A salute to softball veterans!
It is Veterans Day! I would like to keep our past article on softball veterans going by including any upper level softball players (past and present) names that we don't already have on the page. This includes Sponsors, Managers, Umpires, and Directors. Email me at DW@softballcenter.com to add a name or picture.
Also at the bottom of this page you can add in the comment section to list any upper level softball players that have a spouse, grandson, son, or parent that is a veteran.
Veteran's Day!
Thank you for your service!
A big thank you from SoftballCenter.com to all the military veteran's past and present that served our country.
This page salutes our upper level softball player's that have served our country.
Please send me names of the upper level softball player's that have served and I will add them to the page (dw@softballcenter.com or add their name to the comments section at the bottom of the page. Thanks.
2019 USSSA Military Champions and Major World Series team Militia/Treedem/Riot/Vetsports
Gene Somers was a shortstop on the 1975 All-Marine Softball team and All-Interservice Team pictured here. The team came from the WesPac and most of the guys came the Hawaii HQ.
2018 All Armed Forces team
Military Veterans Tre' Campbell and Johnny Bailey
2017 All Armed Forces team
2017 All Armed Forces team
2017 KLUTCH/Bull Dawg Trucking/SEMPER won the Varsity 'A' division
2017 VETSports/Militia finished 2nd at the Varsity 'A'
2017 4 The Fallen/CAGear/All American Athletics 3rd at the Varsity 'A'
2017 Legends Sports finished 4th at the Varsity 'A' division
2017 Heath/OA Apparel won the Varsity 'B' division
2017 Varsity 'B' 3rd Place – New Breed/FBT
2017 JK Inc – Over 40 Champs
2017 Over 40 2nd Place – Air Force Alumni
2017 Over 40 3rd Place – Outkast
2017 Sandlot from Illinois won the Men's Intramural division
2017 2nd Place Intramural – Bama Heat
2017 Women's 2nd Place – Kentucky Ballers
Militia/4TheFallen family of teams
2016 USSSA Military World tournament report
Anthony Mastrogiovanni
2005-2015 Army and National Guard – Multiple combat deployments and Bronze Star recipient
Women's Armed Forces ASA 'Open' National Champions!
All Air Force at the ASA 'B'
All Army at the ASA 'B'
4 The Fallen JTF Hawaii at the USSSA Major World Series with the umpires
Rob Schlemmer (right) is an Air Force veteran
Greg Jones US ARMY Ft Hood 1989-1994 Played on Docs/Easton in 2003
Bob Ellis was Army and his father USMC Sgt Major
Alfredo "DJ" DeJesus from the Killeen/Ft Hood Area and his brother MSG DeJesus
Dominic Fielder – SSG – U.S. Army
Tre Campbell
Len Anderson
Joey Paulk
Bengie Ramos – Nightmare/Louisville Slugger
Al Kennon- Nightmare/Louisville Slugger
David Jones- Nightmare/Louisville Slugger
Dustin Doty – Combat Rockstar
Brandon Gooding – 4 The Fallen
Jim Kulovitz – OC Swats
All Armed Forces Softball Team
2011 All Armed Forces Men's Team
All Armed Forces
Washington, D.C.
Anthony Bartolini NOMI DET NAMI
Chase Sims MCB Quantico, VA
Chris Markey Osan AFB, Korea
Christopher Stevens Okinawa, Japan
Clayton Shaw Fort Campbell, KY
Danny Rogers Camp Walker, Korea
Dexter High Nellis AFB, NV
Kevin Cox Fighter Squadron 106
Lee Diaz Tampa, FL
Leonard Myers Nellis AFB, NV
Lester Daniels Fort Gordon, GA
Melvin DeRolf Fort Gordon, GA
Richard Burley Lackland AFB, TX
Robert Chastain Aviano AFB, Italy
Todd Duncan Shaw AFB, SC
Stephen Shortland Randolph AFB, TX
Scott Feterl Fort Bragg, NC
Zac Turissini
Josh Wiggs
Nelly McLeod
Rob Darhower
Clint Hiller
Elmer Mason
Albert Kemp
Walt Reaves
Clay Bazile
Chief Watts
Cheyron Mcrae
Rob Darhower
Michael Melton
Nelly McLeod
Tom Atha
Chris Williams
Dale Back
Tony Patrick
Kirby Puckett
Scott Harris
Tony Madden
Drew Pearson
John Heller
David Lewis
Dennis Davison – US Army (Primetime)
Jim Pressley
Reggie Myers
Kirby Murphy US Marines played for RAC, Magic
Eddie Rivera
Kirk Myers
Jerry Wieland
Dustin Kentzell
Cornelio Escobedo played for R&D Easton – US Army
Dennis Emhoff – Navy
Dave Willams
Dan" DR" Rotenberry
Hal Koudelka "KUJO"
USMC Ronnie Demari
All Armed Forces Women's Team
Mike Turney – US Marines – 20yrs
O.C. Swats 1985-1992
All-Marine Team
All Inter-Service Team
Camp Pendleton Marine Team
Mike was a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marines and was heavily involved in the Marine softball team as a player and manager before a 6 year stint in promotions at Worth sporting goods company. Mike was 52 years old when he passed away from a brain tumor in 2007 and had 30 years with the Marine Corp. We thank Mike (posthumously) and his family for his dedicated service and sacrifices made for our country.
