missouri softball hall of famemissouri softball hall of fame

To enhance their glove work, she installed this technique: combine their pinky and No. He has also served as trainer for the St. Louis Hummers womens professional softball team, the University of Missouri football team at the Fiesta Read more , The great thing about sports is that everybody has a neat story, some more remarkable than others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures. Fax: 417-889-2761. Pleasant Hill High School 2000 & 2001 State Championship Softball Teams. She lived the dream that made an impact. There was no question I took the job, Knierim says even today, smiling proudly. He pitched back-to-back one-hitters in the district finals and in the first round of the state tournament. 3/7/2021 8:00:00 AM, 2023 University of Missouri-Kansas City. Burt pitched one season with Winnipeg of the low Class A Northern League. With a playing career that spanned 14 years, Whitehead is known to be one of the top five outfielders of all time. She coached basketball for six years (six conference titles, four national tournaments), volleyball for nine years (nationally ranked several years), field hockey for six years (played four-year schools) and then softball. For more than 85 years the pastime has been a mainstay of warm summer nights here. Enshrinement in the Sports Hall of Fame is an honor afforded to few. By the age of 18, he was already a star on the Triple A fast pitch circuit. Coaches in the era were Murphy (1987, 1988), Don Gray (1990), Horton (1992-1997), Matt Henenberg (1998), Mike McHolland (1999-2003), Melody Campbell Stewart (2004-2007) and Matt Walker (2008). The 1989 club edged Neelyville 3-1 and finished 16-3. It also was part of a 30-game win streak that reached into the following season, when Billings won the Southwest Central Association again and placed third at the state tournament. With nearly 350 friends, family members and administrators from all across the country in attendance, the ceremony honored the accomplishments, history-making moments and milestones of the nine inductees who helped shape the sport of softball. Mary Stratton-Johnson Hillcrest High School/Slow-Pitch Softball: One of the most successful players in womens slow-pitch softball in Springfield, Stratton-Johnson started playing in 1973 and was known for her power, speed and versatility as she manned shortstop and the outfield. In addition to her offensive dominance, Watley shined as an All-American short stop with a range that allowed few balls to reach the outfield. . In 1968, he led the league in strikeouts, with 110 in 71 innings, and made the All-Star team. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. A 13-time All-American selection, Williams was a member of 10 National Championship titles throughout his storied playing career. This years Diamond 9 honorees are: Dr. Mark Baker (Webb City High School/Missouri Southern State University), Charlie Burt (Truman High School/Ban Johnson League/Missouri State University), Tim Clubb (Eureka High School/Missouri State University), Mary Stratton-Johnson (Hillcrest High School/Slow-Pitch Softball), Jordan Logan (North Callaway High School/Jefferson College/Columbia College), Renay Ries Spilker (Blue Springs High School/University of Central Missouri), Tom Stilson (Ozark High School/Stanford University), Justin Stine (West Plains High School/University of Missouri) and Lyndsey Talbot (Jefferson City High School/Central Methodist University). The 2000 team beat Webb City 2-1 to finish 32-0, and then the 2001 team beat Helias Catholic of Jefferson City 1-0 to finish 30-1. Justin Stine West Plains High School/University of Missouri. The 2001 team won its season opener, suffered a 7-0 setback to Oak Park in Game 2 and then won the rest of the way. In 2011, he was elected as President of USA Softball, representing USA Softball at International Softball Federation (ISF) meetings and events. An individual ticket is $50 in advance, or $60 at the door. Inducted in the 2020 class were: Phil Gutierrez (Meritorious Service), Lovieanne Jung (Fast Pitch Player), Terry Muck(Fast Pitch Player), Bill Pfeiffer (Fast Pitch Player), Doug Roberson (Slow Pitch Player),Carl Rose (Slow Pitch Player),Natasha Watley (Fast Pitch Player), Cecil Whitehead(Slow Pitch Player),andCurtis Williams (Slow Pitch Player). In 1974, at age 17, there she was playing shortstop for Big Blue in the Womens State fastpitch softball tournament against Foremost Dairy, known as Springfields best travel squad full of coaches and collegians. He also was all-conference twice in basketball and was a letterman in football. THE INDUCTEE WILL GET ONE TABLE RESERVED FOR Large groups attending a table reservation is suggested a sold out rooms means your party could be separated. We are all family whether they played in the 70s through the 2000s., 3861 East Stan Musial Drive If you think your nominee deserves to be ensconced in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, fill out the nomination form or upload your nomination packet and click submit, and the Hall of Fame Selection Committee will evaluate your nomination. Springfield, Missouri 65809, Phone: 417-889-3100 To see the kids go from freshmen to sophomores, seeing the maturity level go up was great. Jordan Logan North Callaway High School/Jefferson College/Columbia