We are sorry to report that our good friend, ISC II Umpire-in-Chief Ken Vierling was involved in a one car auto accident near Colorado Springs and has been hospitalized with very serious injuries. The report we received indicated that, Ken was traveling to Las Vegas for a bowling tournament, and apparently hit a patch of ice and rolled over near Colorado Springs. Ken was taken to St. Anthony Hospital in Denver last night. We will keep you apprised of further reports as we get them but ask you to keep Ken in your prayers.
Ken was named as the new ISC II Umpire-in-Chief for 2008 when Bruce Bierman was named ISC WT UIC.
We have set up an email for Ken, for anyone wishing to sent a note to him: (click link)
ken.vierling (at) fastpitchwest (dot) com
We’ll pass the notes along to him/his family.
For those who may not know Ken, we include the short bio from the ISC website below.
Ken Vierling – ISC II Umpire In Chief
09/25/07
Ken Vierling of Fridley, MN has been appointed the new ISC II Umpire In Chief, replacing Rick Havercroft who resigned last spring.
Ken has an extensive and varied background in both softball and life. An umpire since 1975, he has umpired at the highest levels of both ISC and ASA including three ISC World Tournaments, one ISC II Tournament of Champions and eight ASA men’s nationals. He is a Division I NCAA umpire in both the Big Ten and Missouri Valley Conferences. Administratively, he is a Board member of the largest collegiate umpire association in America. He also has extensive experience as a tournament and league Umpire In Chief.
The 51 year old Vierling is employed in the printing business and handles both sales and estimating for Gopher State Litho of Minneapolis.
Ken is a performer with an impressive resume’ as a stand up comedian, actor and singer. He is actively involved in ten-pin bowling and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota State Bowling Association. His current personal bowling average is an impressive 205.
As the ISC UIC, Ken will work closely with ISC UIC Bruce Bierman and ISC DUIC, Les Novak is overseeing the ISC umpire program. These three individuals meet annually in January to select the umpires for the upcoming season’s ISC World Tournament and ISC II Tourament of Champions. They are also responsible for all playing rule interpretations, including oversight of the ISC approved bat list provided by the International Softball Federation (ISF).
Ken’s appointment to this very responsible position is endorsed by both Bruce Bierman and Les Novak as well as the ISC Executive Committee.
We welcome and congratulate Ken Vierling as the new ISC II Umpire In Chief.
Ken can be reached at comicdude1@msn.com
Ken Hackmeister
iscken@comcast.net