Softball History USA

Christan Dowling

Christan Dowling

Christan Dowling of Rochester, New York has unexpectedly passed away on April 13, 2021.

Christan was named the USA Softball Female Slow Pitch Athlete of the Year in 2018. She will go be remembered as the most feared women’s slow pitch batter of all time. She once played in an ASA Open Women’s National where she hit a home run her first time at bat and then was intentionally walked the next 16 at bats.

Christan has won numerous ASA and USSSA Championships at the highest level of each association.

Christan was an employee of Easton Sports since 2013. Prior to that she was a rep at Combat Sports Group.

Christan was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in 2019.

As more information becomes available we will post it here.

 

 

In 2012, Christan batted in the USSSA Men’s Major World Series Home Run Derby, the first time ever a woman has hit in it. She did not let us down. See the video below.

TPS Power Ratings – April 21, 2021

– Must have one (1) or more events. Information is provided in the following order:
– Team Name.
– Team Class.
– Team’s Home Base.
– TPS Power Rating.
– Number of Eligible Tournaments participated in.
– Wins & Losses (in eligible games only).
– Won-Lost % (in eligible games only).
– SoftballCenter.com Rank.

Place Team Class City TPS Events W L PCT SC
1 SmashItSports/Newbreed/TDB/RF/BD/T3 Major Greenville, NC 119.194 3 15 2 .882 1
2 Proton/Sonny’s Major Scottsdale, AZ 118.119 2 10 4 .714 6
3 Sports Reach/Worth/CT/Grizzy AA Campbellsville, MY 111.042 2 7 2 .778 2
4 Resmondo/Menosse/Thunder/AA/SIS/RDD Major Winter Haven, FL 110.507 3 16 5 .762 4
5 SNI/Thunder/Chosen/DeMarini AA Orlando, FL 103.928 3 11 6 .647 3
6 MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics Major Manahawkin, NJ 94.188 3 9 6 .600 9
7 Albicocco/Riot/Klutch/Broughton AA Tampa, FL 90.391 2 9 4 .692 7
8 S&E Enterprise/Worsham NC A LaGrange, NC 88.825 3 12 6 .667 5
9 Xtreme/ASP/Athlon/Miken/Worth AA Medina, MN 81.171 3 7 6 .538 13
10 Seminoles/TPS/NACSF.INC A Tulsa, OK 80.344 4 14 8 .636 10
11 CompetitiveEdge/OlmitoHeat/Adiktiv A Pensacola, FL 76.229 3 8 6 .571 11
12 Dudley/Gas B St. Louis, MO 75.661 1 6 2 .750 14
13 Classic Glass/Easton A San Jose, CA 75.219 3 9 6 .600 16
14 WM Roofing/Revolution Athletics B Berlin, OH 74.033 2 7 4 .636 12
15 MAJ/KNELL/Dirty Sports/DTS/DOMN8 A Glendale, WA 72.576 3 8 6 .571 17
16 Envy/Lifetime Diamonds/Legendary A Houston, TX 70.673 3 6 4 .600 8
17 Thunder/Chosen/Competitive Edge/SOG B Gladewater, TX 69.196 3 6 6 .500 15
18 Bay Area Legends/Easton AA Oakland, CA 68.031 3 5 6 .455 19
19 Premier/BAF/Easton A Cincinnati, OH 67.699 3 5 6 .455 20
20 Precision/3rd St./Red Athlete/Pure AA Downers Grove, IL 66.622 2 2 4 .333 25

TPS Power Ratings – April 11, 2021

– Must have one (1) or more events. Information is provided in the following order:
– Team Name.
– Team Class.
– Team’s Home Base.
– TPS Power Rating.
– Number of Eligible Tournaments participated in.
– Wins & Losses (in eligible games only).
– Won-Lost % (in eligible games only).
– SoftballCenter.com Rank.

