OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Softball Hall of Fame will expand its storied legacy in 2026 with the induction of five individuals and one team to the 2026 Class, shining a light on their accomplishments that have left a lasting mark on the sport of softball.
Monica Abbott (Fast Pitch), Doug Middleton (Fast Pitch), Dewayne Frizzel (Slow Pitch), Dewayne Nevitt (Slow Pitch), Les Novak (Umpire), and the Raybestos Brakettes (Team), will all be honored on Saturday, Oct. 31 during the 45th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The Class of 2026 will be inducted at the Oklahoma City Convention Center during USA Softball’s Annual Council Meeting.
Nominations for the National Softball Hall of Fame can be made by commissioners, past presidents, council members, or a commissioner emeritus. Once an individual or team is nominated, the candidates are evaluated by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee with the nominee needing to receive 75-percent of the votes from committee members to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame.
There is a maximum of 10 individuals selected to the Hall of Fame on an annual basis, however there is no limit on the number of selections per category type (commissioner, national team head coach, manager/coach, meritorious service, player, umpire, team sponsor).
Monica Abbott // Fast Pitch Player // Women’s National Team (WNT)
Widely regarded as one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of softball, building a legacy of excellence across international, collegiate and professional competition.
- Two-time Olympic silver medalist, posting a perfect 6-0 record across the 2008 and 2020 Olympic games, striking out 63 batters in 44 innings.
- Named to the All-Olympic Team in 2020.
- Helped Team USA capture four World Cup gold medals (2006, 2010, 2018, 2022), going undefeated in the circle.
- Also led the Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) to a silver medal finish at the World Cup in 2003.
- Three-time Pan American Games gold medalist (2002, 2007, 2019), earning MVP in 2002 for the JWNT.
- Was a five-time Japan Softball League champion with the Toyota Motor Corporation, earning four MVP awards and seven Most Valuable Pitcher honors.
- Also posted a 131-36 record in the National Pro Fast Pitch League in the United States, earning five Pitcher of the Year awards, four playoff MVP honors, five league championships, and a spot on the NPF All-Decade Team.
- At Tennessee, Abbott was a four-time first-team All-American, four-time All-SEC, three-time All-Women’s College World Series, three-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, and a finalist for the 2007 ESPYs (Best Female Collegiate Athlete).
Doug Middleton // Fast Pitch Player // Men’s National Team (MNT)
Finished his career as one of the premier pitchers in men’s fast pitch softball, competing at the highest levels of the sport for nearly three decades (1980-2008).
- Helped the MNT earn bronze medals at the 1992 and 2000 World Cup, along with silver medals at the 1999 and 2003 Pan American Games.
- Eight-time ASA All-American from 1986-2002, playing for Harold’s, Penn Corp, National Health Care, St. Joe Traveler’s, Meierhoffer and Frontier Casino.
- Earned first-team All-American in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002, also earning the Herb Dudley Award (Most Outstanding Pitcher) in 1998.
- Five-time ASA Men’s Major National Champion.
- Inducted into the Missouri ASA Hall of Fame (2007 Class), the ISC Hall of Fame (2017 Class), and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (2023 Class).
Dewayne Frizzell // Slow Pitch Player // ASA National Champion
Established himself as one of the most accomplished competitors in men’s slow pitch softball, earning recognition through sustained excellence at the ASA Championship level.
- Was a 10-time All-American, earning first-team honors three times and second-team five times.
- Helped lead his teams to four Super Division ASA World Series titles.
- Was a nine-time ASA NIT Champion and three-time ASA NIT MVP, also notching nine ASA NIT All-Tournament team selections.
- Won the ASA NIT Batting title twice and the home run title once.
- Also played in the 1989 USA-USOC South Team Olympic Festival.
- Member of the 1995 Supreme Softball All-Star Team.
- Led multiple slow pitch teams, including Lighthouse, Sunbelt, Vernons, Superior/Southland, Shenvalley, Dan Smith, Hague/Resmondo, and L&L Painting.
Dewayne Nevitt // Slow Pitch Player // ASA National Champion
Widely recognized as one of the most feared power hitters in men’s slow pitch softball, building a career defined by offensive dominance and championship success.
- Was a 10-time ASA All-American, including five first-team nods and four second-team selections.
- Led Ritch’s Superior to two ASA Super World Series Championships, earning MVP in 1997.
- Earned the ASA Super World Series Home Run title twice (1991, 1997) with 20 home runs in 1997.
- Was also the home run and batting leader at the ASA Major National Championship in 1991.
- Named the MVP of the Smokey Mountain Classic in 1997.
- Led multiple slow pitch teams to success, playing for Wild Cat Fence, Starpath, Vernons, Converters/Vernons, Shenvalley, Ritch’s Superior, Team TPS, Bell Corp, Dan Smith and Sunnyvale.
Les Novak // Umpire // National Championships & International Competition
Dedicated nearly seven decades to the sport of softball as one of the game’s most respected and experiences umpires.
- Umpired in eight ASA National Championships, 13 ISC World Tournaments and 3 ISF World Championships.
- Began his career in 1957 and was the Umpire-In-Chief (UIC) for Minnesota for over 40 years, becoming the longest-serving UIC in the United States.
- Was named the USA Softball of Minnesota Umpire of the Year in 2017.
- Became a USA Softball certified umpire in 2002 and entered the USA Softball National Indicator Fraternity (NIF) in 2014.
- Helped train and mentor generations of umpires while maintaining the highest standards of officiating.
- Served as the ISC Assistant UIC beginning in 1998 and an ISC Commissioner in 1999, holding those positions through present day.
Raybestos Brakettes // Fast Pitch Team // 4,100+ Wins
Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential teams in the history of amateur softball with over 4,000 victories in close to eight decades.
- Won 28 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championships, making them one of the most decorated teams in sports history.
- Played internationally as well, winning three World Championships (1974, 1978, 1986).
- Had undefeated seasons in 2011 (63-0) and 2013 (68-0).
- Since 2009 when the Women’s Major Softball (WMS) Championship was created, the Brakettes have won 12 WMS titles, including in 2025.
- Secured their first national championship in 1958 after being founded in 1947 in Stratford, Conn.
- Has produced or featured 24 National Softball Hall of Fame members and 11 Olympic athletes, including Joan Joyce, Donna Lopiano, Lisa Fernandez, and Cat Osterman, as well as coaches Ralph Raymond and John Stratton.
- Has a record of 4,138-428 with 79 years of competition through 2025.
For more information on the National Softball Hall of Fame and its inductees, please visit USASoftball.com.