The USA Softball Association of Illinois will induct ten individuals and three teams into their Hall of Fame on April 13, 2019. The honorees will be formally recognized and honored in a ceremony held at the Illinois Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame Banquet at the Decatur Hotel and Convention Center.
Selected for induction in the individual categories are:
Mike Turner, Meritorious Service; Effingham, Illinois... Made his mark in softball as a sponsor, manager, and outstanding slopitch player/pitcher for Turner Trucking of Effingham, Illinois. Also served ten years as an ASA District Commissioner. Turner won over 1,000 games as a pitcher and was one of the better hitters for the Turner team, compiling 2,057 hits including 174 home runs and 1,268 RBI’s in a 20-year career.
Randy Ulrich, Umpire; Quincy, Illinois… An active ASA umpire from 1978 up to the present. In his nearly forty-year career, Ulrich has worked an average of 200 plus games several years (since 2004). Those games include over 35 state and seven national tournaments. Worked the championship game of five of those seven national tournaments. Currently serves as a Deputy UIC for Illinois.
Mary Ellen Novak, Meritorious Service; Normal, Illinois…. Strong supporter and advocate for girls and womens fastpitch softball in the Normal area. Support and efforts were primarily in the scheduling of umpires for over 23,000 plus games involving 47,000 umpire assignments. Also served many years on the BNGSA Board of Directors as treasurer and was instrumental in the organization’s attainment of a favorable tax status
Mark Brayfield, Meritorious Service; Robinson, Illinois…Mark was an outstanding mens fastpitch pitcher for over 40 years. During his illustrious career he pitched for Casey, Kankakee, Springfield, Nokomis, Bloomington, Forrest, Clearwater Bombers and several other teams. Brayfield hurled for numerous state championship teams and was a frequent all-state selection. He is a member of the Clearwater Florida and Casey Truckers Hall of Fame.
Bill Burris, Meritorious Service; Casey, Illinois…. One of the truly outstanding softball personalities in East Central Illinois. Has been involved in ASA and high school softball for more than 40 years as administrator, leader, announcer and promoter. Currently President of the Casey Softball Hall of Honor and ASA Hall of Fame, Bill was instrumental in transforming the organization to the USA Softball of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in 2010.
Lloyd Nelson, Meritorious Service; Carbondale, Illinois…. The USA Softball of Illinois Vice President for southern Illinois, Lloyd is known by many as “Mr. Slopitch” in Illinois. He has been tournament director of the mens D and E slopitch state tournaments in Decatur for almost a decade. In addition, he has for many years coached the Hit N’ Misses highly regarded coed team that won the state championship in 1997 and annually participates in the state tournament in Alton.
Steve Mitchell, Mens Fastpitch Pitcher; Huntersville, North Carolina…. Pitched several years for Alton Sports Tap, a team he helped manage before switching to Tates Farm, then Bonuttis and finally Nokomis. In a fifteen-year career, he pitched 11 perfect games and an additional eight no-hitters. Competed in seven or eight national tournaments.
Paul Carlton, Mens Fastpitch Player; Decatur, Illinois…. Including Masters level competition, Paul has competed in mens fastpitch softball for over 40 years. Beginning in 1977 he played for Ashland, Ohio Faultless Rubber, Bloomington Beer Nuts, Cerro Gordo Broncos, and Decatur Pride. He then semi-retired and played fourteen years for various Masters level teams, winning all American honors nine times and playing for eight national championship teams.
Doug Mammoser, Fastpitch Player, Newton, Illinois... Brad played fastpitch softball for about fifteen years with one of his better years being for Effingham DJ in 1993 when he hit .367 with 5 home runs and 24 RBI’s. However, his best season came three years earlier in 1987 when he had a .426 batting average with eight home runs and 51 RBI’s. In addition to DJ, Doug also played for Bobbers, TSA, and BOSS, all excellent Effingham teams. He made the all state team in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992.
Randy Milleville Fastpitch Player; Altamont... Randy played for approximately 15 years for Altamont, Bonutti Orthopedics and Tates Farm Implements. One of his good years for Bonutti was 1994 when he cranked eleven home runs with 43 RBI’s and a .310 batting average. Prior to that (1986-1993), he accumulated a .343 batting average with 116 home runs and 466 RBI’s in 575 games.
The following teams/organizations were also voted to be inducted into the USA Softball of Illinois ASA Hall of Fame:
Alton, Church Team
Mattoon Pride, JO Organization
Decatur Challengers, Womens Fastpitch Team
Don Brewer: Donald L. Brewer Date: _February 21, 2019
Illinois ASA State Commissioner
Cell: 618-525-1986
