Ray Brew of Dickinson began his long career in 1972 playing for several different sponsors over a 38 year career.  Playing in the outfield and as a catcher he has played in 40 state tournaments and two regionals.

Three state titles for teams on which he starred are the Class AA in 1978 with Liberty National Bank; Class D in 2004 with Logo Magic and in Rec II in 2008 with Simonson's.  He was selected as an all tournament player is several of these tournaments, MVP in others and as a Homerun Derby Champ.

Early in his softball career, Brew was noted as a feared power hitter who could also hit for average and as a good defensive outfielder with some of the best teams in the state.  Later he transformed himself into an excellent base hitter who could hit the ball to all fields.

Known for his passion for the game, Brew would never let his teammates down no matter what the score. He was a fierce competitor while at the same time he remained a gentleman on and off the field.  His lifetime batting average is estimated conservatively at .575 and he estimates that he has hit over 800 homeruns in his long career.

Paul "Otto" Ferrie came from a family of softball pitchers.  Both his father Paul and his uncle Roger are in the South Dakota Softball Hall of Fame.  He started pitching fast pitch softball when he was eleven years old in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  His teams were highly successful at the junior level.  In 1962 he played in both the Youth League and the Men's City league.  Before the season ended, his family moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota where his dad organized a team so he had the opportunity to play with his dad.  In 1965 and 1967 he pitched his team to the state title in Class B fast pitch softball.

His longest service as a pitcher and his best years were in the Twin City League in Fargo where he starred as a pitcher and played first base when not on the mound.  He was an outstanding left handed pitcher for Josefs of Fargo winning their first state tournament in 1977 and again in 1978.  It was the first time in 25 years that a team had managed to win back to back state titles in the very competitive fast pitch which was played in North Dakota softball at that time.

Ferrie had 25 no hit ball games in his 29 year career along with 40 one hit games and a career total of 650 wins against 190 losses.  He was also a dangerous power hitter with an average of approximately. 275.

Rick Fryhling was truly a man for all seasons in North Dakota softball.  He played slow pitch softball for 30 years, umpired for 20 years, managed teams for 20 years and sponsored teams for 15 to 20 years.

He also served as a player representative for the Fargo leagues and as the city Umpire in Chief and Deputy State Umpire in Chief for Southeastern North Dakota.

In his early years as a player, Rick played fast pitch softball in Minot and for a couple of years in Fargo before founding the Gateway Builders slow pitch team which he managed and for which he played.  He was a great utility player who could and did play virtually every position.  He also was an excellent hitter who had the ability to place the ball for base hits but also could hit for extra bases when the situation demanded.  A good base runner who was exceptionally fast it was not uncommon for him to hit an inside the park homer.  In addition to his softball activities, he also coached little league baseball and softball teams.  Rick was active in the Fargo Church League as well serving on the Board of Directors and as president of the league for many years.

As a registered ASA umpire, he worked a number of state tournaments and was selected to umpire in three national championship tournaments in 1996, 1998 and 2000.

Another of the many softball enthusiasts who involve themselves in several aspects of the game, Gail Ingwalson played the game for 40 years, has been a long time coach and manager and served on the Grand Forks Board of Directors and as Supervisor of the Youth Softball program in Grand Forks.

Her playing career began at the age of 12 when she and her dad started a girl's team in Buxton which competed at the Class B level.

After high school graduation, Gail played basketball and fast pitch softball for the University of North Dakota.  Her freshman years she was the starting shortstop and played that position or first base throughout her four year career.  Her approximate batting average was .300. She was the team captain her junior and senior year and the teams most valuable player her senior year.

Gail has played and coached at the state level throughout her 40 year career from Class A through Class D level.  She estimates her lifetime batting average at about .375 which is extremely conservative.  She has competed in 78 state tournaments as a player (45 women's 15 Co-Ed and 18 Old Pro).

Gail has also coached Junior Olympic teams and in 1979 was hired to coach in the youth softball program in Grand Forks. In 1980, she was promoted to supervisor of the Grand Forks Park District youth softball program and she continued in that capacity until 1998.  She also served on the Board for the Grand Forks Softball Association for 20 years and was the president of that group for nine years.

Nominated and considered primarily as a team sponsor, Harold Wilkens also played the game of softball for many years.  As sponsor and team manager, he would be called on to fill in many times and at various positions.  His teams Harold's Skelly of Center were well known and respected in the softball community around the state.

Harold started sponsoring his team in 1973 when he owned the Skelly gas station in Center.  He sold his business in 1984 but because of his love of the game of softball continued to sponsor his team until 1999 when he turned 70 years of age.

His teams won the state championship in 1985 in the Old Pro 35 and Over category and in 1997 as the Class D West champion.  His team also competed in one regional tournament in Pierre, South Dakota finishing in third place in the Men's Division IV Class.