NY, on December 22, 1907 to Paul and Bertha Gears. He had one sister, Alice (Fick). Shifty and his wife Alicia (Drake) had four children: Marjory, Paul, Robert, and Sandra.

Biography
Generally considered the greatest fastpitch pitcher ever to play, Harold “Shifty” Gears attended Washington Jr. High School and then went on to Mechanics Institute (the Forerunner to RIT). After several Depression-era jobs in Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, he went to work at Kodak, where he worked for over 40 years before retiring in 1972. Shifty also played basketball for Kodak, where his teams won several titles. In addition, he won a City of Rochester bowling championship.

Shifty was inducted into the Rochester ABC Bowling Hall of Fame for his work as Secretary of the Rochester ABC. Shifty could pitch with either hand but actually got his nickname because of his basketball footwork. He took up pitching as an afterthought because he was tired of seeing his Kodak friends get beat and no one on the team really wanted to pitch. So he practiced pitching, and when his rise ball conked the catcher in the nose a couple of times in practice, he became their pitcher.

And, what a pitcher he was! He had 866 wins and 115 losses for an 88.3 win percentage. He struck out 13,244 batters, or 13.5% per game. He pitched 61 no-hitters and nine perfect games. His record in National Tournament play was 20-6, with two of those victories being National Championship victories from 1936 to 1940. From 1925 through 1947, he was the primary pitcher in 58 championships of various types ﹣ many of those for Kodak Park. He retired as a player in 1951.

The fastpitch field behind the old Brooke House was named Gear’s Park in honor of Shifty after he passed away. He died on November 18, 1974. Harold “Shifty” Gears was the first player inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame when it opened in 1957. He was one of two men unanimously elected to that hall. Shifty was inducted posthumously into the Frontier Field Walk of Fame on July 16, 1997.

John Dumaw

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Not Available

Family Background
Not Available

Biography
John Dumaw started his career as a pitcher on June 8, 1960, in a not so indicative fashion, losing his first game 9-0. He finished the season with a 0 – 4 win-loss record. However, from that point on, he started to become one of the most dominant pitchers ever seen in our area.

Steadily improving each year in the early 60s, he won 30 games and lost 5 in 1965. That began a string of 24 consecutive seasons with at least 30 wins. From 1972 through 1982, John won 40 or more games. In 1974, ’76, ’79, and ’80, he won 50 games. Through 1980, he compiled 1,053 wins and 233 losses for a winning percentage of 82%. During that time, he pitched 77 no-hitters and 24 perfect games.

John has been part of 63 invitational championships including one ASA State class “A” title, four ASA Major fastpitch tournaments, and two ASA Regional titles (1979 and 1980). He has appeared in five ASA National Tournaments: 1979, ’80, ’87, ’88, and ’89.

John has also been successful as a fastpitch coach. He coached the Rochester Rebel ASA Junior Olympic Team to 208 wins and 22 losses for a 90.4 winning percentage. He also compiled a 61.4 winning percentage at Brockport State based on 268 wins and 168 losses in 13 seasons coaching at that school.

Paul Congilario

Birth Place
Utica, NY
May 6, 1947

Educational & Professional Background
Paul attended grammar school at School No. 39 and graduated from East Ridge High School in 1965. Paul is a barber by trade and today is self-employed.

Family Background
Paul has four boys, Gene, Paul, Tony, and Cameron, and one daughter, Kim. He has a sister, Connie, and his parents are Tony and Michelle.

Biography
Paul played four years of high school football and wrestling. Paul also loves the game of golf and has two hole-in-ones.

Under the Garage Door sponsorship, several slo-pitch male and female softball teams were represented in area leagues and tournaments. In 1971, a very good, hard-hitting Garage Door team won a City Championship at Edgerton Park. Ten years later, in 1981, a Garage Door sponsored team won a State Championship Title in Batavia. A Garage Door sponsorship enabled many junior players, at the time, to develop their skills and eventually lead them to greater achievements in the sport, as well as Hall of Fame status. Paul played a major part in making this happen for many players because of his willingness to help others reach their goals.

Doris Chance

Birth Place
Twin City, GA
December 8, 1944

Educational & Professional Background
Doris attended Bridgeton High School in New Jersey. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from SUNY Brockport.

Among her degrees, she earned a New York State Permanent Certification in Health and Physical Education. She is also certified in First Aid, CPR, and as a Lifeguard.

She went on to a 34-year career in Health and Phys-Ed with the City of Rochester School District. She retired in 2001. Along with teaching, she also coached field hockey, basketball, track, and softball. She spent three years at West High School, and 10 at James Madison High School, where she won three sectional titles in basketball and two city championships in field hockey. She also spent 14 years at East High School coaching softball, where she won three city championships and qualified for the sectionals all 14 years.

Family Background
When she was very young, her parents Albert and Thelma, now deceased, moved to Bridgeton, NJ, where she eventually graduated from Bridgeton High School. Doris was one of four children: two deceased sisters, Dorothy and Virginia, and one living brother, Albert Chance Jr.

Biography
Doris was honored with the following awards:

1980 & 1981: Coach Of The Year

1982:19WVOR Sportswoman of the Year

1982: Induction into the Brockport State Athlete’s Hall of Fame

1987: City School District Outstanding Achievement Award

1990 & 1991: Don Lander Award, Physical Education 25-Year Coaching Award

2001:Award For Excellence In Secondary School Teaching

After college, Doris excelled in field hockey, where she was a member of the United States team for three years between 1969 and 1971. She was named Mid-East First Team player on five different occasions. Doris played fastpitch softball for five years for the Baxonettes in Bridgeton, NJ. She played for the Lakeviewettes from the Western New York area for one year. She then played with Duffy’s in the Rochester Major League for two years before joining Pace Electronics FG&G.

Not only was she a member of the 1977 USSSA World Championship. She is one of the few people alive who can say they got a “walk-off” hit to win a world championship. Her bases-loaded single scored Mary Ellen Burt to win that championship at Softball City in Detroit in 1977.

Doris, a great fielding second baseman, ended up her illustrious career with a .420 batting average and took her place among the all-time great softball players in the Rochester area.

Elizabeth “Biz” Bush

Birth Place
Warsaw, NY
December 12, 1952

Educational & Professional Background
Elizabeth graduated from Warsaw Central High School in 1970. She graduated from SUNY Brockport State in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She earned her Master’s degree from Nazareth College.

Elizabeth was employed by the Rochester City School District as a physical education teacher from 1974 to 2008. In 2008, she was awarded “Teacher Of The Year.”

Family Background
Elizabeth is one of nine children born to Harold and Monica Bush (both deceased). She has five brothers: Roger, Harold, Richard, Robert, and Jerry (deceased). She has three sisters: Jo Anne (deceased), Roxanne (Klump), and Fran (Rudgers).

Biography
Elizabeth “Biz” Bush had many achievements outside of softball. She played field hockey for SUNY Brockport for three years between 1970 and 1972. The team won the State Title in 1972. Biz played basketball for four years from 1970 to 1973. She refereed high school and college girls’ basketball for 16 years. Biz was inducted into the Warsaw Central Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Biz’s softball career officially started at SUNY Brockport State where she played from 1972 to 1974. They were state champions in 1973 and 1974. She then joined the Pace Electronics Fighting Green and Gold (FG&G) team in 1975. She was a member of the 1977 USSSA Women’s World Championship team and the 1978 and 1980 World’s runner-up teams.

1980 was Biz’s greatest year. She was named to the USSSA All-World team, was named Major League Player of the Year, the FG&G “Triple Crown Winner”, and the Gold Glove winner for her fourth straight year. Biz finished her 19-year softball career playing for Kirby’s. Among their titles included the 1990 Class “B” Softball City NIT Class B champs (Biz was the Gold Glove winner) and Eastern Regional ASA Champions in 1991.

Although Biz is recognized as the finest fielding player ever to play first base in women’s softball in Western New York, she worked very hard on her offense to become one of the best hitters at that position. She ended her career with 2,063 hits, 1,450 runs scored, and a .430 lifetime average.

Albert Brunette

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
July 12, 1937

Educational & Professional Background
Al graduated from James Madison High School and then attended MCC, where he received an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. He then worked for the Rochester Police Department for 21 years and retired in 1982.

Family Background
Al was one of six children born to Albert, Sr. and Dorothy Brunette. Joshua, Jerry, Billy, Arthur, and Dorothy (Freeman) are his other siblings.

Al and his wife Rose have four children: Albert III, Janet, Joe, and Lori (Licata).

Biography
Al was a multi-sport star at James Madison High School. He was the quarterback of the football team, played guard on the basketball team, and outfielder on the baseball team. He started in each of the three sports and was All-Scholastic in baseball in 1955.

He continued excelling in multiple sports as he won many medals in the Police Olympics, including bowling and softball. He was the manager of the Rochester Police Softball team from 1970 to 1981.

Fred Blum

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Fred attended Aquinas High School and worked as an attorney.

Family Background
Fred was the father of seven. He was 83 when he passed away on April 1, 1998. He was an Aquinas Institute graduate (Class of 1933) and for many years served as the school’s sports publicity director.

Biography
As a youngster, Fred was the mascot-batboy of the great Red Wings teams from 1926 through 1928, usually sitting next to the manager Billy Southworth in the dugout. Mr. Blum’s love affair with baseball never ended. He attended 43 World Series, including a stretch of 31 in a row. He was commissioner of the Metropolitan Rochester Amateur Softball Association (MRASA) for 25 years (1951 through 1975) and President of the Amateur Softball Association (“the world’s largest sports organization’) in 1968-69.

In 1969, he was on the original four-person committee pushing for the acceptance of softball as an Olympic sport. It was a proud moment for the Blum family when women’s softball made its debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the United States won the gold medal. Mr. Blum was elected to the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame’s Hall of Honor in Oklahoma City in 1982 and the New York State Amateur Softball Hall of Fame in 1987.

For 77 years, Blum’s Sports Bulletin was part of Rochester’s sports scene. Begun by Fred’s father, Fred J. Blum, in 1903, the bulletin featured sports scores and race results from the Western Union sports ticker. At its peak, the Bulletin was distributed Monday through Saturday afternoons and displayed in familiar wooden racks in hundreds of city taverns, restaurants, grocery stores, pool halls, and bowling alleys.

Fred G. took over as editor-publisher of the bulletin when his father died in 1955. Mr. Fred Blum was one of kind, over his commissionership as the MRASA, he moved the game of slo-pitch softball through expanded league and tournament play. This had a direct relationship on the quality of local talent.

Phil Argento

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Phil Argento attended John Marshall High School in Rochester, NY.

Family Background
Not Available

Biography
Phil Argento played basketball, football, and baseball and received scholarship offers for the latter two. He signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and hit. 330 in his first year of pro ball. Unfortunately, family problems forced him to give up pro ball and return home to Rochester.

Phil turned to fast pitch and played for Kodak Park from 1958 to 1975 in the Rochester fast pitch league. He never missed a game. According to his manager, Tom Castle, Phil was the best he ever saw at first base. That came from a Hall of Fame first baseman.

A left-handed batter and fielder, Phil played first base flawlessly. Phil consistently hit .300 and had a career batting average of .334. He led Kodak in RBI’s and homers during that span belting out 270 homers in 18 seasons. Phil was named the Rochester Major League Most Valuable Player 10 times and was named MVP 17 times in tournament play. He was named to the League All-Star team 18 times and helped Kodak win five United States Industrial Fast Pitch Tournaments. He played in three ASA Men’s Major National Tournaments and two ISC World Tournaments.

One of the most respected and liked players the game has seen, Phil always loved to swap stories with opposing players.

Carl Wheat

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Carl graduated from Clifton Springs HS and then completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at SUNY Brockport. He was a high school math teacher and administrator in the Brockport Central HS District for 34 years, retiring in 1999.

Family Background
Carl Wheat was born on June 10th, 1943, to Sid and Amelia Wheat (deceased) in Clifton Springs, New York. He has a brother, Sid, and two sisters, Carolyn (Reding) and Mary (Reed). He and his wife Sharon have 5 children, David, Paul, Mary Karen, Sandra, and Daniel.

Biography
While at Brockport HS, he was the assistant varsity football coach for 5 years. For 18 years, he was both a women’s high school and college basketball official. He was president of the Officials Board for 4 years and in 1988 was named Rochester Area McDonald’s Women’s Basketball Official of the year. Carl has been a softball player/manager for nearly 45 years and has played on many of the best greater Rochester area teams. He has played with or against the best players over that period. Also, he has played at a variety of competitive levels. His accomplishments include 1966 – Played for the Scanlon Tire, Greece Recreation League. 1967 – Played for the Scanlon Tire, Friday Nite Bayview “B” League Champions, an automatic bid to the City Championships. 1968 – 1978 – Played in the Slo-pitch Softball Major League, played on numerous tournament travel teams; Scanlon Tire, Shakey’s NY Life, Mazzola Insurance, and Peterson Sporting Goods. 1971 – 2010 – Mahan’s Softball Team played in numerous leagues and NY State Tournaments. 1980’s – Carl, with support from the Mahan’s Softball Team players and sponsor, organized and ran the “Daniel T. Wheat Memorial Slo-pitch Softball Tournament.” Over a 10 year period, the 32 team tournament raised and donated over $25,000 to the “Cure Childhood Cancer Association.” Throughout his softball career, Carl has always exhibited good sportsmanship and has been a great ambassador of the game of slow-pitch softball.

Scott Virkus

Birth Place
Palo Alto, CA
September 7, 1959

Educational & Professional Background
Scott attended Greece Olympia High School. He also attended San Francisco City College and Purdue University.

Family Background
Scott Virkus was born to Nancy Chase in Palo Alto, CA. He has one sister, Kelly, and three children.

Biography
In addition to being a highly acclaimed softball player, Scott played football in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and the Indianapolis Colts.

Scott has an extremely successful softball career while playing with local teams such as Masters Del, The Garage Door, Tony’s Bootlegger, Polo’s, The Loft, and Pace Electronics. He has also played nationally with Steel Sports and Bell Corp. His major softball achievements over the years include the following:

‘90 Smokey Mountain MVP

‘87, ‘88, ‘90 ISA All-World

‘87, ‘88, ‘90 All-American Team

‘87 ASA Home Run Champion

‘89, ‘90 NSA All-World

‘89 ASA World Home Run Leader

‘88, ‘89, ‘90 ASA All-World

‘89, ‘90 NSA All-American

In addition, Scott holds World titles and has hit over 3,000 lifetime home runs, including 680 home runs in one season. Clearly, Scott’s records speak for themselves. Although his stature is intimidating, those fortunate enough to have played with him found “Bam Bam” to be a loyal teammate and a good friend who single handedly put Rochester slo-pitch softball on the national map.

Ed Turpyn

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
December 12, 1948

Educational & Professional Background
Ed attended Long Ridge Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson High School, where he graduated in 1967. He retired from Wegmans after a 30-year career.

Family Background
Ed was born to parents Edward and Geraldine Turpyn in Rochester, NY. Ed has six siblings: three brothers and three sisters.

Ed is married to Marcia and they have two sons, Bryan and Robb.

Biography
Ed’s softball career spans 40 years, starting in 1965 to the present, including 10 league championships. Ed’s former teams played at Bayview, Cobb’s Hill, Cordero’s, Edgerton Park, Scottsville, and Turkey Town. He was awarded Manager of the Year in 1995.

Currently, Ed plays three days a week in the senior leagues at McAvoy Park. On Monday nights, he plays with Norton’s Pub. On Tuesday’s, he is on the Boulevard Team. On Thursdays, he plays with the Blue Jays.

Ed’s tournament travel team career began in 2005 in the 55+ Division with Rallytime Sports. He was an instant sensation, winning a Gold Medal in the 2009 National Senior Games. He was then awarded a Silver Medal in the same tournament in 2011.

He has played in three World Championships: Manassass, VA (2005), Las Vegas (2008), and Lansing, MI (2010). Ed was an MVP runner-up in the 2005 World Championship in Manassass. He was named to nine All-Tournament teams:

Manassass (2005)

Las Vegas (2006)

Niagara Falls (2006)

Las Vegas (2007)

Las Vegas (2008)

Rhode Island (2008)

Manassass (2009)

Dayton, OH (2010)

Lansing, MI (2010)

Ed also received the John Warren Humanitarian Award for his contributions to softball and charity. Ed is a major part behind the success of the 55+ and 60+ travel teams, known as Rallytime Sports and the Athletic Outlet.

Ed is an avid bowler and has posted some very impressive scores. For Ed, a 300 game in 2000 tops the list, along with two 299 games and 795 series. He also enjoys a round of golf. He is affectionately called “Edge”, “Captain”, or “The Judge” by his teammates. He is the team leader and judge in the kangaroo court his team has created.

Jerry Spino

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Biography
Jerry is a Rochester resident and continues to be involved in sports. He joined the USSSA in 1971.

As a member of the Rochester Metropolitan Umpire’s Association (MUA), Jerry served as President and Vice President. For 10 years, he held the position of Umpire in Chief. He also, for many years, served on the Executive Board and the Local Playing Rules Committee of the MUA. He conducted, participated and assisted with many umpire clinics and training. Jerry worked as an umpire for five years for the (APSPL) American Professional Slow-Pitch League. He was one of only six umpires picked to work the Professional Slo-Pitch League.

Jerry umpired in the Men’s World Series in 1977 (Virginia), 1981 (North Carolina), and 1983 (North Carolina). In 1983, he had the privilege of umpiring home plate in the final game of the Men’s World Series.

Jerry traveled to tournaments in Michigan, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, as well as within New York State. He was an assignor for the Rochester Men’s/Women’s Class A, B, C Divisional/World Tournaments. He also umpired in many softball tournament games.

Jerry was a USSSA umpire for over twenty-five years. Jerry also officiated high school basketball for the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) Board 60 for three decades. Today, Jerry continues to officiate basketball and coach/mentor children in the Rochester community.

Dick Shea

Birth Date
May 4, 1934

Educational & Professional Background
Dick attend #23 School and Monroe High School in Rochester, NY. He also attended the University of Buffalo, where he played quarterback for the football team. He is currently employed by Bishop Kearney High School, where Dick swears he will never retire.

Family Background
Dick was born to parents Irma and Richard in 1934. He has one brother, Ernest. He now resides in Rochester with his wife Irmgard. They have six children: Donna, Kelly, Bill, Mike, Ed, and Russell.

Biography
Some of Dick Shea’s athletic achievements include:

Section V Hall of Fame (football officiating)

Bishop Kearney Hall of Fame

Kodak Official Of the Year

Rochester Chapter Official Of the Year

Dick has coached numerous high school sports that include Girls & Boys Bowling, both Section V Champions. Additionally, Dick officiated high school football for 38 years. Dick managed and coached slow-pitch softball for many great Rochester teams. He was not a fan of the lazy player and his practices were very demanding. Before managing, Dick coached under some of the city’s most notable managers, Andy Yazwinski and Joe Nucci. This is where Dick professes he learned how to win. His first managerial stint was with Roller’s Deli. He then took the helm of the Henco Team and finished his career with his favorite team, the Wintonaire.

George “Hack” Krembel

Birth Place
Canandaigua, NY
August 5, 1913

Educational & Professional Background
George was employed by the Eastman Kodak Company

Family Background
Not Available

Biography
At a very early age a ball of any kind was his best friend. This friendship blossomed into a love for playing ball that led to a stellar career in fast pitch softball for the Eastman Kodak Company Major Fast Pitch Team.

