Fellow Members,
We have some wonderful members helping our association:
We are so fortunate that Bobby Castiglione used his woodworking skills to makeover our Hall of Fame plaque, adding onto it so we are set for years to come.
Scott donated paint and Glenn Brunner painted 3 sides of our container/shed at Lorenzi. Rod and Jan painted the back side. The new sign was created and installed by Mike Warzocha. Thank you to all involved.
Bill Walsh just bought another 15 bags of chalk to keep us on the straight and narrow. Rod, Bill and Jan loaded it into the shed. Thank you folks.
Louise Freiheit acted as our liaison and has gotten us another coupon to use for savings at Big 5. Thank you Louise.
When you see these members out at the field, please take a moment to thank them.
Thank you all,
Renn Hjellum-Lim
President - LVSSA
I wish everyone a safe and healthy 2024.
For your fun and fellowship, we are planning Co-ed games throughout the year. Last year, we enjoyed celebrating Flag Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day and last Saturday’s Holiday co-ed game. We had a wonderful annual meeting/banquet at the Italian American Club, including a fun and profitable raffle of donated items.
For field safety, two new pitching screens were purchased in 2023. We also bought two heavy-duty ball caddies for the men.
We want to thank Scott Carr for serving as Men’s 65 and over Representative the past two years. The men will be well represented by Bill Walsh going forward. Many thanks go to our retiring Secretary, Louise Freiheit. Christen Herrera has some big shoes to fill! Your remaining Board of Directors is: Vice President Rod Adams, Men’s 64 and under Representative Michael Kazcer, Ladies Representative Pinky Rogers and Treasurer George Kuehnel. Advisory members are: Historian Jim Hellerstadt, Parliamentarian George Fernandes and Records Manager John Vernagus.
Again, all my best to you in 2024,
Renn Hjellum-Lim, President
Just a quick note to say thanks for putting on tonight’s Annual Banquet. I know it took a lot of work but it all came together as a successful night where we could hang out with our softball buddies and have some good food.
I would like to thank EVERYONE that came to the Banquet Thursday night, including my family, wife Jan, my brothers Ron and Kirk, Kirk's wife Jocie and daughter Denise. I would also like to thank the LVSSA Banquet Committee for all of their hard work in putting together this fine evening. I would also like to thank the LVSSA Hall of Fame Committee and my fellow Hall of Fame recipients - Louise Cooke Freiheit and Rob Robinson! Let's play ball!
The LVSSA Board of Directors and our LVSSA Members wish Lou and his Family ALL THE BEST and A SPEEDY RECOVERY!
-Flower Arrangement by Jan Adams (Rod)
Attention LVSSA Members:
Personnel are needed to help with the registration of the teams on the first day of each session for the World Masters Senior Softball tournament, held here starting September 14th. Each person will be paid $100 for each day worked, the hours will vary as determined by the number of teams needing to sign in at the specific complex, but normally should not be more than 5-6 hours each day.
The days you would be needed are; Thursday September 14th, Monday September 18th, Friday September 22nd, and Thursday September 28th.
You can sign up for all the dates or just one, whatever your schedule would allow.
Your duties would include helping the Field Director with set-up prior to the team's starting to register. This could be making up 6 packs of balls, putting the tournament packet with the balls, setting up the tables, etc. In the World Masters tournament, each team gets one All Tourney Section which comes with a medallion and a ring option form, you would present this to the manager with the 6 pack of balls, upon their team completing the registration process.
We also are looking for personnel that would be available to be at Boulder Station Casino the evening prior to the start of each session from around 5:30 to 8:00,
SSUSA has invited all the vendors that will be available at the complex's during the playing days to assemble in the show room, and they are asking the managers to come and review their rosters for changes and verification. You would be available to provide the manager with his roster and also to pass out the All-Tourney medallion and ring form. Which we hope will reduce the time frame for the registration process in the AM of each session.
Those evenings would be Wednesday Sept. 13th, Sunday Sept. 17th, Thursday Sept. 21st and again on Wed. Sept 27th. Again, you can sign up for every day or only one or two whatever is available for you.
