OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (October 29, 2024) – USA Softball, the National Governing Body for Softball in the United States, celebrated outstanding council members and tournament hosts at the 2024 Wilson Awards Luncheon, presented by Wilson Sporting Goods, during the 93rd Annual Council Meeting earlier today. The event honored achievements across multiple categories, including excellence in hosting the 2024 USA Softball National Championships, dedicated years of service to the organization, and recognized the 2024 USA Softball Complex of the Year, Benchmark Awards, and Communications Awards.
2024 JAMES FARRELL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The James Farrell Award of Excellence, named after former USA Softball of St. Louis Commissioner and National Office staff member James Farrell, recognizes cities that excel in hosting USA Softball National Championship Finals.
EIGHTEEN OF THE HIGHEST RATED TOURNAMENTS:
- Burlington, North Carolina
SIX OF THE HIGHEST RATED TOURNAMENTS:
- Loudoun County, Virginia
FIVE OF THE HIGHEST RATED TOURNAMENTS:
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Salem, Virginia
THREE OF THE HIGHEST RATED TOURNAMENTS:
- Brenham, Texas
- Everett, Washington
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Rockford, Michigan
TWO OF THE HIGHEST RATED TOURNAMENTS:
- Johnson City, Tennessee
- Salem, Oregon
- Prairie Island, Minnesota
- Boise, Idaho
- Canton, Ohio
ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED TOURNAMENTS:
- Burnsville, Minnesota
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Topeka, Kansas
- Decatur, Illinois
COMPLEX OF THE YEAR
The James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia, hosted by USA Softball of Virginia, was awarded the Complex of the Year for its outstanding facilities and contributions to the sport.
2024 BENCHMARK AWARDS
The Benchmark Awards recognize associations with significant increases in registrations of adult teams, youth teams, and umpires, requiring at least a 10% increase or an average registration of over 100 teams or umpires over the past five years.
BENCHMARK AWARD RECIPIENTS:
- USA Softball of Alabama – Tracy Morgan
- USA Softball of Central Virginia – John McPhail
- USA Softball of The Carolinas – Tim Doby
- USA Softball of Minnesota – Dan Pfeffer
- USA Softball of Texas – Rodney Cobb
- USA Softball of Washington – Rick Hansen
- USA Softball of Illinois – Bob Adams
- USA Softball of South Dakota – Gary Young
- USA Softball of Southern California – Chris Drumm
- USA Softball of Pennsylvania – Jeff Sell
MOST JO TEAM REGISTRATIONS:
- USA Softball of SoCal – Chris Drumm
4,675 JO Team Registrations
MOST ADULT TEAM REGISTRATIONS:
- USA Softball of Pennsylvania – Jeff Sell
2,098 Adult Team Registrations
MOST UMPIRE REGISTRATIONS:
- USA Softball of Pennsylvania – Jeff Sell
854 Umpire Registrations
MOST TOTAL REGISTRATIONS:
- USA Softball of Southern California – Chris Drumm
5,493 Total Registrations
2024 USA SOFTBALL YEARS OF SERVICE
Several members of the USA Softball National Council were also honored with Years of Service Awards for their dedication to the sport.
FIVE YEARS:
- Bryan Smith – USA Softball of Michigan
- Davey Cole – USA Softball of Mississippi
- Rick Petty – USA Softball of Missouri
- Joshua Burruss – USA Softball of Piedmont Virginia
- Roni Wobken – USA Softball of Nebraska
- George Gunn – USA Softball of Seattle
- Scott Stone – USA Softball of Texas
10 YEARS:
- Michael Warner – USA Softball of New York-NYC-New Jersey
- James Stemetzki – USA Softball of New Jersey
- Tony Gowell – USA Softball of Maine
- Dakota Hill – USA Softball of Louisiana
- Sheri Jenkins – USA Softball of Sacramento
- Brandon Chambers – USA Softball of Indiana
- Carol Bruggeman – USA Softball of Kentucky
- Walter Babcock – USA Softball of Massachusetts
- Randy Shepard – USA Softball of Ohio
- Ernie Yarbrough – USA Softball of Georgia
15 YEARS:
- David Maudsley – USA Softball of Sacramento
- Rob Combs – USA Softball of Oregon
- Thomas Rausch – USA Softball of Wisconsin
20 YEARS:
- Robert Plocheck – USA Softball of Houston
- Kristy Rich – USA Softball of Missouri
- Steve Fornadel – USA Softball of Florida
- Jack Hutcherson – USA Softball of Maryland-DC-Delaware
25 YEARS:
- Perk Carter – USA Softball of Oregon
- Mary Mahoney – USA Softball of Kansas City
- Mike De Leo – USA Softball of Michigan
30 YEARS:
- Phil McElroy – USA Softball of Massachusetts
- Roger Short – USA Softball of Mississippi
- R. B Thomas Jr. – USA Softball of Central Virginia
- Joe Patterson – USA Softball of Nebraska
35 YEARS:
- Stu Alderman – USA Softball of Detroit
- Garland Thompson – USA Softball of Kentucky
- Brenda Grubbs – USA Softball of Dallas/Fort Worth
- Tom Raimer – USA Softball of Wisconsin
- Jerry Hanson – USA Softball of Michigan
40 YEARS:
- Chuck Hawke – USA Softball of Kansas/Kansas City
- Warren Jones – USA Softball of Ohio
- Tom O‘Neill – USA Softball of Chicago
45 YEARS:
- Al Rivard – USA Softball of Minneapolis
50 YEARS:
- Eddie Andrews – USA Softball of Florida
55 YEARS:
- Ed Austin – USA Softball of Connecticut
USA Softball congratulates all the award recipients, administrators, and tournament hosts and looks forward to continuing the celebration of success throughout the 2024 season and beyond.