Place Team Class City TPS Events W L PCT SC
1 SmashItSports/Newbreed/TDB/RF/BD/T3 Major Greenville, NC 119.194 3 15 2 .882 NR
2 Proton/Sonny’s Major Scottsdale, AZ 118.119 2 10 4 .714 NR
3 Sports Reach/Worth/CT/Grizzy AA Campbellsville, MY 111.042 2 7 2 .778 NR
4 Resmondo/Menosse/Thunder/AA/SIS/RDD Major Winter Haven, FL 110.507 3 16 5 .762 NR
5 SNI/Thunder/Chosen/DeMarini AA Orlando, FL 103.928 3 11 6 .647 NR
6 MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics Major Manahawkin, NJ 94.188 3 9 6 .600 NR
7 Albicocco/Riot/Klutch/Broughton AA Tampa, FL 90.391 2 9 4 .692 NR
8 S&E Enterprise/Worsham NC A LaGrange, NC 88.825 3 12 6 .667 NR
9 Xtreme/ASP/Athlon/Miken/Worth AA Medina, MN 81.171 3 7 6 .538 NR
10 Seminoles/TPS/NACSF.INC A Tulsa, OK 79.103 3 10 6 .625 NR
11 CompetitiveEdge/OlmitoHeat/Adiktiv A Pensacola, FL 76.229 3 8 6 .571 NR
12 Classic Glass/Easton A San Jose, CA 75.219 3 9 6 .600 NR
13 WM Roofing / Revolution Athletics B Berlin, OH 74.033 2 7 4 .636 NR
14 MAJ/KNELL/Dirty Sports/DTS/DOMN8 A Glendale, WA 72.576 3 8 6 .571 NR
15 Thunder/Chosen/Competitive Edge/SOG B Gladewater, TX 69.747 2 3 4 .429 NR
16 Bay Area Legends/Easton AA Oakland, CA 68.031 3 5 6 .455 NR
17 Premier/BAF/Easton A Cincinnati, OH 67.699 3 5 6 .455 NR
18 Precision/3rd St./Red Athlete/Pure AA Downers Grove, IL 66.622 2 2 4 .333 NR
19 Juno Athletics/MPT Rentals A Manahawkin, NJ 65.897 2 3 4 .429 NR
20 Slugger/Svc/Atrium/Pauer A Cincinnati, OH 62.772 2 2 4 .333 NR

TPS Power Ratings – April 10, 2021

– Must have one (1) or more events. Information is provided in the following order:
– Team Name.
– Team Class.
– Team’s Home Base.
– TPS Power Rating.
– Number of Eligible Tournaments participated in.
– Wins & Losses (in eligible games only).
– Won-Lost % (in eligible games only).
– SoftballCenter.com Rank.

Place Team Class City TPS Events W L PCT SC
1 Sports Reach/Worth/CT/Grizzy AA Campbellsville, KY 145.020 1 5 0 1.000 NR
2 Proton/Sonny’s Major Scottsdale, AZ 130.518 1 6 2 .750 NR
3 SNI/Thunder/Chosen/DeMarini AA Orlando, FL 113.075 2 8 4 .667 NR
4 SmashItSports/Newbreed/TDB/RF/BD/T3 Major Greenville, NC 109.906 2 10 2 .833 NR
5 Resmondo/Menosse/Thunder/AA/SIS/RDD Major Winter Haven, FL 96.877 2 8 4 .667 NR
6 Seminoles/TPS/NACSF.INC A Tulsa, OK 87.439 2 9 4 .692 NR
7 S&E Enterprise/Worsham NC A LaGrange, NC 85.664 2 9 4 .692 NR
8 Albicocco/Riot/Klutch/Broughton AA Tampa, FL 85.634 1 4 2 .667 NR
9 Xtreme/ASP/Athlon/Miken/Worth AA Medina, MN 83.225 2 5 4 .556 NR
10 MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics Major Manahawkin, NJ 82.549 2 5 4 .556 NR
11 CompetitiveEdge/OlmitoHeat/Adiktiv A Pensacola, FL 79.662 2 6 4 .600 NR
12 Classic Glass/Easton A San Jose, CA 78.148 2 6 4 .600 NR
13 Precision/3rd St./Red Athlete/Pure AA Downers Grove, IL 77.064 1 2 2 .500 NR
14 Bay Area Legends/Easton AA Oakland, CA 70.831 2 4 4 .500 NR
15 MAJ/KNELL/Dirty Sports/DTS/DOMN8 A Glendale, WA 70.332 2 5 4 .556 NR
16t Baugh Ford A Clanton, AL 69.363 1 2 2 .500 NR
16t Juno Athletics/MPT Rentals A Manahawkin, NJ 69.363 1 2 2 .500 NR
16t Slugger/SVC/Atrium/Pauer A Cincinnati, OH 69.363 1 2 2 .500 NR
19 Premier/BAF/Easton A Cincinnati, OH 66.866 2 3 4 .429 NR
20 Chick-fil-A/BAF Sports A Fairfax, VA 63.741 2 4 4 .500 NR