Hack started playing softball in 1927 joining the Holy Rosary team of the Catholic League. In 1933 he played for Muh’s Dairy, followed by Speedy’s in 1934. His competitive spirit and performance on the field landed him a job at Eastman Kodak in 1935. He loved his days on the KPAA Boys Program, which provided instruction to more than 2,000 boys.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Kodak Park of Rochester, New York had one of the nation’s top men’s fast pitch teams. The team was composed of three top players: Harold “Shifty” Gears, Tommy Castle, and George “Hack” Krembel. In the 1936 national championship, Kodak won six consecutive games with Hack playing second base and hitting .200. He also hit four homers in four consecutive games, which is an ASA record and earned Hack the nickname of “The Babe Ruth of Softball”.

Hack continued to be active in softball as a player, manager and instructor until 1951. Hack joined the staff of the Kodak Park Athletic Association. He officiated the running of many sports activities and travel programs for Kodak employees in Rochester. He became President of the Rochester Major Fast Pitch League in 1959 and was instrumental in keeping fast pitch alive in Rochester. He retired from Kodak in 1975 completing 40 years of service.

Mike Delgatti

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Mike attended James Madison High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. He was later recruited to play football for Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

Family Background
Mike has a wonderful wife, Marie, and three sons, Todd, Scott, and Randy who are all great athletes as well.

Biography
Mike Delgatti was an outstanding athlete at Madison High School 1949-1951 in football, baseball, and basketball. For his defensive and offensive skills, he was considered All-Scholastic in all three sports. He played two years of football, three years of baseball, and one year of basketball. His coach Dip Murray said, “He was a natural”.

In 1949, Mike hit .437, and in 1950 he hit .420. He was recruited by Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania for football. He signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He also played in the minor leagues for six years in the New York Yankee farm system. In 1955, he started playing fastpitch softball and was a member of the Ryan and McIntyre Fastpitch Softball team. He was an All-Star Team selection on the 1956-1972 Kodak Park Fastpitch team. He was a great hitter and could hit for power as his .300+ lifetime average reflects.

Mike was a class man on and off the field. He had tremendous speed and led the team in stolen bases and runs scored. He also was a very good clutch hitter with a very strong and accurate throwing arm. He could bunt and move the runner into scoring position or drag bunt for a base hit. He threw men out at 2nd, 3rd, and home base with his great arm. He covered the whole outfield and could outrun the ball and catch with two hands. He was known as the “complete ballplayer”. He won the 1959 Mid Atlantic Tournament MVP award for his hitting, fielding, and running. He was inducted into the 1991 Rochester/Monroe County High School Athletes Hall of Fame and the 2011 Section V Hall of Fame.

Don Bunch

Biography
Donald was an avid sportsman and loved all sports. He began playing sports at an early age and continued until the age of seventy-one when health problems wouldn’t allow him to play anymore.

Don played semi-pro ball and then played with various other teams. At the age of fifty, he joined the slow-patch league. For many years he played for Alls Green and was a third baseman for the traveling team, “Rochester Olde Stars”. Don never would accept an offer to be in the Hall of Fame because he felt honored to play a game that he loved and felt that no one could be good without the whole team. He felt that being part of a team and the fellowship with the guys and girls was enough for him. Don cherished the friends he met in the slow pitch league.

Although Don was an excellent hitter and third baseman, he would sometimes have to tell his wife to be quiet when she would tell the opponent that they better not hit the ball to third base because “Big Don” would put them out! The family of the late Don Bunch would like to thank the Rochester Senior Softball Hall of Fame committee for selecting Don for this award and we know although he’s gone, he will never be forgotten.

Ralph Taccone

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Ralph attended Charlotte High School.

Biography
Ralph (Tic) Taccone began his athletic career at an early age playing baseball for the Charlotte Eagles. At Charlotte High School, he played baseball, basketball, and soccer, earning many accolades.

He was co-captain of the Lakesiders’ nine that won the Section V crown in 1944. He played 14 seasons on these semi-pro hardball teams: the Irondequoit Cardinals, Island Cottage, Honeoye Falls, Mandell’s, the East Rochester Roses, and the Eber Crowns. He had a batting average of 472, and in 1952, he began playing for the Irondequoit Cardinals. Letters with offers to play pro-ball came from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Little Rock, and Hornell. He worked out briefly with Hornell before deciding he’d rather play ball at home.

Ralph started his Kodak Park career in 1947. He played shortstop for the KPAA Noon-Hour League and later with the KP Majors in city-wide competition. In 1955, Ralph was with the Kaypees in their last world title bid in Clearwater, FL, and earned two of the team’s four hits off Ed Dudley while losing to the Clearwater Bombers, the defending champions, who went on to win another title.

He captained, was a player-manager, and coached the Kodak Park Basketball team until 1959. Ralph was known for his offensive skills, as well as, or even more so, for his tenacious defense. These teams amassed many Industrial Basketball League championships. Two of his favorite wins were the Central Y Invitation in 1947 and the Eastern Industrial Tournament in Camden, NJ. He also played on the Rochester Atlas Basketball Team. Ralph played on these fastpitch softball teams: Kodak Park, Mandell’s, Bon Jon’s, Hyatt, Begy’s, and Columbia Banking.

In 1965, while playing for Bon Jon’s in the Fast Pitch Tournament in St. Remi, Quebec, Ralph was awarded the best hitter trophy with 9 for 13, including three home runs. In August of 1971, at age 47, playing for Bob Hyatt’s Stereo which won the Umpires Association Fastpitch Tournament in Elmira, Ralph was named the most valuable player of the tournament with 13 hits in five games.

When reminiscing about his stellar career, Ralph would always remark on all the blessings he had received, especially from those talented individuals he had come in contact with and the friendships that ensued.

Eddie Santillo

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Eddie Santillo attended Jefferson High School. He also was in the army.

Family Background
Eddie is happily married to his wife, Ruth.

Biography
Before his very fine softball career, Eddie had other sports successes. While in the Army, from 1956 through 1958, he won many medals and trophies in swimming and bowling. On his arrival home in Rochester in 1958, he played with various teams and helped them to several championships, some at Bay View. Using a quote from his wife, Ruth, “I watched him hit home runs at Bay View. It was easier for him to score as he was not the fastest of runners”.

Ron Palermo

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
March 27, 1954

Educational & Professional Background
Ron graduated from Gates Chili High School in 1972. He then followed the family concrete business.

Ron had the privilege of working side-by-side with his father for 20 years. His father became his mentor, hero, and taught him to be the man he is today.

After 40 years in the concrete business, he developed and patented a specialty concrete floor called Terr-Con, which can be seen in eighteen of the Wegmans stores along the east coast.

Family Background
Ron was born to parents Marjorie and Phil Palermo. He is the third son out of seven Palermo brothers: Gary, Phil, Rick, Mark, Kurt, and Jeff.

Ron currently resides in San Diego, CA, with fiancé Timaree and her son, Austin. His family still lives in Rochester, NY. His oldest son, Ron Jr., and his wife Brittani have two sons, Austin and Jake. His youngest son, Steve, and his girlfriend Aryn have three kids, Nathaniel, Natalia, and Anya. Ron’s son Dominick also still lives in Rochester.

Biography
Ron Palermo started playing baseball at the age of seven, all the way through high school and then turned to softball. He will be most remembered for his years with the Marlen Floors team. That team consisted of his six brothers, plus some other very good athletes, like Mike Dimarco (cousin), Rocky Reitano, John and Kevin Fitzgerald, and Greg Schubur. His Uncle Jack was the coach and his father Phil was the sponsor. They won many league championships and numerous tournaments, but their biggest accomplishment was winning the 1987 Class “C” World Tournament in Zanesville, OH. Ron was named and given the tournament MVP Award. He also won the Home Run Hitting Contest. Playing softball for 22 years enabled him to meet a lot of great people and make a lot of lifetime friendships.

Ron would like to dedicate his induction into the Hall of Fame to both his mother Marjorie and father Phil Palermo, his two biggest fans. He knows they are looking down on him and would be very proud.

Rick Page

Educational Background
Rick attended SUNY Cortland.

Biography
Rick was a member of the 1975 Gaze Realty Class “C” World Champion team in Rochester, NY. He was on the Mazzola-Castle team and was selected co-MVP in 1977, where he hit 40 home runs and hit 131 RBI’s. His batting average was .585 and his team was the Class “A” World Champions in Petersburg, VA. Rick was selected to the All-World Team that year, as well in Detroit, MI.

In 1978, Rick was selected co-MVP of the Rochester Zeniths and was named to the APSPL All-Pro team. It was in 1979 that Rick was selected to the first APSPL All-Star team in Louisville, KY, along with Don Brown and Jerry Lasponara. He was a member of the APSPL 1980 Rochester Express World Champion team.

Aside from softball, Rick was the second ranked punter in the nation in 1964 and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. Rick was the 1965 and 1966 MVP of the Cortland State baseball team. He was the only player in school history to receive this honor twice. He was a member of the 1966 ECAC All-East football team. In 1986, Rick was named as the Section V Football Coach of the Year. He received the same Coach of the Year honor in 1992 in basketball. Rick was inducted into the Cortland State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Frank "Cisco" Opaczewski

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Schools Attended
Frank attended Edison Tech.

Biography
Frank “Cisco” played for the US Marine and Naval Base fastpitch team. After his tour of duty, he played for various slo-pitch teams. He became manager of Al’s Green and Brenton Mo-tors. Cisco won eight Metro Rochester ASA Championships and 8 Mid-Atlantic ASA Regional titles resulting in eight trips to ASA World Championships. He started the Greece Athlete of the Year Program, which has recognized 1000+ students in 37 years.

Tom Oldfield

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
01/09/1939

Educational & Professional Background
Tom attended the Aquinas Institute of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Family Background
Tom and wife Rose have two children, Thomas Oldfield and Julie Oldfield.

Biography
Tom spent many years as a player, coach, and manager in local softball. He played for league champion Mann’s Jewelers in 1960-62. He managed Skinny’s and J.M. Forster in the Bay View majors in the mid-60’s.
Tom won major league championships as manager of Al’s Green Tavern and Champion Products. He also won titles managing Gannett, the Kodak Corp Tax co-ed team, and Rochester’s chapter of the Liederkranz Club.

Gene Legler

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
September 19, 1960

Educational & Professional Background
Gene attended Holy Cross Grammar School and Charlotte High School in Rochester, NY. Furthering his education, he then studied and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Gene was employed at Xerox Corporation for 15 years.

Family Background
Gene’s parents are Edward and Noreen. He has three brothers, Gary, Gregg, and Glen, and two sisters, Lynn (Bianchi) and Lisa (Bullard). Gene and his wife Debbie have two children, Kaleigh and Micheal. Gene and Debbie currently live in Justin, TX.

Biography
Gene has many athletic achievements, especially in weight training and fitness. He was a 2-time Lake Ontario Bench Press Champion, representing Bellucco’s World Fitness Center with a maximum bench press of 550 pounds.

His softball achievements began by playing with some of the best players and teams in the area at the time. Players like Scott Virkus, Curt Kirchmaier, Carl Masters, Glen Legler, Tom Tydings, Mike Shoniker, and Bo Bertino. For several years, these players, along with Gene, helped make Masters Deli and the Garage Door teams successful. They went on to win at Williamsport, the NYS Championship, as well as local and regional tournaments managed by Tim Shoniker. Their list of achievements also included a 4th place finish out of 83 teams at the B World in 1983.

Over time, Gene went on to play with Pace Electronics, sponsored by Pat Kehoe. The team then included Dave Brightman, Al Dreschier, Theo Dorsey, and others. Managed by Carl Masters and John Warren, this team also won at Williamsport, as well as numerous regional and national tournaments, including the NSA “A” World Championship in 1987.

Pace Electronics and Marlen Floor merged in the late ’80s to form one of the best teams in the country. Jim Smith, John Fitzgerald, Kurt Palermo, Earl Blackmon, Dave Merriman, and Don Rafoth joined forces. They were managed by Rick Palermo and John Warren. Their accomplishments included winning USSSA NIT’s in Williamsport three times, and a 2nd place finish in the USSSA A World tournament in 1990. Gene also had brief stints with Steele’s Sports of Grafton, OH, and Stewarts from Pittsburgh, PA.

Gene made All-World Teams in 1983, 1987, and 1990. He led the 1983 and 1990 tournaments in home runs. He made several All-Tournament teams and won MVP awards and home run titles in the USSSA NIT’s and other National and Regional tournaments. A good player with great teammates and coaches breeds success, and this was true for Gene Legler.

Gerard “Jerry” Lasponara

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Jerry was a 1969 graduate of Aquinas Institute of Rochester and a 1973 graduate of St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. Following his studies, he was employed by Eastman Kodak Company.

Family Background
Jerry was married to his wife Anne, his sons, Gerard R., and James Lasponara, and daughter Teresa Moore. Jerry passed away in 2020.

Biography
Jerry played basketball and baseball in both high school and college. He made the All Big State Conference Team in 1972 and 1973. He also made the AACBC Collegiate All – America Team in 1972. Jerry played for the Dodge City Athletics in the NBC Summer Collegiate League. He had tryouts with Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1975, Jerry joined the Kodak Park Fast Pitch Team and the Mazzola Insurance Slo-Pitch team. In 1976, he won the “Tommy Castle Fast-Pitch Award”. In 1977. he was named the MVP in the Eastern Regional Class “A” Tournament with the Mazzola-Castle slo-pitch team. That same year and with the same team, he was named MVP in the Class “A” World Series. Also in 1977, Jerry was named the Press Radio Club’s “Amateur Athlete of the Year”.

In 1978 and 1979, he played for the Rochester Zeniths in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League. He was named to that league’s All-Star team in 1978. Jerry played for the Rochester Express, which won the World Series in the American Pro Slo-Pitch League. In 1982, he played for Pace Electronics in the National Slo-Pitch Conference.

Robbie Johnson

Birth Place
Lake Wales, FL

Educational & Professional Background
Robbie attended Monroe High School in Rochester, NY. She has worked at Xerox for 32 years and counting.

Family Background
Not Available

Biography
Robbie Kay Johnson was born in Lake Wales, Florida on October 29, 1959. She moved to Rochester in her early high school years. There, she excelled in four sports – softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball. She was All-City in each of those sports all four years of school. In summer slo-pitch softball she started with Carol Columbo (Al’s Green). She then played with Dave’s Mobile, Pace Electronics’ young team, until she reached 18.

At age 18, while working at Xerox Corp., she played for Bill Dunphy. Then she played for the great Pace Electronics team under Duane McCoy. While playing with Pace, she learned much more about softball and took her own game to another level earning an All-World honor in 1981.

She won many other awards in her career including awards such as League MVP, League All-Star, and All-Tournament and she shared in numerous league championships. She was inducted into the NYS USSSA Hall Of Fame in 2011. Robbie is now a member of a different kind of team. She now attends the Greater Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, where she is a member of the trustee board and the youth activities committee.

Sandy Ciulla

Biography
Sandy’s slo-pitch career began with the Militello Brothers team in the early 1960’s. He played with Santillo’s and Skinny’s in the Bay View Major League. He contributed to the forming of both the Mazzola Insurance and Trimaldi’s travel teams.

After arriving in Florida, his teams won 19 World Tournaments. He was an All-World player 17 times, MVP in 2000, and Outstanding Offensive Player in 2002. His team won 5 various World Titles in 2000.

David Catlin

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
David attended Gates-Chili High School, SUNY Brockport, and the University of Illinois.

Family Background
David’s wife is Marilyn.

Biography
David was an All-County baseball player in 1962. In 1967, he was named to the NYS All-Conference Team. In 1968, he went to the very first National USSSA Tournament in Milwaukee. He won many tournament awards from 1970 to 1998. Some of his top awards were:

1999 ﹣ Best Offensive Player ﹣ SPA National

2000 ﹣ All Tourney Team ﹣ SPA National

2001 ﹣ MVP-SPA National ﹣ Jacksonville

2002 ﹣ Outstanding player ﹣ ISF Senior World

David Brightman

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Dave was an outstanding baseball player in high school, where he was named All-County for two years in a row, winning the Section V Baseball Title in 1980.

Family Background
Dave still resides in Rochester, NY, with his wife Linda and two daughters, Katie and Rachel.

Biography
Immediately after high school, Dave Brightman began his career in slo-pitch softball playing for Superstar Sports with John and Dennis Warren. He continued on to play for Pat Kehoe with Pace Electronics and Marlen Floor in 1984.

In 1987, he was named to the Major Players list, which denotes the best players in the country. During that year, Pace Electronics won the NSA Class “A” World Title in Chattanooga, TN. In 1990, Dave won a Gold Glove at the Kiracofe Tournament in Kalamazoo, MI. Later that year, he helped Pace Electronics finish 2nd in the USSSA Class “A” World Tournament in Kalamazoo. During that tournament, Dave won the Class “A” World Tournament Batting Title and was 2nd in tournament homeruns to teammate Gene Legler.

A third-baseman, Dave was a career .700 hitter with power. Dave has hit over 1,000 homeruns in both league and tournament play. He played in three Major World Series (1992, 1993, and 1995) and was named to several All-Tournament teams and named MVP numerous times. He was selected to the Class “A” All-World Team twice.

Dave retired from softball with the Pace Electronics team in 1996. He continues to pass on his knowledge of the game to both of his daughters who participate in girls fast-pitch softball.

Wendy Bolton

Birth Place:
Rochester, NY

Year Entered:
2012

Educational & Professional Background
Penfield High SUNY Oswego, Syracuse University. Went to work for the Monroe County Dept. of Human Services for 34 years, retiring in 2011.

Family Background
Not available

Biography:
Wendy Bolton was born in Rochester on 5/19/1953. She attended Penfield High, SUNY Oswego (Psychology), and Syracuse University (Masters in Social Work). She then went to work for the Monroe County Dept. of Human Services for 34 years, retiring in 2011. At Oswego, she was a 4-year starter in field hockey, basketball, and softball. She won MVP Awards in basketball and field hockey, and was the Oswegonian Athlete of the year in 1972. She was inducted into the SUNY Oswego Athlete Hall of Fame in 2005. Wendy was a 15-year member of the Buffalo Field Hockey Club in the U.S. Field Hockey Association. Wendy is a current member of the Rochester Chapter of the Women’s Golf Association. Wendy spent over 30 years in summer so-pitch playing for such teams as Lum’s (1973 City Class “A” champions), California Brew House, Kirby’s, Wintonaire, Butler’s, and Pace Electronics. She won many awards and was named to many All-Star teams. Her most notable honors were: MVP and All-Star team 1999 Class “B” Rhode Island NIT (Kirby’s); All-Star team – 1999 Northeast USSSA Championship (Kirby’s); 1994 RI-County Tourney MVP (Pace): 1994 Springville Tourney MVP (Pace). Wendy is a member of Pace Electronics elite 500-lifetime hits club. It is estimated that she has more than 2000 hits in her illustrious career.

Joe Barone

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Joe attended Jefferson Franklin High School, where he was a 1st-team All-Scholastic Outfielder and an A-S 2nd-team in football. He also attended SUNY Brockport, where he was a four-year starter in baseball. His team won the State Championship in his senior year.

Biography
Joe Barone played several years of major league softball. Among his teams were Brenton Motors, Shakey’s, Ragu, Al’s Green Tavern, and Trimaldi’s. He played in several world and regional tournaments. He also played in 50 and 60-year-old tournaments.

Steve Antes

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Steve attended #16 School, Fairport High School, and Cornell University, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Xerox for 34 years.

Family Background
Steve and his wife Betsy had three children, Aaron, Evan, and Megan.

Biography
Steve’s softball career began in 1968 playing for major league teams such as Crest Lounge, Empire Boat, and the Wintonaire. Steve’s senior softball career began in 2001 with Tut’s, RAM, Prince George’s, Coors Light, Perna Homes, Max Spice, and Pace Electronics. Steve is regarded as one of the best outfielders in the country. With a great glove and strong arm, he has been elected to 12 All Tournament teams and 3 Best Defensive player awards.