If interested, you can email Mike Hula at mike.hula@hotmail.com or contact Rod Adams with the dates you're interested and available for. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael Hula
-Courtesy of Mike Hula and Rod Adams
Good morning LVSSA Members,
The LVSSA Flag Day Event is TODAY, Wednesday, June 14th at Lorenzi Park starting at 7 am on Field 1 for the guys and Field 4 for the ladies.
BP will start at 7 am for batting practice and sign-ups.
For batting practice, Field 1 will be used for players wanting to play in the Men’s Division and Field 4 will be used for the ladies and later players wanting to play in the Co-Ed Division. Field 4 will use the softballs appropriate for co-ed play – the ladies will use the ladies’ softballs and the men will use the men’s softballs. Both fields will be used as appropriate based on the number of teams in each Division during tournament play.
At 8:00 am we will recognize Flag Day and make announcements. Games will commence as soon as teams are made. Please come by 7:30 am if you can.
Games will be 5 innings long, with the 5th inning being the open inning. We will try to complete a double elimination for both Divisions, as we have the fields until 4:00 pm.
Lunch, consisting of Schlotsky’s deli subs, chips and snacks, and “Lou’s” desserts will be served at approximately 11:00 am.
We encourage all members to bring beverages to hydrate, but some water is available.
Please remember to bring a chair and sunscreen and wear your red, white, and blue!
- Scott
Thank you all for all your help in making today's event successful. Louise handled so many things flawlessly; Jim H was a great right-hand man for me; John and George ran the co-ed games and Russ and Bob; Mike and Wiley had the fields in great shape and Renn provided wonderful guidance and leadership as usual. I'm so happy to be part of such a great team.
- Scott
Thank you to Scott Carr and his flag day team and all the members of the board for their help in arranging a most enjoyable day. Also, Karen Kaczer for her assistance with the door prizes. Everyone I spoke with said they had a great day.
Well done everyone!!
- George K
Truly everyone stepped up to make our Flag Day special. Scott worked hard and planned a great day. It was a team effort and you all did so well. We have a good group of folks and spouses!
Everyone, thank you so much,
- Renn
Great job by everyone! My compliments to ALL!
- Louise
Glad everything went well! Great job by Scott, Louise, George K., Karen, MLK, Renn, Russ, Bob Rink, Wiley, Jim H.! Great team!
- Rod
Navy veteran Dennis Hetherington, who plays on Tuesday/Friday, has been selected to participate in the Honor Flight Program and will be flying to Washington DC on April 14 - 16. I thought maybe you could mention this on our website. Dennis is a good guy and we’ll deserving.
Thanks,
Alan
Congratulations Dennis!
From LVSSA Longtime Member and SSUSA Director Mike Hula:
I appreciate the response from the group very much, and that I have more than enough help.
For those that responded thank you and for everyone please remember that at least three times as many people will be needed come the Worlds in September. Again thanks to all LVSSA members and the Board for working with me and SSUSA.
- Mike Hula
From Louise Freiheit:
Our Veterans’ Day Celebration and Annual Meeting was such fun yesterday. It would never have worked without all the volunteers who pitched in. Volunteers: ordered and bought food; hauled things around; prepared wet and icy fields; unloaded and reloaded trucks; umpired; ran lineups; set up tables and chairs; refilled food dishes; and more. Thank you to everyone! It’s a pleasure being part of LVSSA. 
From Rod:
Our Veterans - Thanks for YOUR service!
Our Members - Thanks for Coming Out!
Olive Garden - Excellent Food!
