• Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
Bio:
Butch Whitaker’s 14th place finish in the National Home Run Hitting Contest in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1978 proved to be the springboard for the slugging catcher to land a spot in the batting order of nationally ranked Greater Cincinnati Sports/Sorrento’s. His impact was immediate. GCS/Sorrento’s won back-to-back Metros, was invited to compete in the elite “National Slo-Pitch Conference,” qualified for the USSSA World Series and ASA Major Nationals, and earned a top ten national ranking. A year later in 1981, Butch helped power the Cincinnati Suds to a runner-up finish in the American Professional Slo-Pitch Softball League. He went on to star with the Knights and M. W. Tribble, then later in the Masters program, earning All-World honors with Bobby’s Bullets both in 1986 and 1987. Finally in 1988, Butch captured a USSSA Masters World title with Bushelman Construction. During his 36-year career he won countless invitational and league titles, including the 1986 Hudepohl Hall of Fame Classic, when he was named Tournament MVP. Butch batted over .600 and belted over 2400 home runs during his career, which helped him win numerous home run titles.
• Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
BIO:
From 1969 through 1980, Chris Winter was the starting left-centerfielder and leadoff hitter for several of the most successful teams in women’s softball – all of which were from Cincinnati. After launching her career in 1969 with Hall of Fame manager Commie Currens and his legendary assistant Merle Williams, she went on to capture four Amateur Softball Association National Championships, including with Rutenschroer Floral in 1970, Riverside Ford in 1972, Sweeney Chevrolet in 1973 and Sorrento’s Pizza in 1976. The 1976 title was her most memorable, as Sorrento’s lost its first game of the tournament, then stormed back to win ten in a row – double-dipping the Rubiotts of Graham, NC in the finals in Chattanoog, Tn. In addition to winning four national titles, Chris’ teams also finished 3rd once, 4th twice and 5th once, and captured six ASA Cincinnati Metro crowns. Her blazing speed not only helped her earn a reputation as one of the best defensive outfielders in the country, but also as one of the most dangerous and successful leadoff hitters in the game. The left-handed batter hit .439 for her career, but compiled an amazing .595 OBA due to her ability to beat out slow ground balls hit to the left side of the infield. If the ball bounced more two or more times before it reached the shortstop or 3rd baseman, Chris was almost always safely onboard. And her speed forced countless errors, with anxious infielders either bobbling grounders or making off-target throws. Chris was named to numerous All-Tournament teams during her career, and in 1977 was selected a 1st team All-American at the National Tournament, when Sorrento’s finished 3rd. Her teams also won countless invitational tournaments during her career, and in 2000 she was named to the Greater Cincinnati All-Century team.
• Friday, January 27th, 2012
BIO:
Chuck L. Atha anchored the outfield for Greater Cincinnati’s top-ranked teams – Bushelman Construction and VIP Limousine/Express Transport – during the 1980’s. With Bushelman, Atha captured three Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Major Metro titles (1982, 1984, 1985), then with VIP/Express, he netted an unprecedented five consecutive Metro crowns from 1987-‘1991. He was also a member of VIP’s 1989 USSSA Men’s Class “A” World Championship team. Atha first gained notoriety at the age of 22 when his Diesel Construction team stunned the 1980 Hudepohl Classic National Invitational Tournament field with a first place finish. A year later with Diesel, he won the batting title at the ASA Men’s Class “B” National Tournament in Jones Beach, NY. The following season, 1982, Atha joined Bushelman Construction and won his first Major Metro at only 24-years old. After adding Metro titles in 1984 and ‘85, he moved on to the legendary VIP Limousine/Express Transport softball team in 1987, winning five straight Metros and the U-Trip “A” World. Atha also won four state championships during his 16-year career. He was named to eight Men’s Major All-City Teams, was a first team All-Decade selection for the eighties in 1990, and in 2000 was named a member of the Greater Cincinnati All-Century team. Primarily a left and center-fielder, Atha was predominantly a pull hitter who excelled at hitting the ball between 3rd and short and compiled a lifetime batting average of approximately .600.
• Friday, January 27th, 2012
BIO:
Michelle Ann Cummins was the premier shortstop in Greater Cincinnati during the nineties, powering both ABP (1992) and Empress Chili (1993) to a 4th place finish in the USSSA Women’s “A” World Series. Later in the Masters 35-Over program she helped lead Ty-1-On to four U-Trip World Championships in five years from 2001-‘06. She also captured a Women’s “B” World title with Ty-1-On in 2007. A lifetime .550-.600 hitter with good power in the gaps, Cummins also had excellent speed. She won back-to-back Greater Cincinnati “Player of the Year” honors in 1992 and ’93, and was a four-time All-World selection, including 1992 with ABP at the Women’s “A” World Series, and then in 2001, 2003 and 2004 in the Masters program with Ty-1-On. She was also named World Tournament MVP in 2003. Cummins’ teams won numerous State Championships and National Invitational Tournaments during her 37-year career, and she was named to several all-tournament teams in those events. Her biggest thrill was when Empress Chili upset Cannon Illusions in the winners’ bracket finals of the USSSA World Tournament in 1995 before losing in the championship game.
