COVID Cases Update – Session 4 SSWC

Nov. 1, 2020

SACRAMENTO – SSUSA was recently informed of four positive cases of COVID-19 from session four of the Senior Softball World Championships.

The positive cases came from two teams - a Men’s 50 AAA team from Massachusetts and a Men's 50 Major Plus team from Florida.

Overall, there have been 29 reported positive cases across all four sessions of the 2020 SSWC, which attracted 422 teams and almost 10,000 players and family members.

Along with the recent four cases from session four, the other reported cases from the previous three sessions included:

• Two players and a friend from a 60AA Colorado team.
• Five members of a 60 AA Oklahoma team.
• A pitcher from a 60AA team from Nevada.
• A player from a 60 Major team from Minnesota.
• A player, his wife, and daughter from a 55AAA Southern California team.
• Seven players and the coach of 55 and 60 Major-Plus teams from Texas. The initial player became ill on the second day of play. That player was being hospitalized with pneumonia and later released.
• A player from a 65 Major team from Nevada.
• A player from a 65 Major-Plus team from California.
• A player from a 65 AAA Oklahoma team.
• A player from a 65 AA Oklahoma team.
• A player from 75 AAA team from Arizona.

Unfortunately, SSUSA is sad to report that one of the members of the Men’s 60 AA team from Oklahoma that had tested positive has died.

Colonel Charlie Don Thigpen, 61, of Edmond, OK, died on Oct. 22.

The 2020 season was Thigpen’s first year playing SSUSA.

As a member of OKC RedHawks, Thigpen played in the Missouri Open, Oil City Classic and the Senior Softball World Championships.

“Charlie was a leader, a real fireball, always gave 110%, a true winner," said Mike Armstrong, manager of OKC RedHawks. "You won’t encounter people like Charlie, and his wife Lisa but few times in your life!”

Thigpen tallied a 32 year a career with the United States Postal Service, holding the title of US Postal Inspector for the majority of his career.

Additionally, Thigpen spent 36 years in the United States Air Force. Colonel Thigpen served in Operation Desert Storm in 1990.

Thigpen graduated with his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1988. Following his bachelor’s degree, Colonel Thigpen graduated with a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1996.

Colonel Charlie Thigpen
(1959-2020)