Peter Zeppetella

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Gates-Chili High & Ohio Inst. of Tech.

Family Background
Pete and his wife Mary Kay have three children: Kristen, Kelly, and Katie.

Biography
Peter was an All-County soccer and baseball player his senior year @ G-C. He was hired at KAD in 1976 and started to play for them in 1980. He was part of several Eastern States Industrial Championship teams and the 1982 World Championship Team where he was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

He continues to play for the Gubiotti Insurance Team that competes locally and nationally. They have won many national tournaments including Virginia, Nevada, Niagara Falls and Maryland. Peter says “thanks to the many coaches he played for.

Dick Tuschong

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Education
Aquinas Institute (class of 1960)

Family
He and his wife Darlene have two children, RJ and Laura, and have three grandchildren, Ashlee, Ryan, and Ethan.

Biography
Dick lettered in baseball at Aquinas in ’58 and 59. He spent the next 3 years playing semi-pro baseball – 1960 with the Charlotte Merchants and ’61 and ’62 with Johnny Antonelli’s Clintonairs.

After spending 4 years in the armed forces, he tried out for and made the Kodak Park Fast Pitch Team. Dick was part of the team that won 10 league and playoff championships. They also won many weekend tournaments. He was a team MVP and made several all-star teams. He was the first recipient of the Fast Pitch League’s “Tommy Castle Award” in 1975. He won it again in 1977. After he played for Kodak, Dick continued playing in the Rochester Fast Pitch League. He also filled in for the Rochester Zeniths’ travel team.

Joe Trieste

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Joe attended School #25, East High School, and Monroe Community College

Family
Joe is the proud father to his four children Jamie, Joey, Vinnie, and Alyssa.

Biography
Joseph H. Trieste was born to parents Eluah and Jim in 1945. As a resident of Rochester, NY, Joe worked for the Local #1435 Labor Union for 38 years before retiring in 2007. Joseph played touch and flag football for ten years and played baseball for one year. He was a fierce competitor on the softball field for several teams from 1964-2006. Joseph played for great names such as Henco-Proietti’s, Proietti’s, Trimaldi, Pg’s, and Rochester Legends 50 and over team. He was also a member of the Proietti’s 1973 all-tournament team in Lancaster, PA.

Tim Shoniker

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
After attending Holy Cross grammar school, Tim graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1968 and Brockport State in 1975. Tim has worked for Patterson Dental Company for 33 years.

Family Background
Tim and his wife Barb reside in Rochester and have two children: David and Amy. Tim’s brothers and sisters are: Kathy, Patty, Dan, Mike and Mary Anne.

Biography
Tim coached various high school sports. He coached JV baseball and football at John Marshall from 1975 to 1977. He then went on to coach boys’ basketball from 1997 to 2001 at Greece Arcadia. After that, he coached girls’ basketball at Greece Arcadia from 2003 to 2011. His team won the New York State Class “A” championship in 2004.

He played on and/or managed teams that won over 20 tournaments. The teams were Master’s Del, Garage Door, Tony’s Bootlegger and Pace Electronics. The tournament wins included places such as: Cleveland, Ohio, Williamsport, PA; Perry, NY; Rye NY; Kingston, Canada; Brockport, NY. His Pace team also won the NSA World Series in Chattanooga, TN, in 1987. As a player, his first tournament championship was at Bayview Stadium with Master’s Del.

Jerry "Schifty" Schiffhauer

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Schifty graduated from Kendall High School. He worked at Bausch & Lomb for 25 years and the Harley School for 14 years.

Family Background
Schifty has been married to Susan for 36+ years. They have three children: Amy, Andrea, and Shane.

Biography
“Schifty” served in the Air Force from 1964 to 1967 as an Air Policeman. He played baseball during that time. He bowled a 300 game in 1999. Jerry started playing softball in 1969 for South Of The Border. He played in the IMC for B&L for 20 years and was MVP in 1981.

He has played for Lincoln/Genesee Brewery, Campi’s & Pillar’s – a team that was 98-0 before they lost. He and his teams have won many softball championship awards, including “World Masters Championship 60’s” in 2007 where he won the “Defensive” Award.

Dave Randall

Birth Place
Rochester, NY (1951)

Education
Jefferson High (Class of ‘69)

Family
Married to wife Michele for 5 years. Has 3 sons; Rich, Kevin and Tim

Biography: Dave first played slo-pitch in 1967 in the Chili League. He played for more than 30 years, including more than 20 for Kodak Apparatus Division. During those years, KAD won 9 Industrial Management Council titles and 8 Industrial Eastern States titles. 1982 was a big year for Dave and KAD. After losing their first game in Portsmouth, VA, KAD won 11 straight to win the USSSA World Industrial Title. Dave was the MVP. He and 6 teammates made All-World. A highlight of his career was meeting his wife at the Eastern States Industrial Tourney in 1974, where she played for Kodak Office.

John Milne

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
John attended the Bay Rd Grammar School and RL Thomas High School in Webster. He also attended the University of Miami and Nazareth College in Rochester. John worked for the Penfield School District for 35 years, where he also coached soccer.

Family Background
John was born March 7th, 1947, to parents John and Edna. He has one brother Gary. John is married to wife Ann and has two children, Jessica and Ryan.

Biography
As a coach, John won over 300 games and was named section Five NYSAA Assistant Coach of the Year. John’s softball career encompasses several decades from the late 1960s to the present. His accomplishments in Senior Softball are legendary. Every year from 2006-present, he has been named to at least one all-tournament team selection. He has been a major contributor to the success of his teams. His outstanding play has helped in winning the 2007 LVSSA world championship in Las Vegas. He has also won two silver medals in the NSGA Senior games. According to his teammates, John could have been named All-Tournament in every tournament he played in.

Phil Laurez

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1938

Educational & Professional Background
Phil attended John Marshall High School, MCC, and RIT. He worked at Lincoln First Bank for 26 years, retiring in 2004.

Family Background
Phil and his wife Cheryl have six children.

Biography
Phil Laurez had a 300 game in 1999. His many exploits in softball came as a manager. His teams won 17 straight Bank League Championships: 1972-1978 (Marine Midland); 1979-1988 (Chase Lincoln First). In 1983, they were the NY State Champions.

Phil was City Recreation “Manager of the Year” in 1979. In 1981, 1983, and 1985, his teams were the first-place qualifiers for the Industrial Eastern States. In 2011, he was on McAvoy’s Senior “A” Division 50+ champion team.

Kevin Kresman

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Professional Background
Kevin has worked at G.M. Rochester Products for over 37 years and still counting.

Family Background
Kevin and his wife Roxanna have four children, Theresa, Sarah, Melissa, and Jessica.

Biography
Kevin was born in Rochester, NY in 1957. At Churchville-Chili, he was all-county in baseball in 1975. He played on Section 5 champs in baseball and soccer. He tried out for the Reds, Mets, and Yankees. He later coached girls’ soccer for five years in Greece.

At G.M., he was recognized as “Defensive Player of the Year” six times during the years 1985-1991 and on the IMC All-Star Team three times. He was team MVP in 1985. Kevin was on Eastern States Qualifiers five times and on the 1986 E.S. championship team. He was an outstanding defensive player, averaging ½ DP per game.

Sam Kimble

Birth Place
Holly Bluff, MS
July 10, 1947

Educational & Professional Background
Sam graduated from Yazoo City High School. He has been working for the Rochester City School District for 25 years.

Family Background
Sam is the son of John and Martha Kimble. His brothers and sisters include: Ivory, Joe Sr., Ike, Thenia, Thomas, John, Anne, Lilly Mae, Lonny, Charlie, and James.

Sam has two children, Ashley and Jackie. He has been working for the Rochester City School District for 25 years.

Biography
Sam’s other great love is refereeing basketball, which he has done for nearly 35 years. He has umpired softball for 38 years (28 of those years under USSSA). Sam is known as an excellent umpire, always anticipating and focusing on making the right call.

Lonny Kimble

Birth Place
Holly Bluff, MS
May 21, 1949

Educational & Professional Background
Lonny completed his academic and athletic achievements at Campbellsville Elementary and High School. In addition to serving 20+ years of service to the Rochester Senior Slo-Pitch Association, Lonny has served 46 years as a Precision Grinder at the Gleason Works.

Family Background
Lonny is the son of John “Mack” and Martha Ann Kimble (both deceased). He is the eighth of ten siblings. Lonny is the youngest of sibling of the Kimble Brothers: Charlie, James, and Sammy, who are also inductees of the Rochester Senior Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame.

Lonny is married to the lovely Myrtis Kimble of 46 years and the father of Pernella (Anthony Sr.) Payne and KaTrina (John Jr.) McCollough. He is the “gratified” grandfather of Anthony Jr., Eddie, Timothy, and Jordan.

Biography
Lonny is a faithful member of Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Inc, where he serves as Deacon, member of the Male and Senior Choruses, and the Transportation Auxiliary. When Lonny isn’t working, one can find him spending quality time with his family, attempting to play golf, watching sports, and worshipping and praising God Whom is the HEAD of his LIFE.

Don Johnson

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Don attended Madison High School and graduated from St Augustine College. He worked at DuPont for 35 years.

Family Background
Don and Ernestine Johnson had two daughters, Karen and Ruth; three sons, Brian, Bobby, and Roger Johnson. Don had two grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Don passed away in 2015.

Biography
Don attended St. Augustine College for 4 years on a basketball scholarship. He also played baseball for them. He then played for DuPont for 11 years in the IMC league. He is an avid golfer and bowler, playing each several times a week. He umpired slo-pitch for several years until just recently. Don played 8 years with Hectors at Bay View, 6 years with Trotters at Kodak and senior 55 for a couple of years. A great defensive player, he was tough to defend as he used all fields when hitting and was very fast. A highlight of his career was being invited by Bill Veeck to tryout for the St. Louis Browns.

Dave Helmbold

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1948

Educational Background
Dave attended St. Monica’s and West High School. He graduated in 1963. Dave worked at Eastman Kodak for 35 years and retired in 2002.

Family Background
Dave and his wife Joanne have two children, Kimberly and Jason.

Biography
After attending high school, Dave played baseball in the St. Louis Cardinal organization. The teams he played for were the Class “A” Rock Hill Cardinals of the Western Carolina League in 1964 and the Class “AAA” Tulsa Oilers of the Pacific Coast Dave Helmbold League in 1965. After two years of playing pro ball, he was drafted into the army where he served in the jungles of Vietnam. When he was discharged in 1967, he tried to get back into baseball with Tulsa. But, the two years of service took its toll on his talents.

Back in Rochester, Dave worked at Eastman Kodak. In his early days at Kodak, he played on their slo-pitch team. He also coached varsity baseball at West High for four years. Dave broke into open slo-pitch with the Westside Merchants. He played with powerhouse teams such as Al’s Green Tavern, Pace Electronics, Mazzola/Castle, and the professional slo-pitch team, Rochester Zeniths. With Pace, he was a two-time All-World player. Always a potent hitter, one year he led Joe Nucci’s Mazzola team in home runs, RBI’s, runs scored, and was second in hits as he batted .516. He also served as Captain of the team.

Leo Harrington

Birth Place
Oswego, NY

Educational & Professional Background
He attended East Rochester High School as well as Fairport High School. He worked for RG&E for 39 1/2 years before retiring in 2011. He was a basketball official with IAABO for 29 years.

Family Background
He has a wife, Maria, and three sons, Tim, Kevin, and Scott, as well as two step-daughters, Aleisa and Christina.

Biography
Leo started to play slow-pitch in 1968 in East Rochester. He played in the RG&E league in 1978. He then played for their IMC team from 1986 to 1994. In 1992 he was the IMC’s MVP. That year the team won the Eastern States. For 9 straight years, 2004 to 2012, he was MVP and/or all-tournament, including 2005 “World Tourney” MVP. In 2009, he pitched a no-hitter in the “Senior Nationals” and made the All-Tournament team. That year, his team won the Gold Medal.

Joseph Germano

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1955

Educational & Professional Background
Joe graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1973, Le Moyne College in 1977, and was employed by Rochester Products.

Family Background
Joe was born to parents Joseph and Lucille Germano. His Significant Other is Marcia Horan, and he has a daughter, Alyssa.

Biography
Joe played ball for Rochester Products, where they were Eastern States Industrial Title Qualifiers 5 times, winning the championship in 1986. Joe played on the 1994 NSA Class A National Champion Leisure Time. He played for the 55+ USSSA National Champion Major team in 2011. Possessor of a 47 game hit streak, during which he hit .825, he is a member of the all-time Rochester Products Team. He had a lifetime on base percentage of .728. As a senior player, he has made 75% of the all-tournament teams in the tournaments in which he’s competed.

Glenn French

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Glenn attended Rochester Christian School, East High, and Rochester Business Institute.

Family Background
Glenn has two daughters, Debbie and Kathy. He also has five grandchildren.

Biography
Glenn played baseball throughout his life, starting with Little League. He went on to play Pony, Babe Ruth, High School, and American Legion baseball leagues. In 1962, his team won the Legion Championship. He also played for East High’s championship basketball and soccer teams in 1962 and was named two-time All-Scholastic goalie. Glenn is also an avid golfer and has bowled three perfect bowling games. As a Rochester Legend, Glenn was named All-World in 2011 and 2012.

Maryellen Ford

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
April 25, 1950

Educational & Professional Background
Maryellen attended Penfield High School, SUNY Brockport, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. She played softball for the Brockport State Champs in 1973 and 1974. She also played for their State Champion field hockey team in 1971 and 1972.

Maryellen worked 21 years for Eastman Kodak and 11 years for Maryellen Ford Optimation Technology as an Electrical Designer.

Family Background
Maryellen still resides in the Rochester area with her long-time partner Mary Cook. Her siblings are Diane Bonacci, Pat Rebar, Marlene Ford, and Merritt Ford.

Biography
Maryellen Ford played for the Kodak Park slo-pitch team coached by Carol Dwyer. They won several Eastern States titles. During that time, Maryellen was selected to several All-Star teams and won three defensive player awards and two MVP awards. She posted a 108-23 won-lost record during her tenure with Kodak and had a 2.16 earned run average.

In the early to mid ’70s, Maryellen played for Lou Assenato’s Tommy’s Travelers, Kelly’s Tavern, and Rochester Imperials teams. She won several awards with those teams, and in 1975 was named to the USSSA All-World Team. During those years she won 255 games against 47 losses and had a 1.64 ERA. In 1977, Maryellen joined Duane McCoy’s Pace Electronics Fighting Green & Gold Team and helped them win the USSSA Class “A” World Championship that year while being named to the All-World Team. They were also USSSA World runners-up in 1978. She had a 57-15 record over those two years and an ERA of 1.67.

Maryellen played for Bill Dunphy’s teams from 1982 to 1999, which included Wintonaire, Ronnie’s Ballpark, Cal’s Lounge, Four Brothers, and Kirby’s Lawn Care. During that time, she was on several championship teams including ones in the following categories: ASA NYS, 1991 USSSA“B”, 1994 USSSA “B” Regional, and the 1999 USSSA “B” Regional. She also logged over 4,760 innings and had a 1.79 ERA. Also, she was named to many all-star teams, earned several defensive player awards, and was a team MVP.

On June 29th, 1985, she pitched a USSSA sanctioned no-hitter in a Class “B” qualifying tournament. That record can be found in the USSSA record book. In the early ’80s, Maryellen was a successful bodybuilder, winning two New York State titles and one 1st place and one 2nd place Ms. Rochester Title.

Tony Fedor

Educational & Professional Background
Tony attended Cardinal Mindszenty High in Dunkirk, NY. He was Co-captain, played shortstop, and pitched for their baseball team. He was named to the league’s All-Star first team in basketball and football. He was a sprinter and long jumper on the school’s track team.

Tony attended FENN College (known now as Cleveland State University) where he played basketball. He was inducted into their Hall Of Fame, where Tony Fedor was, at the time, 11th in the school’s all-time scoring average. He graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He went on to obtain two Master’s Degrees, one from Lehigh University (Chemical Engineering) and one from the University of Rochester (Material Science).

Tony worked for Eastman Kodak for 33 years and acquired the positions of VP of Manufacturing and General Manager of Kodak Park. He has served on the Board of Trustees at Clarkson University and Rochester AAA. He partnered in the purchase of Rochester Gear in 2007 and still works there as President.

Family Background
Tony and his wife Judy have a son and two grandsons.

Biography
After playing fastpitch for Koch’s in Dunkirk and Hyatt’s in Rochester, he spent the next 12 years playing for Kodak Park as their third-baseman. He also played on the Rochester Zenith’s Fast-Pitch Team. Tony feels very fortunate to have played with so many talented players. “We always found a way to win”. Tony is an avid golfer and shot his age﹣71﹣at Greystone Country Club.

Mark Evans

Birth Place
Unknown
June 3rd, 1947

Educational & Professional Background
Mark attended Grammar school and High School in Utica where he was active in football, wrestling, and track. He attended College at SUNY Brockport and holds a BA and Masters in Physical Education and Athletic Administration, respectively. Mark retired in 2012 from self employment.

Family Background
Born to parents Clara and Elliot, Mark had three siblings: Brothers, Elliot Jr. and Michel, and sister Erlene. Mark is married to wife Maryann and has one child, Christian.

Biography
Mark’s softball career began in 2007 where he was active as a player, sponsor, coach, and manager. He has won two World Championships, a National (NSGA) Senior Games Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. Mark’s unselfish contributions to his team and the John Warren Foundation are irreplaceable.

Scott Dodgson

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1953

Educational & Professional Background
Scott attended Gates-Chili High. He made the varsity baseball team as a catcher when he was just a freshman. He also played on the soccer team. He attended SUNY Oneonta and Rochester Institute of Technology. He worked at Kodak.

Family Background
Scott was the son of Jack and Helen Dodgson. Scott is survived by his wife Charlene and their two children, Andrew and Alana. He is also survived by his brother Jeff, who resides in Churchville.

Biography
As a young baseball player, Scott was invited to try out for the Cincinnati Reds. Scott worked at Kodak where he played fastpitch.

He played for several slo-pitch teams, including Wintonaire, Winfield, and Joe Nucci’s “Over 40” Legends team. He played with stars, such as Bo Bertino, Frank Taccone, and Tom Herzog.

Scott was a stalwart on defense while playing second base and he had an outstanding arm. He spent most of his early career as a leadoff batter. He batted near .700 as leadoff for various teams. When he was older and got a little heavier, he started to hit home runs and he won several games with walk-off homers, including two tournament games with grand slams.

Ed Carroll

Birth Place
York, NY

Family Background
Ed was one of 12 children born to John and Gertrude Carroll. He has been married to Mary for 56+ years. They have three children, Eileen, Kathleen, and Joseph.

Biography
Ed worked at DuPont for 34 years, retiring in 1985. He played golf, ice hockey, flag football, basketball, tennis and also fished. He played for DuPont for 12 years in the IMC and 25 years in the daytime senior leagues retiring in 2011. In 1995, Ed won the 62 – 69 year old league batting title by hitting .717.

He played in the Sebring, FL League where his team won the championship 5 straight years. One of the last true rovers, speedy Ed excelled on defense as well as at bat. He was a great opposite field hitter.

Harry Tufano

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Harry graduated from Churchville-Chili High School in 1967. He then went to Monroe Community College, graduating in 1969. After graduating from Geneseo State in 1971, he then attended Brockport State Graduate School receiving his graduate degree in 1974. He taught middle school science for the Greece Central School District for 32 years before retiring in 2004. Harry, who loved teaching, is in the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers,” honoring the best teachers in America.

Family Background
Harry has one son, A.J.

