Rod retired in 2009 after managing the esteemed Farm Tavern team for more than four decades. He began playing in 1955 when he saw a man passthrough the hotel lobby carrying cleats. He asked him where he was going and the stranger said a softball game. Peterson tagged along and the rest theysay is history. He played and managed the Farm Tavern, a pub that he still owns today. His Farm Tavern teams, whom he began to manage in 1960, won three ASA National Championships and six runner-up finishes. They accomplished the same feat in ISC play. He quit playing in 1986 but continued to manage the team until 2009. Farm Tavern won approximately 15 State Championships under his management.
Tim was introduced to fast pitch softball by a high school friend who was in need of a catcher. With just two years of experience under his belt, in 1986 he was asked to try out for Pay ‘N Pak of Seattle and was shortly thereafter catching 85 mph fastballs. He spent the next 17 years of his life devoted to fast pitch softball. Along with Pay ‘N Pack, he competed with Seafirst, Penn Corp., NHCD, The Farm Tavern, Tampa Bay Smokers, Decatur Pride, and Victoria Traveller’s Inn. To play during the winter months and perfect his game, he played in New Zealand. He played on three USA Softball National Teams in ISF World Championships play and won eight ASA All-American titles. He was also named to two ISF All-World Teams. He retired in 2002 and continues to work on his family farm growing cranberries.
Brian Martie – Fast Pitch Player – Bloomington, Illinois
Eagle eyed reader Ed Kirner notes that the ASA incorrectly lists Martie as hailing from Bloomington IN, while he is actually from Bloomington IL. (There is a Bloomington IN, but that was home to John Cougar Mellencamp, not Brian Martie, who is claimed by the folks in Illinois.)
Brian played men’s fast pitch for almost 20 years for several notable teams including Coffeen, Taylor Springs, Bob’s IGA, Bloomington Hearts, Decatur Pride, and ending his career with the Farm Tavern who he competed with for seven seasons. The infielder was a five-time MVP of the Illinois ASA Major State Tournament and six times was selected to the All-Tournament team. He appeared in 15 consecutive ASA National Championships and boasts six All-American titles. On the International scene, Martie competed on two Pan American Games team, which both won silver, as well as the 1996 ISF World Championships.
Lori Harrigan – Fast Pitch Player – Las Vegas, Nevada
Lori is a member of an elite group of four women who hold three Olympic Gold Medals in the sport of softball. The pitcher not only competed in three Olympic Games, but also in three World Championships and three Pan American Championships, all gold medal performances. Harrigan was also a three-time ASA Women’s Major All-American, spending two years with the California Commotion and one with the California Players. With the Commotion, she was crowned National Champion in 1999 and runner-up in 1995. She joined the USA Softball National Team program in 1992 and retired following the 2004 Olympic Games. In the 2000 Olympic Games, she set a record becoming the first individual pitcher to throw an Olympic no-hitter after blanking Canada in the tournament opener. She finished those Games with a 2-0 record, allowing just one hit and one walk in 12.1 innings.
Julie Johnson – Umpire – Alexandria, Indiana
Julie became an ASA registered umpire in 1976 and has emerged as one of the top umpires and clinicians for ASA. Johnson worked nine National Championships, from 1982-1998, including six Women’s Majors. Johnson earned her ISF certification through the International Softball Federation of Umpires in 1986 and would go on to work several Major Fast Pitch events including an ISF World Championship, Pan American Games and most notably the 1996 Olympic Games in Columbus, Georgia. In 2006, she was appointed to the ASA National Umpire Staff as the ASA Deputy Supervisor of Umpires. Johnson not only worked on the field of play, but off the field she served as Umpire-In-Chief for three ASA National Championships and four International events including two World Cup of Softball events and the ISF Men’s World Championship. As one of the top clinicians in the U.S., Johnson has worked over 10 clinics including National Umpires Schools and Fast Pitch Camps. In 2007 she was appointed to the position of North American UIC for the ISF. In 2005, Johnson was inducted into the Indiana ASA Hall of Fame as an Umpire.