College: At North Callaway, Logan earned multiple All-State, all-conference and all-district selections as a pitcher, including in 2007 when she led North Callaway to the Class 3 state title. Williams slugged an impressive .880 batting average, a feat that named him the 1988 Mens Major Slow Pitch batting leader. That came after Licking lost its top pitcher, Phillip Gambill, to an eye injury ahead of the quarterfinals. With nearly 350 friends, family . She also was a two-time All-Region and four-time All-MIAA selection, including appearing on three first team lists. The Morrisville school, located in Polk County and north of Springfield, advanced to 12 Final Fours from 1987 to 2008. Terry Muck (Oakland, Calif.) - Fast Pitch Player. Roy Burlison was one of the lucky ones in life. He was durable, covering 241, 220 and 199.1 innings in the 1985 through 1987 seasons, respectively. Licking High School Baseball 1983-1989 Era. Enshrinement in the Sports Hall of Fame is an honor afforded to few. In fact, he and Gold combined on a no-hitter in the semifinal, which is one of 14 in the history of the Final Four. He earned All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball (First Team) and the American Baseball Coaches Association (Second Team), and was the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year. A native of Raytown and a 1985 graduate of Raytown High School, Vance was inducted into the schools Hall of Fame in September of 2015. Then again, Celeste Knierim certainly wasnt afraid to roll up her sleeves. I always tried to create experiences for our players, for life, said Knierim, who fought for more funding to make it happen. Enshrinement in the Sports Hall of Fame is an honor afforded to few. In sports, you can be a kid just hanging around a ball field and, years later and thanks to happenstance, youre traveling across the country getting to play a game you love. Those finishes covered the years 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2008. He then became the first Kansas City-area amateur drafted by the Royals, in the 49th round. They won Class 3 state championships with a combined record of 62-1. An inductee of the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame, she is still all over the all-time lists: 14th in hits (177), seventh in batting average (.346) and seventh in triples. Fax: 417-889-2761. He was barely 56 inches tall and perhaps weighed 150 pounds, but Muck was a mountain of a man as a fast pitch softball player. 4 finger together in the final socket, move the middle finger down one and use the forefinger outside. All of our inductees have accomplished amazing feats that many athletes will never be able to beat. Three were national runners-up (1978, 1985, 2004). 2022 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. With the ability to hit for power and average while also using her speed in the short game, Watley was the true definition of a triple threat, making her one of the most feared hitters for any defense. She compiledfive national top finishes in the AIAW, or Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. USA Softball Missouri Awards - USA Softball of Missouri Suddenly, the teacher who had a bias against athletics those were her own words Read more , At age 19 St. Louis native, Erma Bergmann was asked to try out professionally for the All American Girls Baseball League. His passion continued beyond the field with the appointment to Commissioner of Southern California in 2007 where he led SoCal to become the top association annually for team, individual and umpire registrations. TicketSmarter - Official Ticket Resale Partner, Softball Adds Abby Husak to Incoming Signing Class, KC Softball Adds Butler Standout Briona Woods, Lexy Smith Named to Summit League All-Tournament Team, Kansas City Softball Falls to NDSU in Summit League Tournament, Kansas City Softball Game Suspended Due to Weather. He also paced the Tiger pitching staff in strikeouts in two of those years. In American Legion baseball, Mayfield founded and managed Fike/Post 499 from 1978 to 1983, coached the Rods Sports As Blue Springs all but one season between 1998 and 2014 and then Odessa Post 286 from 2015-2018. Dont not forget to include the FIRST & LAST names of the people attending and PHONE NUMBER. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. No tickets will be sold at the door - Last year was SOLD OUT. Mondays Game Report: Cardinals 1, Royals 0. Hosted by #1 ranked Oklahoma, the prestigious tournament also features Liberty University and the University of Houston. A head table ticket is $100 and includes the same perks. 2023 All Rights Reserved. An Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist as well as a two-time Pan American Games Gold Medalist and World Champion, Lovieanne Jung was one of the best and smartest infielders to ever play the game. Five players have earned All-Region, including one who led the NJCAA in strikeouts. With nearly 350 friends, family members and administrators from all across the country in attendance, the ceremony honored the accomplishments, history-making moments and milestones of the nine inductees who helped shape the sport of softball. OKLAHOMA CITY - The National Softball Hall of Fame welcomed nine new members as USA Softball held its 40th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this evening. Missouri Sports Hall of Fame - Wikipedia teacher (Carol Gross) I idolized Read more , In the fall of 1974, two years after the passage of federal Title IX legislation, the door to Sallie Beards office swung open, as several women on the Missouri Southern State University campus sought to start a basketball team. She finished her career with a 1.45 earned run average. He also played for Team Florida USA (2003-2004) and for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League (2006-2007). Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) - Fast Pitch Player. Pitching in this extraordinary baseball Read more , Randy Biggerstaff began his athletic training career in 1973, when he became the District Athletic Trainer for the Granite City Community Unit School District after graduating from the University of Missouri. Payments by Check- please make the check payable to MIDWEST USSSA SLOWPITCH HALL OF FAME INC Please mail your checks to 15629 Lakeside Drive, Basehor, Kansas 66007. But those who earn such recognition are immortalized forever. USA SOFTBALL MISSOURI HALL OF FAME APPLICATION USA SOFTBALL MISSOURI SLOW PITCH IMPACT APPLICATION USA SOFTBALL MISSOURI HALL OF FAME, 1987-1999 USA SOFTBALL MISSOURI HALL OF FAME, 2000-2010. Carl Rose (Valdosta, Ga.) - Slow Pitch Player. Springfield Softball Hall of Fame Museum And, in 2004, Knierim received recognition in Faces in the Crowd in Sports Illustrated. Barrett, Schroeder toasted as latest Hall of Fame class Known for his small size and impressive speed, Muck encompassed the perfect attributes for a leadoff hitter while providing power that allowed him to occasionally shift to 3-hole in the Saver lineup. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Numerous sponsorships are available, including congratulatory ads. *Crawford-Butz Auto, Home & Business Insurance, Cover photo of Busch Stadium by Allen Ahner, GET STARTED WITH YOUR DRURY HOTEL DISCOUNT: CLICK HERE, Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Roberson earned ASA accolades 11 times during his storied career, including Outstanding Defensive Player at the 1990 ASA Super Nationals. Bill Pfeiffer exemplifies a true love for the game of softball that has allowed him to excel in many parts of the sport. Carl Rose is synonymous with homerun, totaling over 2,300 long balls throughout his playing career a feat that earned him eight All-American selections. That season, Billings beat Willard, which eventually placed third in Class 3. In fact, he still remembers the Read more , 3861 East Stan Musial Drive Stay informed by signing up for our monthly Park Board Newsletter. The tournament will take place at Hall of Fame Stadium, home of the NCAA Women's College World Series. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Events - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Meet the Hall of Famers Learn more about the men and women who dedicated their careers to outstanding athletic achievements and advancements in Missouri. Four teams reached the Final Four. Starting in 1989, Gutierrez began his Umpire in Chief (UIC) career when he was appointed as SoCal North San Diego District UIC, serving as Deputy State UIC. Logan is currently the pitching coach at Evangel University. Payments by Credit Card and Paypal- CLICK HERE -. Statistics dont lie, which is why many consider Whitehead to be in the Top 5 of all-time greatest slow pitch softball players in the history of the sport. Overall, Hunter coached Bears softball from 1972 to 1982, compiling a 227-111 record (.672). In that tournament, Stratton-Johnson hit .520 with three triples and earned First Team All-American. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. In 1996, he helped the Tigers to a Big 8 Conference title and NCAA Midwest Regional berth while earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America honors. Knierim launched Meramec's softball program in 1975 and became one of the top coaches in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), guiding Meramec to a 1,043-542 record through 2004. These days, Stilson works for the Greene County Sheriffs Office. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 1999 MLB Draft and pitched professionally for parts of five seasons. Along the way, they won two state championships in Class 1-2, the first playing out in 1988 under the leadership of coach Gary Murphy and the second one secured in 1992 with coach Jim Horton. When you talk about slow pitch players in the game of softball, Cecil Whitehead is one of the names that comes to mind. Consider Sharon Buschjost. Coached by Howard Quigley (MSHOF 2020), the Billings Wildcats won the 1990 state championship in Class 1. Celeste Knierim - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Pfeiffer continues to serve as a member of the Association in hopes to keep the game alive and well in the Chicago Metro area. Her teams won 25 conference titles, and she was a 12-time Regional Coach of the Year. One of the best outfielders of all time, Doug Roberson is considered to have had one of the strongest arms ever seen in slow pitch softball. -Meritorious Service. A 2006 umpire Inductee to the San Diego County Sports Officials Hall of Fame as a Softball Umpire, Gutierrez developed, maintained, and continually improved an Umpire Training Program renowned throughout the country. A graduate of Raytown