Biography
Harry started playing softball in 1969 for Jerry Earl’s Castle Inn team. That team was the very first team to win the USSSA City Championship. He also was on a team that won another first. His Gaze Realty team won the first USSSA Class “C” World Tournament, which was held in Rochester in 1975. In that tournament, Harry (SS) and life long friend, Dave Thomas (P), turned 5 double plays in one game. That duo also combined to bring together the great Castle Insurance team. Throughout the past 45 years, Harry went to World Tournaments in the 70s, 80s and 90s, and won league titles at Cobb’s Hill, Bay View, Edgerton Park, Greece, Ontario, and Brockport.

In Senior Softball, Harry continued his winning ways as he played on the winning team in the 2001 Class “AA” World Tournament held in Manassas, VA. He was named to the All-World Team. He joined the Rally Time Sports team and was named to All-Tournament teams in Niagara Falls and Harrisburg in 2006 and in Las Vegas in 2007. He was named Most Valuable Defensive Player in the latter.

He went on to play for the Pace Electronics team, which won the Masters Championship in 2008 and 2009 and were runners-up in 2011 and 2012. He was named to four All-Tournament teams while playing for Pace. He was also All Tournament in the NYS Senior games in 2013. In the winter, he played in Florida from 2006 to 2010 with the Stancil’s team. Stancil’s won many tournaments including the Winter National Championship twice.

Robert “Rocky” Thompson

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
He attended Wheatland-Chili High and graduated in 1967. “Rocky” then attended Springfield, MA college on a basketball scholarship and played from 1965 to 1968. He was in Vietnam from October, ’68 to January, ’70. He was awarded 2 Purple Hearts. He worked at Rochester Products for 42 years and retired in 2008.

Family Background
Rocky and his wife Barbara reside in Rochester.

Biography
At Products, he played on 5 City IMC championship teams and 2 New York State IMC championship teams. “Rocky” bowled on the PBA tour for 4 years. He won 2 regional titles, had thirty-five 300 games, & eleven 800 series. As a golfer, he won the 1982 General Motors USA scratch golf tournament in Lansing, MI.

James “Jim” Stenglein

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Jim attended Irondequoit High School and graduated in 1965. He then attended Monroe Community College and graduated in 1967 with an Associate’s Degree in Marketing. He later went to work for Eastman Kodak for 32 1/2 years before retiring in 1999.

Family Background
Jim has two children, Sharon and Brian.

Biography
Jim’s sporting life was not all softball. He spent time coaching in youth baseball, soccer and bowling. He also organized spring and fall fishing trips to Canada for Kodak employees. His catch of a 13 pound, 7 ounce northern pike remains the record for that category of fish.

Jim started to play softball at the age of 15. He played 19 years for Hegedorn’s – from 1962 to 1980. During his Hegedorn’s tenure, the team won several league, playoff and tournament titles. Some of the victorious tournaments were out-of-state such as the Richmond Memorial Day Classic and the Toledo 4th of July Invitational. Jim won 2 MVPs for Hegedorn’s and holds the career record for most doubles.

Jim also played for Kodak Apparatus Division (KAD), in the IMC League for 8 years. He was Captain for all 8 years. During that time, the team won 7 league championships, 7 Eastern States qualifiers and 6 Eastern States Tournaments. Jim also won 4 Gold Gloves and 2 MVP Awards during that time.

As a feisty and hustling ball player, Jim played 50 to 60 games a year at various ball parks including Bayview, Cordero’s, Cobb’s Hill, and McAvoy Park. Jim said, ‘I would give up my body if the play called for it.”

Richard Spinelli

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Dick graduated from Jefferson High School in 1960 and St. John Fisher in 1964. He worked at Xerox for 35 years before retiring in 2004.

Family Background
Dick and his wife Kathleen have three children, Beth, Eric, and Dana. They also have two grandchildren, Brendan and Aidan.

Biography
Born in 1942, Dick is one of five children born to Richard and Ann Spinelli. At Jefferson High School, he was an All-Scholastic baseball player for two years. At the age of 20, he played major softball with the J. M. Forster team. That team won two consecutive City Championships. They also placed 6th in a national tournament in 1964. His Bausch & Lomb team won two city championships in 1966 and 1967. Dick co-founded the Rochester Adult Recreation Slo-Pitch League with Don Stiner. In table tennis, he won the City and the NY State 70+ championships.

Robert “Bob” Reed

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bob attended Ben Franklin High School and graduated in 1965. He worked for General Motors and its subsidiaries for 30 years.

Family Background
Bob was one of eight children born to Nelson and Ann Reed. He and his wife, Judy, have been married 45 years and have three children Brian, Linda, and Steven. They have four grandchildren – Emily, Grace, Jonas, and Hannah.

Biography
Bob has officiated slow pitch softball for 34 years umpiring for both ASA and USSSA. He has umpired at every division from youth leagues to major softball. That includes NITS, State tournaments, and World Series. He has recently umpired many USSSA Super Series at Disney’s Wide World Of Sports. He has traveled throughout the Country to umpire. In 2003, Bob received the prestigious Northeast Division Umpire-in Chief Award. In 2005, the USSSA presented him with the Northeast Division’s Dwight Hall Spark Plug of the Year Memorial Award.

Bob’s career in slo-pitch does not stop at officiating. For the last 15 years he has been President of the Sports Officials of the Rochester area. Bob has been director for multiple sports in the Rochester area. He works with several sports, in addition to his SORA and USSSA roles, including slo-pitch, fast pitch, flag football, kickball and basketball. In November 2010, He was appointed Western New York State Director, State Tournament Director and New Area Development Coordinator.

Bob was inducted into the New York State Hall Of Fame in 2010.

Richard Rago

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Rich graduated from Jefferson High School in 1967. Rich worked at Gleason’s for 35 years and retired in 2004.

Family Background
He was one of 3 children born to Dick and May Rago. He has one sister, Barbara Ippolitto, and a brother, Thomas Rago.

Biography
While at Gleason’s, he played for their softball team, and they went to 3 Industrial World Tournaments. He went to many other World Tourneys while playing for great teams such as Al’s Green Tavern, Pace Electronics, Mazzola’s, and the Rochester Legends. Rich is a member of the Adult Recreation Assn. (ARA) Hall Of Fame. An all-around athlete, he played basketball, football, and baseball at Jefferson. He was named to the All-City team in baseball and was second-team All-Scholastic in football.

Chuck Smith

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1955

Educational & Professional Background
Chuck attended Benjamin Franklin High School and graduated in 1973. He has worked in US Security for five years and as a state employee for 13 years.

Family Background
Cuck was one of three children born to Chuck and Elaine Sith. He and his wife Linda have been married 14 years and have five children and six grandchildren.

Biography
Chuck’s fastpitch resume is as impressive as it is long. He has pitched for over 30 teams, including ones in Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and New York. He has been MVP in many tournaments (over 20 times) from 1973 until 2004. That includes seven straight years in North Carolina. Chuck has won national awards seven times, including:

1995 (NSA) and 2000 (ASA) MVP

1997 (NSA) and 2010 (NAFA) All-World Team

1997, 2000, and 2001﹣ASA All-American Team

He has been on teams that have won or been a runner-up for a total of six national titles:

1997﹣ASA 40+ runners-up

1998 & 2000﹣ASA National Champions

2004 & 2007﹣ASA National Runners-up

2004﹣NSA National Runners-up

Chuck has pitched in over 2,500 games. He has 36 no-hitters and 19 perfect games. He was inducted into the Rochester ARA Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2011, he was inducted into the Western New York Hall of Fame. The following year, he was inducted into the NSA Hall of Fame.

Khalid Salaam

Birth Place
Rochester NY

Educational & Professional Background
Khalid attended Madison High School and Brockport State University, and was a member of the Rochester Fire Department for 30 years.

Family Background
Khalid Manns Abdul Salaam, born Clyde H. Manns Jr., was one of 6 children of Clyde and Gertrude Manns. Khalid and his wife Patricia had 7 children: Faheem, Tynisha, Justin, Jordon, La’eeq, Ameerah and Ameenah. Khalid passed away in 2019.

Biography
At Madison, he played three sports. As an adult, he coached and played for the Fire Department’s A team for 30 years. The squad played in tournaments held in Baltimore, competing in a field of close to 100 teams. In one year, the A team earned a second-place finish, and placed in the top 10 on eight other occasions. He also played on the Pace Electronics World Masters Champions in 2006, 2008, and 2009. The team was runner-up in 2011.

In 2012, Khalid was named MVP at the Las Vegas Senior Softball World Championships. In later years, he played for the Rochester Merchants and New Jersey Hitmen. In addition to his playing, he coached the Third Ward Little League team for 7 years.

Dave Sackett

Birth Place
Rochester, NY (1948)

Family
He and his wife Darlene raised 3 children; Stacey, Stephanie, and David.

Biography
He worked on the Rochester Police Force. He attended Edison Tech, where he played varsity baseball and basketball. Early in his career, Dave played for Bausch & Lomb in the World Industrial Softball Tournament. His contributions were invaluable to the Police Locust Club in law enforcement tournaments. He was a standout player for D’Andrea Electric, Manet’s Café, Westside Merchants, Mapledale, George’s, and more. He played at Bayview, Edgerton, and Cobb’s Hill. He was named to the latter’s All-Star Team in the early ’70s. He’s was one of Rochester’s finest bowlers with over thirty 300 games. He’s in the Rochester Bowling Hall Of Fame.

James Quamo

Birth Place
Lynn, MA

Educational & Professional Background
James graduated from Averill Park Central High in Troy, NY, and then SUNY Brockport, where he earned a degree in General Education. He taught at Cal-Mum High School and Gates-Chili High School for 33 years before retiring in 1999.

Family Background
James was born in 1942 to parents Alex and Kaliroi Quamo. James and his wife Pamela have two children, Jeffrey and Jason.

Biography
James played baseball for Scanlon Tire in 1968 and 1969. He then went into managing before becoming an umpire. He has umpired for 40 years in various assignments, including professional slo-pitch, several national tournaments, Triple-A backup for the Rochester Red Wings, and senior league games. He also played the home plate umpire in the movie “The Natural.” To this day, James loves umpiring senior games.

Mike Nally

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Mike attended Aquinas Institute, Monroe Community College, and Jacksonville University.

Biography
Growing up in Rochester, NY, Mike Nally played Varsity baseball for three years at Aquinas Institute. For two of those years, he was an All-City Catholic player. He hit .360 and was offered a contract by the Washington Senators. While attending Monroe Community College, Mike hit .380 while being named to the All-Regional and All-Conference teams. When he was studying at Jacksonville University, he was a three-year starter. He hit .330 and had a record 8 RBIs in one game against Georgia Tech. For three summers at Jacksonville, his teams qualified for the National Tournament. When Mike returned to Rochester, he played for Cinelli’s for three years. He played multiple positions, hit over .400, and was the MVP of two tournaments. Mike then played for the Rochester Zeniths hitting .375, going to three national tournaments, and was named MVP for one of those tournaments. He also played one year for the Professional Softball Zeniths and played fast pitch in Poughkeepsie, Schenectady, and Olean, NY. Mike also had quite the coaching career. He coached baseball for four years at John Marshall High School and coached football there for two years. He was the head football coach at Edison Tech for 14 years while winning two Section V titles. Mike was named Section V Coach Of The Year two times. He also coached girls’ varsity softball for 13 years and varsity baseball for 12 years while winning two sectional titles and Coach Of The Year honors.

Harry John “Skip” Mogray

Birth Place
Williamson, NY
August 16, 1946

Educational & Professional Background
Skip graduated from Williamson High School in 1965 and went to work at Xerox. He then enlisted in the Marines and served in Vietnam for two years. He returned to Xerox to finish out a 43-year career where he held various mechanical jobs, including quality control inspection.

Biography
Harry John “Skip” Mogray played for the Xerox Local 14A Industrial team as an outfielder. During that time, the team, which played many years at Bay View Stadium, went to several National and Eastern Regional tournaments. The team, loaded with local stars, won their “fair share” of those tournaments.

After retirement, Skip and his wife Linda, both USCG captains, continue to take people out on Lake Ontario on fishing trips.

Jim McKeegan

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1950

Educational & Professional Background
Jim attended R.L. Thomas High School in Webster and graduated in 1968. At Thomas, he was All-Monroe County in football, basketball, and baseball. Jim attended Monroe Community College and graduated in 1970. At MCC, he was All-Conference in basketball and was inducted into the MCC Sports Hall Of Fame as part of their 1969-1970 basketball team.

Jim worked for the Spartan Beverage Company for 15 years and then for FedEx Ground Service for 10 years, retiring in 2004.

Family Background
Jim and his wife Janet have been married for 42 years. They have three children: Benjamin, Erin Kate, and Andy. They have five grandchildren.

Biography
In slo-pitch softball, Jim played on some great teams, such as Mazzola’s and Hegedorn’s. He was an MVP for the latter team. He was on teams that won “quite a few tournaments and league titles.” One fond memory was making an All-Star team that played at Silver Stadium.

Jim, who is very unassuming about his sports exploits, kept everything in perspective when he said that his greatest achievement was his 42 years of marriage and resulting family.

Donald Liberti

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
September 9, 1946

Educational & Professional Background
Don attended East Rochester High School and MCC. He had a 31-year career with the Rochester Police Department and retired in 2004.

Family Background
Don and his wife Joanne have five children between them: Brian, Andrea, Chris, Kevin, and Kelly.

Biography
A slick-fielding player with sneaky power, Donald Liberti helped lead the Rochester Police Locust Club to many league and tournament championships. His ability to play many infield positions was a key to their success. He carried that ability over to the Rochester Classics Senior team. His senior career spanned the 55, 60, and 65-year-old age groups.

Don is also an avid bowler and won Silver and Bronze medals for his bowling prowess in the NY State Police Olympics.

Jesse Howell

Birth Place
Dundee, NY
July 30, 1947

Educational & Professional Background
Jesse graduated from Dundee High. He spent 26 years as a Rochester Policeman, retiring in 1994. He was then commissioner and groundskeeper at McAvoy Park for 20 years.

Family Background
Jesse was one of three children born to Howard and Mildred Howell. Jesse and his wife Susan have two children, Staci and Aaron, and one grandson, Patrick.

Biography
In addition to serving as the commissioner and groundskeeper at McAvoy Park, Jesse was also a player-manager. He was Rochester Recreation Manager of the Year in 1985 after his Jeremiah’s team won 88 games in a row. He played on the 55-year- old Legends travel team, the 60-year-old Rally Time Sports team, and for the 65-year-old Rochester Classics team. Among his honors, he was named to the 1st Senior All-American Team in 2013 and the All-World team in 2007 and 2008.

Janet T. Hibbs

Birth Place
Lawrence, NH

Educational & Professional Background
Woodbury High School in Salem, NH, University of New Hampshire, Women’s Army Corps, Monroe Community College, R.I.T

Family Background
One of four sisters, Has one daughter, Deanna Mullins, and two granddaughters, Olivia and Mackenzie.

Biography
Jan was born in Lawrence, NH, in 1947 – one of 4 girls born to Wilfred and Olive Taylor. She has one daughter – Deanna Mullins – and 2 granddaughters – Olivia and Mackenzie. Jan attended Woodbury High School in Salem, NH, and graduated in 1965. She then attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1969 with a degree in Music Education. She was in the Women’s Army Corps in 1968 & ’69. Jan attended Monroe Community College and, in 1979, earned an Associate’s Degree as an Electrical Technician. Then she attended Rochester Institute of Technology, where she earned an MBA in 1983. Jan is an accomplished musician. She was chosen as the best high school trombone player in New Hampshire for 3 years. She was first chair trombonist in college and community orchestras. In 1964 &’65 at Woodbury High School, Jan was Captain in 3 sports – field hockey, basketball, and softball. She was named Woodbury’s Outstanding Female Athlete in 1965. She arrived on the Rochester Softball scene in 1972, where she pitched for Lum’s of the Major League for 3 years, helping them win the Rochester Major League Title in 1974. In 1975, she joined the Pace Electronic’s Fighting Green and Gold and helped them win the 1977 USSSA World Championship. In her four years with the FG&G, she compiled these stats: 227 games pitched, 168 wins, a .820 winning percentage, 23 shutouts, 7 one or two-hitters, and an amazing 1.66 earned run average. She also tossed in 6 saves. Jan then played for the Barefoot Mailman team in 1979 and 1980. She also played in the Rochester City and Xerox leagues.

Paul DeVaney

Birth Place
Geneva, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Paul graduated from DeSales High School. In 1970, he began working for the Rochester Recreation Department, where he was Recreation Supervisor for 14 years. He was appointed City Athletic Coordinator and was responsible for coordinating city, state, and national programs.

Biography
Paul DeVaney played sports throughout high school and was All-Conference in baseball, basketball, and football in 1966. Selected in the pro-baseball draft by the California Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers, he signed with the latter in 1967. He played on the Pioneer League championship team in Ogden, UT, and was managed by Tom Lasorda. Paul played fast-pitch softball for 15 years at Kodak Park and Gears Park. He was selected as an all-star catcher for the Rochester Major Fastpitch League several times. He also played slo-pitch for several teams and was a member of championship teams at Cobb’s Hill. Paul coached the Western NY Track Team and took ten representatives from Rochester to the UCLA’s Jesse Owens games. He also took children from Rochester to regional and national basketball Hot Shot competitions for three consecutive years. He worked with the Elks Club on the Youth Hoop Shoot Foul Shooting contest. Paul coached an all-star slo pitch softball team and took them to a national tournament in Binghamton, NY. He received a U.S. President’s Dedication and Leadership Service Award from the Boys and Girls Club of America and a Community Appreciation and Leadership Award from the parents and neighborhood association at the #7 School Recreation Program. Paul received the Campbell Street Recreation Center Outstanding Leader and Coach Award, and Clinton Ave. Recreation Outstanding Coach Award. He also spent a day with Sugar Ray Leonard and several Rochester youth athletes at RIT for a conference and mini-track meet that was a presentation on HBO. Paul said: “I loved sports my whole life, but my most enjoyable memories are watching the kids enjoying everyday activities at the recreation centers and helping them achieve their goals.”

John Delaney

Birth Place
Ottawa, CA
March 6, 1944

Educational & Professional Background
John attended East High and was employed by Rochester Products for 35 years, retiring in 1999.

Family Background
John was one of three boys born to Walter and Audrey Delaney. John and his spouse Judy have five children: Terrence, Kimberley, Timothy, Michael, and Erin.

Biography
John Delaney played in the IMC League for 30 years and played on several of the Rochester Product’s Eastern States and Industrial League championship teams.

John also played on the 1964 Friday Night Bayview champions and was voted MVP. He played for the 1977 ARA League Champs, Santillo’s, and was voted to the All-Star team. He also played on the Penfield Rec League champs and was voted MVP.

John also played semi-pro hockey and touch football. He coached little league and girls’ softball.

Robert Crandall

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bob attended East High School, where he excelled in Cross County. East High won the Section V title in Cross Country from 1942 to 1944. He retired from Gleason’s after 37 years.

Family Background
Bob and his late wife Betty Ann had four children: Karen, Susan, Barbara, and Bob.

Biography
Bob started playing softball with Stromberg Carlson between 1949 and 1950. He played with Gleason’s in the Major Fitchpitch League from 1951 to 1961. He played slo-pitch with Gleason’s, as well, where he managed their team from 1978 to 1982. That included travel tournaments.

He played rover for many years and was a speedy lead-off batter. He is still active in the daytime senior leagues, where he has played since the 1980’s. An avid outdoorsman, he has skied for over 50 years.

Ralph Clapp

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1949

Educational & Professional Background
Ralph attended Rush-Henrietta High School and graduated in 1967. At R-H, Ralph was All-County third-baseman in 1967. That same year, he was a member of the New York State American Legion championship team, Ely Fagan.