Al White – Modified Player – Canton, Michigan
Al began his career as a modified fast pitch player in 1966 and retired from the sport in 1997. He briefly emerged from retirement in 2001 to pitch his team to a ninth-place National Tournament finish. White played for 31 years, pitching for two ASA National Championship teams and earning five first-team All-America honors and the 1985 MVP Title. With all the accolades, his greatest thrill was playing with his son for Little Caesars. They qualified for ASA Nationals every year and were the perfect battery as his son was the catcher. He is currently the Head Coach for the women’s softball team at Madonna University, continuing his commitment to the sport. White is also a Metro Detroit ASA Hall of Fame Inductee.
Max Wilkes – Meritorious Service – Phenix City, Alabama
Max has been a long time supporter of ASA dating back to 1959 where he played and managed several softball teams in the southeast. Wilkes helped organized and serves as President of the Phenix City Umpire Association from 1968 to present. Wilkes served as Alabama ASA District 5 Umpire-In-Chief for over 30 years and currently still holds that position. He is a four-time President of Alabama ASA and three-time Alabama Umpire-In-Chief. From 1993-2006, he served as UIC for over 75 ASA National Championships. During his 25-years on the National Umpire Staff, he was responsible for the coordination of 350 National Championship Tournaments from the Southern Region. He received one of the highest honors when he served on the Atlanta Olympic Games staff for the first-ever Olympic Games. He also served ASA on several committees including the Slow-Pitch Playing Rules and Umpires, Master/Seniors and Junior Olympics and Playing Rules-Special Programs.
Jim Wolford – Umpire – DeWitt, Michigan
Before Jim began umpiring ASA Softball in 1974, he played competitive softball in southwest Michigan. Wolford umpired his first state tournament just two years after he umpired his first two games. In his 26 years of service, Wolford umpired in five ASA National Championships culminating with the Men’s Super Slow Pitch in 1990. Wolford umpired in over 20 state Championships and served as Umpire-In-Chief for over 30 MASA State Championships. Also in 1990, he became the Michigan ASA State UIC, a position he held for ten years. As he turned more to promoting other umpires instead of his own career, Wolford played a key role in many Michigan umpire clinics during his time. Wolford became International Softball Federation certified in 1983. He was an inaugural member of the National Indicator Fraternity in 1986 and was inducted in the Michigan ASA Hall of Fame in 1993.
Lewis Secory Sr. – Sponsor – Port Huron, Michigan
Lewis established the Secory Flyers Softball Club in 1982 when his son approached him about sponsoring a team. The only criteria he asked was that the team represent him, his company and Port Huron, Michigan with class. The year 2010 marked his 29th consecutive season of sponsoring the Secory Flyers Modified Softball Team. In his 29 years of sponsoring, the Flyers have participated in 21 National Championships with two wins. The Flyers won ten MASA State Modified Championships and 16 Port Huron League Championships. During his time on the National Tournament scene, the Flyers placed in the top 10 on nine occasions. Secory is the founder and annual sponsor of the National Bluewater Invitation Softball Tournament in Port Huron. Besides his modified team, Secory has sponsored many other teams including volleyball, hockey and bowling. In 2001, Secory was inducted into the Michigan ASA Hall of Fame in the sponsor category.
Gary Tharaldson – Sponsor – Fargo, North Dakota
Gary has dedicated much of his life to supporting ASA Softball as a sponsor for not just one or two divisions but across the whole spectrum of ASA Softball. He was a sponsor for 38 years of the Men’s A, B and C Slow Pitch Divisions and supported five different levels of senior ball for a total of 24 years. Tharaldson sponsored women’s teams for 15 years as well as both Boys and Girls Junior Olympic Teams. His sponsored teams have participated in over 30 National Tournaments. Outside of his teams, Tharaldson gave back by providing North Dakota state tournament trophies and banners for all divisions for 12 years. He also sponsored the North Dakota Hall of Fame Banquet for 10 years. Tharaldson has been a key component in keeping the upper division of the McQuade Charity Tournament going. Tharaldson was also a player during his time as sponsor winning two National Championships and over 1,000 games as a pitcher. He had a best year record of 58-2 and a career batting average of over .600.
The class of 2011 increases the membership in the ASA Hall of Fame to 373 since it was established in 1957 to honor the former players and non-players for their contributions to softball. The formal Hall of Fame ceremonies were started in 1981 and since 2001 the ceremonies have been held in conjunction with the ASA Annual Council Meeting.
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