TPS Power Ratings – March 29, 2021

– Must have one (1) or more events. Information is provided in the following order:
– Team Name.
– Team Class.
– Team’s Home Base.
– TPS Power Rating.
– Number of Eligible Tournaments participated in.
– Wins & Losses (in eligible games only).
– Won-Lost % (in eligible games only).
– SoftballCenter.com Rank.

Place Team Class City TPS Events W L PCT SC
1 SmashItSports/Newbreed/TDB/RF/BD/T3 Major Greenville, NC 134.178 1 6 1 1.000 NR
2 SNI/Thunder/Chosen/DeMarini AA Orlando, FL 120.760 1 9 2 .818 NR
3 Seminoles/TPS/nacsf.inc A Tulsa, OK 108.684 1 4 2 .667 NR
4 S & E Enterprise/Worsham A LaGrange, NC 97.815 1 6 2 .750 NR
5t MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics Major Manahawkin, NJ 88.034 1 3 2 .600 NR
5t Resmondo/Menosse/Thunder/AA/SIS/RDD Major Winter Haven, FL 88.034 1 3 2 .600 NR
7t Bay Area Legends/Easton AA Oakland, CA 79.232 1 3 2 .600 NR
7t Classic Glass/Easton A San Jose, CA 79.232 1 3 2 .600 NR
9t Chick-fil-A / BAF Sports A Fairfax, VA 71.302 1 3 2 .600 NR
9t MAJ/Knell/Dirty Sports/DTS/DOMN8 A Glendale, WA 71.302 1 3 2 .600 NR
9t Premier/BAF/Easton A Cincinnati, OH 71.302 1 2 2 .500 NR
9t Xtreme/ASP/Athlon/Miken/Worth AA Medina, MN 71.302 1 2 2 .500 NR
13t Cheap Suits/Republic Realty/Express B Stockton, CA 64.177 1 4 2 .667 NR
13t CompetitiveEdge/OlmitoHeat/Adiktiv A Pensacola, FL 64.177 1 2 2 .500 NR
13t Levels A Denver, CO 64.177 1 2 2 .500 NR
13t PrimeTime Easton/F.A.I/RIOT/ A Macon, GA 64.177 1 2 2 .500 NR
17t ABEYTU’/Salt Riot B Salt Lake City, UT 57.763 1 3 2 .600 NR
17t Bay Area Legends C San Leandro, CA 57.763 1 2 2 .500 NR
17t Bay Area Legends/Non Stop Grind B San Leandro, CA 57.763 1 3 2 .600 NR
17t GSP/Tri-State Services/VBW B Casper, WY 57.763 1 3 2 .600 NR
17t L&S Glass A San Jose, CA 57.763 1 1 2 .333 NR
17t Lazer Sports B St. George, UT 57.763 1 3 2 .600 NR
17t LundMortgage/WhoAreYou/Easton B Chandler, AZ 57.763 1 3 2 .600 NR
17t STR8PLAY/NRC/Franchise Ath/Pure C Corona, CA 57.763 1 3 2 .600 NR

Denny Helmig

Denny Helmig

Denny Helmig (1948-2021)

Longtime Worth Softball rep and USSSA Hall of Famer, Denny Helmig has passed away.