In 1969 and 1970, he was MVP for the Monroe Community College team. He was also Captain for the MCC team in 1970. He was Captain and MVP for Bowling Green University in 1972.

Family Background
Ralph was one of seven children born to Morley and Marion Clapp. He and his wife Debra have been married for 36 years. They have three children, Kristen, Andrew, and Erynn, and four grandsons, Oliver, Evan, Isaiah, and Tim.

Biography
Ralph Clapp played most of his career as an infielder. His softball career spanned from 1969－playing for Castle Inn－until 1998 when he played for the Rush Big M. Both of these teams were in the Tri-County League. He played with great teams such as Jerry Earl’s, Wintonaire, Castle Insurance, TJ’s Lounge, Ronnie’s, Doubleday’s/Ronnie’s, Superstar Sports, and MCM Fuel. He earned Tourney MVP Honors several times in the following tournaments:

1972 Fulton

1976 Penn Yan

1980 Sullivan Shoes

1981 Akron

He was named to the Class “A” All-World Team in 1980 playing for the Doubleday’s/Ronnie’s team.

In 2014, Ralph was inducted into the Section V Baseball Hall of Fame

Alexander Cerone

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
6/15/1947

Educational & Professional Background
Alex attended Rochester’s Jefferson High School, and worked at Rochester Products.

Family Background
Alex was the son of Stephen and Josephine Cerone. He and his wife Diane have 5 children: Tom, Kim, Lisa, Alex, and Christina.

Biography
At Jefferson High, Alex lettered in football, wrestling and track. He pitched for Rochester Products’ championship teams in 1970, ’71, and ’72, and their runner-up team in 1973. In ’72, he led the team in hitting and played in the Industrial World Tourney. From 74’to ’78, he was the Products team’s player-manager.
Alex also played for the World Master’s Champions. In 2012, he managed the Rochester Classics to the North East Regional Championship. In 2013, they were silver medalists in the National Senior Games.

Earl Blackmon

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Earl attended Webster Schroeder High School and completed his secondary education at Monroe Community College, and Southern University

Family Background
Earl is the eldest of seven children.

Biography
Earl participated in sports at an early age and his love of sports came from watching his family, particularly his Mother, Mamie Blackmon, along with Aunt Carolyn Adams and Uncle Charlie Walker play softball on summer league teams.

Earl played sports throughout his High school career at Webster Schroeder High School but excelled in baseball. After high school, he continued playing baseball at Monroe Community College playing for legendary Coach – Dave Chamberlain. There he played shortstop and won the prestigious David Johns Award. Earl continued his education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. It was at this time that he was reluctantly moved from shortstop to centerfield.

Earl started playing softball with Pace Electronics in 1988. During his 26 years with Pace, the team has won 9 USSSA ‘Black American World’ Titles, and Earl has won numerous awards and been selected to several ‘All Tournament Teams’.

Earl Blackmon was elected to the New York State USSSA Hall Of Fame in 2009 and inducted in 2010 in Rochester, NY. Earl would like to acknowledge and thank Mr. Patrick Kehoe and all of the Pace Family for a lifetime of memories and friendship and also congratulate all of this year’s Hall of Fame Inductees.

Mark Behringer

Birth Place
Troy, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Mark graduated from Webster Thomas in 1973 and has been self-employed for 28 years.

Family Background
Mark Behringer was born in Troy, NY, on June 19, 1995 to Arthur Jr. and Patricia Behringer. Mark and his wife Tracey have 5 BEHRINGER children: Michael, Cameron, Logan, Samantha, and Jake.

Biography
In 1972, his Webster teams won the Section 5 soccer title and the Monroe County Baseball title. Mark played on a team that won the KPA Department League (72 teams) in 1976 and 1977. He played with Kodak Park from 1976 thru 1985. His team lost to KAD in the Eastern States in Stamford, CT. Mark led that team with a .700 average. He also homered once in every 4 at-bats for a year and hit 4 homers in the Eastern States when they lost to KAD. An avid golfer, Mark has had 2 holes-in-one and 2 rounds of 69.

Lou Bagnara

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1946

Educational & Professional Background
Lou attended West Irondequoit High School and graduated in 1964. After working in his family business, Steak House Lanes, from 1961 to 1978, Lou went to work for the US Postal Service for 37 years. He worked his way to manager and retired in 2002. He also had a stint in the US Air Force.

Family Background
Lou was one of two children born to Joseph and Rose Bagnara. He and his wife Sandy have six children combined: Joseph, Maggie, Louis III, Brian, and Courtney.

Biography
As a player, Lou played for the 1964 Section V Baseball Champion Irondequoit team where he was an All-County shortstop. He was also on the American Legion All-Star team that year. At 17, he played for Bon Jon’s Tux Shop in the Major Fastpitch League. Lou played on the 8th Air Force All-Star team in 1967. He then played for Ruby’s Collegians in Rochester’s Muni League before turning to slo-pitch, where he played for several teams. Umpiring caught his attention and he went on to umpire over 5,000 games during a 40-year career.

Umpiring games was just the beginning for Lou. He became Umpire In Chief (UIC) for the Empire 8 Tournament, UIC for the SUNYAC Tournament, and UIC. He umpired for several summer travel tournaments at college and high school-aged fastpitch level.

Currently, he is President of Rochester College Umpires and President of Central and Western New York High School Girls Fastpitch Softball Umpires. He is also Chief Clinician for training hundreds of umpires on the rules of softball.

In a daring and remarkable move, Lou has made his umpires available to ASA and USSSA organizations when those organizations are facing a deficit of umpires for a given league or tournament. This “bridging of the gap” has further shown his willingness to promote this wonderful game of softball.

Ann and Charles “Charlie” Allyn

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Ann graduated from Madison High School in 1956, while Charlie graduated from Spencerport High School in 1956.

Family Background
Ann and Charlie were married 38 years and had four children – Paul, Faith, Robyn and Scott.

Biography
Both Ann Hook and Charles “Charlie” Allyn were born in Rochester in 1938. Ann had various jobs through the years as she raised a family and Charlie was best known as a car salesman for 38 years. That being said, it was their non-paying job that they were most famous for: starting up and running Gear’s Park.

The names Gear’s Park and Allyn are synonymous. Ann and Charlie were instrumental in large part for the development and success of the famous Gear’s Park. In the mid 1970s, the Major Fast Pitch League was squeezed off the Kodak diamonds and that almost destroyed the League. Charlie had the idea to build a field that belonged exclusively to the Fast Pitch Major League.

Red Fedele leased him the space behind his Brookhouse Restaurant on West Ridge Road for a dollar a year and the idea became a reality. Charlie, a top pitcher in his own right, retired from playing so he could build the field. The field was named Gear’s Park in honor of the great ASA Hall Of Fame Kodak pitcher, Harold “Shifty” Gears. Charlie got together, through a lot of hard work, all the components necessary to build the field.

Ann was the miracle worker that kept the field going. She and her children, Faith and Robyn, and cousin Suzanne Hook worked the concession stand. Her son Scott, among other things, groomed the field, operated the scoreboard, and passed the hat at each game so as to help finance the field operating costs. Ann was the manager of the concession stand, the public address announcer, and the official scorekeeper.

As of the end of the 1996 season, Gear’s Park was gone, but the memories will last. The work of Ann and Charlie Allyn will never be forgotten.

Mike Wilkin

An outstanding baseball player at Cardinal Mooney High School, Mike started playing fastpitch softball in 1975. He quickly developed into a feared left-handed power hitter and outstanding outfielder. He carried a .300 plus batting average throughout his career in a sport where hitting .300 was exceptional. His fastpitch career continued until 1996 when he finally decided it was time to hang up the cleats. Since then, Mike has stayed close to the game by becoming an umpire, working both baseball and softball in the Rochester area.

During his playing days, Mike played the majority of his games with The California Brew House, Kodak Park, Rochester Rockets, and the Rochester Zeniths. He also played in the very popular noon hour fastpitch league at Kodak Park. He was known for his towering home runs and outstanding defensive skills that saw him receive numerous accolades in league and tournament play.

During his career, Mike played in four ASA National tournaments: Midland, MI, Bloomington, MN, and Decatur, IL. Mike also played in two International Softball Congress World tournaments in Allentown and Quakertown, PA. Mike had many memorable moments during his career, but one stands out: hitting a monster home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give his team a walk-off win in a big game during the World Tournament in Quakertown.

Spoleta Construction, Sponsor

Michael Spoleta was born on February 19, 1935 to parents Sam and Rose. Michael and his wife Marie had three children (Michael Jr., David and Karen Passero) and nine grandchildren (Jennifer Spoleta, Lindsay Spoleta, Kristen Spoleta, David Spoleta Jr., Ashely Spoleta, Jonathan Spoleta, Mark Passero, Michaela Passero and Nicholas Passero.) Michael was a graduate of East High School and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Through his company, Spoleta Construction, Michael sponsored many teams playing at Winton and Empire, as well as Cobb’s Hill. His sponsored teams won numerous league championships and were known for being well-dressed and gracious in victory or defeat. The way they comported themselves was known as the Spoleta Way.

Michael also was a major sponsor for the Action Center for the Disabled League. At the time, it was the largest league of its kind in New York State. Much of Michael’s support of softball was behind the scenes. He was always willing to help teams and softball-related charities. That, too, was part of the Spoleta Way.

John Sweeting

Birth Place
Auburn, NY

Education & Professional Background
John attended Spencerport High School and spent two years serving in the U.S. Army.

Family
John was born in October 1946 to parents Gordon and Ester. He is married to his wife, Mariellen Cupini, and has four children.

Biography
John grew up in Auburn, NY where he pitched a perfect game at the age of 11. He moved to Spencerport in 1966 where he played baseball as a Spencerport High School Ranger. After graduation, John went to Dick Howser’s Baseball Camp in West Palm Beach. John was drafted into the U.S. Army for two years. After serving, John came back to Rochester where he started playing fastpitch softball for The California Brew Haus and Kodak. John now plays several days a week at McAvoy Park and travels for the Rochester Royals. In addition to softball, John is an avid bowler with a 220 average and 804 high series. He is also an exceptional golfer with one hole-in-one and two golf tournament wins through the Post Office.

Rich Schockow

Birth Date
September, 1958

Family
Arnold & Mary (Parents); four siblings; Tammy (Wife); Michael & Kelly (Children)

Education
He attended St. John’s Elementary and Spencerport High School.

Biography
While attending Spencerport High, Rich played soccer for the high school State Championship Team. He married Tammy, and they have two children, Michael and Kelly. After graduation, he worked for GM Rochester Products Division, retiring recently with 30 years of service. Over the years, Rich played with the St. John’s church team, winning five church league titles. He also played for the Rochester Products IMC team from the mid-’80s to the early ’90s, helping his team to two league championships, four Eastern State Qualifying Championships, and two runner-ups finishes, and an Eastern States title. He was voted team MVP twice and was the Eastern States MVP in Valley Forge, PA, in 1985 when he hit for .857. He currently travels with the Genesee Brewery team.

Ron Rodrigues

Ron was an outstanding 2nd baseman. His team dressed to the nines when he was off the field. Ron left this world in the late 1990s, but his spirit and fond memories still live on his teammates and friends.

Ron Rodrigues’ mates, he was known as the “Hoover” to suck up ground balls. In addition to his supreme defensive skills, he was also a power hitter. Ron played for several of the top teams in Rochester, including West Side Merchants, Al’s Green, Mazzola Insurance, and Pace Electronics. He was named to several All-Tournament teams, including one in Toledo, Ohio. Ron was as good off the field as he was on the field. All his teammates thought very highly of him and appreciated his infectious laugh. He was very proud of his Portuguese descent and was always dressed to the nines when he was off the field. Ron left this world in the late 1990s, but his spirit and fond memories still live on his teammates, friends, and family.

Walter Rivers

Birth Place
Niagara Falls, NY
September 1944

Educational and Professional Background
Walter attended Hyde Park and Niagara Falls High School.

Family Background
Walter was one of seven children to Frank and Berthina Rivers. He married Paula Ludwig and had two children, Walter Jr. and Jacqueline.

Biography
Born in September 1944 as one of seven children to Frank and Berthina Rivers in Niagara Falls, NY, Walt attended Hyde Park and Niagara Falls H.S. He is married to Paula Ludwig, and they have two children, Walter Jr., and Jacqueline. He worked at RTS and Chase Lincoln Bank. Besides softball, his hobbies include golf. He won three club championships at Center point Country Club. In the 60s–80s, Walt played for the Roadrunners in the Rochester major slow pitch League and was an MVP. He was also an MVP for the Lincoln 1st Bank team in the IMC League. Over those years, he contributed to many league and tournament championships.

Frank Purcio

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
November 11, 1932

Educational & Professional Background
Frank’s primary education started at School No. 27 and he finished at East High. After that, Frank went to work at Eastman Kodak. While there, he furthered his education by going to night school at Rochester Institute of Technology. After 33 years at Kodak, he retired in 1984.

Family Background
Frank’s parents were Charles and Jennie, and he had two sisters, Shirley Vitale and Karen Damiano. Frank and his wife June had three children: Robin, Rick, and Robert.

Biography
Frank’s fastpitch career spanned multiple decades. Most of that time saw him playing shortstop or second base for the Kodak Park Fastpitch team. During that period, he was named to several All-Star teams. Frank’s national exposure included six trips to the ASA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. His team also made several appearances at the U.S. Industrial Fast Pitch tournaments, where his team won five times, including in 1968, where he was named to the All-Star team after batting an amazing 11-for-17 (.647).

Frank’s fastpitch talents also took him to the World Tournaments in Pennsylvania. When Frank hit his fifties, he turned to the senior circuit and started playing slo-pitch at McAvoy Park. He excelled in both the 55 and 60 age groups.

Frank also was a talented bowler. He won an RBA singles event in 1969 and followed that up with a Kodak Tournament win in 1970. He placed second twice in the RBA Seniors tournaments. Frank also spent 12 years as an RDUA umpire working baseball, as well as fastpitch and slo-pitch softball.

Wayne Pratt

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
January 26, 1953

Educational & Professional Background
He attended Blessed Sacrament grammar school and Monroe High School. He was later employed by Eastman Kodak.

Family Background
Wayne was one of four siblings born to Alan and Joan Pratt. He and his wife Debbie had two children: Jamie and Scott. Wayne passed away in 1997.

Biography
“Boog” grew up in the Swillburg neighborhood, where he spent much of his free time at the No. 35 School playground, playing softball and basketball in the city recreation leagues.
He played organized ball for such teams as Ty Electric, Mom & Pop’s Corner Store, and Raymond Hill Carpets. While employed at Eastman Kodak, Wayne got involved with the KAD Softball team and started his career in managing. In addition to KAD, Wayne coached many more teams such as The Wintonaire, Marien Floors, Tuzz Rest, Main Place Tavern, and the Pace-Davies team. Over the years, his teams won many championships.

When Wayne was not managing softball, he could be found at Bishop Kearney High School, where he was involved with the varsity football and basketball programs. He also was involved with the C.Y.O. basketball league. Wayne was an avid New York Yankees, fan and loved jersey number 7, Mickey Mantle.

Sam Mastrosimone

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
June 4, 1947

Educational & Professional Background
While growing up, Sam attended Christ the King and Eastridge High School, where he was a multi-letter athlete. He was the starting shortstop for the varsity baseball team and the starting halfback on the varsity football team.

Sam worked for Monroe School Transportation for 22 years. He currently works at Joey’s Pasta House.

Family Background
Sam was born to Salvatore and Mary Mastrosimone. He has one sister, Mary Ann PIzzo. Sam and his wife Pamela have a son named Sammy.

Biography
Sam’s softball career was impressive. In addition to playing in several local leagues (mostly as a second baseman), Sam spent many weekends on the road traveling to play in national tournaments all over the country. In 1974, he was on the winning team in a tournament in Niagara Falls. The same year, his team finished fourth in the Eastern Worlds in Louisville, KY. In 1975, his team won the Pittsburgh Brook Memorial A Tournament by beating a field of teams that included four national champions.

When Same turned to managing, he teamed up with Hall of Famer Joe Nucci to co-manage the winning team at the World Series in Petersburg, VA, going 4-1 in the final round. Sam also co-managed the Rochester Bakery team and the Rochester Zeniths.

Hank Mandera

Birth Place
Henry was born in Rochester, New York

Education
Jefferson High School

Family
He had one daughter and four sons with his wife, Arlene.

Biography
Having passed away in 1992, Henry “Hank” Mandera was always around the game of softball. His career made a giant step forward in 1953 when he founded the Industrial Softball League comprised of six teams. In 1963, the Industrial Management Council (IMC) asked him to coordinate an IMC sponsored league. By 1991, the last year before his death, the league grew to over 1000 men and women representing 51 Industrial teams in the Rochester area. His leadership was instrumental in placing him to a Board of Directors position with the Eastern States Industrial Championships for 25 years. Henry also served as President of this group. Early in his career (mid-1960’s), he helped to form the Gates Recreation softball leagues. By the mid-’80s, this league was recognized as best in class. He remained as chairman for 25 years and stayed on the Gates Recreation Commission for 30 years. His efforts over the years also helped other townships in the county to develop recreation softball leagues.

Sharon Kowalski

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Sharon attended St. Margaret Mary’s grammar school, Bishop Kearney High School, Genesee Community College, and SUNY Cortland. After earning her teaching degree, Sharon returned to Bishop Kearney to teach and has remained there for 36 years. She was Athletic Director for several of those years.

Family Background
Sharon was born in 1956 to Lillian and Robert Kowalski. She has three siblings: Michael Kowalski, Kathy Kowalski Romig, and Jeanne Kowolski. Her spouse is Kim Brumber.

Biography
Sharon’s softball career blossomed in the seventies. In 1972, at age 16, she was named All-World and All-City. She was also named Major League Rookie of the Year. A year later, she made the Muxworthy National Tournament and Major League All-Star teams. She continued her all-star performances and was named to all-star teams again in 1974 and 1975. Sharon’s dedication to softball, and sports in general, did not limit her to just being a player. As a coach, Sharon led her Bishop Kearney High School varsity softball team to the Section V Championship in 1982. She also showed her versatility when she was named “Basketball Official of the Year” in 2000.

Peter Gores

Birth Place
Webster, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Pete attended Holy Trinity grammar school and McQuaid Jesuit High School, graduating in 1964. He went on to enroll at St. John Fisher College briefly, and then Monroe Community College, where he graduated in 1969 with honors in Police Science.

While studying at MCC, Pete worked in the Town of Webster Police Department, starting out as a dispatcher, before being sworn in as an officer in the Fall of 1967. While at the police department, he organized the Webster Police Explorer’s Post and was their adviser for several years. During that time, he volunteered as the department’s Youth Officer, working with schools and handling all matters involving juveniles.
Pete heeded the call of the train whistle and left the Webster Police to work on railroads throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

Pete has been a board member on three non-profit railroad historical associations. He helped organize and operate the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, and has worked for more than 40 years on that project. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he traveled South to assist in building houses and repairing equipment.

Over the last several years he has been involved with Hospice patients in the Rochester and Buffalo areas.

Family Background
Pete has been happily married to his very understanding wife Pat for 32 years. They have three children – Kara, Kelly, and Anne. They also have 7 grandchildren.

Biography
Peter Gores grew up in Webster and lived there for 36 years. Like many boys, he played Little League, winning the Webster championship in 1957, and Babe Ruth League, as well as CYO softball. While attending McQuaid Jesuit High School, he was coached by Bob Bradley in track, ending his senior year with school records in two hurdle events.

