• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
Bob Bosse’s 60-year slow pitch career didn’t really peak until 1992 when he began playing senior softball with Joseph Chevrolet. Prior to that Bob won several Knights of Columbus Ohio State and National Championships, and enjoyed a third place (1970) and second place (1971) finish in the Men’s Major Metro Tournament with Hill & Griffith. But it was when Bob began participating at the senior level that his success began to skyrocket. From 1992-’11 with Joseph, Bob won seven 40-over, 50-over and 60-over World Championships, was named to eight All-World teams, and was a two-time World Tournament MVP. During the 2005 season, Bob pitched Joseph to the championship of the Senior Softball Winter World in Fort Myers, Fl., where he batted .680 and was named Tournament MVP. Two years later Bob duplicated that performance in Ft. Myers, winning another SSUSA title and MVP honors. Then in 2012- ’13, he captured a pair of World titles and garnered two more All-World selections with the Dayton Legends 60’s. He bagged yet another World title and All-American honors with Cincy 60’s in 2014, and has collected five more All-World selections – including three MVP awards – with the Dayton Legends 70’s. Bob’s teams have also captured numerous invitational tournament crowns in the tri-state participating in the SPA and ISA programs. Bob has played primarily as a pitcher and 2nd baseman during his career, and enjoyed a lifetime batting average of approximately .650.
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
Bob Lipsky worked for many umpire organizations during his 28-year career, including Al Goodman, Buckeye, Buckeye Metro, Wayne Rust, and Eastside. And each one quickly learned that Bob possessed all the qualities a softball official needed to excel. He took pride in his appearance, and was always clean and in the proper uniform. He knew the rules, hustled, and was in the right place at the right time to make his calls. He was fair and earned the respect of his peers and the players. He distinguished himself in championship play, never stopped learning or trying to improve the game, taught by example and in the classroom, and loved the game. Bob made it his business to attend local and national umpire clinics every year, eventually teaching and speaking at those clinics himself for over 10 years. He was a Board member of Expressway Park’s umpire association, was their umpire-in-chief for three years, and taught their classes for 15 years. He was awarded Ohio USSSA District IX Umpire of the Year honors, and served as District Umpire-In-Chief from 2008 until he retired in 2015, having worked over 17,500 games. During his career at Expressway, he worked over 10 District Championships, 55 State Championships, 100 National Invitationals, 16 National and Regional Championships, and 2 World Series. Teaching umpires became a great passion for Bob, and he was thrilled to be a part of the learning and growing process for young umpires. In another effort to improve the game, he often submitted rule change proposals to the USSSA organization for consideration. But the most rewarding part of his career, says Bob now, was that he never stopped having fun.
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
At one point in time, the Oakland Raiders were thought of as the “bad boys” of the NFL. It was an image cultivated from the top down. Former owner Al Davis had no problem thumbing his nose at the establishment. The notorious bad boys wore silver and black, and also wore the “black sheep” mark on their backs as well due to their history of being the nastiest and meanest team around. They were rebels, and represented the dark side of the NFL. Now, insert the name “Jay’s” above for the “Oakland Raiders” and “Jay Hopkins” for “Al Davis,” the color “pink” for “silver and black,” and the sport of “softball” for “NFL,” and 1970-’95 softball enthusiasts from anywhere on the east side of the Mississippi will instantly recall the many antics associated with the legendary player-manager-sponsor Jay Hopkins and his colorful team. Easily the most inspirational manager in the history of Greater Cincinnati softball, Jay invented a style of play that was coined “Jay-ball,” and which often motivated his often underdog teams to overachieve. He believed that anyone could be beat anyone on any given day. He backed his players, and was always encouraging and teaching them. Those strategies paid off with countless upsets in league and tournament play, but most notably when his team won the 1975 Ohio Valley Classic, shocking the number one team in the country two-time defending ASA Major National Champion Howard’s Furniture in the finals before a packed stadium at Ross Park in St. Bernard. It was the greatest upset in the history of Cincinnati softball. The fiery manager would pack the house again 18 years later when an estimated 5,000 of his team’s followers packed Rumpke Park to watch Jay’s capture an ASA Major Metro title. Jay was named tournament MVP. All told Jay was voted Greater Cincinnati Men’s Major All-City Manager 9 times during his legendary career, was selected Manager of the Decade in 1990, and to the Greater Cincinnati All-Century team as both a manager and sponsor. Those who knew this maverick character well will always remember the comb he carried in his pocket and his trademark line “who loves ya baby!”
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
Steve McCauley managed, coached and sponsored championship women’s slow pitch teams for 28 years before retiring in 2013. Steve got his first taste of winning a national title in 1984 while coaching and sponsoring Aero Battery, which captured a USSSA B championship. He proudly calls that accomplishment his greatest thrill as a team manager, as Aero lost its first game of the tournament, then rallied to win eleven straight games. Steve’s Salem Hawks team from Detroit finished runner-up in the USSSA Class A World Series in 1991 and ’92, then two years later with Cannan Illusions of San Antonio, Tx., he won the first of six USSSA World Series crowns. Cannan repeated in 1996 and ’97. For eight of the next eleven years, Steve sponsored and coached or managed Kinder Sharks of Cincinnati, sitting out the 2006, ’07 and ’11 seasons. From 2000-‘05, the Sharks won three World Series, then tacked on another title in 2009 and runner-up finishes in ’08 and ’10. Other highlights in Steve’s career included coaching and sponsoring three-time USSSA Black American World Series Champions Aero Battery from 1994-‘96. In addition to his nine USSSA World Series titles, he has five runner-up finishes.
