Minnesota Softball

Minnesota Softball is the statewide governing body of amateur softball in Minnesota and an affiliate of USA Softball. As the governing body of softball in Minnesota, it is our responsibility to regulate competition to ensure fairness and equal opportunity to the people who play our sport

Minnesota Softball
Minnesota Softball
SportSoftball
Founded1925
FounderHarold A. Johnson
Inaugural season1925
CommissionerDan Pfeffer
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersMedina, MN
Official websitehttps://www.mnsoftball.com/

Since 1925, Minnesota Softball (formerly known as Minnesota State Diamond Ball Association and Minnesota Amateur Softball Association) has been providing volunteer services for the development and promotion of youth and adult softball in Minnesota.

In 1952, Minnesota officially joined the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), and Mr. Einar Nelson of the Minneapolis Park Board was named State Commissioner. ASA has since rebranded to USA Softball on January 1, 2017, and is the national governing body of softball in the United States.

Minnesota Softball is governed by a board of directors and consists of approximately 176 community based youth associations, 16 club youth associations, and 60 adult leagues who are formed into 7 districts.

Minnesota Softball is one of 62 local state and metro associations.

History

In 1918, William Ahern organized a City Amateur Kitten Ball association modelled on lines similar to those of the Minneapolis Amateur Baseball Association. The association was designed to include all kitten ball organizations of the city and will be composed of one representative from each league. William Ahern, who has played a prominent part in the organization of kitten ball teams both in Minneapolis and St. Paul, was elected president of the newly formed association. C.J. Hermstad was chosen vice president, with Bert Ekberg secretary-treasurer. A committee was also appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws for the association, which will be passed upon at another meeting. The division of the leagues, size of bat and ball, and other details will be included in the articles, which will apply to all leagues. J.C. Batten and J. Poitras, make up this committee.[1]

In 1920, new officers were elected for the season. Nick Kahler is president; William Ahern, vice president; Tom Hastings, secretary; Harold A. Johnson, treasurer.[2]

In 1923, William Ahern was elected president of the Minneapolis Diamondball Association at the annual meeting of the organization last week. It marks the third year of service in that capacity.[3]

In 1924, William Ahern was named Diamondball President. The Minneapolis Diamondball Association meeting was held and officers for the coming year were named. William Ahern has been elected president; C.A. Neavles, first vice president; Walter McDonald, second vice president; Conrad Thorpe, secretary; H.A. Johnson, treasurer.[4]

In 1925, Harold A. Johnson was named Minnesota State Diamond Ball Commissioner. The Twin Cities Championship was not played this year as both city champions entered a statewide Diamondball Championship Tournament. Cook's of Duluth beat Hibbing 5 to 4 to win the Iron Range district. Then Bertch Furniture of Minneapolis beat Cook's 7-0. Greb Martonick had 17 strikeouts to win Northern States. Winona beat Faribault, then St. Francis Casinos of St. Paul beat Winona on Marty O'Connors no hitter to win Southern States. Bertch Furniture would win the championship series held between Parade and Dunning for the 1925 State Championship.[5]

In 1926, the state diamondball championship was decided by tournament play again this year, according to announcement made today by H.A. Johnson of the park board and president of the state diamondball association. The tournament was held last year for the first time and it provided to be very successful and the state officials decided to hold the tourney again this year.[6]

Organization

Commissioner

The Commissioner is the principal liaison between the local Minnesota association and the USA Softball National Office in Oklahoma City. It was not until 1952 when Minnesota joined ASA.

  • 1925-1937 Harold A. Johnson (Minneapolis)
  • 1938-1946 E.W. Johnson (St. Paul)
  • 1947-1951 Einar Nelson (Coon Rapids)
  • 1952-1953 Burton K. Storm (Richfield)
  • 1954-1960 Laurenz "Larry" Harris (Hopkins)
  • 1959-1966 Ron Hurst (Bloomington)
  • 1967-1975 Bob Kojetin (Edina)
  • 1976 Lavern Schumack (Minneapolis)
  • 1977-2010 Perry Coonce (South St. Paul)
  • 2011–Present Dan Pfeffer (Maple Grove)

Districts

Minnesota is divided up into eight different districts.

