What’s Happening in Rochester Softball?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

    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. 

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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, 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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Coming soon!

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.

Coming soon!

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Coming soon!

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.

Coming soon!

Birth Place
Pittsburgh, PA

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

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