Ball of Fame
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There is a Ball Of Fame Nomination form and list of induction eligibility criteria available under the "Handouts" tab
Ball of Fame Inductees:
Charlotte R. Woods
Walter G. Sturtevant
Pat Healey
Bob Wilber
Paul Wilcox
Bob Barden
Junie Blaisdell
Stan Plifka Jr.
Alfred "Frenchy" Parenteau
Evelyn Eldridge
Bob Van Blarcom
Roy Sabolevski
Harold B. Dompier
Helen Tetreault
Ernie Downing
Tom Little
Butch Morrison
Frank Washer
Benjamin "Benny's" Creamer
Ron Starkey
Edward "Junior" Bergeron
Jay W. Blanchard
Stanley "Butch" Castor
Robert W. Therrien
Doug Cumings
Ralph C. Jernberg
Deb Parker
Jim "Cricket" Starkey
Rick Duquette
Deanna Morrison
Leon Watkins
Deb "Clarkie" Clark
Jason A. Fish
Chuck Beauregard
Bob Whitcomb
Jerry Bussiere
Stan Cutts
Mike Koski
Tim Lepisto
Dick O'neil
Bob Patnode
Richard "Saint" Pierre
Ball Of Fame
Nomination forms
are available under
the "Handouts" tab
Nomination deadline for 2018: TBA
2016 Ball Of Fame Induction
Ball Of Fame Induction
Friday July 15, 2016 5:30pm @ Durling Field
Congratulations to Dick O'neil, Bob Patnode, and Richard "Saint" Pierre!
Keene Sentinel coverage of the 2016 Induction
TOP STORY
Softball: Ball of Fame to induct four tonight
By Sentinel Staff
Jul 15, 2016
Three individuals who left their mark on the sport of softball in the city will be inducted into the Ball of Fame during ceremonies this evening at Wheelock Park’s Durling Field.
The names of Dick O’Neil, Bob Patnode, Gerry Ganley and Richard St. Pierre will be engraved on the granite monument behind Durling Field that serves to honor those whose talents and contributions stand out over time.
O’Neil is considered by many to be one of the best pitchers to have competed in Keene, starring in fast-pitch, mostly as a member of the Monadnock Blocks. Patnode and St. Pierre are being recognized for their years of helping to grow the game as players, sponsors and umpires.
The Ball of Fame was first established 20 years ago. With tonight’s additions, it will show the names of more than 40 inductees.
The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. and will help to kick off play in the men’s state tournament, which opens with Friday night contests and runs through the weekend. If it rains, ceremonies will move to the park’s horseshoe pavilion.
2015 Ball Of Fame Induction
Keene Sentinel coverage of the 2015 Induction
Ball of Fame induction set for Friday
By SENTINEL STAFF
Jul 9, 2015
Mike Koski, the Keene Women’s Softball League president who died in March, and longtime player and official Tim Lepisto will be inducted into the Ball of Fame on Friday at Wheelock Park.
The Ball of Fame honors people who have made significant contributions to the area softball community.
The ceremony, to be held at 5:30 p.m. at the granite monument at Durling Field, will precede the first game of the annual Keene Women’s Invitational. The tournament runs through Sunday.
Koski served as a coach and later as president of the Keene Women’s League for 20 years. He helped organize food drives and fund charitable organizations through tournaments.
Lepisto played at the local and national levels from 1979-96, helping his team win a national title in 1985 and take second in 1986 for Swanzey’s Alexander’s Sheet Metal. He was a first-team All-American pitcher three times.
Since finishing his playing career, Lepisto has worked with both the Keene leagues as an officer and umpire. He is the women’s league umpire in chief.
Two to be inducted into softball Ball of Fame
By Sentinel Staff
Jul 7, 2015
The 2015 softball Ball of Fame induction ceremony will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Durling Field in Wheelock Park.
