OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –– USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, recognized members and tournament hosts at the Wilson Awards Luncheon, presented by Wilson Sporting Goods. Held earlier today at the 90th Annual Council Meeting in Oklahoma City, Okla., awards were given in three categories: dedicated years of service to USA Softball, excellence in conducting USA Softball National Championships in 2021 and the 2021 USA Softball Complex of the Year.
Kicking off the 2021 Wilson Awards Luncheon was the recognition of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Softball Team who earned the silver medal finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Athletes who attended the luncheon were Olympic medalists Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.), Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville, Fla.), Head Coach Ken Eriksen (Tampa, Fla.) and Assistant Coach/2022 Women’s National Team (WNT) Head Coach, Heather Tarr (Seattle, Wash.).
The first awards presented at today’s Awards Luncheon were the James Farrell Awards of Excellence, which were awarded to cities that did an outstanding job of hosting a 2021 USA Softball National Championship.
2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS
TWENTY-FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Burlington, North Carolina
FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Watertown, South Dakota
FOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Medford, Oregon – Salem, Virginia – Worcester County, Maryland
THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hendersonville, Tennessee – Roseville, California
TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Evansville, Indiana – Loudoun County, Virginia – North Mankato, Minnesota – Rockford, Michigan – Sioux Falls, South Dakota – South Bend, Indiana
ONE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Bismarck, North Dakota – Decatur, Illinois – Fargo, North Dakota – Ft. Myers, Florida – Houston, Texas – Johnson City, Tennessee – Nevada, Iowa – Normal, Illinois – Richmond, Virginia – Salem, Oregon – Valdosta, Georgia – York, Pennslyvania
Following the recognition of the James Farrell Awards of Excellence were the USA Softball Years of Service Awards, which honored members of the USA Softball National Council in five-year increments.
FIVE YEARS
Doris Adams – USA Softball of Arkansas
Don Alexander – USA Softball of Oregon
Valerie Arioto – USA Softball of Northern California
Tim Doby – USA Softball of North Carolina
Laura Head – USA Softball of Southern California
Chuck Louie – USA Softball of San Francisco
Dawn Mayse – USA Softball of Kansas City
Steve McCown – USA Softball of Dallas/Ft. Worth
Tracy Morgan – USA Softball of Alabama
Vanessa O’Laughlin – USA Softball of Northern California
John Orlowski – USA Softball of Kansas City
Sandy Searcy – USA Softball of Indiana
Bruce Sidel – USA Softball of Ohio
Tom Stanley – USA Softball of Mississippi
James Stewart – USA Softball of Idaho
Greg Thomas – USA Softball of Central Virginia
Vickie VanKleek – USA Softball of Piedmont Virginia
USA Patriots – USA Softball of Central Virginia
Josh Wege – USA Softball of Central Virginia
John Wright – USA Softball of Washington
10 YEARS
Tina Garza – USA Softball of Northern California
John McPhail – USA Softball of Central Virginia
Dan Pfeffer – USA Softball of Minnesota
Greg Pohl – USA Softball of St. Louis
15 YEARS
Earl Kilian – USA Softball of Idaho
Wayne Straiton – USA Softball of Vermont
20 YEARS
Jerry Fick – USA Softball of Cincinnati
Phil Gutierrez – USA Softball of Southern California
Abraham Key – USA Softball of Pennsylvania
Anna Louie – USA Softball of San Francisco
Tony Pehle – USA Softball of Nevada
Matt Pfeifer – USA Softball of Greater San Joaquin
30 YEARS
ET Colvin – USA Softball of Mississippi
Tom Dowd – USA Softball of Central California
Beverly Wiley – USA Softball of Rhode Island
35 YEARS
Don Brewer – USA Softball of Illinois
Sam Ducato – USA Softball of Northern California
Freddie Ezell – USA Softball of Texas
40 YEARS
Ron Boley – USA Softball of Portland
Charles Moss – USA Softball of Central Virginia
Jack Mowatt – USA Softball of Maryland – DC – Delaware
50 YEARS
Bill Maher – USA Softball of South Dakota
Joe Wilson – USA Softball of Seattle
The final award of the day was awarded to Sherman Park of USA Softball of South Dakota as the 2021 USA Softball Complex of the Year. Recognized as an outstanding facility within USA Softball, Sherman Park includes nine softball fields with large shaded areas, a Hall of Fame Building as well as fantastic amenities nearby such as a Battleship Memorial, Ice Rink, Wedding Plaza, playground and the Great Plains Zoo.