South High School, Dwight grew up yearning Read more , Every athlete has their favorite memory and, when Joanie French talks about hers, its almost too good to be true. Known as an absolute powerhouse on both sides of the field, Roberson slugged over 2,000 homeruns in his 14-year playing career, totaling a season high of 672 in his 1987 season. HOF Inductee 2023 Jerry Suelmann. Baker was named to the College World Series All-Tournament team that season. That included winning it all in 1974. In his current role, Vance oversees the supervision and overall operation of the natural grass field at Kauffman Stadium. Walker and Abruscato Named Gatorade Softball Players of the Year Walker, a 5-10 third baseman from Olathe, Kansas, led Olathe West High School to a 24-1 record and the 6A state championship this past season. About the only bright spot for the Cardinals was a single by Jordan Walker that extended his hitting streak to 17 games. That came after the junior pitcher posted an 11-0 record (a Class 3 record) and 0.90 earned run average, with the right-hander striking out 95 batters in 77 innings. Tim Clubb Eureka High School/Missouri State University. A 1969 graduate of Blue Springs High School, Mayfield coached high school baseball for 32 seasons including 27 at his alma mater. *NO TABLES WILL BE RESERVED. Admission Prices: Free to browse, but donations are accepted. Jung was a part of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team, dubbed The Real Dream Team, that dominated their way to the Gold Medal in the Athens Olympic Games and earned a spot in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. That is, Jodie Adams never forgot what it truly meant for her, as a child and then a high school and college student-athlete, to learn the valuable lessons that sports so often teaches. Read more , Mike Alden has been at the helm of Missouri athletics since 1998, and its no shock his tenure has produced the most comprehensive run of athletic and academic success in school history. In the finale, Pleasant Hill beat Helias Catholic in 21 innings in a game that lasted more than four hours. As they should. She coached the first two NJCAA All-Star teams and then was the programs administrator for eight years. A native of nearby Mount Vernon, Hunter was a physical education major at Missouri Stateand earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1955. With Read more , Born in Lutie, Missouri, Bonus Frost grew up in Springfield and started playing fast pitch softball at the age of 10. In fact, this was the scene for Cindy Henderson Snead back in 1971: She and Read more , She has spent her career living a dream. Jung currently works as a firefighter for the Riverside Fire Department while continuing to serve the sport of softball as an Elite Representative on the Womens Selection Committee. Missouri Sports Hall of Fame |, Nearly 200 SW Missouri athletes honored in Sports Commission Awards, Crowd of 700 turns out for Spring Sports Luncheon presented by Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper, Results: Springfield Celebrity Golf Classic presented by Great Southern Bank, Results: Mizzou Alumni Golf Classic presented by Great Southern Bank. This for a coach raised by a single mom in south St. Louis and who believed her calling was in junior college, which explains why Knierim turned down several NCAA Division I job opportunities. The Missouri A.S.A. A fleet, left handed hitting outfielder, Frost played in 14 national tournaments, posting a career batting average Read more , The unfairness of life didnt derail her even though it could have. A member of the Ritchs-Superior squad, Whitehead helped claim 10 of 12 Grand Slam titles as well as 31 championships in three years while averaging a .651 batting average with 258 homeruns. He has umpired four Mens Major National Championships, receiving phenomenal rating for each of them. The 1991 and 1992 teams reached the NCAA Division II College World Series, with the 1991 team finishing as the national runner-up. Various interactive attractions allow visitors to simulate driving a NASCAR race car, stepping into the batters box against a Major League Baseball pitcher, and throwing football passes. A six-time All-American, Whitehead was a member of two Super National Championships, two Major National Championships and four Super National Runner-ups. Events - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Events July 2023 05 Jul H2O Ozarks Golf Classic presented by Country Mart July 5, 2023 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Buffalo Ridge Golf Course Golf Join us for the 12th annual H2O Ozarks Golf Classic presented by Country Mart, set for June 30 at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course. Softball - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame News Sport: Softball Jodie Adams She emerged years ago as one of southwest Missouri's best tennis players, later competed on championship softball teams and, fortunately, never forgot. He also hit .394 with 36 RBI. Dedicated to recognizing Missouri athletes and softball teams the HOF is housed within the recreation center whose coordinates are listed above. The McQuearys have been involved in almost everything since. HALL OF FAME AWARDS NOMINATION GUIDELINES USA Softball Missouri Board of Directors shall determine inductees into the