• Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
BIO:
Jeffrey Dale “Jeff” Click was the pre-eminent shortstop in Greater Cincinnati softball during from the late ‘90’s until he retired in 2010. Respected as a complete hitter, Click hit for power early in his career, then changed his approach while batting leadoff for Watanabe. However, he was able to produce with whatever the situation called for. He was best known for being able to play a solid shortstop for his size, and his ability to hit from that position. Click spent most of his career with two teams: six with Watanabe Optical from 1999-2000 and 2007-2010, and ten with 1st American Title/Freeze Concrete (1996-1998 and 2002-2007). He had a lifetime batting average of .610-plus and started every single game of his career at short. Click’s teams won some fifteen National or World Tournaments, including an ASA A National title, three USSSA B National titles, and an NSA B World title. His teams also captured seven state championships, over twenty USSSA B NIT’s, and three ASA Open Metro crowns. Twice he appeared in the USSSA Men’s Major World Series. Click has been named tournament MVP eight times, and to thirty-one All-Tournament teams. He was selected B co-Player of the Year in 2003, has been named 1st team All-City more than ten times, was picked to the All-Decade team in 2000 and 2010 and was named runner-up Player of the Decade in 2010.
• Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
BIO:
Robert M. “Bob” Massong patrolled centerfield for several Greater Cincinnati “A” teams during his thirty-year career, including Diesel Excavating, Hammer’s, Avoca Park, Bushelman Construction, and Jay’s. With his induction later this month, he and his father will become the third father-son duo to be inducted into the Norwood Sorrento’s Greater Cincinnati Softball Hall of Fame, and the first to both be inducted into the Player Category. Massong’s father, legendary slugger Steve “Hammer” Massong, was inducted in 1985. Sam (1987) and Marty (2002) Monterosso were the first father and son to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, in the umpire and player categories, respectively. Ray (1985) and Dick (2009) Ernst joined the Monterosso’s in 2009, also in the umpire and player categories. Like Jeff Click, Bob Massong was a “complete” hitter, with a lifetime batting average of over .600 and with more than 300 home runs to his credit. He won three city tournaments, including 1984 and ’85 with Bushelman and 1993 with Jay’s. Also with Jay’s, Massong finished 5th in two USSSA “A” World Tournaments, and captured a USSSA A State Tournament in 1990. Massong went 19-for-21 in that event on his way to Tournament MVP honors. Massong was named the Greater Cincinnati “Player of the Year” with Bushelman in 1984. He was picked to the Greater Cincinnati All-Decade 1st team in 1990, the All-Decade 2nd team in 2000, and also in 2000 was selected to the Greater Cincinnati All-Century team.
• Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
BIO:
Most softball players never even dream about winning a state, national or world tournament. But Michael Anthony “Mike” Smith had already won all three by the time he was only eighteen. Playing with Avoca Park, J. R. Express, Freeze Concrete and H & W for twenty-four years, Smith – the common thread behind each team’s success – became a virtual icon at the B level in Greater Cincinnati. In fact, one could make a case that his name was synonymous with B softball for a quarter of a century locally, and that he was the consummate – if not quintessential – class B softball player. Despite the fact that Smith spent most of his career playing at the B level, his skill-set was such that even the best teams in Greater Cincinnati recognized that he was one of the premier 2nd basemen in the tri-state, and unequivocally the best defensive 2nd baseman. Not only was he named to the All-Decade first team for the nineties in 2000, he was also selected to the All-Century team. Achieving such honors was virtually unheard of for a B player. But those accomplishments were just icing on the cake for Smith’s 27-year career. Additionally, he has made ten world tournament appearances, captured three national titles – including the ASA 16-18 under Boys Youth Nationals in 1979 at the age of 18 – and ten state championships. His Freeze teams won back-to-back USSSA B National titles in 2003 and 2004. And in 1992, he led his 1992 J. R. Express team to an Open Metro title, which was an unprecedented achievement for a B team. Smith’s individual awards also included being named MVP in two state tournaments and the ’91 Metro, and runner-up B “Player of the Year” in 1984 and 1995, and B “Player of the Year” in 1989. In addition to his unrivaled defensive skills at 2nd base, Smith compiled a .609 lifetime batting average – most of which was done before the onset of composite bats. He also had great speed and was a renowned clutch hitter.
• Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
BIO:
Not many team or individual accomplishments escaped slugger Joe Penwell’s reach during his 30-year career competing with legendary teams like Backstop/Easton, Watanabe/TPS, and EMR/Meiner’s/Worth. By the numbers, Joe’s teams amassed ninety tournament championships, including six Major Metro titles and thirteen Metro crowns overall, four State titles, and two National and two World championships. They also recorded a runner-up finish in the NSA A World, and a 4th and a 7th place finish in the ASA A Nationals, and a 5th place finish in the USSSA A World. Joe was selected to six B All-City teams and eleven Major All-City teams, was a two-time class B “Player of the Year” and Major Metro Most Valuable Player, and a two-time Major “Player of the Year” runner-up. He was selected to fifteen All-Metro teams, was named to an NSA All-World 1st team, and in 2000 was selected to the Greater Cincinnati All-Decade 1st team and to the All-Century team. Primarily an outfielder, 1st baseman and catcher during his career, Joe was a lifetime .650 hitter who belted over 2,000 home runs.
• 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.
• 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:
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.
• 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.
• Thursday, January 27th, 2011
BIO:
After capturing runner-up finishes in the ASA “A” Metro with Taliano’s Pizza in 1993, then in the “Major” Metro with Copas/Lauer in 1995, Brian May’s career skyrocketed when he joined Watanabe/TPS in 1997 at the age of 26. During the next seven years, he helped lead Watanabe to four “Major” Metro titles. Brian was named first-team All-City six times for Watanabe, and in 2003 and 2005 he was selected “Player of the Year,” becoming one of six players to achieve that honor twice during his career. Brian also spent four years competing at the USSSA “Major” level, including 2002 when his Reece/Roosters/Easton team captured the Major World Series. A solid outfielder who has won several home run titles and been named to many All-Tournament teams, Brian was a lifetime .700 hitter. He was named to the Greater Cincinnati All-Decade first team in 2010.