  • District 1 consists of the following counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmstead, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Winona.
  • District 2 consists of the following counties: Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Waseca, Watonwan.
  • District 3 consists of the following counties: Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey, Washington.
  • District 4 consists of the following counties: Hennepin. Minneapolis is its own USA Softball recognized metro association and is operated by Minneapolis Park and Recreation.
  • District 5 consists of the following counties: Carver, Scott, Wright.
  • District 6 consists of the following counties: Benton, Big Stone, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pope, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Yellow Medicine.
  • District 7 consists of the following counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, St. Louis.
  • District 8 consists of the following counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wadena, Wilkin.

Championships

National championship teams from Minnesota
Year Team Community National Tournament
1974 Sears Roebuck Bloomington ASA Men's Industrial A Slow Pitch
1976 Rustic Bar Duluth ASA Women's A Slow Pitch
1982 Triangle Sports Minneapolis ASA Men's Major Slow Pitch
1983 Spooks Anoka ASA Women's Major Slow Pitch
1983 Big C's Hutchinson ASA Men's A Modified Pitch
1984 Cargill Gold Mound ASA Women's Industrial Slow Pitch
1984 Spooks Anoka ASA Women's Major Slow Pitch
1985 Triangle Enterprises Delano ASA Men's A Modified Pitch
1986 Park Avenue Covenant Bloomington ASA Church Slow Pitch
1986 Rookies Ruthton ASA Boys' 18-Under Fast Pitch
1987 Minnesota Merchants Minneapolis ASA Men's Class A Slow Pitch
1988 Spooks Anoka ASA Women's Major Slow Pitch
1988 Stewart Taylor Duluth ASA Men's A Fast Pitch
1989 Rookies Ruthton ASA Men's 19-Under Fast Pitch
1990 Rookies Ruthton ASA Men's 19-Under Fast Pitch
1994 Leroy Leroy ASA Boys' 16-Under Fast Pitch
1994 Kegal Signs Barnesville ASA Boys' 12-Under Fast Pitch
1995 Happy Chef Mankato ASA Men's A Fast Pitch
1995 Long Haul Trucking Albertville ASA Women's D Slow Pitch
1996 Junkers Mankato ASA Men's 23-Under Fast Pitch
1996 Red Man Construction Leroy ASA Boys' 18-Under Fast Pitch
1996 Spooks Anoka ASA Women's Major Slow Pitch
1997 Long Haul/TPS Albertville ASA Men's Major Slow Pitch
1997 Coffee Cup/DeMarini St. Paul ASA Men's A Slow Pitch
1997 Super Sounds Tapes St. James ASA Men's Over-45 Fast Pitch
1998 Minnesota Merchants Minneapolis ASA Men's 35-Over Slow Pitch
1998 Hooters/TPS/Cro Hall South St. Paul ASA Co-Ed A Slow Pitch
1998 G&M Contracting Lake Crystal ASA Boys' 18-Under Fast Pitch
1999 Super Sounds Tapes St. James ASA Men's 50-Over Fast Pitch
1999 Macken Plumbing/Budweiser Rochester ASA Women's A Slow Pitch
1999 Minnesota Merchants Minneapolis ASA Men's 35-Over Slow Pitch
2000 Long Haul/TPS Albertville ASA Men's Major Slow Pitch
2000 Super Sounds Tapes St. James ASA Men's 50-Over Fast Pitch
2000 Thurs Roofing Brooklyn Center ASA Men's 35-Over Slow Pitch