• Friday, January 27th, 2012
BIO:
Gerry Anthony Scaringi was an original member of the Cincinnati Suds professional softball team in 1977, and later played outfield for several of Greater Cincinnati’s top-ranked teams during the late seventies and the eighties. Scaringi starred for the Rolling Hills Lakers, Rockcastle Motors, Universal Insurance and Stroh’s teams of Northern Kentucky, and for Hammer’s and Jay’s in Cincinnati. He also enjoyed a successful career in the Masters program with Newport Steel in Kentucky and Jay’s in Cincinnati. After competing in New York during his early career, Scaringi moved to Kentucky and played with the Standard Oil of Richmond in 1973 and ’74, and in Lexington with Sportsworld in 1975 and ’76. Then in mid-1976 he moved to Northern Kentucky, where he resumed his softball career with Sims Roofing. The following year he played professionally for the Cincinnati Suds, and in amateur softball with Sims and Rockcastle Motors. In 1979 he joined Universal Insurance, and helped to lead the Independence, Ky. team to a coveted Ohio Valley Classic crown. Scaringi considers that to be his greatest thrill in softball. Scaringi spent most of the next three years with Jay’s, winning a prestigious Hudepohl Classic title in 1981. He would later win five Kentucky 35-over “Masters” State Championships with Newport Steel from 1984-1989, earning state tournament MVP honors in 1985. Scaringi won several batting, home run, All-Tournament, and Tournament MVP awards during his 28-year career. He was named to the Greater Cincinnati Men’s Major All-City team five consecutive seasons from 1978- ‘1983, to the All-Northern Kentucky team in 1983 and again in 1984 when he was selected Northern Kentucky “Player of the Year” with Stroh’s. He was also picked to three All-World teams. A lifetime .600 hitter, Scaringi hit over 500 home runs during his career, and was known for his blazing speed on the bases and in the outfield.
• Friday, January 27th, 2012
BIO:
After starring in Church and Industrial play early in his career, Loyd Grey Smith caught his second wind when he began playing in Senior softball tournaments in the late ‘80’s. After his Masters 12 team earned a runner-up finish in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) 55-Over National Tournament in 1988, they took care of unfinished business the following year, capturing the title. Smith went on to notch a second ASA 55-Over title a year later with Cane Run Stables, then netted a fourth crown with Tri-State Masters in the 60-Over division in 1994. Smith’s teams also won senior national championships in NSA in 1990 and ’91 with Cane Run (50-over), and in 1996 captured a Senior World Series title. In all, Smith participated in seventeen senior national or world championships. He has been named to eight All-American or All-World teams and compiled a 78-22 pitching record in senior play. During his overall career, his pitching record is approximately 1000-500. He has been named to over thirty all-tournament teams, and won over forty home run titles. A feared power hitter, Smith clubbed over 1,000 home runs while compiling an estimated .685 lifetime batting average. He was inducted into the Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 1997. Smith also enjoyed a successful career in the Industrial program, winning both the ASA Metro Industrial and Open championships in 1960 with National Lead of Ohio. His Bright Christian Church team enjoyed a 34-game winning streak in 1960, and won ASA Metro Church titles in 1986 and ’88.
• Friday, January 27th, 2012
BIO:
Arguably, Dave Watanabe is the most successful manager-sponsor of men’s teams in Greater Cincinnati Softball history. Watanabe may never win multiple national or world titles like Al Brausch of Gatliff Motors or Matty Carrelli of Hamilton Tailoring. But then it is unlikely that anyone will ever match his personal overall legacy – if for no other reason than its pure longevity. During the last twenty years, Watanabe Optical teams have captured nine Major Metro titles. For fourteen consecutive years, Watanabe teams have either finished first or second in the Metro, and for seventeen consecutive seasons their teams have finished in the top three. They have made four Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Super Major National Tournament and four United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Major World Series appearances. Most recently, the team capped off the 2011 season by winning a USSSA Men’s Class “B” World Tournament. Most impressively, Dave Watanabe was named “Manager of the Decade” in both 2000 and 2010. After earning class “B” manager of the year honors in 1991, Watanabe made such an impression on his peers in 1992 with a 4th place finish in the Hudepohl Classic and Major Metro and a Thoroughbred Classic championship that his fellow managers voted him “Open” manager of the year in 1992, despite the fact that his team was classified “B.” In 1993 Watanabe moved up to class “A” and it proved to be his team’s breakout season. In addition to a 5th place finish in the prestigious Springfield Stroh’s National Invitational, Watanabe finished runner-up in the ASA Major Metro, and captured a USSSA “AA-A” State crown and an ASA “A” National Championship. Watanabe went on to capture back-to-back Major Metro titles in 1998 and ’99, and “Manager of the Year” honors five more times in the ‘90’s, then collected seven more Metro crowns and three “Manager of the Year” selections between 2000 and 2010. No shortage of talent has worn the Watanabe Optical name on their jerseys, including no fewer than fifteen “Players of the Year” and several “All-Decade” and “Players of the Decade” selections. There have been countless other All-City, All-American and All-World honorees as well.