Louise Freiheit - Head Coordinator, Set-Up, Hall of Fame, Decorations, Food
Renn Hjellum-Lim - Coordinator, Meeting and Speeches
Rod Adams - Communications, Membership, Games, Beverages, Set-Up
Scott Carr - Games, Decorations, Set-Up, Field Prep, Table Area
Mike "MLK" Kaczer - Field Prep, Set-Up, Games, Shed
George Fernandes and Erin Burgess - Field Prep, Set-Up, Election
Jim Hellerstedt - Set-Up, Field Prep, Shed
Kathy Kluever - Set-Up, Field Prep, Table Area, Food
Sue Dacanay - Set-Up, Table Area, Food
Jan Adams - Set-Up, Table Area, Food
Karen Kissam - Set-Up, Field Prep, Table Area, Food
"Lou" Bellino - Additional Desserts
Mike Hula and "Bobby C." - Umpires
"Chaz" Ward -
Wow, what a fun day of softball. I am proud to be a member of LVSSA Softball club. Congrats to all our new Hall of Famers. I was very impressed and honored by the Lady Desert Neon's team. Thank you for your service, to all my fellow servicemen. I Look forward to 2023. I took advantage of the $50 membership fee. Everyone try to bring a new member this year. Let's go for record membership drive.
A special shout out to my good friend Rod for all your efforts and commitment to the club.
May I be the first to wish you all a joyous holiday season. See you at the fields.
- Chaz Ward
"Joe V. Metro" -
Hi Guys!! A big Thank You from the top down I really enjoyed seeing everyone that came. So cool. Erin and Mr. Fernandes made sure to get my voting completed. Thank you . The Veterans Day event was amazingly good. Honor guard, ceremony, food games players and sharing a little about who we are. Looking forward to working with you 2023.
Have a safe and blessed holidays. See ya on Facebook!
I would personally like to thank those members who facilitated a wonderful FLAG DAY CELEBRATION on Saturday June 18, 2022 for the ladies on Lorenzi #4. We had a great turnout of all ages and played 2 exciting games followed by a BBQ with all the fixings. It takes a great deal of planning to bring about a successful event. Everyone was excited to see each other, reconnect, wear the red, white and blue, and play good softball. If I forget someone, I apologize but want everyone to know that Louise, Kathy K, Rod and his wife Jan along with those who were team captains (Zim and Pinkie) and umpires Jane S. and Kathy K. made the difference. The weather was mild and overcast with a breeze which gave us all a gift of extra energy. Thanks for being an LVSSA leader. You are appreciated.
From Coach Chuck Godman, THIS IS A THANK YOU FROM CHUCK TO ALL THE TUES./FRI. PLAYERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FLAG WEEK GAMES. THERE WERE SOME REALLY GOOD CLOSE GAMES PLAYED, ESPECIALLY THE EXCITING CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN ARMY AND THE PATRIOTS. ALSO A BIG THANK YOU TO ROD, FLANMAN, JAN, CONNIE, KATHY AND LOUISE FOR THEIR HARD WORK PREPARING AND SERVING THE REALLY GOOD BBQ. THANKS, CHUCK
I would like to thank the LVSSA Cookout Team for a job well done. Jan, Louise, Kathy, Flanman and Connie all did a great job! Lots of thanks from all that attended was much appreciated by the LVSSA Cookout Team. Glad the guys and ladies had a good time and I hear the games were FUN!
Yasss! Lol Hello Fabulous Senior Softball Ladies! This is Carroll Beeson! If you weren't able to make it out for Flag Day, y'all definitely need to come out for the next event! We had SO MUCH FUN! Being able to play softball again with amazing women like yourselves was an AWESOME EXPERIENCE! My inner 12-year-old thanks you for the great time! Lol Have a great weekend everyone!
I AM VERY SORRY I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND JOE UPPERMAN'S REMEMBRANCE SERVICE. I HAD A NASTY FALL AT HOME AND SUFFERED SOME DIBILTATING INJURIES THAT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING THERE. I I ALWAYS ADMIRED JOE, I THOUGHT HE'D LIVE FOREVER. HIS PASSING CAME AS A GREAT SHOCK TO ME. HE COMPETED AT A HIGH LEVEL REGARDLESS OF HIS AGE, OFTEN IN A LOWER AGE GROUP AND STILL EXCELLED! HE DIDN'T TALK MUCH BUT I HAD ONE MEMORABLE CONVERSATION WITH HIM ABOUT WHERE YOU COULD FIND THE BEST "CHEESEBURGERS" IN VEGAS! KUDOS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HELPED CREATE THIS "REMEMBERANCE" OF JOE AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED DESPITE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. GOD BLESS JOE AND ALL OF YOU! TAKE CARE AND STAY HAPPY AND HEALTHY!