While a member of the Webster Police Department, he started playing softball in the Webster Recreation League, where he was recruited by Harry Rauber to join the Hegedorn’s Major League softball team and play at the legendary Bayview Park. The team played and won league championships and tournaments in places such as Toledo, Jersey City, and Richmond. In 1971, he was voted team MVP, an honor he cherishes to this day as a reminder of his camaraderie with teammates who were like his brothers. Pete’s greatest softball memory was playing outfield in a league All Star game at the old Red Wing Stadium.

Pete’s job with the railroads kept him away from the game for more than 35 years. But he was able to fulfill a promise to come back to softball–recently taking the field at Irondequoit’s McAvoy Park and renewing old friendships. Pete continues to play tournament softball with AO/Trovato, for players who are age 50 and older.

Paul Goeggelman

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
He graduated from No. 42 grammar school, Charlotte High School, MCC, and the University of Colorado. Paul worked at RG&E for 35 years and played in the IMC from 1986-1992.

Family Background
Paul Goeggelman was born in 1956 to Donald and Ruth Goeggelman. He married Laurie, and they have two children, Hannah and Corey.

Biography
Paul played baseball at each educational level, including an opportunity to participate in the Jr. College World Series. He pitched professionally with the Newark Co-Pilots of the NYP league. During that period, he helped his team compete several times in the Eastern States Tournament, where they were runner-ups twice (89-90), and he was named to the All-Tournament team both years. He has played in several local softball leagues as well. Paul also served as a pitching coach in Section V Baseball for 17 years and was recently inducted into the Section V Hall of Fame.

James Doyle

Birth Date
November 30, 1935

Educational & Professional Background
Jim’s education included Holy Apostles School and Thomas Jefferson High School. He finished his working career in 1955.

Family Background
James Doyle is one of seven children of Nick and Grace Doyle. He and his wife Margret have four children: Patrick, Lori, Michael, and John.

Biography
Jim was a true pioneer in Rochester softball. He was a big part of the league teams and tournament teams that would put Rochester on the map as a major softball town. Jim played for such powerhouses as Al’s Green and Zona’s. He also played in the Sunday Morning Major League for Faulhabers. Jim was known to have all the tools that a great softball player needed. He excelled in every aspect of the game. In addition to having a great love, he could hit, run, and throw with the best.

Jim’s athletic abilities were not limited to softball. He was a good bowler and won many bowling awards. He also rolled a 300 game back in 1955 when they were not easy to shoot. As a golfer, Jim had a hole-in-one at Locust Hill.

Peter Dawes

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1957

Educational & Professional Background
Pete attended Charlotte High School and MCC. He attended and played baseball at Florida International University. He currently has 34 years of service at RG&E.

Family Background
Peter was born in 1957 to parents, Mary Jane and Joseph. He is married to his spouse Susan and has four daughters.

Biography
Peter played high school ball at Charlotte High School, where he was a 3-time 1st Team All-City Catholic League Catcher. Peter was also a Team MVP in 1976. At MCC, Peter continued his baseball career, where he earned many honors, including NCAA Player of the Year and 1st Team All-American Catcher. His college career continued at Florida International University, where he broke the school record with a 24-game hitting streak.

Peter returned to Rochester to coach at MCC. Peter’s softball career included stints with Sullivan Shoe, Kaiser Insurance (League Champions 1993, 1994), and the RG&E IMC team. He played fastpitch at Phillips Gears Park, where he was a league champion in 1981 and 1982. Peter went to the Eastern States Tournament in 1983-1987. In 1986, his team made it to the championship game.

Wayne Cichetti

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
After attending St. John the Evangelist and East High Schools, Wayne worked for the town of Penfield until he retired in 2014.

Family Background
Wayne is married with three children.

Biography
Wayne’s activities, other than baseball, included football, basketball and drag racing where he won championships. Though he was drafted out of high school by the Brooklyn Dodgers, his playing career was cut short. He then became a highly successful manager. In the early and mid-70’s, he coached perennial powerhouse, Pace Electronics, to many league and tournament titles, including the Eastern Conference League and World Series. He led Pace twice to the McGowan Invitational Championships and was General Manager for the Pace-Bootlegger NSA World Series Championship team.

Mike Arena

Birth Date
June 13, 1949

Educational & Professional Background
Mike attended Bishop Kearney and Franklin high schools. While at Kearney, he played baseball and helped lead the school to two championships. After high school, he went down south to Miami Dade Community College where he continued playing baseball. Mike also played baseball for the Colt All-Stars.

When Mike was done with school, he took a job in Rochester working for the U.S. Postal Service. Mike’s career there spanned 33 years and ended with his retirement in 2010.

Family Background
Mike was born on June 13, 1949, to Michael and Phyllis Arena. He and his brother Joe grew up in Rochester.

Biography
During his softball career, Mike played on several well-known area teams, including Proietti’s. Mike also won awards with the Garage Door, Muxworthy’s, and Colonial Realtors. He also traveled with Pace-Mazzola for out-of-town tournaments.

Mike played in several world tournaments and had a few top-five finishes. He also played in many regional tournaments where he had some 1st place finishes.

Marlen Floor, Sponsor

Phil Palermo sponsored the Marlen Floor team, which included his sons, Ronnie (second base), Gary (shortstop), Phil (pitcher) and Ricky (right field). The roster also included longtime players such as Gary Lamb and Tommy Hanahan.

Marlen Floor played in many leagues, including ones at Edgerton Park, Scottsville Park, Cobbs Hill, and Ontario. The team, which was together for 30 years, enjoyed considerable success in tournaments, garnering championships at the Ruby’s Fourth of July at Cordeiro’s Old Ridge Field in Ontario; Gauss Tourney at Edgerton Park; Scottsville Park; Auburn; Ridgewood and Brockport.

Marlen Floor played in Class B and Ronnie’s Major League.

Chuck Steffen

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Chuck graduated from Jefferson High School and Monroe Community College. He went to work for Kodak in 1976, where he stayed for 11 years before becoming a Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy. He spent 25 years with the County before retiring in 2012.

Family Background
Chuck and his wife, Michele, have been married for 30 years. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Biography
Chuck Steffen was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent three seasons in their organization before sustaining a career-ending arm injury. When he went to work for Kodak in 1976, he joined their Industrial League softball team. Six years later, Chuck helped lead Kodak to a World Championship. Since then, he has played on numerous recreational teams, including Pace, Family Beverage, Mazzola’s, as well as various church and town and county teams. These days, he plays with Madalena/Cardot Construction. In 2020 they won the Buckeye Tournament in Ohio and the Atlantic Coast Tournament in Virginia. Chuck is a member of the Adult Recreation Association Hall of Fame.

Ken Snyder

Birth Place
Albion, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Ken taught math for 26 years, splitting time between Albion Central School and Royalton Hartland Central School. Ken retired from teaching in 2011.

Family Background
He and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 46 years and have three children – Rex, Jay, and Lee.

Biography
Ken Snyder earned All-Conference honors in baseball in 1968 at SUNY Fredonia before embarking on a successful teaching, coaching, and softball career. In 1977, he coached Albion to the Section 6, Class B varsity baseball crown. His softball playing career began in 1974 with the Medina Knights of Columbus and continues today in the senior leagues at McAvoy Park. Along the way, he also played for AO/Trovato, Mahan’s Liquor, Peter Snell Realtors, and Sneezy’s Softball Club. In 2005, his team won the Manassas, Va. Senior Tournament, and he was named MVP. At Fredonia, he played four years of baseball and one year of basketball.

Julian “J.R.” Ruiz Jr.

Birthplace
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
J.R. is a graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School and Monroe Community College. He earned All-City Catholic League honors in soccer at McQuaid and played two years at MCC. The Pittsford resident has been in the financial planning business for 34 years.

Family Background
J.R. is married to Linda Ruiz. They have three children: Holly, Micah, and Brett.

Biography
J.R. has played softball since 1969 and was a member of three different World Tournament teams in 1970, 1975, and 1976 on two different coasts.

In addition to playing, J.R. has contributed to local softball by having his firm, Financial Service Partners Advisory, sponsor a league ball club since 2010. His team has reciprocated by winning three league championships. It’s a close-knit group that enjoys many off-season get-togethers.

Bill Roth

Education
Graduate of Rush-Henrietta Sperry, Monroe Community College, & Brandywine College

Family
He and his wife, Luanne, have two children – Katie and Justine.

Biography
Bill has had a long and varied sports career that includes 45 years as a softball player and coach. He played on several Kodak slow-pitch and fast-pitch teams and also spent two years playing professionally for the Rochester Zeniths. He played 13 seasons with the Pace/Rochester Merchants Senior Team, winning several World Championship titles while being named MVP once and All-World twice.

In addition to softball, Bill played one season of hockey with the Wilmington Wheels of the Pro Instructional League and competed in the Senior Winter Olympics in 2006. He’s been a long-time official in various sports, including 40 years as an RDUA umpire, 35 years as a basketball referee, 10 years as a volleyball official, and eight years as a softball umpire.

John A. Ricigliano

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
A native of Rochester, John excelled at several sports and was voted “most athletic” during his senior year at Charlotte High School. Nicknamed “Mushy”, John was chosen as a soccer All-American at Auburn Community College. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at SUNY Brockport. He spent 33 years as a physical education teacher in the Rochester City School District.

Family Background
John loved spending time with his family, especially his daughters, Lisa and Jenna. John lost his battle with brain cancer in March 2008.

Biography
John played fastpitch for Bon Jon’s, Bob Hyatt Stereo, and the Zeniths. In 1978, he helped the Zeniths reach the Mid-Atlantic Major Tournament in Midland, MI. The following season, they played in the World Series.

In a Democrat and Chronicle article about the World Series, sportswriter Lary Bump wrote that, “The team was helped by ‘Little John,’ who batted .364 and kept the infield together with his glove.” The Zenith’s manager, Art Held, once said John was “outstanding.”

Pace Electronics Work/TPS Black American Softball Team

Throughout the years, Pace Electronics has sponsored many sports teams. Their commitment to softball has been unparalleled both with men’s and women’s softball teams. Their support for softball programs has spanned for nearly 40 years. Additionally, Pace Electronics sponsors several youth organizations in sports like basketball and volleyball.

One of the more storied teams in the Pace organization legacy was the “Pace Electronics Worth/TPS Black American Softball Team”. In 1983, the Pace men started to participate in the Black American Program. At that time there was only one division. The team continued to participate in the program as it grew to five divisions.

The team is representative of the sponsoring company and its owners, Pat (RSSSA HOF Class 2012) and Karen Kehoe. Pat was very fierce, competitive, and generous. The Pace organization is first-class and that is how the team was treated. All the players were encouraged to have their families be part of the team and enjoy the great times that the team experienced.

The Pace Black American Team played in over 1,500 games and played in 18 world championships. The team won over 1,000 games, including nine national titles. The team also set a record with six straight USSSA national titles, which is unmatched in USSSA history.

Gary Lamb

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
A Rochester native, Gary Lamb, went to School No. 37 and West High School.

Family Background
Gary was the son of Frank and Janet Lamb and had three siblings – Pattie (Lamb) McCarthy, Doug Lamb, and David Lamb. He passed away on September 5, 2010.

Biography
He earned All-City honors in baseball as a left-handed pitcher. After attending Monroe Community College, he worked for a variety of painting and trucking firms. As one of the area’s top power-hitters, Gary played for Marlen Floor in the 1970s and played senior softball in the 2000s for a couple of teams, including Pace, earning All-American honors in the Over-55 category. He was a versatile player who could handle several different positions and was regarded as an outstanding teammate.

Dennis M. Farrell

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Dennis attended Cardinal Mooney High School and transferred to Greece Olympia. He also attended MCC prior to attending SUNY Brockport.

Biography
Hailing from a well-known athletic family, Dennis played baseball in the 40&1 league and KPAA softball with Kodak Park while growing up in Rochester. He went on to play football, basketball, and baseball at Cardinal Mooney High School, where he earned All-Catholic honors as a catcher. After transferring to Greece Olympia, Dennis led the Spartans to a county football championship named All-County. He was a member of MCC’s Regional baseball championship team before heading to SUNY Brockport, where he played football and earned All-SUNY honors in baseball in 1973 and ’74. In 1980, he played in three national tournaments in three different sports – fast-pitch softball in Midland, Mich., slow-pitch softball in Baltimore, and amateur baseball in Wichita, Kansas. He was named MVP in the mid-Atlantic regionals in 1980 and 1981. Dennis played ball for 50 years, umpired high school baseball for 25 years, coached for 25 years, and worked as an administrator for 30 years. In his 33rd season of refereeing basketball, he’s in his 14th year as an associate scout with the Minnesota Twins.

Cordeiro’s Old Ridge Field

Located next to a bar/restaurant in Ontario, NY, this softball complex has hosted rec leagues and tournaments for decades. Highlights include the Ruby’s Fourth-of-July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day tournaments. Until recent years, it was one of the few diamonds available for softball leagues in the Ontario (Wayne County) area.

Many of the Rochester-area’s top players and teams have played games there. The establishment and diamond have changed ownership a couple of times. When Jerry Brockman took over, the complex was renamed Brock’s. He hosted men’s and co-ed leagues, as well as a few one-pitch tournaments. Most Recently, Ken Capo acquired it and renamed it Capizzo’s Sports Park.

Chuck Culver

Birth Place:
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
School No. 5 & Jefferson High School, Monroe Community College, Everest Institute. Spent eight years working at Monroe County Children’s Detention Center.

Family Background
Son to Charles Culver Sr. and Ruby Culver. Has two children – Luis and Jesse

Biography
A Rochester native, Charles went to School No. 5 and Jefferson High School, where he earned All-City baseball honors and helped lead the Jeffs to Section Five Class A titles in 1979 and 1981. After graduating, he attended Monroe Community College and Everest Institute. He spent eight years working at the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center. The son of Charles Culver Sr. and Ruby Culver, Charles has won numerous softball awards during his career. He has been named to multiple All-World and NIT All-Tournament teams. He is a two-time World Tournament home run champion and has played on six World Tournament championship teams. And he has been named the most valuable player at several tournaments. He and his wife, Yolanda, have two children – Luis and Jesse. He has one brother (Chris Culver Sr.) and one sister (Thani Pantoja).

Ridge Billiards, Sponsor

Ridge Billiards started sponsoring teams in 1976. Steve Minarik was a generous sponsor, paying for everything, from airfare to hotels. He ran the team with varying success, culminating in the New York State ASA Class C Championship in 1987. Rich Schockow was MVP, with Jim Collins and Joe Germano making the All-Tournament team. Both of his sons, Steve Jr. and Danny, played for the team, along with Dale Furlong.

Chuck Stogner

Birth Place
Lexington, NC

Educational & Professional Background
He volunteers at the hospital regularly and enjoys bingo, golf, and telling stories about his days on the mound.

Family Background
He now lives in Graham, N.C. He has eight children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Biography
Stogner became a fast-pitch softball legend in Niagara Falls and Rochester after playing for Simon Pure and then Eastman Kodak. He recalls playing with great players such as Fritz Ehlers, long-time friend Phil Argento and Elmer “Moose” Vasko, who gained fame as a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks. Vasko was known for hitting bombs, but during a big game in 1962, it was Stogner who won the game with his bat and his legs by smashing an inside-the-park homer, the only four-bagger of the day. After he joined Eastman Kodak, Stogner became known as “The Man with the Golden Arm.” The nickname fit because he would win 1,242 games, including a career-high 86 one season. Stogner finished with 18 perfect games and more than 17,000 strikeouts. In a 1967 marathon game that lasted five hours and 42 minutes, Stogner struck out 51 batters in 23 innings. His opponent nearly matched him with 41 K’s. The A.S.A. recognizes that game as the longest in fast-pitch softball history. In 1955, Stogner out-dueled his fast-pitch idol, Eddie Feigner, in their first of two meetings. Stogner won that game, 3-1. Two years later, Feigner beat him by the identical score. Stogner moved to Lexington in 1973 and was la

Herb Pfuhl

Birth Place
Niagara Falls, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Herb graduated from RIT. He worked at Xerox and Ancoma.

Family Background
He and his wife, Peg, have been married for 60 years.

Biography
A native of Niagara Falls and a graduate of RIT, Herb won numerous tournaments with Al’s Green, Shamrock Jack’s, and the Brookhouse in the 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75-year-old age brackets through the years. Herb was part of a Syracuse Cyclone team that won the East Coast, West Coast and National Championships, posting a scintillating 54-6 record in national tournaments. Along the way, he earned numerous All-Tournament team awards.

A long-time employee with Xerox and Ancoma, Herb is a member of the Rochester District Umpires Association and the ASA Softball Association. Along with Jim Billitier and Dario Armanini, Herb acted as tournament director for the Rochester Senior Softball Classic for 12 seasons.

Herb, who will turn 81 on New Year’s Eve, is still umpiring senior softball at McAvoy Park.

John Nayman

Birthplace
Albion, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Umpiring and coaching high school and college baseball to collegiate fastpitch softball for 20 years.

Family Background
Not Available

Biography
John was a standout performer for more than a decade for Rochester’s Kodak Park fastpitch softball team during the 1960s and into the early 1970s. A.300 career hitter, John was among the team leaders in batting, RBI, runs and home runs during each of his 11 seasons. He caught more than 300 games, including all 25 innings during a tournament game in Fulton. John was on the catching end of dozens of no-hitters from former Kodak greats, such as Chuck Stogner, John Durnaw and Dubby Herman. The Albion native captured numerous awards through the year, including the prestigious Labatts Blue MVP in Ontario, Canada, in the early 1970s by hitting better than .400 while leading Kodak to the title. There were times when John would play ball seven days a week. He would play hardball five days with St. Mary’s in Albion and Sacred Heart in Medina, and then fastpitch on the weekends with Kodak Park. He turned down several offers to play professional baseball in 1964 after attracting the interest of scouts from the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds. After his playing days, John turned to umpiring and coaching. He wound up calling games for more than 20 years, everything from high school and college baseball to collegiate fastpitch softball. He served on the RDUA board for more than 10 years and was named the association’s Umpire of the Year in 2006. John managed numerous summer travel teams at the Babe Ruth level, and also skippered some of the Rochester-area’s top semi-pro teams. When living in Canton, Ga., John served as an assistant high school baseball coach at Creekview High School. He, with his son Mike, and the team’s head coach, helped the Grizzlies win more than 170 games and earn six state playoff berths in seven seasons. More than 30 of their players have gone on to play collegiately.

Denise Leary

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Denise worked at Vynox, Inc., and at Dyna-Lab after graduating from Olympia in 1969. She also was a member of the Wavettes Drum and Bugle Corps. Sadly, Denise passed away in 2002.

Biography
Though she never played softball at Greece Olympia High School, Denise became one of the finest players for the Fighting Green and Gold, compiling a lifetime .423 batting average, with a high of .453 in 1981. Nicknamed “Bird,” Denise learned the sport from her brothers, playing neighborhood ball on Knickerbocker Avenue in the city. At first, she was hesitant to join the Green and Gold because the roster was loaded with talented players. She gave it a shot and wound up being named an All-World shortstop in 1980 and 1981. During those two years, she also was the Rochester Major League All-Star shortstop, garnering a Gold Glove in 1979 and the league’s MVP award in 1980. She had two five-hit games one season, but it was her glove that set her apart. She turned 134 double plays in three seasons while teaming with Cheeks Dwyer and Biz Bush. During the mid-1980s, she played for Proietti’s and Charbroil before rejoining the Fighting Green and Gold. She retired from the major ball in 1989 as one of the greatest Major League infielders in Rochester softball history.

Mike Kent

Birth Place
Niagara Falls, NY

Educational Background
Mike received a baseball scholarship to Villanova University, where he started in centerfield for three seasons and led the team in runs batted in his senior year (1972).

Family Background
Mike and his wife Louise have been married 42 years.

