Hall of Fame: 3 Players, A Manager, and A Lifetime Achievement Recipient Inducted

Sept. 1, 2023

Softball News Report

     Three players, a manager and a special lifetime achievement recipient for Senior Softball USA were inducted into the Hall of Fame during Opening Ceremonies for the Second Session of the World Championships in Las Vegas. 

     They include:

Carl Gustafson, Lifetime Achievement

     Gustafson (photo above) is only the second person to be inducted for Lifetime Achievements. 

     He is known as an exceptional player who hit booming home runs, managed a number of SoCal teams to national titles and was instrumental in building Senior Softball throughout the area with the most players in the United States: Southern California.

Joe Cors, Pioneer Player category

     Cors (photo above) had one of the more meteoric rises in our sport, going from playing league ball to AA to Major-Plus in a two-year span. He helped the Omen 70's and 75 Major Plus teams become recognized as one of the best teams in the nation and now plays for an 80's division Major Plus team that is also highly rated nationally - The San Francisco Seals.

Vince Melograno, Pioneer Player

     Melograno (photo above) began his 15-year career playing senior softball in Cleveland in 2002.  He played with some of the top teams in the East,  including Joseph Chevrolet 60+ Major and Venom. Melograno chalked up 48 All-Tournament awards and 8 MVP awards.  He batted a consistent .765 to .900 OBP. Many of his awards were achieved at the Major and Major Plus level.

Tols Mihailoff, Pioneer Player

     In his 26 years playing senior softball, Mihailoff (photo above) has earned entry into three other Hall of Fames: The Florida Half Century Hall of Fame, FSSA Legends Hall of Fame, and Collier County Hall of Fame.  He won his first World Championship in 1998 at the ASA Nationals in Florida – a year after he started playing senior ball.  He went on to win over 35 national championships. 

Kurt Mahaney, Manager

     Mahaney (photo above) has coached and played on some of the best teams in the country, including MTC, Five Spot, Nor Cal Longhorns and Nazzareno Longhorns.  All of those are 50 Major Plus teams.

     Born in Modesto, in the California central valley,  Mahaney has led those top teams to eight national titles since 2012.  He is now managing Cal Energy.