Missouri ASA/USA Softball Missouri Hall of Fame, according to the following guidelines. He has worked with several youth organizations throughout Kansas City to help promote safe playing surfaces for all youth sports. Following his storied slow pitch softball career, Roses legendary power at the plate landed him a signature bat, the Carl Rose Lighthouse Bat a Worth best seller. The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is located in Springfield, Missouri, United States.Founded in 1994 by Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons, the Hall of Fame is housed in a two-story, 32,000-square-foot building. PDF Hall of Fame 2011-2020 - USA Softball of Missouri Springfield & Missouri Hall of Fames Springfield ASA Hall of Fame Inductees 1965 Induction Class Mark Frye Bob Groth Bob Lamb Walter Ray Clyde Kelly Lawrence Drennon Ray Fraker Jack O'Connell Al White Don Smith C.L. Having played softball during the 1940s and 1950s, Mrs. Carter saw the need for a softball program for Read more , CLASS OF 2014 (Inaugural Class) Bruce Long Greg Carlton Chris Dufner Brad Beattie Scott Loveland Doug Middleton Charlie Slavens Mike Tennant Jim Winn Class of 2015 Jack Burrell Humansville and Southwest Baptist Brad Simmons Glendale High School and the Kansas City Royals Kelly Snider Hillcrest High School the Oklahoma Sooners and Read more , There werent many opportunities for sports-minded young girls growing up in Missouri in the 1960s. Our inductees have molded Missouri sports to what it is today. At Missouri State, Burt lettered three years and was a combined 16-4. Copyright (c) 2023 Groundspeak, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Curtis Williams played the highest classification of softball for over 30 years, earning his first All-American award in 1977 and his last in 2000, the longest span between such awards in softball history. A career that spanned 44 years with USA Softball, Phil Gutierrez has played a significant role on numerous lives through the sport of softball. The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame considers for induction individuals and teams that were born in Missouri, made their sports career in Missouri, or contributed to amateur or professional sports in Missouri. Do you know an individual, era, program or team whose contribution to Missouri sports has been significant enough to warrant inclusion in our records? An avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, its only fitting that David McQueary is bestowed the Presidents Award during the Baseball & Softball Luncheon presented by the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company. The award recognizes individuals who champion the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and other sports across the state. In addition to his All-American honors, Williams was also awarded MVP of the 1982 Smoky Mountain Classic. And, like many athletes, Mandee Berg Holeyfield couldnt help but watch other teams that is, the better teams with slightly older athletes and wonder, What if? Read more , Kay Hunter learned at an early age to make the most of lifes opportunities. In addition to hitting the long ball, Roberson was an RBI machine, averaging around 20 RBIs a game. Every year we select the "best of the best" to be inducted into our Hall of Fame. Kansas City Softball Joins Hall of Fame Tournament This Weekend Rob Rains, Editor. Of setting them up for success on the field, and in life. The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductees are more than just impressive athletes. Muck was the premier middle infielder of his time with a range that allowed few balls through the infield. Bill Pfeiffer (Aurora, Ill.) - Fast Pitch Player. Knierim also got creative in recruiting. Marion C. Early (Morrisville) High School Softball 1987-2008 Era. Adam Wainwright could not get through the second inning on Thursday night, allowing six runs, and the Cardinals lost 14-0 to the Astros at Busch Stadium. The phone number to make a reservation is. I like to say that when I was 18, Hesse said, Read more , She played on the dusty softball fields in and around Kansas City in her youth, learning from her four older softball sisters as well as her dad-coach. Story Links. She would find hidden gems and turn them into All-Americans. Matthew Liberatore will get the start in the 7:15 p.m. game. At Odessa, his teams were 60-60 and won a district title in 2018. Nomination forms are available from each local district commissioner or from the Missouri ASA web site. You see, public schools didnt field womens sports teams during her childhood and teen years, and her only shot to earn a college softball scholarship was, well, old-school. In the Texas County community of Licking, located about 35 minutes south of Rolla, locals always look forward to baseball season. Her teams earned 16 NJCAA Tournament berths, with 15 teams finishing in the top seven. In 1987, he combined on a 2-3 record in the NLCS and World Series as he churned out 26.2 innings. - Kansas City Softball received a last-minute invitation to join The Hall of Fame Tournament in Oklahoma City this coming weekend. After retiring from the sport in 2010, Watley continues to be an inspiration and leader in her work with the Natasha Watley Foundation bringing her knowledge, passion, and hope to the next generation of young ladies.