• Friday, January 27th, 2012
BIO:
Merle Williams’ name was synonymous with women’s major softball for 18 years. His teams captured two Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Championships, including 1970 with Rutenschroer Floral, and 1976 with Sorrento’s Pizza. Over a seventeen year period from 1967 to 1984, Williams’ teams finished among the top 4 teams in the National Tournaments an incredible ten times, making it to the championship game six times. He organized his first team in 1966 around a young phenom from Milan, In. named Jenny Johnson, who would one day become the most recognized name in women’s softball. The following year, Williams and Johnson joined defending national champion Dana Gardens, coached by the legendary Commie Currens, to take a shot at a national title. But Dana fell short, losing to Ridge Maintenance of Cleveland in the finals. In 1968 Dana split up, and Williams and Currens formed a new team, which evolved into 1970 national champion Rutenschroer Floral. Like Williams’ Sorrento’s team six years later, Rutenschroer lost their first game of the national tournament, but roared back to win 10 straight games, double-dipping defending champion Miami Dots. After Rutenschroer failed to repeat in 1971, the team split up and Williams formed Sorrento’s Pizza in 1972. It took Williams four years to re-tool, but Sorrento’s finally jelled in 1976, and he captured his second ASA National Championship. Over the next five seasons, Sorrento’s finished second once, third three times and fourth once. In his final season in 1984, he merged with UPI of Cookville, Tn. and finished second. Williams was credited with transforming the game of women’s softball. He was the first coach to implement a four-man outfield. He stressed fundamentals and discipline, and utilized the skills each of his players brought to the game. The players were taught to sacrifice. And batting averages were trumped by teamwork. He also insisted on mental toughness. And no one was better at player development. Local and national hall of famers Jenny Johnson-Kappes, Beverly Beck, Marsha Helton, Sue Malcomb, Marilyn Booher, Martha Kidd, and V. K. Lehmann were just a few of the great players who came under Williams’ tutelage.
• Thursday, January 27th, 2011
BIO:
Reenie Fitzgerald played with several legendary Greater Cincinnati teams during her early career, including Dairy Cottage (1964-1968), Escue Pontiac (1969), Tri-State Auction (1970) and Cincinnati Cardinals (1973-1975). In 1974, she helped lead the Cardinals to an Amateur Softball Association Cincinnati Metro Championship and a berth to the National Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. But it wasn’t until Reenie began to play in the Masters and Senior program that she really hit her stride. In 1993, she joined Northern Cincinnati Sports Medicine, which captured the USSSA Women’s 35-Over World Tournament in Columbia, SC. Reenie had finally won a World Tournament and was named to her first All-World team. Northern Cincinnati Sports Medicine went on to win two more 35-Over Worlds with Northern Cincinnati Sports Medicine in 1998 and 1999, then joined the Ohio Cardinals in 1999. Over the next twelve years, the Cardinals won eight world titles, and Reenie has been named to ten All-World teams, and earned four World Tournament MVP awards. Primarily a pitcher, her lifetime won-loss record is an incredible 345-92, and she is 56-9 in world tournament play. Reenie boasts a career batting average of .620, and while she has been primarily a singles and doubles hitter throughout her career, she does hit with occasional power. In 2007, Reenie was honored with the USSSA DeBeer-Richard Pollak Sportswoman of the Year award at the organization’s National Meeting in Daytona Beach, Fl.
• Thursday, January 27th, 2011
BIO:
Tom Kasee was only 23 when he led Abrams Texaco to a 34-1 record, an ASA Metro title, and an 8th place finish in the ASA Nationals in 1967. Three years later, Tom was anchoring the defense for what is considered to have been one of the top teams in Greater Cincinnati softball history: Century Tire. Century dominated area softball from 1970-1973, winning numerous area major league titles and national invitationals in 1970 and ‘71. Their 4th place finish in the ASA Major Nationals in 1971 has never been equalled by any area team. Tom went on to star for Dase’s Place in 1974, when he led the Ohio Valley Classic in home runs. Considered to be the first of a new breed of shortstops, Tom broke the mold of the smaller, singles hitting shortstops of the fifties and sixties with his 6-2, 225 pound frame. He won several Most Valuable Player and Home Run Leader awards during his career, and was named to numerous all-tournament teams. A life-time .500 hitter, Tom is believed to have hit approximately 1,500 home runs during his career. He was picked to the Greater Cincinnati All-Decade team of the seventies, and in 2000 was selected to the All-Century team.