2001 Long Haul/Taylor Bros/Shen Corp/TPS Albertville ASA Men's Super Slow Pitch
2002 Long Haul/Taylor Bros/Shen Corp Albertville ASA Men's Super Slow Pitch
2002 Jonny's Saloon Rochester ASA Co-Ed Major Slow Pitch
2002 Head First Softball Coon Rapids ASA 16-Under Boys' Slow Pitch
2003 Odin Odin ASA Men's 23-Under Fast Pitch
2003 GM Contracting Lake Crystal ASA Boys' 18-Under Fast Pitch
2003 Golf Warehouse Elk River ASA Men's 45-Over Slow Pitch
2003 Minnesota Merchants/Easton Minneapolis ASA Men's 35-Over Slow Pitch
2003 Stewie Fast Pitch Stewartville ASA Boys' 16-Under Fast Pitch
2004 Minnesota Mudhens Minnetonka ASA Women's 23-Under Fast Pitch
2004 LeMay's Lake Crystal ASA Men's 23-Under Fast Pitch
2004 Maple River Eagles Mapleton ASA Boys' 14-Under Fast Pitch
2004 Minnesota Mudhens Minnetonka ASA Women's A Fast Pitch
2005 Long Haul Trucking/Miken Albertville ASA Men's A Slow Pitch
2005 LeMay's Lake Crystal ASA Men's 23-Under Fast Pitch
2005 Maple River Eagles Mapleton ASA Boys' 16-Under Fast Pitch
2005 St. Paul Midway St. Paul ASA Boys' 12-Under Fast Pitch
2006 Maple River Eagles Mapleton ASA Boys' 18-Under Fast Pitch
2006 Minnesota Mudhens Minnetonka ASA Women's A Fast Pitch
2007 Long Haul Trucking/Miken Albertville ASA Men's A Slow Pitch
2007 Weggy's Lake Crystal ASA Men's 23-Under Fast Pitch
2007 St. Paul Midway St. Paul ASA Boys' 14-Under Fast Pitch
2009 Long Haul Trucking Albertville ASA Men's A Slow Pitch
2009 Next Generation/Just1More Owatonna ASA Men's D Slow Pitch Northern
2010 Minnesota Merchants Minneapolis ASA Men's 45-Over Slow Pitch
2010 Long Haul Trucking Albertville ASA Men's A Slow Pitch
2010 The Saloon Minnetrista ASA Women's D Slow Pitch Northern
2011 Hennager Plumbing & Heating Lake Crystal ASA Boys' 18-Under Fast Pitch
2011 Minnesota Merchants Minneapolis ASA Men's 45-Over Slow Pitch
2011 Steichen Real Estate Austin ASA Men's E Slow Pitch Northern
2012 Xtreme/Combat Brooklyn Center ASA Men's B Slow Pitch
2013 Long Haul/JJ's/Doerflinger/Easton Albertville ASA Men's A Slow Pitch
2013 Cheap, Fast, & Easy T's Bloomington ASA Women's D Slow Pitch Northern
2014 Devils Blaine ASA Women's C Slow Pitch
2015 O&S Cattle/Mr. D's Eagan ASA Men's Super Slow Pitch
2016 O&S Cattle/Mr. D's Eagan ASA Men's Super Slow Pitch
2016 Dewey's Montevideo ASA Men's E Slow Pitch Northern
2018 Mankato Peppers Elite Mankato ASA Girls 14-Under A Fast Pitch
2019 All American Restoration Champlin USA Softball Men's B Slow Pitch
2019 Bloomington Jazz Bloomington USA Softball 18-Under Girls' Slow Pitch
2019 Arnie's Sewer & Septic New Ulm USA Softball Men's E Slow Pitch Northern
2020 Kegel Black Knights Amboy USA Softball Men's Major Fast Pitch
2020 SE Flyers Eyota USA Softball 18-Under A Girls' Fast Pitch
2021 Stagecoach/Crest Exteriors Shakopee USA Softball Men's C Slow Pitch
2021 Nasty Boys/Monsta/Greater Than Hayfield USA Softball Men's D Slow Pitch Northern
2022 Stagecoach Shakopee USA Softball Men's C Slow Pitch
2022 Burnsville Heat Burnsville USA Softball Girls 14-Under Slow Pitch
2022 Burnsville Firecrackers Burnsville USA Softball Girls 18-Under Slow Pitch
2023 Team Stoop/Schmidt Roofting Sartell USA Softball Men's B Slow Pitch

