Men’s Committee Members

 

John DeJarnette

Highlights:

  • Played softball in Columbus 1987 – 2002
  • Athletic Director Ceraland for 5 years
  • CSA Committee Member 1 year
  • NSA Director for 5 years
  • USSSA Director for 5 years
  • Umpired since 1990
  • Coached for 25 years
  • Still actively playing/Traveling Senior Softball
  • On Board of Directors CISSHOF Inc.

 

Russell Wilhoit

Highlights:

  • 14 national championships
  • 7 national runner-up finishes
  • 4 times “coach of the year”
  • Made 6 all-American teams
  • Made several att-tournament teams
  • 3 MVP awards in national tournaments

 

Ron Turnbow

Highlights:

  • 6 National Championships
  • 2001 ASA -Tupelo Ms – Indy Legends
  • 2002 SPA – Plano Tx – Indy Legends
  • 2004 NSA – Cullman Al – Riverside Paving
  • 2005 LVSSA – Las Vegas – Riverside Paving
  • 2005 SSWCS – Phoenix Az – Indy Legends
  • 2006 SPA – Tampa Fl – Columbus Classics
  • 2011 Inducted to Ind Softball Hall of Fame

 

Steve Pavey

Highlights:

  • Played in Columbus from 1976 – 1992 (16 years)
  • Member of DECO’s 1980 Class A State Champs
  • 1989 State ASA Runner-up
  • Played on 10 Columbus league championship teams
  • Solid defensive player w/good speed and softball IQ
  • Great hitter for high average (Lefty)
  • Great teammate & Ambassador for Columbus Softball

 

Jim Norris

Highlights:

  • Inducted into the US Army in 1966 and played softball while serving.
  • After being discharged from the Army in 1968 the first time I played slow pitch softball for a team called the
  • Independents in Seymour, Indiana.
  • In 1983 I played on a National Championship team from Brownstown called the Brewers.
  • In 1999 I played for Coach Rabbit Wilhoit and the Indiana Classics and we won the 50 SPA national
  • championship.
  • In 1999 I also played for Winchells Chiropractic from Evansville In. we played in the Senior Olympics at Disney
  • and finish 2nd.
  • In 2007 I started playing for the Indiana Legends and Coach Dan Reynolds. We won the ISA and SPA national
  • Championships as well as the Tournament of Champions .
  • I am currently playing on a 75 age group team Indy 70s.

 

Sam Simmermaker wearing a black hat and glasses.

Sam Simmermaker

Highlights:

  • Provided slo-pitch softball coverage as a Radio Announcer for a “few” years.
  • Played Old-Timers slo-pitch softball for many years.
  • Winner of the Dwayne Grooms Award.
  • Had one career game-winning hit and received game ball from coach Lynn Montgomery.
  • Could not outrun Fred Darling.

 

 

Jerry Littrell

Highlights:

  • Started playing softball in Columbus at age 15.
  • Won King of Slow Pitch tournament in North Vernon 1976.
  • Won National Seniors AA 55 and over Championship in Las Vegas, 2001.
  • Asst. Coach for Major Plus team that won National Championship in Alabama
  • Coached and played on Cummins Engine Company State Industrial Champs and State runner-up.
  • Played in Columbus Park and Rec. Senior softball league, 40 and over, 50 and over , and 60 and over from 1989 until 2018.

 

Dewey Whitis with glasses.

Dewey Whitis

Highlights:

  • Known for his rifle arm and quick speed
  • Was also a major contributor at the plate where he hit for high average and displayed awesome power
  • Won several National Tournaments and State Tournaments
  • Won many All-American Awards

 

Mike Gehring

Highlights:

  • 1974-2007 played continuously in Columbus Softball Association (CSA) leagues. Also played in various regional and state tournaments for a few years
  • 1984 – Umpired girls softball at County Stadium
  • 1985-1992 – Coached a girls and a co-ed softball team in Columbus
  • 1985-2018 – Umpired continuously 2-3 times per week in CSA leagues
  • 1990s (don’t remember specific years) – Umpired several Indiana regional and state tourneys.
  • Early 2000s (don’t remember specific years) Member of CSA Board for 3-4 years
  • 2018 – Retired after 45 years of playing, coaching, and umpiring softball