Biography
Mike’s softball career includes 34 years with Mahans, five years with Doubledays, and 10 years with Peter Snell. Playing left-centerfield, he has helped his teams win numerous league and tournament titles. In 1979 and 1980, the Doubledays finished in the top five at the Eastern Nationals 64-team tournament.

Mike has played 13 seasons of senior softball, splitting time with Bathtub Billy’s, Athletic Outlet, and the Rochester Brewers. He was on teams that won medals at the National Senior Games in 2009, 2011, and 2015. He made the All-Tournament teams at the 2008 Las Vegas National Invitational Tournament, the 2009 National Senior games in San Francisco, and the 2011 Northeast Championships in Lansing, MI. He also has played for three different championship teams in the Sarasota, FL Senior Softball League for the past five years.

Joe Haefner

Family Background
Joe and his wife, Debra, have three children: Brian, Kevin and Laurie.

Biography
One of sixteen children, Joe went on to have an outstanding athletic career, earning All-County honors in football and baseball, and leading his team to the New York State American Legion baseball championship. His prowess earned him a baseball/football scholarship to Auburn University. In 1972, he earned first-team All-SEC honors in baseball and was named a first-team Academic All-American.

He played softball in the Rochester area for a variety of teams, beginning with RoMons, which featured an all Haefner outfield – him, Tom, Andy, and Donny. Joe played approximately 15 seasons of softball, most notably with powerhouse teams Pace and Mazzola. He also spent about 20 years coaching Little League in Rush-Henrietta, Honeoye Falls, Brighton, and the city of Rochester.

Rich Ezell

Birth Place
Daytona Beach, FL

Educational & Professional Background
Rich is a 1973 graduate of Honeoye Central School. After retiring from Kodak in 2010 after 30 years of service, Rich started Empire Gutter Cleaning, Inc.

Family Background
Rich has been married to his “No.1 Fan”, Penny, for 26 years and has four children. He has four granddaughters and is expecting his first grandson in November.

Biography
Rich began his senior softball career in 2006 and has played in more than 65 World and National tournaments, winning eight titles, as well as two Tournament of Champion crowns.

Rich has been named All-World 14 times, including 2009 in Dalton, GA, where he had 16 consecutive hits. At Drifton, PA, in 2015, he batted 22 of 23 to earn MVP honors. At Salem, VA, that same year, he went 28 for 29 and made the All-Tournament team.

He earned the MVP award again at the Manassas, VA Tournament, with 24 hits in 27 at-bats.

This year has been another stellar one for Rich. At the SSUSA Tournament of Champions in Auburndale, FL, he made the All-Tournament team and won the Homerun Derby title in the 60 division. At the ISSA Tournament of Champions in Tampa, FL, he made the All-Tournament team again.

The senior teams Rich has played for include Max Spice, Rochester 50s, Pace Electronics, Gubiotti’s/Cardot, Building Innovations Group, Empire/Monroe, and Madalena Construction.

Linda D'Onofrio

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
December 24, 1944

Educational & Professional Background
A 1962 graduate of Irondequoit High School, she received her A.A.S. in Recreation from Monroe Community College, a dual bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Biology from SUNY Brockport, and a master’s in Education/Psychology from Nazareth College. Her academic achievements resulted in her being recognized by “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.”

Family Background
Linda was born to Italian immigrants Michael and Josephine D’Onofrio.

Biography
Linda received her CWNYSWBO National Official Certification in both basketball and volleyball and wound up officiating both sports in high school and the Division I college levels for decades. While serving as chairperson for both sports, Linda was part of a coalition who fought for and gained equal pay for equal services for women in coaching and officiating.
Linda was hired at Bishop Kearney High School in 1969, where she taught phys-ed and became the head of the department. In 1987, she was hired by the Fairport school district, where she taught phys-ed, facilitated peer mediation classes, and acted as a mentor teacher. After retiring, she supervised Brockport’s student teachers, subbed in the Rochester City School District, and served as the director of Irondequoit’s McAvoy Park (1972-07).

During her illustrious career, she coached a variety of sports in high school and college (University of Rochester and St. John Fisher). She led the Bishop Kearney softball team to 10 league titles and two sectional titles.

In 1971, Linda was named Player of the Year in the Rochester Major Women’s Slo-Pitch League while playing for Muxworthy’s Ski Haus. She captained that team to the USSSA World Title in 1972 and was named All-World at second base. In her five years with the team, she hit .444, including a high of .529 in 1969. Her 102 extra-base hits were ninth-most in team history, while her .770 slugging percentage was good for sixth place. Linda also pitched a sanctioned no-hitter.

Her numerous accolades include a Crystal Apple excellence in teaching award; induction into the Fairport School District’s Wall of Distinction, and Section V Official of the Year honors.

Gary Raymond

Birth Place
Fairport, NY

Family Background
Gary Raymond was born in Fairport in May of 1948 to parents Chet and Viola.

Biography
He excelled in athletics during his high school years as he earned All-County accolades in Baseball, Basketball, and Football. He might have gone pro if it wasn’t for a misdiagnosed tibia fracture. Despite his medical condition, he still was able to join the U.S. Arm. Again, medical problems ensued when he was involved in a helicopter crash. Upon returning to the states, Gary moved to Kansas City, where he has a 35-year career teaching in the KC school district and as a KU professor. His sports career continued as he played both Fastpitch and Slowpitch softball at high levels. Highlights include earning MVP All-World and hitting a 347′ homer to win a home run contest. Gary had a stint with the professional softball team, “Omaha Owls.” Additionally, he played semi-pro basketball and football. When Gary returned to Fairport in the early 2000s, the effects of his injuries had caught up with him, rendering him almost crippled. However, when most guys would quit, Gary continues to play at McAvoy park in any role possible. He also helps out off the field as a commissioner for the morning leagues.

Cynthia “Cindy” Martin

Birth Place
Schenectady, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Cindy attended high school at Pittsford Sutherland. She went out of state to attend Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. After college, Cindy came back to Rochester, where she worked for Kodak. She ended her career at Kodak as a high-ranking executive. She then spent five years as the Chief Marketing Officer for Blue Shield before retiring in 2007.

Family Background
Cindy currently resides in Hendersonville, NC.

Biography
Cindy has been an exceptional athlete her entire life. She is a member of the Pittsford Sutherland Athletic Hall of Fame. She also was the first female to receive the Academic Athlete Award. As a college athlete, her team was a Division I national champion runner up in field hockey. As a basketball player, she once scored 52 points in a game. In her senior year at Pittsford, Cindy averaged 32 points a game.

When it came to softball, Cindy was a well-rounded player. She played several years for the “fighting green and gold.” During that time, she received several All-Tournament honors. She was an outstanding defensive third baseman, with a great throwing arm. As a hitter, Cindy had tremendous bat control. She could take any pitch (inside/outside) and hit to any field. Her line to line hitting ability was enhanced by the fact that she could foul off pitches she didn’t like until she got “her pitch”.

In recent years Cindy has turned to other sports. In 1998, she was a bronze medalist at the Gay Games in mountain biking. Sporting a recent knee replacement, Cindy traveled to Paris in August hoping to repeat as a medalist in the road cycling race.

Casey Lopata

Birth Place
Detroit, MI

Educational Background
Casey has degrees from the University of Detroit, Rochester Institute of Technology, and St. Bernard’s Institute.

Family Background
Casey and his wife Mary Ellen have four children.

Biography
Casey is a multi-sport athlete. In high school, he was a football MVP and a baseball All-Star. Casey has been a fixture in Rochester softball since he moved here in 1966. He was always known to have a great arm. More importantly, he was known as a good guy, both on and off the field.

As a senior softball player, Casey has been a part of many teams both at McAvoy and at tournaments. He was an MVP for the Flaherty’s 55 team and MVP for the U.S. team at the Can-Am Friendship Games in 2012. Now, in his late seventies, Casey still is active both at McAvoy and on the road. Additionally, you might see him at TSE playing winter ball with the “young” guys. They will tell you he still has all the skills to continue to be considered an elite player.

Ivory Lawrence

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Ivory attended Benjamin Franklin High School and Jamestown Community College. She has spent her working career helping the disadvantaged people of Rochester, first with St. Joseph’s Villa, and now with Starbridge, an organization that helps people who have disabilities fulfill possibilities in education, employment, health, and community living.

Biography
Ivory Lawrence was born in Rochester in 1963. When it came to softball, Ivory was an offensive stand-out. As a member of the Duane McCoy coached team, she was a feared power hitter. She once broke a left fielder’s arm that was trying to field her one hopper to the outfield. Even players that did not know her gave her respect when she would come to the plate due to her well-built stature. Once she got on the bases, she used her great speed to put pressure on the defense. On the bench, she was a very positive player and was always there to lift up her teammates.

Philip Krasnoff

Birth Place
Bronx, NY

Educational & Professional Background
He attended PS 48 Bronx NY and James Monroe High School in The Bronx. After high school, Phil came up-state to get his undergraduate degree at SUNY Geneseo. He earned his Masters degree from Nazareth College. Phil put his teaching degrees to work by teaching in the Rochester City School District for 32 years.

Family Background
Not Available

Biography
Phil has always played baseball and softball both as a child and an adult. He came to senior softball in 2010 where his passion for the game and going the extra mile became apparent. Phil has managed several senior softball teams including being the On Field Manager for the 2014 Ocean State AA Champion Rochester Royals 65’s. Phil is best known for his work with the TSE winter softball program.

Phil routinely gets up and on the road by 6:00 AM on snowy, cold winter days to make sure that the soccer field at TSE is converted to a softball field and ready for play by 8:00 AM. It is this dedication to the game off the field that earned Phil the John Warren Foundation Award winner.

Phil is also an avid marksman and hunter. He is also a scratch bowler with three 300 games and a 799 high series.

Bob Kartes

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
Bob spent most of his working career as an owner/operator of Kartes Builders, where he honed his real estate and construction skills.

Family Background
Bob was born in 1943 to parents Elisie and Walter Kartes. He has one sister, Barbara.

Biography
Born in 1943, Bob Kartes is a life-long Rochester resident. A heart condition and subsequent operation as a teenager kept him sidelined in high school. But, from the 1960s through the 1980s, Bob sponsored one of Rochester’s best softball teams. His Kartes Builders team made the playoffs every year of its existence. They won the Greece Wednesday Night Major League more than 20 times. As a player, Bob was also on some of the best Rochester teams, including New York Life, Shakey’s, Mazzola, Mazzola Castle, and the Crest Lounge. Bob was part of the 1977 World Champion Mazzola/Castle team. He received several all-tournament awards and was a masterful defensive player that could hit for power or average. Today, he would be considered a five-tool player: run hit with power or average, throw, and field. Even though Bob played in the wooden and aluminum bat era, he had a lifetime batting average over .600.

Steve Huston

Birthplace
Brooklyn, NY

Educational & Professional Background
High School in Brooklyn, Monroe Community College. Spent many of his years working at Baden Street Settlement.

Family Background
Steve is one of six children. He continued this tradition of large family life by having seven children of his own.

Biography
Steve was born in 1964 to parents, Spencer and Kathryn, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was one of six children in his family. As a father, Steve has continued the large family tradition by having seven children of his own. He currently lives in Chantilly, Virginia, with his wife, Ronda. Steve went to high school in Brooklyn, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He earned All-City honors in basketball and baseball as a member of the Sheepshead Bay High School teams. After high school, Steve came to Rochester and attended Monroe Community College. While at MCC, he earned All-Region honors as a member of the basketball team. Steve was also named to the Rochester Legends Basketball Team. Steve spent most of his working years giving back to his community by working at the Baden Street Settlement. 1 Steve’s softball career is a story of being the best with the best. He spent many years with the Pace Electronics/ TPS team. During that time, they won eight world titles. Locally, he played with Polo’s and helped them win three Puerto Rican League titles. Steve also won an Inner-City League title with the NY Rollers. Once he turned 50, Steve was able to play in the McAvoy 50-and-over league. There, he won a championship with Ray-Ray’s Bar & Grill. Steve is an NIT MVP and has an All-Defense award. He is a member of the New York State USSSA Hall of Fame as a member of the Pace/TCP “Team of Distinction.”

George Herren

Birth Place
Cleveland, OH

Educational & Professional Background
George attended Ohio University, Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, and Armed Forces Industrial College. George had a long career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. After his Army career, George worked as an New York State Professional Assessor in the Finger Lakes region.

Family Background
George was born in 1934 to parents Bernard and Orma Herren. He currently resides in Canandaigua, NY with his wife Carin. They have three sons, Galen, Loren and Keven.

Biography
George’s softball achievements are numerous both on and off the field. His teams won four championships in the Ithaca City League. He also won championships in the Ontario County League. Additionally, he played in Franklin, TN leagues, Canandaigua leagues, Cobbs Hill leagues and the home of Rochester Senior Softball, McAvoy Park. George was just as active off the field – running many Leagues, Tournaments and Softball Events. Of most note, George works many hours to put together the Senior Softball Picnic that is hosting this year’s summer induction event. Other events include organizing the new Flag Raising Ceremony at McAvoy Park in 2015. However, George says his biggest award “came in the form of many, many great friends, good times and rewarding experiences!

Doug Farrell

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Family Background
Doug was born and raised in the Rochester area and was part of a large family. His parents, Marjorie and James, raised nine children. Doug was a standout athlete at Cardinal Mooney and attended Niagara University with a full athletic scholarship.

Biography
Doug was drafted by both the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In addition to baseball, Doug was a member of the Division I basketball team that took second place in the 1972 National Invitational Tournament.

Doug’s softball career started with recreational ball. He played in Greece leagues with friends and played with Carter Tool and Die for Bob Heberle. Doug also played fast pitch for a few summers with a Kodak Park team.

In 1973, Doug joined with Peter Castle to play on the Castle Insurance team. That was a more serious team playing against “the big boys” in Scottsville. It was the era of conversion vans, so on weekends Doug and his wife, Rebecca, and their four children, along with other players, would pile into six or seven vans and head out to play various tournaments.

In 1977, Doug and the Castle team joined forces with Mazzola’s and went on to win the USSSA World Series in Petersburg, Va. They had to beat the heavy favorite, Snyder’s, twice to win the title. Doug was selected to the All-World team and was named a tournament MVP. The next year, the team decided to join the pro league as the Rochester Zeniths, rather than defend the championship.

In addition to being part of this year’s Rochester Softball Hall of Fame class, Doug is also being inducted into the Niagara University Sports Hall of Fame next month.

Bernie Dwyer

Birth Place
Bernie was born in 1926 and raised in Napanee/Croydon, Ontario, Canada.

Education:
Attended John Marshall High School

Family:
Him and his wife Helen have 4 children – Maureen, Carol, Tom, & Stephen.

Biography:
Bernie moved to Rochester at 15 years old. At 17, he was hired by Eastman Kodak, where he worked in the box department. A year later, he joined the Navy to serve on a tanker before returning to Rochester and Eastman Kodak. Bernie played and managed for more than a decade and a half in the Kodak men’s fast-pitch twilight league. He managed a diverse group of co-workers that ranged from pipefitters to research scientists. They won the interplant championship in 1960.

After Kodak softball, Bernie turned his attention to his daughter’s softball teams. In 1970. Bernie started helping out with coaching duties on his daughter Maureen’s “Tish” team (sponsored by Swizzlesticks bar). He then managed both daughters (Carol “Cheeks” and Tish) on the Greece women’s team. In addition to playing locally, that team traveled to a few Major-A tournaments. Bernie also shared managing duties with coach Bob Knitter on the Lum’s women’s team. That team beat Muxworthy to win the city title in 1973. They also took second in the 1974 city tournament and the Independent League.

In 1977, Bernie teamed with Hall-of-Famer Duane McCoy to manage their women’s team to a Major-A Slo-Pitch World Tournament. They returned in 1978 and 1980 as second-place finishers. During that time Bernie, his wife Helen, and sons Tom and Stephen traveled extensively to support the team.

Bernie finished his career co-managing the Eastman Kodak Woman’s Industrial Slo Pitch team with his daughter Carol. Their squad won the Eastern States Industrial title both in 1980 and 1982. Bernie passed away in December 1986 after a two-year battle with lung cancer. He will be best remembered for his kindness, devotion, easy-going nature, and good sense of humor.

Jim DeVinney

Birthplace
Chicago, IL

Educational & Professional Background
Fort Wayne, IN primary and secondary schools. Penn State. Worked in the television industry, namely WXXI TV. 4-time Emmy winner.

Family Background
Born to parents Robert and Mary.

Biography
Jim was born in Chicago, IL, to parents Robert and Mary. He has three daughters Michele, Mimi, Tara, and a son, Rob. Jim’s education began in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he attended primary and secondary school. Upon high school graduation, he attended Penn State. After college, Jim went to work in the television industry, where he became a 4-time Emmy Award-winning producer. During his career, he even spent time at local WXXI TV. Jim has always been drawn to softball. As he moved around the country, he was always checking out the local scene and getting involved in any way possible. When Jim came back to Rochester in 2009, he knew he had found his softball home. Not only did he jump in full force as a player, but he also put his communication talents to use, keeping the senior softball community informed. He has expanded his original role as “the guy who sends out the rosters and schedules” to focus on all communication regarding anything or anyone related to senior softball. His mailing list contains 250–300 names and is growing daily. Contact him at devinneyjim42@gmail.com if you are not receiving his communications. Jim most enjoys the fact that when you are playing Senior Softball, you are with friends who have gone through all the good times and the bad you are going through. He knows those are the friends to help you through the journey.

Lou Corona

Educational & Professional Background
Lou attended Eastridge High School in Irondequoit, where he starred as a Varsity football and baseball player. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Biography
Baseball hooked Lou forever at four-years-old. Seeing his dad Lou, uncle Don, and cousin Phil, in uniforms playing fastpitch planted the seed that grew to a significant baseball and softball career.

His professional aspirations were severely limited in 1968 when he suffered a devastating knee injury playing varsity football for Eastridge High School in Irondequoit. Surgeons said he would never play sports again. He persevered, but the knee greatly limited his ability to play ball at the level that he wanted.

Before the injury, a Yankee scout told his dad that he saw Lou as the next Bobby Richardson. Lou did, however, play four years of Varsity baseball and made All-County teams as a second baseman and a shortstop. As a freshman, he helped Eastridge win a sectional championship.

During his time at Rochester Institute of Technology, he set batting records of .454 and .446. Two years after another knee surgery, on Joe Altobelli’s recommendation, Lou signed on in the Orioles system as an outfielder. He also was briefly in the Yankee system and on a pro team in Rome, Italy.

After baseball, Lou set his sights on fastpitch softball. He played 12 years of league and tournament ball, where he earned several MVP/All-Star selections. He played in the ASA nationals for the Rochester Zeniths in 1979 and Rochester Rockets in 1980. He went to the 1984 ISC World Tournament with the Zeniths. At 38-years-old, the knee forced him into retirement with a lifetime batting average of .350.

Lou now continues his family’s love of baseball and its traditions by providing personal training to his young grandson.

John Billups

Birth Place
Clanton, AL

Educational & Professional Background
John attended high school at Norris High in Alabama and graduated from Rochester Business Institute. He spent most of his working career at Ajax & Weg Electric Motors before his retirement in 2001.

Family Background
John was born on January 5th, 1947, to parents George and Mary.

Biography
John attended high school in Alabama, where he was a stand-out baseball player. He was a four-year starter both as a shortstop and a third baseman. After high school, John made his way to Rochester. John is well known as a senior softball player. He played in the McAvoy Monday over-50 league, Tuesday over-55 league, and Thursday over-60 league, among other local softball leagues. As a tournament player, John is a two-time world champion and a silver medal winner in the Senior Olympics. He has several all-tournament appointments and was chosen All-American in the 2007 Senior Games. Even though John is now in his 70s, he continues to play softball at a high level in multiple senior leagues at McAvoy and on the road for some of the best Rochester travel teams.

