RENO, Nev. — Three NFCA members, Stacey Nuveman, Tommy Orndorff and Ron Radigonda, were inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 8.
Watch the 2014 Hall of Fame Induction here
Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) – Fast Pitch Player
A two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Stacey Nuveman will go down in history as one of the best catchers in the history of fast pitch softball. Nuveman competed in three Olympic Games, capturing the Gold at the 2000 and 2004 Games while claiming the silver at the 2008 games. Nuveman first wore the Red, White and Blue in 1995 when she earned Gold at the ISF Junior Women’s World Championship in Normal, Ill. where she set a tournament record with 18 RBI. Her impressive power at the plate and strong performance behind it landed her a spot on the Women’s National Team, where she would earn two Pan American Gold Medals and two ISF World Championships. On the national level, Nuveman won two ASA/USA National Championships with the Gordon’s Panthers, coached by fellow Hall of Fame member Larry Mays. She also earned a second-team ASA All-American honor with the California Jazz. Nuveman retired following the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, leaving behind an Olympic Legacy with 10 RBI and three home runs. In 2012, Nuveman, along with the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team, was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
Tommy Orndorff (Vienna, Va.) – Manager
At the Junior Olympic (JO) level, the Shamrocks, led by coach Tommy Orndorff, have established a tradition in fast pitch softball that’s hard to match. Since their first national appearance in 1977, the Shamrocks have been a force in the JO world, qualifying for 25 ASA/USA National Championships and finishing in the top 10 on nine occassions. In the early years of the Shamrock organization, not many East coast teams competed competitively, but once Coach Orndorff organized the Shamrock organization that completely changed. In their 25 appearances at the ASA/USA National Championships, the Shamrocks earned a total of eight top-five finishes, including a runner-up at the 2003 18U GOLD. In 2005, they earned the ultimate title in JO Championship Play as the 18U GOLD National Champions.
Ron Radigonda (Edmond, Okla.) – Meritorious Service
Under his 15 years of leadership as Executive Director, the face of ASA/USA Softball evolved dramatically. Prior to accepting the Executive Director position, Radigonda worked with the City of Sacramento in the Parks and Recreation Department for 28 years and also served as Executive Director of the Sacramento Sports Commission and the Sacramento Sports Foundation. In 1982, he became the Commissioner of the Sacramento ASA, where he served as Chair of numerous committees and served on the Board of Directors and as the Chair of the Association’s Insurance and Finance Committees. During his tenure as Executive Director, the ASA Hall of Fame Complex has undergone major renovations and has continued its hosting duties for the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS), and the World Cup of Softball, an international softball event. He also helped foster a continuing relationship with the City of Oklahoma City. At the International Level, Radigonda has served as a delegate and committee chair for the International Softball Federation (ISF), the governing body of softball internationally.
Held in Reno, Nev., the 34th Annual celebration honored the National Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2014 also consisted of Fast Pitch player Darryl Day (Hilton Head, S.C), Slow Pitch player Craig Elliott (Wadley, Ala.), Umpire Ted Germain (Mayville, Mich.), and Sponsor Bruce Tanski (Clifton Park, N.Y.). Also inducted during the Saturday evening ceremony was RB Thomas (Manassas, Va.) into the ISF Hall of Fame.
— Courtesy of ASA/USA Softball