 

Tom Wetherald Consultant

Highlights:

  • Started playing in Columbus 1982, with local teams
  • In 1985 started playing travel softball, with CG sports, and later with Golf core supply.
  • played mostly outfield, with very good team mates,
  • Won numerous rewards from Columbus softball leagues
  • After playing ended, started coaching fast pitch for next 12 years

 

 

Randy Lawson

Highlights:

  • Started his softball career in Columbus, In. in 1985
  • Has been playing softball in Columbus for 36 years
  • Played competitive travel ball for 30 years
  • Has won numerous State, National and World tournaments
  • Coached travel team for 10 years
  • Coached daughters team for 8 years
  • Asst Girls Fast-Pitch Coach at Columbus East H.S. for 4 years
  • Played in many County Community Softball tournaments held in Kentucky every year and won the tournament a couple of times. His team is one of the favored teams to win.

 

Derck Engelbert

Highlights:

  • Started playing Softball in Columbus, Indiana in 1976
  • Played in the Columbus leagues for 17 years
  • Won several league and league tournament Championships
  • Won several individual awards including “Best Shortstop”, MVP’s and “Best Hitter” awards
  • Had along career playing baseball in Indianapolis after Softball
  • One of the best Shortstops to ever play softball in Columbus

 

Wayne Noble

Highlights:

  • Played from 1988 to current.
  • Over 100 league and tournament championships.
  • Couple MVP in tournaments.
  • Several senior tournament championships and runner’s up.
  • Senior Olympics championship 2024.Can-Am tournament championship 1999. 2021 Also coached women’s softball league teams to a championship.
  • Can-Am tournament championship 1999. 2021 Also coached women’s softball league teams to a championship.

 

Rob Likens smiling at the camera.

Tim McNealy

Highlights:

  • Columbus Softball Player 1974- Current
  • CSA Board Of Directors 4 Years
  • Boyer Machine Team member 31 Years
  • SPA National All Tournament Team Twice
  • 2 ISA World Championships in Columbus
  • SPA “Mr Pitch” Champion 2013 & 2018, Dalton
  • Played for The Indiana Classics, Indy Fog and Indiana Legends.

 

Jeff Turnbow

Jeff Turnbow 

Highlights:

  • Played softball in Columbus for 28 years from 1977 to 2005.
  • One of the top fielding 3rd basemen in Columbus. 
  • He was a very consistent hitter with power and good average.
  • Played on several top teams and contributed to their success with his overall gamesmanship. 
  • He was a great teammate who made others around him better. 
  • Won several league titles with various teams and league tourneys. 
  • A member of the 1980 ASA State Champs Deco team. 
  • Played in the Industrial Nationals in Midland Texas with his COSCO team. 
  • Played in the A State with Countryside pools. A hard nose competitor with a passion to 

 

Terry England

Terry England  

Terry coached and played softball in Columbus Indiana for over 13 years from 1991 to 2004. His teams always went under the name of Mancino’s both in leagues and tournament play. Terry’s teams list of accomplishments were:

  • Won several league and league tournament titles
  • 2002 won Indiana USSSA State tournament. 
  • 2002 Won Indiana USSSA Super-State Championship.
  • 1997 finished 4th place NSA World Series 
  • Terry Sponsored teams for over 9 years and with league play and travel ball won over 700 games. 

 

Bill Foreman

Bill Foreman  

Bill played softball in Columbus Indiana for 33 years from 1980 to 2013. Teams he played with won several league and league tournaments. Some of the teams Bill played for were; Bobby G’s, Bottle Shop, Hangar 5, Countryside Pools and David R Webb.

  • Bill won 1991 ASA Class B State Championship
  • Won the 1992 ASA Class A State Championship 
  • Bill was an excellent outfield for most of career but when he got older played a lot at SS, 2B and 3B.
  • He was a very competitive player who was an above average hitter with some power, very quick as an outfielder and running bases.