Mike Bellapianta

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Mike attended Gates Chili High School, MCC, SUNY Brockport, and the University of Rochester.

Biography
Mike Bellapianta has lived a lifetime of softball, spanning 60 consecutive years. Starting in 1957, he joined KPAA softball as a young player. In 2017, at nearly 70, he was a team captain in the Chili town league.

Born in Rochester in 1948, Mike spent his teenage years as a multi-sport athlete at Gates Chili High School. He was best known as a wrestler. He was a four-time All-County selection and the team captain of the 1966 Monroe County championship team. That same year, he helped Gates Chili win a sectional title.

Mike continued his athletic achievements in college. He was a USJCAA national finalist soccer All-American. Mike also was a member of the Nation Qualifier wrestling team.

After college, Mike continued to play baseball and softball at a high level. He played in the MSBL Baseball World Series in Arizona for over 16 years. He played on “A” league championship teams in Gates, Chili, Cobbs Hill, and Scottsville, to name a few. He was even a United States Army league champion during his time in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Additionally, Mike was part of five tournament champion teams, as he played travel ball all over the east coast.

Mike’s involvement in sports is more than just as a player. He has given back as a coach. Mike coached the Gates Chili wrestling time from 1985 to 1992. In 1990, he was named Coach of the Year. Mike was also on the 1986 Empire State Games coaching staff. In 1991, he founded a father/son softball team that played at Amateur Sports Park.

Marcey Stevenson

Professional Background
Marcey was a physical education teacher who found her niche working for the town of Irondequoit in the Parks and Recreation department.

Biography
Marcey joined forces with the Monroe County Office for the Aging to get softball into the Monroe County Games. What began with one team from the town of Greece and one from Irondequoit grew quickly. The second year, softball registrations poured in. Macey then began to schedule senior softball at McAvoy Park, four days a week. She watched as the leagues grew from 30 players to over 250 softball enthusiasts from all around the area.

In 1990 and 1991, Marcey received recognition for organizing a county-wide softball league. In 1999, she received an AARP Award for her work. She also earned the Outstanding Asset Building Aware in 2004 and the Legacy Award in 2008. Marcey modestly recognizes that the league’s successes are a result of the dedicated men and women who have contributed along the way.

Jimmy Smith

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Education Background
Irondequoit High School, RIT, Ithaca College, and Monroe Community College

Family Background
Jimmy Smith was born in Rochester in 1961. He is the youngest of eight children raised by parents, George and Charlotte. He currently resides in Pittsford, NY with his wife of 30 years, Nancy. They have three children: Conor, Camerann and Owen.

Biography
Jimmy played three years of Varsity baseball in high school, where he was named first-team All County, first-team All Greater Rochester, and Co-Player of the Year. He also played baseball while attending RIT, Ithaca College, and MCC. While at MCC, Jimmy played in the 1980 Junior College World Series, was a 1981 first-team All Penn-York Conference player, and was a first-team All Region 3 Northeast District Player.

After college, Jimmy played for O’Loughlins in a Sunday recreational league. He quickly moved up and played with Kartes Builders. Jimmy also spent three years playing for Family Beverage and Marlen Floors. There he collected many tournament MVP and All-Tournament team awards. After being chosen to a local all-star team that played Steele’s in an exhibition game, Jimmy spent the next nine years with the powerhouse Pace Electronics team. While with Pace, he collected several more All-Tournament Team awards and one All-World selection.

Jimmy, a career .659 hitter, also hit over 900 home runs in league and tournament play. He was a versatile defensive player that finally settled into left field as a regular position. After softball, Jimmy turned to coaching youth sports in order to spend more time with his children. Today, Jimmy enjoys a good round of golf with his many friends.

Dick Rogers

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1949

Educational & Professional Background
Dick attended grammar and high school in the Rush-Henrietta area. Dick’s secondary education was at the University at Buffalo and American University in Washington, D.C.

After college, Dick took a job with DDB World Wide, where he worked for 39 years. During that time, he won three Advertising Agency of the Year awards. He is now retired.

Family Background
Dick lives with his wife Linda and two children, Aaron and Conor, in Scottsdale, AZ.

Biography
Dick’s softball career developed quickly when he played for Xerox and Harding’s Supply. His abilities then landed him spots with Mazzola Insurance, Mazzola Castle, and the Rochester Zeniths.

Dick won a batting title with Mazzola Insurance in 1975. As a member of the 1977 USSSA Hall of Fame Mazzola-Castle team, he was selected to the All-World team along with teammates Doug Farrell, Rick Palmieri, and Andy Santillo. Dick played pro softball for one year as a member of the Rochester Zeniths. During that year, he was selected to the league’s All-Star team.

An avid golfer, Dick carries a six-handicap and has won several club championships.

Frank Parlato

Birthplace
Rochester, NY

Education & Professional Background
Frank attended School #27 and East High School. Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.

Family Background
A wife, three children, and five grandchildren.

Biography
Frank was born in Rochester, NY, on January 26, 1933. He attended School #27 and East High School. Frank received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. Frank has been married to Joan (Boeckman) for almost 45 years. He and his wife have three children and five grandchildren. Frank’s early softball career saw him playing for such notable teams as Flaherty’s, The Boulevard, O’Connell Electric, Prince George, Timothy Patrick’s, and Murphy’s Law. He also played ball in the Kodak Park Athletic Association, University of Purdue Intramural Softball, Indiana tournament champion team, and the General Dynamic Wednesday Night intramural team. At the age of 53, Frank joined a new senior league in Brighton that eventually moved to McAvoy Park. He managed and played in both the Monday night 50+ league and the morning leagues until he retired from softball in 2017 at the age of 84.

Kim Malcolm

Birth Place
Levittown, PA

Educational Background
Kim attended Sperry High School. After graduation, she took a job at Pulsafeeder.

Biography
Kim was born in Levittown, PA, in 1955 to parents Mary and Walter. She and her brothers, Brad and Walt, were raised in Henrietta. At Sperry High School, Kim was a stand-out softball player, earning an All-Country nomination.

Kim’s post-school softball career blossomed when she joined the late, great Duane McCoy as a member of the Pace Electronics major women’s team. Kim held down the left side of the infield at third base.

One of the great moments in Kim’s career came at the 1977 USSSA World Championship in Detroit, MI. The Pace Electronics team won seven straight games to capture the world title, including a comeback from a 7-2 deficit. At that tournament, Kim had the honor of being chosen All-World, along with her teammates, Maryellen Ford, Pat Schmitt, and Kim Perkins.

Al Malavase

Birth Place
New Haven, CT

Educational & Professional Background
Al attended Centerville Grammar School as well as Hamden High School and Hopkins Prep. After high school graduation, he attended Quinnipiac University at UConn.

Family Background
Al has one brother, William.

Biography
Al has been involved in sports his entire life. He played baseball in high school, college, and for the U.S. Air Force from 1956-1957. In 1958, Al signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. In addition to baseball, Al was also an outstanding swimmer. In high school, he was a 50 yard freestyle state finalist three years in a row. Al is also an avid golfer and has shot his age 4 times. Al has also played fast pitch and 16” ball.

Al’s senior softball career has been full. He has managed and played for the Holcomb Ho tel in the Tri-County League. He has been a part of numerous travel teams including Rochester Olde Starts 50’s, Al’s Green Tavern 55’s and 60’s, Ridge Lumber 55’s, Shamrock Jack’s 65’s, and the Brook House 70-75’s team. Those teams won championships in 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2017.

Al is a fixture at McAvoy Park. He has played in all the various age groups. Today, despite having two “fake” knees and a rehabbed throwing arm, Al continues to play in the Monday and Wednesday morning leagues.

Rick Loman

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational Background
Rick attended John Marshall High School and later graduated from SUNY Geneseo.

Family Background
Rick Loman was born in Rochester, NY in 1954 to parents, Brad Jr. and Elaine. He has three siblings. Rick and his wife of 35 years, Brenda, have three daughters: Amanda, Christine, and Katherine.

Biography
Rick kicked off his athletic career in high school, where he played baseball and soccer. He pitched for John Marshall High School from 1969-1972. He continued his baseball career at SUNY Geneseo as a Varsity pitcher in 1973 and 1974. As a softball player, Rick has played at a high level. His teams won local championships in 1981, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1994.

In the late ’70s through the mid-’80s, Rick roamed the outfield for powerhouses including Master’s Del and the Garage Door. In 1981, with Master’s Del, he was named All-World at the Labor Day world tournament at Ridgewood. In 1984, he was named MVP at the NYS Class B State Tournament at Ronny’s.

As a senior, Rick has continued to play softball at the same high level. In 2004, he was named MVP at the SSUSA World Series as a member of his own Budweiser/Brad’s Trailer World championship team. From 2004 to 2010, he played on several travel teams in SSUSA tournaments. In 2011, as a member of the Roc 50’s, he was a SSUSA World Championship Major winner.

For the last 15 years, Rick has been a starting outfielder with the Gubiotti/Cardot/Maddalena travel team. Rick continues to play locally and can be found at McAvoy Park on Monday nights and Tuesday mornings. He is known for having a very strong arm and takes great pleasure in throwing out runners trying to advance on outfield hits. Rick is proud to enter the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame with his longtime friend and teammate, Curt Kirchmaier.

Ron Lohrman

Birth Place
Rochester, NY

Educational & Professional Background
A graduate of Edison Tech, Ron went on to Clarkson University, where he received his BSME. Ron worked at Eastman Kodak for almost 25 years. Currently, he is the proprietor of the Rochester Chess Center.

Family Background
Ron Lohrman was born in 1941 to Eugene and Theresa Lohrman. He grew up with a brother, Fred, and sisters, Mary, Bernice, and Karen. Ron has been married for 50 years to his wife, Katherine. They have a son Shelby and a daughter Nicole along with two grandchildren.

Biography
Ron was a feared power hitter. He played for the Kodak Apparatus Division, where they won eight straight Eastern States championships. He also played for Sunset Recreation and Zab Electric. Ron is an accomplished athlete and sports supporter away from the softball field. He is an Empire State Games medalist as a cyclist. He also won the Chrysler Proving Grounds 24 hour marathon and the Detroit New 24 hour marathon by completing a 472-mile ride on his bike. Back home, Ron developed the Rochester Youth Hockey Learn to Skate program by working with the Gionta brothers and other local NHL players. Ron continues his softball career today by playing in various leagues at McAvoy. He travels with the ’70s as well as the 75’s and the 80’s. Besides softball and cycling, Ron enjoys investing, hiking, billiards, and his grandkids. He is also US Chess ranked #8 as an active player for his age.

Bill Kreger

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1950

Educational & Professional Background
Bill attended grammar school at St. Jerome’s and high school in East Rochester.

After graduating from high school, he furthered his education at SUNY Brockport. Bill spent a good part of his working career at Sharp Electronics

Family Background
William Kreger, with his parents, Bill and Anna, and two sisters, Karol and Diane, lived in the East Rochester area. He now resides in Scottsdale, AZ, with his wife Jan.

Biography
Bill excelled in baseball from an early age. He was a member of the 1966 Little League Champions. Bill also played for the state champion Eli Fagan American Legion team.

As a softball player, Bill played with the best and for the best. As a member of the 1976 Mazzola team, he was named Co-MVP, along with Hall of Fame member Ron Rodriguez. That year, Bill was also selected to the All-World team. In 1977, he won a world championship with Mazzola Castle. Bill even spent a stint with the professional Rochester Zeniths.

Away from softball, Bill had a 25-year career as a football official both at the high school and college level. In addition to being inducted into the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame, Bill is a member of the Frontier Field Walk of Fame.

Dick Laughlin

Birth Place
East Rochester, NY

Professional Background
Dick was an East Rochester Volunteer Fireman.

Family Background
Dick married his wife, Carlene, in 1976 and raised a daughter, Jodie.

Biography
Growing up, Dick Laughlin, also known as “The Mayor,” had a love of many sports. He played varsity baseball, was on the 1961 NY State Championship Cross-Country Team from Section 5, was a flag football champ for five years in Perinton, and was Xerox City Champ in volleyball. Dick played fast pitch softball while in high school in 1961 & 1962 against some of the most famous players in the area; Shifty Gears, Art Held, and Chuck Stogner. In 1963, he started the East Rochester Slow Pitch League with four teams, including one of his own sponsored by Steve’s Tavern. The league eventually grew to eight teams, and in 1968 was turned over to the town of East Rochester.

Over the years, Dick played with such teams as Ragu Foods, Wintonaire, Shakey’s Pizza, Debbie Supply, Tyrell Chrysler, Sunset Recreation, Xerox Stormers, Pace Electronics, and the Rochester Zeniths. While working at Xerox in 1968, Dick started an A Division industrial league team, the Xerox Stormers, who were ranked No. 1 in the industrial world for several years. They dominated the leagues for over 10 years, winning six national tournaments. Between 1961 and 1978, Dick played and managed in over 2,000 league games with a winning percentage above .800.

In 1975, Frank Ciaccia, the Executive VP of USSSA, knew that Dick had special off-field skills and approached him to become the USSSA Commissioner for NY. Dick was instrumental in getting Pat Kehoe to sponsor what would be one of the most storied teams in the Rochester area, Pace Electronics. Pace traveled to national and world tournaments, playing over 100 games a year.
Dick has been in 12 World Tournaments as a player and manager. He was chosen Major League Manager in 1977 and led Pace Electronics to the championship and playoffs in 1976 and 1977 in the Open A Division.

In 1978, Dick joined John Warren, manager of the Rochester Zeniths professional softball team, as the assistant manager and public relations director. In keeping with their passion, the team traveled all over the US.

Curt Kirchmaier

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
August 1954

Educational & Professional Background
Curt attended Holy Cross and Charlotte High School, where he played soccer and basketball. After high school, Curt attended MCC. Curt spent his working career at Kodak, where he retired in 2016 after 38 years

Family Background
Curt was born to Dewitt and Beverly Kirchmaier. He is one of three children. He has been married to his wife Claire for 41 years and they have three sons and six grandchildren.

Biography
As a prominent local softball player, Curt was part of a team that won the Greece town championship in 1981, ’86, ’88, ’91, and ’94. He was also MVP in the Umpires tournament at Xerox in 1979. As a travel tournament player, he was part of the 1981 USSSA All-World team, the 1984 USSSA All-tournament team, and the 1997 USSSA Lilac City All tournament team.

For the past 15 years, Curt has been playing senior softball with the Gubiotti, Cardot, Madalena team, where he travels across the nation to play in major tournaments. In 2004, he made the All-World team while helping his team win the SSUSA Championship in Las Vegas.

Curt’s other accolades include:

All-Tournament team ISSA World Championship 2016 in Manassas, VA
SSUSA 2017 Atlantic Coast Championship All-Tournament in Loudoun, VA
2017 SPA Buckeye Classic All-Tournament team in Cleveland, OH
MVP ISSA 2015 Eastern Championship in Salisbury, MD

Curt continues to travel to play ball. He also plays in several leagues, both at McAvoy and in Chili. He credits his success by saying, “Obviously I’ve been surrounded by great teammates and a HOF coach.”

Jack Gerew

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1934

Educational Background
Jack went to Edison Tech, where he played football, baseball, and was on the wrestling team. He worked at Kodak and also played for the Kodak Park team for 10 years.

Family Background
Jack came from a large family of six boys and three girls.

Biography
Jack started playing baseball at a very young age and moved to fastpitch softball at the tender age of 12. He played in many leagues where he always led in home runs and batting average. After high school, he played fastpitch softball, most notably with Charlotte Merchants and Begy’s.

After several years of playing for Bon Jon’s, Jack was hired by Kodak and played on the Kodak Park team. He had the honor of taking over for Tommy Castle at first base. He played on the Kodak Park team for a decade, where he routinely led the league in home runs and batting average. After leaving Kodak as an employee, he stayed on the Kodak team as a tournament player. It was then that Jack traveled to the New Jersey Regionals, Jones Beach Regionals, and the Mid-Atlantic Softball World Championship. In the regionals, he hit a home run off New York City’s pitcher, Johnson, who at the time was considered the best in the world.

Jack also played many tournaments while on the roster for Bon Jon’s both locally and in Canada. He was an outstanding fastpitch player who excelled while competing with and against the best players in the world. For that reason, Jack is a 2019 inductee into the Rochester Softball Hall of Fame.

Red Fedele

Birth Place
Philip “Red” Fedele was born in 1938.

Education:
Red graduated from Madison High School and obtained his secondary education at Brockport State and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Family:
He has seven children: William, Anthony, Lisa, Cristina, Sam, Raelynn, & Michael.

Biography:
He worked for sixteen years at Xerox before purchasing the Brook House restaurant. Forty-three years later, you will still find Red at the Brook House actively managing the restaurant.
In 1977, when major fastpitch softball ended on the Kodak fields, Red made a major contribution to the game with the construction of Shifty Gears Memorial Park. Red not only donated four acres of land but also led the construction of a fenced, lighted field. He finished the project with the construction of a concession stand and stepped up to the plate with the ongoing maintenance and care of the park.

Red also gave his time to help with the planning and execution of many Eastern Regional tournaments. These tournaments would draw teams from New York and as far away as the New England states and Canada. Red has always been generous with his sponsorship of individual teams. A close look at the pictures on the Brook House walls is sure to reveal shots of just a few of the teams’ scores (women’s, men’s, fastpitch, slow pitch, senior, youth) that Red has sponsored through the years.

Red Fedele’s total contributions to Fast Pitch Softball in Rochester are impossible to measure. What is certain is that his contributions made it possible for thousands to play and enjoy the game.

Tom Ciampoli

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
1937

Educational & Professional Background
Tom attended School 22 and Benjamin Franklin High School. After high school, Tom joined the U.S. Marine Corps to go to the Aviation Electronics School.

Family Background
Tom and his wife, Mary, have four children, thirteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Biography
Born in 1937, Tom is a Rochester native. Tom played softball at Norton Village, Bayview, Kent Park, and Cobbs Hill. No one could match the longevity of his play at McAvoy Park, which began in 1963. He has enjoyed managing, officiating, and participating in many outstanding travel teams. His teams won the Florida National’s in 2009 and the Buckeye Classic in 2017. In addition, Tom has three All-Tournament patches.

Today, Tom continues to play in leagues at McAvoy. When he is off the field, he and his wife, Mary, enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchild. Tom also enjoys pencil drawing, puzzles, and playing cards with friends.

Gerald “Jerry” Barth

Birth Place
Rochester, NY
Sept. 11, 1930

Educational & Professional Background
Jerry was a 1949 graduate of Edison Tech, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949-1954. Following his military service, he was employed by the Eastman Kodak Company.

Family Background
Jerry and his wife Rose had five children: Paul, Karen, Gerald Jr, Randy, and Katrina. He passed away in 2006.

Biography
While in high school, Jerry was named to the Democrat &Chronicle’s Áll-Scholastic Baseballers as a catcher. While serving in the Air Force he was a catcher on service baseball teams.
While stationed in Japan, in 1952, he was the catcher on the base team that won the USAF worldwide championship.
While employed at Eastman Kodak, he turned his focus from baseball to fast pitch softball. He played noon-hour ball for three years, before joining the Kodak Park team where he caught for ten years.
In addition to being an outstanding catcher, Jerry was an excellent hitter. His stats prove that he routinely was able to produce the game-winning hit when called upon. He also had the ability to hit the long ball.
Jerry played in many tournaments, ranging from city events to New York State tournaments, to regional contests in Rochester, New York City, and New Jersey. In the 1957 Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament, he was the hero of the big Kodak Park win, going 4-for-4.
When Jerry’s playing days ended, he stayed close to the game by umpiring Kodak’s Twilight League.