The ceremony will precede opening-round games in the Greater Keene Women’s Softball Association Open Pitch Tournament sponsored by Bulldog Design. Two individuals — Tim Lepisto and the late Mike Koski — will be inducted.
Inductees must demonstrate outstanding service to the Keene area softball community, display good sportsmanship and show a strong dedication to the game at all levels. A Ball of Fame committee makes the annual selections based on nominations it receives. A granite monument at Durling Field marks the names of all of those individuals who have been chosen.
Friday’s event is open to the public and all softball players and friends.
2014 Ball Of Fame Induction
Keene Sentinel coverage of the 2014 Induction
Keene softball Ball of Fame inducts four new members
By SENTINEL STAFF - Jun 15, 2014
Softball friends and family turn out in number to recognize Ball of Fame inductees. -Michael Moore
From left, Bob Whitcomb, Jerry Bussiere and Chuck Beauregard during their 2014 induction ceremony.
Stan Cutts was honored posthumously as part of the class. -Michael Moore
The Keene Ball of Fame is larger today, with the induction of four new and well-deserving members Saturday at Wheelock Parkduring the Choppin’ Wood Bat Tournament. The Ball of Fame recognizes people have made an exceptional contribution to the local softball community. This year’s inductees are Bob Whitcomb, Jerry Bussiere, Chuck Beauregard and the late Stan Cutts. Above, friends, family and players gather for the induction ceremony. Whitcomb, Bussiere and Beauregard take part in the festivities.
Keene softball's Ball of Fame to welcome four new members
By JEN CHICK Sentinel Softball Columnist - Jun 13, 2014
The annual Ball of Fame of Awards induction ceremony, already postponed once this spring because of rain, hopes to go off today at 5 p.m. at Wheelock Park. This year’s inductees are Bob Whitcomb, Chuck Beauregard, Jerry Bussiere and the late Stan Cutts.
The ceremony kicks off the Choppin’ Wood Bat Tournament, which starts tonight and continues through Sunday. In the event of rain, the ceremony may be pushed back to Saturday afternoon at 4.
Deb Parker, a member of the ball of Fame committee, will present the awards. “The Ball of Fame is really an honor to receive,” said Parker, who plays in the women’s league. “The Ball of Fame committee really takes a hard look at the nominees and we have a lot of criteria the candidates must meet to get inducted.”
The four inductees have demonstrated outstanding service to the softball community, displayed good sportsmanship and shown a strong dedication to the game in the area.
The inductees ...
Bob Whitcomb has been a part of Keene softball since the early 1960s when he started playing. He sponsored and played for 15 years on many teams, including the Monadnock Blocks, a talented Keene-based fastpitch team. The Blocks were a Keene powerhouse in the 1960s and ’70s, often qualifying for the men’s Eastern Regionals. Over the years, Whitcomb, a one-time local business owner, also contributed equipment to help build and maintain area softball fields.
Chuck Beauregard has been involved with softball for 43 years.
Since 1971, he has played on 10 different teams, most of which he formed with the idea to give fathers and sons a chance to play on the same team. Beauregard also umpired for 10 years in all of the Keene leagues and served one year on the men’s softball board of directors. He’s involved with the Angie’s Pizzeria team this season.
Jerry Bussiere has been a life-long member of the West Swanzey Athletic Association, but his major contributions to softball started in 1974 when he helped establish Brown Field in Swanzey. For many years, he maintained the field, set up practices and brought in tournaments. He even built the scorer’s booth behind the diamond. Bussiere also has played and coached in the regular and senior league.
Stan Cutts will be honored posthumously. He died last week of cancer. He was 68. A longtime contributor to softball, Cutts put together and maintained the field and concessions stand in Troy for many years. He also started the Wooden Bat Tournament in Chester, Vt., which is now a big success in the area. Cutts, a well-respected umpire for 26 years, also ran a yearly poker tournament to raise money for players and coaches going through a rough time. He’ll be missed — and also remembered as a member of the Ball of Fame.
