NATIONAL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2010 NAMED

June 1, 2010 – Jack Sirard contributing writer

A total of 20 individuals have been inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame for 2010.

Included are 10 Pioneers to the sport, one manager and nine players.

The National Senior Softball Hall of Fame was founded in 1995 in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is now headquartered in Mustang, Ok. Its purpose is to recognize players, managers, umpires, directors, and sponsors, who have achieved the highest honors in Senior Softball.

Among the pioneers inducted this year are the following:

Dave Banghart, who currently plays for the Mid-America Patriots 70 team, began playing senior softball in 1998. He founded, developed, and promoted Nebraska Senior Softball program in 2000, which has grown from two to 11 teams. He is the commissioner of the Nebraska Half Century.

Ralph “Skip” Sanchez has been involved in Senior Softball for more than 15 years, the last 13 as manager of the Gold Coast Pirates, the McCarty Pirates, the MAC Pirates, and the Channel Island Pirates. He is a member of the Men’s National Advisory Board for the National Senior Softball Summit and is one of the principal developers and managers of the City of Oxnard Senior Softball League. He has served as President and Vice President of the Gold Coast Senior Softball League.

Charles E. “Chuck” Lindsay plays for the Southwest Stars 80s and has been active in Senior Softball for 28 years. He previously played for the Texas Diamonds. He has played on seven national championship teams in the 75 and 80 divisions and was named an All American eight times during his softball career. He is an Air Force veteran of 20 years.

Angelo Mercurio has played on very successful teams in Georgia area winning 23 championships over the past 18 years. As both a power hitter and speed merchant, one of his best attributes is his ability to get along with team members. Angelo never met a person that he was unkind toward; he was positive and uplifting to all.

Raymond Bosetti plays for Joseph Chevrolet and is known as a clever pitcher who takes the bat out of a lot of player’s hands. In addition, his coaches note that he can play several positions. He is a leader, a friend, and has a nice guy attitude which complements his talents.

Wayne Ellithorpe plays for D-99 and has been the heart and soul of his teams from the 60s through the 75s. His athletic talent is outstanding. Wayne is the total package and a golden glover. When it comes to intangibles, Wayne’s leadership skills, character, and dedication to his teammates stand out.

Jennings “Smitty” Smith plays for the Anaheim Jets 80s where he is known not only for his outstanding skills but also as the epitome of a team player. He is very competitive and plays to win but he has not forgotten the fun of the game and the camaraderie involved.

Delphine Mary Bowyer currently plays for the Florida Spirits. When her husband Richard, broke his finger playing ball, he had to stop playing which made him available to watch their five children so Del, at the age of 33 could start playing. This was the beginning of her softball career. She has helped organize slow pitch, coached Little League of 15 year old girls, and continues to stay on top of the game.

Adeline Rosmus lives in Ontario, Canada, and plays in the 70+ Division. She started her senior softball career in 1989 playing with the Sportaculars Canada 50+ team and has played competitive throughout the United States and Canada for 20 years. She has exceptional skills in the sport of softball playing shortstop or third base.

Ruth Fellmeth plays in the 70+ Division in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She has been involved in senior softball for 14 years. Baseball, then softball has been part of her life since a very early age. Years ago, she received a call from her friend Ethel Lehman who was putting together a senior women’s team to start competing in tournaments throughout the country. Ruth immediately said yes. That started her senior softball career.

The nine players inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame include:

Phil Biedronski, who lives in Baltimore, Md., has played senior softball for 14 years. He has been an integral part of 44 national championship senior softball teams. All of those championships have been won at the top echelon, highest skill level, of whatever age division he was competing in at the time. He was chosen all-tournament 16 times and twice was recognized as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. In the past seven years Phil has been named as a first team selection in 16 Major Plus tournaments.”

Bill Brotherton makes his home in Venice, Fla., and has been playing senior softball for 20 years. He has received ringing endorsements from current National Senior Softball Hall of Famers, both teammates and opponents alike. The common thread, throughout their letters of recommendation, focused on his defensive ability. This is not to downplay his offensive skills, which are outstanding, but it is refreshing to see such an emphasis on a player’s defensive acumen when normally all these recommendations talk about is how a player can hit the ball.

