USA Softball Concludes 2023 UIC Clinic with Regional Awards of Excellence and Years of Service Recognition

OKLAHOMA CITY — The 2023 biennial Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) Clinic concluded tonight with over 300 umpires gathering from across the country to honor the excellence and dedication of USA Softball umpires both on and off the field.

“Our closing banquet is a fitting end to the UIC Clinic as it gives us the opportunity to honor excellence of USA Softball umpires across every region,” said Chairman of the UIC Clinic committee and USA Softball Region 3, 4 & 5 Deputy Director of Umpires, Steve Nelson. “Excellence is not only measured on the field, but also by providing service above and beyond to their local associations, their regions and the national umpiring association.”

Held at the Sheraton Oklahoma City, the USA Softball umpire family celebrated 11 Regional Award of Excellence recipients and 63 Years of Service recipients in addition to the Merle O. Butler National Award of Excellence recipient, Karen Ellis. A member of the USA Softball umpire program alongside her late-husband, Tim Ellis who passed away in 2020, Karen’s commitment to the USA Softball umpire family never wavered with continued contributions both on and off the field while also serving as the umpire coordinator at the GOLD Nationals and the Junior Olympic Cup – among many other events – during the last three years.

The following individuals received Awards of Excellence for their respective regions: 

Region 1 Northeast – Tim Hamilton, USA Softball of New York

Region 2 Central Atlantic – Joe DeFranco, USA Softball of Central Virginia

Region 3 Southeast – Anthony Small, USA Softball of Florida

Region 4 South – Sam Kelly, USA Softball of Alabama

Region 5 Southwest – Jackie Shults, USA Softball of Dallas Forth Worth

Region 6 Midwest – Mike Scharf, USA Softball of Detroit

Region 7 Mid-America – David Lee, USA Softball of St. Louis

Region 8 Northern – Alec Holman, USA Softball of Minneapolis

Region 9 Northwest Mountain – Joe Martin, USA Softball of Washington

Region 10 Pacific Coast – Laura Head, USA Softball of Southern California and Mark Korras, USA Softball of Southern California

The following individuals were recognized for their Years of Service:

George Gunn – USA Softball of Seattle – 5 years

Brandon Chambers – USA Softball of Indiana – 10 years

Chris Brawner – USA Softball Kentucky – 10 years

Chuck French – USA Softball of Colorado – 15 years

Anthony Small – USA Softball of Florida – 15 years

Frank Guglielmo – USA Softball of New York – 15 years

Tim Dingess – USA Softball of West Virginia – 15 years

Rick Hearn – USA Softball of Georgia – 20 years

Stan Finch – USA Softball of Hawaii – 20 years

Dave Mulcahy – USA Softball of Maine – 20 years

Alan Riggs – USA Softball of North Carolina – 20 years

Randy Burgess – USA Softball of South Carolina – 20 years

Darrien Elliotte – USA Softball of Kansas City – 20 years

Jeff Madaris – USA Softball of Alabama – 25 years

Jon Hand – USA Softball of Illinois – 25 years

Steve Verive – USA Softball of Chicago – 25 years

Steve Zawierucha – USA Softball Maryland DC Delaware – 25 years

John Jonassen – USA Softball of Detroit – 25 years

Paul Kraimer – USA Softball of Minneapolis – 25 years

Dallas Apfelbacher – USA Softball of Minnesota – 25 years

Chris McGee – USA Softball of Mississippi – 25 years

John Baca – USA Softball of New Mexico – 25 years

James Brau – USA Softball of Texas – 25 years

Dan LaCorbiniere – USA Softball of Rhode Island – 25 years

John Wrigth – USA Softball of Washington – 25 years

Geri Magwire – USA Softball of Nevada – 25 years

Dave Chandler – USA Softball of Indiana – 25 years

Mike Graeber – USA Softball Alaska – 30 years

Alan Blanchard – USA Softball of Central California – 30 years

Laura Head – USA Softball of Southern California – 30 years

Cliff Larose – USA Softball of Connecticut – 30 years

Chris McGee – USA Softball of Mississippi – 30 years

Matt Heckel – USA Softball of Montana – 30 years

Al Douglass – USA Softball of New Hampshire – 30 years

John Cambridge – USA Softball of New Jersey – 30 years

Steve McCown – USA Softball of Dallas Fort Worth – 30 years

Glen Brown – USA Softball of Washington – 30 years

Mike Adams – USA Softball of Arkansas – 30 years

Brian Mount – USA Softball of Houston – 30 years

Steve Riswold – USA Softball of South Dakota – 30 years

Chuck Brabec – USA Softball of Sacramento – 35 years

Dave Christianson – USA Softball of Vermont – 35 years

Joe DeFranco – USA Softball of Central Virginia – 35 years

Jerry Kramer – USA Softball of Wyoming – 35 years

Greg Pohl – USA Softball of St Louis – 35 years

Eddie Walters – USA Softball Nebraska – 35 years

Pete Jackson – USA Softball of Kansas – 40 years

Jeff Amaral – USA Softball of Massachusetts – 40 years

Rick Petty – USA Softball of Missouri – 40 years

Joe Pree – USA Softball of Oregon – 40 years

Dan Duff – USA Softball of Portland – 40 years

Dave Kolojejchick – USA Softball of Pennsylvania – 40 years

Ed Rowe – USA Softball of Tennessee – 40 years

Steve Roscia – USA Softball of Maine – 40 years

Jimmy Derrick – USA Softball of Georgia – 40 years

Chuck Louie – USA Softball of San Fransico – 40 years

Steve Nelson – USA Softball of Alabama – 40 years

Ed Murphy – USA Softball of Iowa – 45 years

Dave Stocker – USA Softball of Nevada – 45 years

Jim Ballengee – USA Softball of Piedmont Virginia – 45 years

Bryan Smith – USA Softball of Michigan – 45 years

Larry Montgomery – USA Softball of Mississippi – 45 years

Glenn Slocum – USA Softball of Idaho – 50 years

Tonight’s banquet capped the 28th biennial UIC Clinic where umpires took part in educational breakout sessions and presentations discussing rules, mechanics, game management and technology as well as what it means to be a UIC.

USA Softball would like to thank sponsors RPS Bollinger and Sheraton Downtown OKC for their continued support of the game of softball and the UIC Clinic.

To learn more about the USA Softball umpire program, visit USASoftball.com.