Matt Hunt
Dexter Avery
Josh Wiggs
Darwin Vinson – Air Force veteran
Charlie Brown
Pat Dalsanders
Adam Belding From TYJA US Army
Warren Bellm (Dudley director) – 4 years Air Force 1965-1969
Steven Morris
John Beasley – former Bell Corp player
Mike Cervantes from Miken Mafia/ASPnation US ARMY 97-04
Diane Cervantes from Cajan Chaos US Navy 01-09
Players with family members that are veterans:
SSgt Carrie Hickerson is in the Air Force and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan – Chris Hoshaw's wife
LTC L. W. Tanner -father of Alan Tanner
Jerry Bowser Sr.
Send me more names so I can add them to the list, thanks. DW@softballcenter.com
26 responses to “A salute to softball veterans!”
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Dale Roe
dont forget ryan robbins
Alex puscarich navy veteran
Thank you very much for your service!!
Mike Turney was a super star! He was a 120% dedicated American soldier just as his father before him. I was, and still am, proud to call him my friend. As he would say, “come-on” loud and proud. Thinking of you still Mike!
Henri, well said! Mike will always be a part of your heart and watching over you! 🙂 Miss him too, and reading your comment left a smile on my face.
I may be a bit late to the table here, but like Peggy, I just happened by. I played with Henri and the OC Swats in the early to mid 1980’s before I was discharged from the USMC in 1985. During that time I also played with and against Mike in MANY a softball tournament. I remember him to be fierce competitor with a great passion for softball and friend to all those who played with AND against him. I remember him and Henri to this day with my fondest memories both of softball and life.
Ed Hicks US Army
Laservision/Easton
KIRBY/HIGGS/EASTON
Kirby Investments
Benfield/Alesium/Reece/Easton
Benfield Electric/Worth
C&M Sporting Goods/TPS
Chase
L&L Painting
Twin States/Worth
Tre Campbell
Just came across this and it may not actually be Veterans Day but every day I thank our Military and Veterans for your service! Thank you! And thank you to Softball Center for doing this salute!
I am an Air Force Veteran. Thank you to all of the other softball veterans for your service.
A huge thank you to our Veterans! Without your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your family, we couldn’t enjoy the freedoms we have today. I vow to never take for granted the freedoms so many has fought and died to protect.
Thanks Dale means a lot boss. You will never know buddy.. Appreciate that.
I played with John Beasley on the All Navy Team as Coast Guardsman. He was a great mentor and helped me tremendously to make the team. I believe we were the first Coastguardsman to represent the USCG on The Navy Team. It was the most fun I had playing ball. I was a Rescue Swimmer one of the first in Hawaii and graduated Honorman at the Navy Swimmer School. I was jerked on a hoist and swimmer check ride and had to be medically retired after 11 years. Now I have rods and screws in my lower back with a fusion. I say this to remind you softball studs to always work your lower back out as much as your abs. I was wondering if I could get the coaches phone number and purchase a hat, find out where there practicing and trying out this year and where the tournament is going to be held to attend please. Best of luck gentlemen and Beasley if you read this contact me at 443-880-8118, and Coach, you can contact me also. Thank you so much.
My son Christian is on a 87ft boat. Wants to be a Swimmer and I couldn’t be more proud as any Parent that has a child that entered the Military.
I was on the first and second women marine softball team. I also was the assistant coach on the second team. We only had one week to prepare for the inter-service tournament. I was station at Camp Lejune, Jacksonville,NC.
If you need any more information, do not hesitate to e-mail me. Thank you.
Thanks for doing this – I played on the 1972 All-Army and All-Armed Forces slow-pitch softball team – good to see the military interest in softball is still going strong.
Correction to the above – I joined the Army at Fort Polk in 1972 – went to the Fast-pitch softball camp at Fort Benning in 1973, and played first base on the All-Army team that won the Inter-service tournament at Indiantown Gap in 1974 and made the All-Armed Forces team that played in York, PA – wonderful memories of truly great men.
Army veteran
That’s awesome DW. Great job with sending out recognition to the Armed Forces. Lots of great ball players in that mix.
Recently came across your website and seen this thread. It is pretty awesome how you acknowledge all of the armed forces.
Active Army 4 years
California National Guard 2.5 years
Not a conference player mostly local tournaments and some out of state.
I was on the 1975 All-Marine Softball team and also the All-Interservice Team. The team came from the WesPac and most of the guys came the Hawaii HQ. My name is Gene Somers HM3 USN stationed with 3MarDiv in Okinawa. I played shortstop and have several pictures of the team I would like to post.
Slight correction to the pictures I sent. As could clearly be seen on our uniforms at the Marine Softball Championship we represented the FMFPAC not the WesPac. The 2 pictures are of identical players, the difference being, (besides the uniforms), before winning the Marine championship and after winning the Marine championship. With no additions we went on to win the Interservice championship. I will send a picture of the medal I received.
I was on the 1975 All-Navy Softball team. I was an FTM3 stationed onboard USS Tarawa (LHA-1) homeported out of San Diego. Was picked up by the NAS North Island softball team and won the 1975 All-Navy tournament at Naval Station, Charleston, SC. I was also selected for the All-Navy Team that competed in the 1975 Inter-service tournament in Charleston as well.
I played on the 1972 TAC Air Force Slow Pitch Softball Team at Cannon AFB, N.M. Then played on the 1972 Ar Force at Camp Lagune. N.C. We won the U S Forces Tournament.
I played on the All Army team in 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85. & coached in 86. Selected to the Armed Forces team several years. I loved the years I played and treasure the memories.