Dennis C. “Hawk” Helmig, 72, passed away 10:45 a.m., Sun. Feb. 21, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family following a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born Aug. 15, 1948, in Lima, the son of Charles & B. Maxine (Wright) Helmig, who preceded him in death. On Dec. 19, 1972, he married Polly (Forton) Helmig, and she survives.

Other survivors include, children, Gavin (Alisha) Helmig, Lima; Dr. Sara Helmig, Memphis, TN; Kara (Donovan Shuster) Helmig, Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren, Teagan Helmig, Lima; and Gavin Sargent, Minot, ND; siblings, Teresa DeCurtins, and Brent (Marsha) Helmig, both of Cincinnati, OH; Connie (Jeff) Partee, Painsville, OH; Carl (Dawn) Helmig, Lima; sister-in-law, Betsi (Pat) Hurd, Chesterfield, VA; brother-in-law, David (Sharon) Forton, Villa Hills, KY, several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his in-laws, Gordon & Rosemary Forton, his brother-in-law, Dennis DeCurtins, and a nephew, Jonathan Hurd.

Denny was a 1966 graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School, and then attended the Ohio University, Athens, OH, where he was a member of the baseball team. He was a sports enthusiast supporting his alma mater, working with Lima youth sports and also enjoyed coaching his children in basketball and softball throughout their years. His participation in sports also included coaching the men’s basketball team at Northwestern Business College now know as UNOH. Hawk’s (No. 44) involvement and success in the softball field resulted in earning his induction into Ohio Softball Hall of Fame, the National Softball Hall of Fame, and the USSSA Hall of Fame. He was employed by Steele’s Sports, Worth Sporting Goods, and recently retired from Rawlings as a Regional Sales Manager. Hawk enjoyed following the Lima Central Catholic teams and especially watching his granddaughter play sports. He enjoyed playing golf, gambling, cheering on his teams, especially Notre Dame, the Cleveland Indians, and the Cleveland Browns. Hawk would travel to Kentucky, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus to follow his special friends and family participating in their sports events. His memberships included St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, the Shawnee Country Club, and the Knights of Columbus.

A special thank you to St. Rita’s Hospice, and the many friends who helped and visited the past months.

Ivan “Ike” Wheeler

Ivan “Ike” Wheeler

Ivan “Ike” Wheeler (1935-2021)

“Ike’s career spanned 50 years. He retired from the United States Air Force with 21 years of service. He worked for 30 plus years for the City of Shreveport Parks and Recreation department serving as Athletic Director, as well as numerous community efforts in sports, charities and beyond.”

At the time of his induction into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 2012, Ike was a registered umpire for over 56 years and served as District Commissioner in the Shreveport, La. area, Player Representative, and Louisiana Umpire-in-Chief. In addition to these positions, Wheeler was a member of the National Indicator Fraternity (1988) and a member of the ASA/USA Softball of Louisiana Hall of Fame (2010). Some of his accomplishments he achieved since joining ASA/USA Softball include: recipient of the Region 6 Award of Excellence (2009) and umpire for four National Championships (1982, 1987, 1988, 1997) in addition to serving as either Tournament Director, Umpire Coordinator, or Housing Authority for 17 National Tournaments. Since 1978, Wheeler had successfully registered every team in the Shreveport Parks and Recreations Department for ASA/USA Softball, and has attended every Umpire-in-Chief clinic and ASA/USA Softball National Convention since 1982.

The family would like to commemorate his life by offering a visitation on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home (1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana). A private service and internment for immediate family only will follow the visitation.

