2024 Hall of Fame Nominees

September 8, 2024
https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.06.28 AM.png

IANETA LILIO KELLY

PREFERRED PRONOUNS: She/Her

NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE NSSL:  11

CURRENT TEAM:  LOONEY SQUAD #BETHECHANGE

SUBMITTED BY CHRISTA BRASHER: BETTER KNOWN AS TASHA, SHE HAS ONE OF THE PUREST HEARTS YOU WILL EVER FIND! HER LOVE FOR HER TEAM, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS IS IMMEASURABLE. IN HER 11 YEARS IN THE LEAGUE, SHE PLAYED IN 25 NAGAAA TOURNAMENTS AND HAS PLAYED WITH THE FOLLOWING PAST TEAMS: DIAMOND WARRIORS AND MOOD SWINGS. SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST ALLIES TO THIS LEAGUE THAT ALWAYS STANDS UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT MAKES HER THE PERFECT FIT FOR OUR HALL OF FAME.

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.08.44 AM.png

CHRIS HUFFSTUTLER

Preferred pronouns: he/him

Number of years in the NSSL:  10

Current team: Bandits

Submitted by Robert Simmons: huffy is always willing to volunteer and help with any event having to do with nssl. In his 10 years in the league, he has played in over 60 NAGAAA tournaments, played in 3 NAGAAA world series, and played for the following past teams: Foxes, #NoFilter, Royal Balls, Sliders, and Steelers C. He has represented these teams as a player and team rep. Huffy represents our league well at tournaments and is well known by many players outside our league for his fun personality on and off the field. He is a perfect candidate to be inducted into our HOF in my opinion.

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.10.08 AM.png

BRUCE HENDERSON

PREFERRED PRONOUNS: He/Him

NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE NSSL:  10+ ASSOCIATED WITH THE LEAGUE

CURRENT TEAM:  VOLUNTEER

SUBMITTED BY ERIC WHITE: Bruce has volunteered for our league in a number of facets. For example, helping bartend at Als during events like Southern Shootout and helping grill out at fundraisers and Sunday Fundays at Als after games just to name a few. He is always there when we need him and has even helped with Southern Shootout before we started a committee. Most recently, Bruce and his partner Andrew donated all food items for the fundraiser we held to help out Rod Spann after his heart attack. They then showed up and cooked all that food and spent the day supporting our players by buying tickets for the raffle. Almost every single event we host at Al’s, Bruce is involved in somehow at some point. He is a pillar of the community and we are forever in gratitude to him for their volunteerism. Due to these factors, I believe allowing Bruce into our HOF as a non-player would be an amazing addition to those ranks and a small way to thank him for everything he has done for us.

 

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.11.22 AM.png

ELLEN COOLEY

Preferred pronouns: she/her

Number of years in the NSSL: 14

Current team: Looney Squad #bethechange

Submitted by Christa Brasher: Ellen is an outstanding Ema (mom), friend, teammate, and family member. In her 14 years in the league she attended over 25 NAGAAA tournaments, played in 1 NAGAAA World Series, and played for the following past teams: Bandits, Diamond Warriors, and Outlaws. Ellen is known for always supporting her team, teammates, and family with a smile on her face and playing the game with a pure heart!

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.14.08 AM.png

ANDREW WARAT

PREFERRED PRONOUNS: He/Him

NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE NSSL: 10+ ASSOCIATED WITH THE LEAGUE

CURRENT TEAM: VOLUNTEER

SUBMITTED BY ERIC WHITE: Andrew has volunteered for our league in a number of facets. For example, helping bartend at Als during events like Southern Shootout and helping grill out at fundraisers and Sunday Fundays at Als after
games just to name a few. He is always there when we need him. Most recently, Andrew and his partner Bruce donated all food items for the fundraiser we held to help out Rod Spann after his heart attack. They then showed up and cooked all
that food and spent the day supporting our players by buying tickets for the raffle. Almost every single event we host at Al’s, Andrew is involved in, somehow at some point. He is a pillar of the community and we are forever in gratitude to him for their volunteerism. Due to these factors, I believe allowing Andrew into our HOF as a non-player would be an amazing addition to those ranks and a small way to thank him for everything he has done for us.

