News story

SSWC Names National Masters, Women's Directors

Jan. 1, 2001 – Senior Softball-USA

SACRAMENTO - Senior Softball World Championships officials announced the appointment of a Masters National Director, an Eastern National Women's Director and a Western National Women's Director.

Pat Blackmon, the first woman to be named to the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame, was appointed Eastern National Women's Director and Carol Ford, 5-time national champion, becomes the Western National Women's Director.

Robert "Big Bob" Martin, who has been putting together and managing powerhouse softball teams in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1970s, was appointed the SSWC Masters National Director.

"These three people are not only exceptional; competitors, but gifted leaders in their own rights," said Terry Hennessy, SSWC executive director. "They will offer greater representation to two of the fastest-growing segments of our sport: the women's program and the Masters."

Both Ford, 58, and Blackmon, 62, are also members of the National Senior Softball Women's Advisory Board. Blackmon (See Featured Player on Page 4) is from Purcellville, Virginia, and Ford from Irvine, California. Martin is from Northern California.

Ford played on five national championships teams: 2nd Wind, which won the SSWC in 1998, and the California Spirits, which won the World Series and the Senior Olympics in 1999, and the World Championships, and USSSA National Championships in 2000.

Ford plays left-center field and manages the California Spirit 55s.

Martin, 52, has been managing and playing on teams that have been in the Top 5 list for USSSA since the early '70s.

He and current manager John Costidio put together the 40+ Byrons team 5 years ago. Byrons won the SSWC Masters World Championships in Roseville in September.

Now playing in the seniors, Martin pitches for the Roseville Grays, which won both the ISA and NSA National Championships in the 50+ division last year.

Fittingly, Martin has been wearing Number 40 jersey for the past several years.