Angelo Frannicola

Angelo Frannicola

Angelo Frannicola (1942-2021)

Mr. Angelo R. Frannicola, 78, of Nutley, NJ, passed away on Monday, February 22, 2021, at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston. Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley 540 Franklin Avenue on Sunday, February 28th from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. There will be a funeral mass celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge Street, Newark on Monday, March 1st at 10:30 a.m. The interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington with military honors.

Angelo was born in Newark, NJ and resided in Nutley for the past 42 years. He attended Sacred Heart School and had the honor of being a Page Boy when the Cathedral Basilica opened in 1954. Angelo was a graduate of St. Benedict’s Prep in 1960. He served his country proudly in the United States Army 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State University in 1974, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Seton Hall University, in 1981.

Angelo spent 27 years as a Physical Education teacher/Athletic Director in Newark, working at both the old Vailsburg and Weequahic High Schools. He was the Athletic Director of Nutley High School from 2001-2006 before his retirement. After that he served on the Nutley Board of Education from 2007-2010.

Angelo was an ASA/USA Softball Metro Newark Commissioner for 40 years. He was a football and basketball official as well as a baseball and softball umpire for over 50 years. Most recently, he was a mentor for student teachers under the direction of Montclair State University and Caldwell College.
Angelo’s hobbies included collecting Lionel Trains and enjoying a nice meal followed by a “good” cigar.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Toni (nee Ciccolini) Frannicola; his devoted children, Robert Frannicola and his wife Alicia, and Antoinette Giglio and her husband Joseph; his cherished grandson Michaelangelo; his dear brother-in-law Jack Kopidlowski, and his dear sister-in-law Loretta Kopidlowski. He is also survived by his loving nieces and nephews Anthony and Ruth Sgobbo, Anita and Jose Rodriguez, Joseph Kopidlowski and his fiancé Christina Hunter, and Peter and Jaclyn McKenna; his great-nieces and nephews Brooke Sgobbo, Jake Kopidlowski, Peter and Loretta McKenna; and also his loving furry companion Bella.
Angelo is predeceased by his parents Nicholas and Virginia (nee Fiaella) Frannicola, and his sister Annette D’Angelo.

There will be visitation at Biondi Funeral Home on Sunday, February 28 from 1 – 5 p.m., while the Funeral Mass will be held at Cathedral Basilica of The Sacred Heart on Monday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m. The Internment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleom at 12 p.m.

2003 ASA Men’s C Slow Pitch Nationals

2003 held at Lancaster, California.


Champion – MediaTrac/Roto Rooter, Vallejo, California
Runner Up – SportsDiamond.com, Fridley, Minnesota


  • MVP – N/A
  • Batting Leader – N/A
  • Home Run Leader – N/A

2003 FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Kelly Wheelock, S.W.A.C.
C – Steve Gibson, S.W.A.C.
1B – Travis Benway, Sportsdiamond.com
2B – Lou Peterson, Sportsdiamond.com
3B – Daryl Allen, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
SS – Matt Pesso, Aw Hell
OF – Lance Dalbey, Sportsdiamond.com
OF – Dax Crabbe, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
OF – Doug Joseph, Sportsdiamond.com
UTIL – Rush Chamblin, Bully’s
UTIL – Robert Morales, Aw Hell
UTIL – Paul Gose, S.W.A.C.
UTIL – Richard Agostini, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
UTIL – Ricky Garnett, Sox
UTIL – Ron Espinosa, Bully’s

2003 SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Matt Cardenas, Aw Hell
C – Angel Macias, Drunkn Munky
1B – Wes Archie, Bully’s
2B – Steve Otaguro, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
3B – Chris McMahon, Sox
SS – Darren Cooper, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
OF – Darren Hansen, Sportsdiamond.com
OF – Steve Fong, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
OF – Brent Rieck, Sportsdiamond.com
OF – Ron Webb, M.A. Clary Construction
UTIL – Brent Miller, S.W.A.C.
UTIL – Dave Burice, Bully’s
UTIL – Steve Carpenter, Woods/Albatronix
UTIL – Pete Asselin, Mediatrac/Roto Rooter
UTIL – Freddie Lopez, Sox