Steve Imlay of Las Vegas started his Senior Softball career in 1999 in Indiana, playing with the Indiana Legends and the Indy Classics. In 2001, he began playing with the Las Vegas Legends, and is currently playing with the Las Vegas Stars in the 50 Major Plus Division. Lou Giovanini, who nominated Steve for the Hall of Fame, says “Beyond the high batting average, home runs, and All-American honors, Steve has an incredible passion for softball. He loves the game, the competition, and the fellowship.”

James Stapleton lives in Cupertino, Calif., and has played Senior Softball for 10 years. He has been a member of 16 national championship teams, which include the California Old A’s, the Animals, the Assoc. Feed, and MTC. His senior softball career began 10 years ago in the San Jose Vintage League. Larry Campbell, manager for the MTC 55 Champions, says James “is a superior ballplayer as well as a gentleman and sportsman.”

Robert Woodroof lives in San Clemente, Calif., and has played Senior Softball for 12 years. He began his Senior Softball career with Grimes Trucking in 1997, and then played for Fat Cola, The Coasters, Capital Return, and then became manager/player of the Golden State Fasteners in the 55 division. In 2006, Bob was honored by receiving the SPA Greg Garrett Spirit Award, given to the player that exemplifies the spirit and dedication to the game of softball that legendary player Greg Garrett brought to the game.

H.P. “Dutch” Detwiler has played senior softball for 14 years and lives in Ellicott City, Md. He started his senior softball career in 1996 by playing in the Montgomery County, MD, senior softball league. In 1999, he began playing traveling tournament ball with the Express team and was honored with his first All-American selection. He has continued to play traveling tournament ball as a senior softball player since then and has gained 10 more All-American awards while helping his teams garner 16 senior softball national championships. From 1999 to 2004 he averaged 91 home runs a season and just a few years ago he hammered out 145 round trippers.

Diane E. Hein lives in Fallbrook, Calif., and has played senior softball for 15 years. As a child, Diane played softball with the Girls’ Athletic Association, an after-school recreational league, because schools did not have girls’ teams. Playing for over 30 years, Diane has achieved many awards. Since starting her softball career in the streets and sandlots of Whittier in the 1960s, Diane has been involved with the softball way of life, one way or another, as a player, coach, manager, or organizer. She has played for Second Wind, California Spirits and Can Do.

Brenda Batchelor lives in Palm Coast, Fla., and has been playing Senior Softball for 14 years. Born in Virginia, “Batch,” as she is known, has been playing ball since she was just 4 years old. She began her senior softball career as the shortstop for the Golden Girls and the team had an exceptional year. Batch has proven herself as an exceptional team leader both on and off the field.

Juanita C. Grandstaff lives in Lebanon, Tenn., and has played Senior Softball for 12 years. Her career in softball started around 1970 when her husband coached a team that hadlost their pitcher. He said to his wife, “You need to learn how to pitch.” With that, her pitching career started. Juanita has been a teacher for 35 years and has been voted “Wilson County Teacher of the Year” and “W.A. Wright Educator of the Year.” Her profile was featured in Who’s Who Among America Teachers 12 times. She started playing senior ball in 1996 for a Touch of Class in the 50+ division and is still pitching for them today. In her softball career, she has coached, played and was ISA Tennessee State Director from 1995-2004.

The lone manager to be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame is:

Roy Hern has been playing senior softball for the past 15 years and is well on his way to earning the required number of points needed for nomination to the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame as a player. In the meantime, however, he has stepped forward as a manager and has accumulated credentials that earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame manager category. Over the years, Hern has lived and played for teams in both northern and southern Ohio. Upon retiring in 2005 Hern decided to create an all-Ohio 60 Major team and put together a collection of players throughout the state who could compete at that skill level. That first year team won the 60 Major division at the 2005 SSWC (SSUSA) Winter Nationals. In the 2½ years that Joseph Chevrolet has competed as a 60 Major team under Hern’s tutelage they have played in eight regional or national tournaments, winning six and finishing second in the other two.