Dear Members,
Monday night we lost a true talent. Anne Terlitzky was taken from us far too soon. We will miss her beautiful smile and amazing hits to left field. She played several nights a week in league play. She was a valued player on the 50s Women's Senior team, "I'd Hit That". Everyone who knew her will miss her.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.
- Renn Hjellum-Lim
My message to our LVSSA members.......
I, and all the other LVSSA Board of Directors thank all of you for joining us on Flag Day Weekend. Because of you, Flag Day Weekend was a huge success.
Friday's turnout was exceptional, as there were four softball teams playing. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a round robin scrimmage. After softball, everyone enjoyed eating chicken and Albertson's sandwiches.
Saturday's games drew a lot of players, both men and women. We started the day by having the Color Guards from Rancho High School present the colors of our flag. There were three teams playing on field one while the women exercised their fielding drills followed by a very competitive game on field four.
After softball there was lots of food served. There was Jan's Pulled Pork. Lou was there firing up his grill, serving Ribs, Burgers, Hot Dogs, Chicken , Italian Sausage and London Broil.
Our Flag Day celebration wasn't only about playing softball and eating. We also celebrated the life of our softball sister, teammate, and dear friend, Annie who we tragically lost in April. In Annie's honor, we conducted L and L's Bake Sale, with all the proceeds going to Annie's family. There were so many homemade baked items that were sold. Because of you, our generous members, we raised over $1,300.00 for Annie's family through the Bake Sale and donations.
Thanks to all who put Flag Day together. Thanks to all for being there. Thanks for being united.
We'll let you know when our next LVSSA event will be.
Sincerely,
MLK
Publicity
Thanks to all our LVSSA Members that came out. I see Kathy Kluever, Louise Freiheit, Christen Herrera, Erin Burgess, Ellie Hawley.....
-Courtesy of Our LVSSA Ladies and Rod Adams
October 7, 2024
Members,
This morning in court, DA Jake Merback dropped the charges against Jim Whipple. He felt he could not prove the charges to a jury. He has received statements from Jim Whipple, Robert ‘Bear’ Beyer, Bill Patton, and Gene Sullenger. They claim all of Jim Whipple’s expenditures were approved. Years of very sloppy bookkeeping made the case harder to prove.
Our LVSSA operating budget for a year is a little over $20,000.00. Most of that pays for liability insurance and our annual meeting/banquet. February 26, 2021, our Nevada State Bank accounts held $132,981.85. The balance June 17, 2021 was $81,060.61. This was the day Jim Whipple and Bill Patton emptied our LVSSA accounts. $51,921.24 was paid out of our account in 3 and one half months. Neither insurance nor a banquet, were paid for.
In October, 2021, the board hired a CPA firm to do a forensic accounting of our Nevada State Bank accounts and the corresponding Visa credit card. The CPA questioned checks totaling $109,401.89 written between November 2019 and June 2021. Our bank account was used to pay $7892.04 on an American Express credit card. Our account was also used to pay $4879.29 on a Barclay card and Amazon Store card. The LVSSA had a Visa card. Reviewing our LVSSA NSB Visa card showed $7080.25 of personal charges. There are also bar and restaurant charges of $2871.75 from November 2019 through June 2021. $608.86 was charged for groceries and Uber Eats.
I remind you; Jim Whipple, Bear Beyer, Bill Patton, and Gene Sullenger wrote statements claiming all Jim Whipple’s expenditures were approved. And furthermore, Jim Whipple was allowed to use personal credit cards and be reimbursed. This is not shown in any board meeting minutes from November 2019 through June 2021. In the first half of 2021, two board meetings were held; February 1 and April 20. The only expenditure approved was for tax preparation.
Our board insurance investigated and found our treasurer, Jim Whipple, had defrauded the LVSSA. They issued a check for $20,400.00 earlier this year.
Since July of 2021, we have worked hard to right our course and look forward. Your LVSSA board requires all expenditures are approved ahead of any spending. And checks are now required to have two signatures.