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Mediatrac/Roto Rooter, Vallejo, CA (7-0)
2. Sportsdiamond.com, Fridley, MN (6-2)
3. S.W.A.C., Ceres, CA (7-2)
4. Bully’s, Reno, NV (5-2)
5t. Sox, Visalia, CA (4-2)
5t. Aw Hell, Simi Valley, CA (5-2)
7t. M.A. Clary Construction, San Carlos, CA (6-2)
7t. Woods/Albatronix, Anaheim, CA (6-2)
9t. Who’s Your Daddy, Orange County, CA (3-2)
9t. Drunkn Munky, El Monte, CA (5-2)
9t. Choppers/Lefty’s, Brainerd, MN (5-2)
9t. Navarro Electric, San Francisco, CA (3-2)
13t. Twisted, Sierra Vista, AZ (3-2)
13t. KC Wingnuts, Kansas City, MO (4-2)
13t. Xtreme, Tustin, CA (3-2)
13t. Sports Connection, Brookings, SD (3-2)
17t. Something Unique/Chariton Merchants, Chariton, IA (2-2)
17t. A-1 Truck Parts, Portland, OR (3-2)
17t. Spancky’s Sports Bar, Rohnert Park, CA (2-2)
17t. Galindo/SCS, Buena Park, CA (2-2)
17t. Griff’s/3 Bag/Ideal Floors, Des Moines, IA (2-2)
17t. Jonny’s Saloon/Eagles #2228, Rochester, MN (3-2)
17t. Panic, La Palma, CA (3-2)
17t. Impact, Hastings, MN (2-2)
25t. Lee’s Pro Shop/Worth, Pine City, MN (2-2)
25t. Energy Link, Orange County, CA (2-2)
25t. Jersey’s, South St. Paul, MN (2-2)
25t. Team Gorilla/Rawlings Silverback, National City, CA (2-2)
25t. Double Play/Miken, Fairmont, MN (2-2)
25t. Mizuno Braves, Bloomington, CA (2-2)
25t. Team Dickies/Easton, Diamond Bar, CA (2-2)
25t. J&H Wall/Advanced/Jersey’s, Inver Grove Heights, MN (2-2)
33t. Club Shots, Des Moines, IA (1-2)
33t. Team Hara’s/Dallwig Bros., Salem, OR (1-2)
33t. Excel, Coeur d’ Alene, ID (1-2)
33t. Dream Team/Mizuno, Walnut, CA (1-2)
33t. Knights, Bend, OR (1-2)
33t. Imperial Custom Molding, Albertville, MN (1-2)
33t. Code Red, Simi Valley, CA (1-2)
33t. Gary’s Carpet, Caldwell, ID (1-2)
33t. MN Burn, Anoka/Coon Rapids, MN (1-2)
33t. Prime Source/Tejano, Owatonna, MN (1-2)
33t. Junkers, North Mankato, MN (1-2)
33t. Buffalo Wild Wings/Tanel 360, Apple Valley, MN (1-2)
33t. Arizona Worth, Tucson, AZ (1-2)
33t. Frontier Excavating, Portland, OR (1-2)
33t. Guido’s Pizza, Anchorage, AK (1-2)
33t. So What/All Star Appraisal, Aurora, CO (1-2)
49t. Sting Sports Bar, Great Falls, MT (0-2)
49t. Mudcats, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
49t. H&R Trucking, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
49t. Hard Rock Block, Lake Havasu, AZ (0-2)
49t. Spikes Mortgage Depot, Faribault, MN (0-2)
49t. JJ’s Sports Lounge/Anaconda Sports, Anchorage, AK (0-2)
49t. Brewskies/Midwest Auto, Winona, MN (0-2)
49t. North Dallas Integrated Health, Dallas, TX (0-2)
49t. Imperial Room, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
49t. N.E. Yankees, Minneapolis, MN (0-2)
49t. Blackshirts, Blair, NE (0-2)
49t. Team Casteels, Mead, OK (0-2)
49t. Tealey’s Land Surveying, Boise, ID (0-2)
49t. Zephyrs, Lewiston, ID (0-2)
49t. Happy Joes/NDAD, Grand Forks, ND (0-2)
49t. Rumpleminze/Hooters, Windsor Heights, IA (0-2)

