BIO

Robert “Rosie” Kroell dedicated 45 years to the game of slow pitch softball as a player, manager, coach and umpire before retiring in 2010.  As a player, Kroell competed as a pitcher and infielder with teams like Jones Café, Bud’s Café, Sweeney Auto, Eddie’s Café, Reading Motors, and Northside K of C, then later in a 50-over league at Randy Buck, and more recently in a 75-over league in Blue Ash.  As a manager he guided his Rosie’s Boys/Webers Café team – consisting of his six sons –  to a 1986 Metro title, winning 12 games in a row out of the losers’ bracket.  Later that year the team finished 3^rd in the ASA Nationals in Fairborn.  He also coached Watanabe Optical from 1994-1997 as the team amassed numerous top three finishes in ASA Major and Super Major and USSSA A-AA Metros, National Invitationals, Nationals and World Tournaments.  But Rosie is best known as one of Greater Cincinnati’s most recognized and respected umpires.  For 25 years beginning in 1975, he distinguished himself calling Greater Cincinnati’s best leagues and tournaments for the only umpire association he would ever worked for, Ohio Valley Umpires.  Rosie’s league resume included weeknight play at Avoca Park, Koenig Park in Reading, and Hartwell Recreation Center, as well as Greater Cincinnati’s elite Men’s Major play – the Tuesday-Thursday night Majors at Haubner Field in White Oak, and the Friday night Majors at Ross Park in St. Bernard.  He also worked countless invitationals at Avoca Park and Sports Farm in Harrison, and in two of the nation’s premier National Invitationals – the Hudepohl Classic at Ross Park and Northside K of C, and the Ohio Valley Classic at Ross Park and Sports Farm.  He was also honored with being selected to work in the Professional Softball League at Trechter Stadium in 1977 and ‘78.  In 2002 he worked in “The Farewell to Riverfront Cinergy Field,” a softball game between Cincinnati Reds legends and retired major league players that played before a sellout crowd.