Region 2 |

Jodi James is a second-year umpire in the Northern Va. Softball Officials Association, USA Softball of Piedmont Va. She was awarded the “Iron Mask” at the association’s annual banquet. The Iron Mask is presented to the umpire that worked the most games during the 2019 calendar year. Jodi commits herself to learning as much as she can to be a top-level umpire and it shows through her involvement.

Angelo Mercorelli, USA Softball of Ohio, is a 23-year veteran umpire from North Canton, Ohio who also played and managed softball. In addition to playing and umpiring with his son Dominic, Angelo has held various leadership roles within his association, including his current position of UIC. His most memorable highlight was working the USA Patriots (formerly the Wounded Warriors Amputee) Softball Team exhibition games.

Ken Hall, USA Softball of Ohio, and his wife Cheryl live in Louisville, Ohio. Hall began his affiliation with softball by playing slow pitch softball in the mid 1980’s before laying down the glove and coaching his two daughter's fastpitch teams for several years before giving back to the game and umpiring, now for over 24 years. He has worked several national tournaments as well as many Ohio state high school tournaments. Hall has attended five national umpiring schools and the advanced camp in 2019.  He works within his association assisting his fellow umpires by teaching mechanics, knowledge of the rules, good communication and game management, but his more memorable highlights were working with the Women’s Olympic Team in 2010.

Greg Hill is an umpire for USA Softball of Alabama, and works a full schedule of USA Softball, Alabama High School Athletic Association and NCAA games. Greg is from Athens, Ala. where he serves as a District UIC. Greg has had the opportunity to work in several USA Softball National Championships, including the Gold Championships in 2019.  While being a very valuable member on the field, Greg also is very giving in teaching and mentoring the young and less experienced umpires in Alabama.

Region 6 |

Brady Louthan is one of the younger umpires for the USA Softball of Michigan program. This past February, he had open heart surgery to have the aortic valve and aorta repaired. Brady is 14 years old and is also an avid bowler and involved with Boy Scouts. He looks forward to a bright future with the USA Softball of Michigan program.

Region 6 |

Larry “Lars” Schroeder, is seen here receiving his Gold Medals award. Schroeder is a veteran of more than 40 years umpiring softball for USA Softball of Michigan. He has umpired more than 13,000 games in the local recreational leagues around the Ann Arbor area. He is very passionate and dedicated in what he does on the field. Despite having double hip-surgery a few years ago, Lars has resumed a busy schedule of games built around his work for the City of Ann Arbor. 

Region 6 |

At the 2019 USA Softball 14U A Northern Nationals in Independence Township, Mich., veteran USA Softball of Metro Detroit Umpire, Bobby Allen (center) was selected as the Plate Umpire. USA Softball of Michigan Umpire Hanna Yadon (left) was selected at third base to umpire her first National Championship. USA Softball of Metro Detroit Umpire Katie Haydett (right) was selected at first base.  This was Haydett's third National assignment which qualified her for the NIF award.

Region 8 |

Kelly Raymond, USA Softball of Minnesota, is a ten-year veteran of USA Softball and has worked seven USA National Championships, approximately 130 games per year and has worked college, high school, and USA Softball. He has garnered the respect of coaches, players, and fans. He is an umpire who works hard, is consistent, and is always willing to listen and improve in all aspects of his umpiring. All five members of his family have umpired USA Softball and they were an assigner’s dream. He enjoys spending time with his two children Brodie (27) and his daughter Tailor (25). Raymond recently lost his youngest son, Braxton, to brain cancer at the age of 22.

Region 8 |

Dale Berkland has been a USA Softball of South Dakota umpire for 21 years and has worked seven USA National Championships. He started playing softball when he was nine years old and played until the age of 55. Berkland was a farmer in the Volga, South Dakota region from 1981-2017 and has been married for 47 years.  He has three children and eight grandchildren. 

Region 8 |

Kiana Kuchta has been an umpire with USA Softball of South Dakota for 10 years. Kuchta played softball for 10 years and found the love for the game to be an essential part of her life. She looks forward to being on the diamond all summer long.

Region 8 |

Kirsten Wessel (left) has been a USA Softball fast pitch umpire for four years.  Wessel teaches health and physical education to kids in kindergarten-12th grade. When not umpiring, Kirsten plays softball and volleyball, and teaches CPR classes. She also loves to go to boxing class, snowmobiling, paddle boarding, swimming, running, biking, along with playing fetch with the dog and taking the dog for a walk.

Alexis Walker (center) is from Mankato, Minn. She has been umpiring with USA softball for two years, while also refereeing soccer, basketball and hockey. She loves all sports and spends her free time playing hockey, snowboarding, and hanging with her roommates and cats.

Alex Plonski (right), from Bloomington, Minn., has been a USA Softball umpire for five years.  She enjoys umpiring softball, as well as playing and coaching softball. When she’s not umpiring, Alex likes to travel with her husband, hunt, fish and work out.  She also lists baking, working out, spending time with friends and family, playing with and walking her dog (Yoshi), reading, traveling the North Shore to visit Minnesota State Parks, as well as watching and attending sporting events!