No LVSSA funds were used in this case. We presented our evidence to the Financial Crimes Department of the Las Vegas Metro Police. They investigated and gave the case to the District Attorney’s office. It was the DA’s office who filed the charges against Jim Whipple. I am deeply disappointed in the DA’s office.
All my best,
Renn Hjellum-Lim
President, LVSSA
I would like to wish everyone a safe and healthy 2025.
I would like to thank our outgoing LVSSA Board Members:
Renn Hjellum-Lim - President
George Kuehnel - Treasurer
Christen Herrera - Secretary
Mike “MLK” Kaczer - Men’s Under 65 Rep
Bill Walsh - Men’s Over 65 Rep
George Fernandes - Parliamentarian
Jim Hellerstedt - Historian
I would like to welcome our new 2025 LVSSA Board Members:
Louise Freiheit - Vice-President
Rudy Escamilla - Treasurer
Jo Smith - Secretary
Scott Carr - Men’s Under 65 Rep
Butch Kocher - Men’s Over 65 Rep
Loreen “Pinky” Rogers - Ladies Representative
A special “welcome back” to Louise, Pinky and Scott.
Our primary goal for the year is to keep our current programs; the daily men’s pick-up games, our tournament team practices and games, our ladies’ practices and our Wednesday batting practice, going strong. We appreciate all the volunteers that keep these programs going including our Field Commissioners Mike Kaczer and James Brown IV.
Our Flag Day in June and our Veteran’s Day Games in November will be scheduled as they are each year along with our Annual Meeting.
New programs, with YOUR help, will include age-related Co-Ed Games and a program aimed at younger seniors to bring them into the LVSSA as they and us, as current members, will be the future of the LVSSA.
So, I urge each one of you, if you are not involved now in the Club, whether it is coming early and grooming the fields and assisting in the pre-game preparation or volunteering to serve on a committee, to get involved with the LVSSA. Just contact me or Louise or any Board Member.
Again, all my best to you in 2025,
Rod Adams, President
Senior Softball USA is issuing a strong warning to all senior players to be aware that rolled bats are altered bats and the penalty is a 10-year suspension.
Players are warned NOT to purchase bats on eBay or from any person or website that advertises “Bat Break-in Services” or that they will make the bat “ready for play.” That means the bats will be rolled and illegal for SSUSA play.
Players buying bats from other players are responsible for the bat they buy if they are later found to be altered.
Senior Softball USA STRONGLY suggests players only buy bats from bat manufacturers’ Official Representative UNLESS those Representatives offer bat-altering services (rolling or shaving).
“We are actively attacking the altered-bat problem because companies that offer these services have proliferated on the internet and have become common and popular,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA’s chief executive officer. “It is cheating, plain and simple. These bats provide an unfair advantage and are potentially dangerous to defensive players.”
Three players have been suspended after their bats failed the SSUSA field test and a secondary SSUSA test – and were found to have been rolled in a final test.
The players were suspended for 10 years for bringing the altered bats to a SSUSA tournament. The three players – from 60, 65 and 70 teams – appealed their suspensions and an impartial SSUSA Appeals Board issued their opinions this week.
The 10-year suspensions were upheld, but the last 9 years of the suspensions were changed to a zero-tolerance probationary period because these are the first rolled bats discovered in new testing – and many players do not realize having bats rolled is illegal. In announcing the Appeal decision, SSUSA emphasized that this ruling is designed to be a one-time warning to all players to be aware that rolling bats is altering bats to improve performance.
From this point forward, the 10-year suspensions will be upheld for players who bring bats that have been rolled to SSUSA tournaments. Two players have already been suspended for 10 years for possessing shaved bats.
“Players are responsible for the bats they bring to tournaments,” said Hennessy. “Our goal is to ensure an even playing field by getting the hot bats out of the senior game.”
Older, well-used bats also fail the test but are marked illegal for tournament use and given back to players. Newer bats that fail the test are tested further to ensure they have not been altered.
SSUSA launched its bat-testing program in July 2024. SSUSA spent two years developing a bat field test in conjunction with SSUSA’s national testing lab (NTS) and the Sports and Fitness Industry Association Softball/Baseball Committee.