Received: 8/28/06 1:58:17 PM From: "nick danger" <the.coach(at)hotmail.co.uk>
Subject: BSF Hall of Fame -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Members Chosen for BSF Hall of Fame The first group of people to be inducted into the new British Softball Federation Hall of Fame has now been chosen by the BSFs Hall of Fame Committee. The Committee has chosen twelve individuals who are former players, umpires, organisers, national team managers or development workers and who, in the words of the Hall of Fame statement of purpose, have played a major role in the growth and development of, or demonstrated outstanding achievement and ability within, British Softball. The men and women who have been chosen as the first Hall of Fame inductees will be honoured at a ceremony to be held at the 2007 BSF AGM. While these first Hall of Fame members have been elected by a Committee established by the BSF Executive, nominations in 2007 and succeeding years will be opened up to the Softball community as a whole based on criteria to be published by the Committee during the closed season. Below is a list of the first members who will enter the BSF Hall of Fame and the categories in which they have been chosen. In order to be eligible for Hall of Fame selection, an individual must no longer be active in the category for which he or she has been nominated. BRITISH PLAYERS Kate Allen: Pioneer GB Womens Team player who played her first game in 1985 and her last in 2003, and was a mainstay at shortstop for the GB Women over that period in European Championships, Olympic Qualifiers and the 1994 World Championships. FOREIGN PLAYERS Tim Ritchie: Highly competitive and skilful shortstop for 69ers for many years and a great clutch hitter. Paul Gambaccini: Paul was a key player/organiser in the Regents Park pick-up game that started in 1974 and carried on until the late 80s and eventually morphed into the Zoo Crew. This was where many British players got their start. Paul didnt look like an athlete, but was a surprisingly good hitter as well as a dedicated pitcher. And of course his knowledge of pop music was unsurpassed! Eddie Sanchez: Eddie played for the US military out of Ruislip in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was a tremendous shortstop and power hitter one of very few players ever to hit a home run into the bank behind left field in the Stadium at the University of Westminster Ground at Chiswick. His range and athleticism at shortstop was an eye-opener to British players. UMPIRES Dave Allen: Much-loved American blue who died very recently of cancer. While not always reliable in terms of showing up at tournaments, Dave was an excellent and player-friendly umpire with his own unique style. Vince McGuire: Ever-present BASU stalwart for many years who helped solidify the organisation in its development phase and always promoted a professional approach to umpiring. NATIONAL TEAM MANAGERS/COACHES Mark Berman: Mark founded the GB Mens Team in 1997 and led the team through 2005, taking it from a standing start to third place in Europe, a World Championship qualification and ninth place in the world rankings. Mark also served as Fastpitch Officer on the BSF Executive for several years, took the lead in writing the current BSF Constitution and served as a member of the ESF Legal Commission. ADMINISTRATORS/ORGANISERS Andy Cannon: Without him there would be no Softball in Scotland. He started the Picts Softball Club in Edinburgh which at one time had 55 members over three teams. Many of these players went on to build their own teams and three original Picts still play in the Edinburgh Softball League under the Picts banner. Andy also started the Edinburgh Festball in 1991. Rikki Gemmell: Andy Cannons equivalent in Glasgow, who built up a thriving Glasgow Corporate League in the mid-90s and encouraged Scottish participation in the Softball world south of the border. Julian Aldridge: Julian has been elected to the Hall of Fame as an organiser as well as a player (see above). He brought Triple Crown to the UK, founded the Jersey Tournament, brought in the first major Softball sponsorships, took Softball into the UK Corporate Games for the first time and was a key organiser in the London Advertising League. Julian was Softballs first and most successful entrepreneur. Sarah-Jane Glover: An ever-present London organiser in the 1980s and early 1990s both for the London Softball Federation and the London Advertising League. Sarah-Jane was a tireless worker who set high standards for tournament organisation. The annual BSF award for Outstanding Service to Softball in a non-playing capacity, the Glover Cup, is named after her. DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS Natalie Fox: Elected for her enormous contribution to developing and running the GB youth Softball programme for the five years to the end of 2005, as well as for her outstanding work as a youth coach before and during that time. From: "nick danger" <the.coach(at)hotmail.co.uk> Al's Fastball News *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball VIA http://www.webbox.com
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