E. Scott Southworth

Longtime ASA Umpire and Central Virginia Player Rep has passed away. When more details become available we will post them. Below is an article about Scott from 2009 and his passion for our sport.


Scott Southworth is known throughout the county as “Mr. Softball.”

Whether he’s behind home plate as a softball umpire or organizing a softball tournament, Scott Southworth does it with one thing in mind.

“I know to the people who are playing, it’s like a national tournament to them, so I have to treat it accordingly,” said the 61-year-old county resident. “I have to do a good job so the people who are participating can have a good time. I want them to enjoy it as much as I do.”

The personable Southworth has been in the softball game for 44 years, first as a player, then as a coach and now as an umpire and an official with the Amateur Softball Association (ASA).

“In Chesterfield, he is considered our head umpire and ‘Mr. Softball.’ He lives, eats and breathes the game,” said Kelly Thompson, recreation coordinator with the Chesterfield Department of Parks and Recreation.

“It’s his life,” added Drew Walker, a coed player for the Free Choice Act team. “The players appreciate his good-natured approach to the game. He knows everyone by name and genuinely cares for all the players. As an umpire, his No. 1 concern is for the safety of the players. When it’s blazing hot on Sunday afternoons, he’s always checking to make sure people are drinking water and staying hydrated. I’ve seen him stop a game because someone didn’t look well; he made them go cool off.”

Southworth is a nominee for the ASA Hall of Fame this year and says he’s loved every minute of his softball sojourn. “I love the camaraderie with the people, I enjoy the exercise, and I love the game itself so much.”

Southworth started in baseball at John Marshall High School. He then played semi-pro baseball. “It died out, then I started playing softball,” he said.

He has had an illustrious career in softball. In 1965, he started playing in church leagues. He played first base on the Samuel’s Grocery team in 1973 that “was the only team from Richmond to ever win Class A nationals,” Southworth said. He organized the Disco Sports team that finished fourth in nationals. Southworth also coached the AJD team at the AA level from 1980 to 1989 that finished in the final 16 seven years.

Southworth is in his 39th year as an umpire. He won the Indicator Award for umpiring in three national tournaments, and was the representative for two teams that played in national tournaments in Florida.

He’s back in the umpiring saddle this summer after undergoing hip surgery last year.

Dawn Vaughan, a player with the coed Balch Alignment team, said of Southworth, “He is one of the most knowledgeable and fairest umpires I have ever had a chance to play with. If something comes across that he has never experienced before, he will do all he can to make sure that he finds out the answer and fully explains what it is. I absolutely love him as an umpire, and better yet as a person.”

Southworth, who is married with three grown children, umpires 14 games a week in the Chesterfield Coed Softball League on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Harry G. Daniel Park at Iron Bridge and on Sundays at L.C. Bird High School.

A 19-year ASA employee who also owns an insurance agency, Southworth organizes 15 to 20 tournaments a year in the Central Virginia area as senior deputy commissioner with the ASA. “I try to have one tournament every other weekend,” he said. He also organizes two senior tournaments a year.

Among his larger projects, he organizes the Midnight Madness tournament that had about 60 teams participating in July. He also organized the Turkey Shoot tournament the past two Novembers that attracted 102 teams.

During the week, he can be found umpiring coed games. “As long as the good Lord blesses me with my health, I hope to continue doing it,” he said.

That’s good news for the many players who have found enjoyment playing their games under the sharp, caring direction of Mr. Softball.