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
With his imposing size and defensive tenacity, Gary Nelson became an iconic figure on the mound for many of Greater Cincinnati’s most renowned softball teams during his 34-year career. This was especially true during the 1990’s and early 2000’s, when Gary’s teams dominated the local softball landscape. He competed exclusively with Cincinnati-based teams like Fry Fastening, Perkins Roofing, Backstop, Western Hills Window and EAP, but was best known for his contributions to legendary Watanabe Optical. Gary led Watanabe to a plethora of invitational titles, including prestigious events like the Thoroughbred Classic in 1992 and ’99. But he also shined in championship play, capturing an ASA Class A Metro crown in 1989, back-to-back ASA Major Metro titles in 1998 and ’99, and an ASA A National Championship in Steven’s Point, Wi., in 1993. On his way to a first team Greater Cincinnati All-Decade selection as Greater Cincinnati’s best pitcher during the 90’s, Gary also finished 2nd in the USSSA Mixed Couples World in 2000, and won first team All-World honors while leading his club to an ISA 35-Over World Championship in 1997. His effectiveness as a pitcher was complemented by his prowess as a clutch hitter, compiling a lifetime batting average of .600. He also possessed great power, clubbing over 800 home runs. In 2000, Gary was also named to the Greater Cincinnati All-Century team.
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
During his 20-plus year playing career, Brad Reckart has climbed the team classification ladder from participating initially with Greater Cincinnati men’s C teams, to eventually earning positions in the starting lineups of the finest teams in the nation. Brad first showed his star power locally in 1999, earning ASA C Metro Defensive MVP honors. Just 6 years later in 2006, he was named Major Metro MVP while competing for Watanabe/Kattus/TTP/B & A/TPS. He was also a two-time Greater Cincinnati Player of the Year, and closed out the 2000’s as a member of the Greater Cincinnati All-Decade team in 2010. More recently he was selected Major Metro MVP in 2015 and 2019. While competing with Alpine back in 2004, Brad got his first taste of playing in the USSSA Men’s Major World Series, and he’s been there every year since for a total of 17 consecutive appearances in the game’s premier event. Thirteen of those years his clubs have finished in the top 9, and eight in the top 4. He has captured two World Series crowns – one with Smash It Sports/ASP in 2016 and another with Resmondo/RDD in 2018 when Resmondo also won the Conference USSSA title. His teams have also finished 2nd in the World Series twice. In 2009 Brad was named Offensive MVP in the USSSA Men’s A World with Jean Shoppe/Chaney’s/Easton. He has also been an All-Conference USSSA selection three times, including with Jean Shoppe in 2009, then again in 2014 with Baugh Doerflinger/R & M/Easton, and then again in 2018 with Resmondo/RDD/H. Auto/All In/Sprizzi/Easton. Additional honors include being named MVP in the NSA Super A National World Series in 2012, and in the ASA National World Series in 2014. He has also been named to over 50 All-Tournament teams at various levels, including more than 2 dozen in USSSA Men’s Major Conference NIT, and he was selected to the All-Time, All-State team in 2017. Primarily an infielder, Brad’s versatility has allowed him to play every position on the field. He boasts a .700-plus lifetime batting average and has over 1,000 home runs to his credit. He has also participated with teams from 8 different states over the last two decades.
• Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
BIO:
Like many accomplished Senior players, Kathy Sowers experienced only modest success prior to her 20-plus years as a member of the Ohio Cardinals. Yes, there were league championships won as a teenager in Bellevue, Oh. and Norwalk, Oh., and Kathy earned MVP honors in the Middletown Invitational at the age of just 21. She also enjoyed a MAC Conference title with Bowling Green State University during the 1972-’73 season, and ASA Metro and District titles with Frisch’s in 1974. But her 45-plus year career was relatively unremarkable over the next 23 years, until she joined the Ohio Cardinals in 1997. The rest – as they say – is history! The Cardinals have won no fewer than 8 National and 43 World Championships in SSWS, USSSA, SSWC, and SPA programs and in the Huntsman World Senior Games, plus one Bronze, One silver and 8 Gold Medals in the National Senior Olympic Games. And she has been named to various 35 All-World or All-American teams. In addition to the Cardinals, she has played with teams from coast to coast, including Arizona, California, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Primarily an outfielder, Kathy boasts a lifetime batting average of .479. Staying healthy, playing on successful teams, moving runners and producing rbi’s – plus getting the occasional “big girl hit” – have all contributed to Kathy’s success. But most important to Kathy has been the “great people” she has met that “have become her good friends.” “I appreciate all aspects of the game and it has made me a better person today,” she says.