Notable players

Minnesotans named to national teams
Year Player Community National Team
1972 John Muench Prior Lake Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
1989 Todd Bouman Ruthton Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
1994 Jenny Condon Edina Team USA Women's Fast Pitch
1997 Judd Berthiaume Roseville Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2001 Tom Roth Lake Crystal Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2001 Dan Berthiaume St. Paul Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2001 Dave Berthiaume St. Paul Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2003 Chad Boom Barnesville Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2004 Chad Boom Barnesville Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2005 Bobby Olson Amboy Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2005 Brian Malakowsky Wells Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2006 Chad Boom Barnesville Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2006 Gregg Cascaes Apple Valley Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2006 Lucas Goring St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2007 Gregg Cascaes Apple Valley Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2007 Lucas Goring St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2008 Kevin Williams Lake Crystal Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2010 Chaun Demars Becker Team USA Men's Slow Pitch
2010 Scott  Brown Coon Rapids Team USA Men's Slow Pitch
2011 Rich "Geno" Buck Red Wing Team USA Men's Slow Pitch
2012 Anthony Dress Rosemount Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2012 Brett Meschke Lake Crystal Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2012 Jake Dalton Lake Crystal Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2012 Michael Lewis Amboy Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2012 Spencer Yackel Lake Crystal Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2013 Andy Vitcak Oakdale Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2013 Anthony Dress Rosemount Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2013 Rich "Geno" Buck Red Wing Team USA Men's Slow Pitch
2013 Roman Foore Rosemount Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2014 Andy Vitcak Oakdale Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2014 Lucas Goring St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2014 Steven Nessler North Mankato Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2014 Tyler Bouley Champlin Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2014 Tyler Stoffel North Mankato Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2015 Andy Vitcak Oakdale Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2015 Rich "Geno" Buck Red Wing Team USA Men's Slow Pitch
2016 Isaac Hormann Norwood Young America Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2016 Steven Nessler North Mankato Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2016 Jeff Lewis Amboy Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2017 Joel Cooley St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2018 Jeff Lewis Amboy Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2018 Joel Cooley St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2019 Coby Gibbons White Bear Lake Team USA Junior Men's Fast Pitch
2019 Joel Cooley St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2019 Tyler Bouley Champlin Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2019 Patrick Ellwanger North St. Paul Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2019 Tyler Bouley Champlin Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2020 Megan Higginbotham Minneapolis Team USA Women's Slow Pitch
2020 Patrick Ellwanger North St. Paul Team USA Futures Men's Slow Pitch
2022 Tyler Bouley Champlin Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2022 Joel Cooley St. Paul Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2022 Mike Lewis Amboy Team USA Men's Fast Pitch
2023 Cody Gibbons St. Paul Team USA Under 23 Men's Fast Pitch
2023 Frank Kimlinger St. Paul Team USA Under 23 Men's Fast Pitch
2023 Cody Gibbons St. Paul Team USA Under 18 Men's Fast Pitch

Minnesotans coaching national teams
Year Coach Community National team
2001 Wayne Hohenstein Vernon Center Team USA Junior Men's Fastpitch Assistant Coach
2016 Dan Nessler North Mankato Team USA Junior Men's Fastpitch Assistant Coach
2022 Dave Meyers Duluth Team USA Junior Men's Fastpitch Assistant Coach

References
  1. ""20 Teams Organize Local Kitten Ball Association"". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. March 23, 1918.
  2. "100 Kitten Ball Teams to Compete". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. April 4, 1920.
  3. "Diamond Ball Loop Elects Ahearn Chief". Star Tribune. April 8, 1923.
  4. "William Ahern Named Diamondball President". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. April 4, 1924.
  5. "First Title Diamond Tilt on Saturday". Minneapolis Star. September 10, 1925.
  6. "Diamondball Teams to Compete in State Meet". Minneapolis Star. May 11, 1926.
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