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.15.30 AM.png

EARL VIRGIN

Preferred pronouns: he/him

Number of years in the NSSL: 14

Current team: Looney Squad #bethechange

Submitted by Christa Brasher: earl is an outstanding individual that loves his friends and family. In his 14 years in the league, he has attended over 50 NAGAAA tournaments, played in 2 NAGAAA World Series, and played for the following past teams: Foxes, Diamond Warriors, Sliders, Mood Swings, and Outlaws. For those teams he has been a player, assistant manager, team founder, manager, and coach. Earl has not only been a player and coach in the NSSL but also a mentor to many players throughout his years in the league.

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.17.58 AM.png

JASON HENDERSON

Preferred pronouns: he/him

Number of years in the NSSL: 16

Current team: Fire Breathing Kittens

Submitted by Brad Webb: I am pleased to nominate Jason Henderson for the hall of fame. I have known and played with Jason my entire softball time in this league. He has dedicated his time and loyalty for many years and still does to this day. In his 14 years in the league, he has attended over 40 NAGAAA tournaments, played in 4 NAGAAA World Series, and played for the following past teams: Foxes, Sliders, Bama Boys, and Looney Squad #bethechange. For those teams he has been a player, assistant manager, team rep, and coach. He has help guide many new players (including myself) on how to improve themselves in the game. To me, Jason is what this league is about. He loves the game and the people he plays with. I can’t think of a better person who deserves to be added to the hall of fame

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.21.26 AM.png

REBECCA SHIELDS

Preferred pronouns: she/her

Number of years in the NSSL: 10

Current team: Birmingham Sliders D

Submitted by Tiffaney Piper: Becca is one of the most well known players in our league. She is a person everyone feels like they can talk to and seek for advice. She helped me personally when I first joined the league. She has attended over 15 NAGAAA tournaments and recently helped send a Birmingham team to ASANA world series. She has been a player, coach, and manager for the sliders during her time in the league. In 2018, she took on leadership to rebuild a sliders team that was considering disbanding as a new team formed under a different name. As a teammate, she always does what is best for the team and is a true leader of the sliders. Outside of the league, Becca plays for many women’s teams and always shares with them her love for NSSL. She is an amazing representative of our league, with a depth of knowledge about the game. As her coach, I believe that Becca is an amazing example of the people we should honor in our hall of fame.

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.23.51 AM.png

MARIA (ROBINSON) PIPER

Preferred pronouns: she/her

Number of years in the NSSL: 10

Current team: Birmingham Sliders D

Submitted by Tiffaney Piper: maria has been a part of our league on and off since she was 18 years old – sometimes traveling in from as far away as Seattle to play southern shootout! She has participated in 2 NAGAAA World Series and over 17 NAGAAA tournaments. She has played with the following past teams: Once Was, Pineapples, The Mill, and BWW. She is a person who makes everyone feel like they are welcome. As a teammate, she always does what is best for the team and is a true leader of the sliders infield. As a coach’s and board members wife (lucky me!!), she always respects the time it takes to run a team and help the league and always jumps in when help is needed. Outside of the league, maria plays for many women’s teams and always shares with them her love for NSSL. She is always quick to invite people out to the league to see what it is about when people express interest. She is an amazing representative of our league, with a depth of knowledge about the game. As her coach, I believe that Maria is an amazing example of the people we should honor in our hall of fame.

https://newsouthsoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-08-at-9.26.04 AM.png

STACEY EWING

Preferred pronouns: she/her

Number of years in the NSSL: 25+

Current team: Birmingham Sliders D

Submitted by Tiffaney Piper: Stacey is one of the most well known players in our league. She is a person everyone feels like they can talk to and seek for advice. She has played in over 26 NAGAAA tournaments and played for the following past teams: Once Was, XTreme, Pineapples, The Mill, and BWW. As a teammate, she always does what is best for the team and is the true leader of the Sliders outfield. Outside of the league, Stacey plays for many women’s teams and always shares with them her love for NSSL. She is an amazing representative of our league and has stayed with the league through many changes. As her coach, I believe that Stacey is an amazing example of the people we should honor in our hall of fame.