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Hall of Fame

In honor of some of our long term members, on August 2, 2013 the New South Softball League inducted four new members into our Hall of Fame, which we have named the NSSL Legends. The Hall Of Fame was first established in 1985 with some of the leagues first members and founders being inducted in that same year. Shown below inducted in 1985 is Sid Ernest (one of the co-founders of the NSSL) and his team the Birmingham Cruisers (the first openly organized LGBT team in the NSSL). For new members to be nominated for the Hall of Fame, you must have been a member of the league for 10 years or longer and played an important role in the leadership and growth of our league.

2023 Inductees

AllHall of Fame
Mark 590 Cummings – 2022
Mark 590 Cummings Owner of Al’s on Seventh NSSL Team Activities Team Sponsored: Life’s a Pitch D & E, Bama Boys, Birmingham Defenders C, Birmingham Ballers D League Events Hosted: Countless Southern Shootout Sponsor and Supporter: 5 years Mark 590 is one of the biggest supporters of the New South Softball League. Besides sponsoring several teams in the league, Mark is always willing to go above and beyond to help the league by hosting events at his bar. A few years ago, when we had to stop the open bar party at the Double Tree Hotel, Mark 590 stepped up...
Jeff Johnson – 2022
Jeff Johnson NSSL League Member For 12 Years • 20 Tournament Appearances • 8 NAGAAA World Series Appearances NSSL Team Activities Team Affiliations: Buchanan’s Blaze, Quest Club, Bama Boys, Magic City Legends Masters C Jeff Johnson started playing in the New South Softball League in the mid to late 90s. He played for several season back then and just recently in the last year decided to put his cleats back on and have another go at playing in the league. Even when Jeff was not playing, he was still a big supporter of the league.
Marlon Ford – 2022
Marlon Ford NSSL League Member For 12 Years • 35 Tournament Appearances • 4 NAGAAA World Series Appearances NSSL Team Activities Team Affiliations: Bama Boys, Birmingham Fury, Bullets, Birmingham Jazz, Magic City Legends Masters C Marlon Ford started playing softball in the early 2000s. He played for several years and decided to take some time off. This year he decided to put his cleats back on and hit the field with the newly formed Magic City Legends Masters C Team, Birmingham’s first ever masters division team. Marlon proved pretty quickly that it doesn’t take long to shake the dust off....
Tim Saylor 2022
Tim Saylor NSSL League Member For 11 Years • 43 Tournament Appearances • 6 NAGAAA World Series Appearances NSSL Team Activities Assistant Commissioner • Statistician By-Laws • Treasurer Team Affiliations: Birmingham Moodswings D, Bama Boys C, Birmingham Defenders C, Twisted Hitters C, Birmingham Adrenaline C Tim has been a member of the NSSL for 11 years. He has been a coach, treasurer and assistant coach for several different teams.  He has also held several positions on the executive board.  Tim is always willing to help out wherever he is needed.  He has embraced the Birmingham LGBTQ community and supports them...
Sean Lay – 2022
Sean Lay NSSL League Member For 13 Years • 35 Tournament Appearances • 4 NAGAAA World Series Appearances NSSL Team Activities Team Affiliations: Magic City Legends Masters C, Birmingham Phoenix Pride D Team, Birmingham Defenders C & D Teams, Magic City Sticks C Team  
Melanie Arellano – 2022
Melanie (Mel) Arellano NSSL League Member For 10 Years • 15 Years Women’s League • 20 Tournament Appearances NSSL Team Activities Tournament Director Team Affiliations: Life’s a Pitch, Femme Fatale, Fusion Melanie has always been a great example of what a coach should be. As a former commissioner I always knew when I needed anything from the coaches that Melanie would be the first to send in what i needed. She has always been well liked and respected by not only her team but the other teams in the league as well. She is always going to handle any situation...
Kyle Scott – 2021
Kyle Scott NSSL League Member For 11 Years • 35 Tournament Appearances • 3 NAGAAA World Series Appearances NSSL Team Activities Team Affiliations: Bama Boys, Birmingham Defenders C, Twisted Hitters C, Birmingham Adrenaline C Kyle just finished his 11th season in the NSSL. Playing on 4 teams during his 11 years, he has been a great teammate and a mentor for younger players entering the league. Kyle repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community by volunteering in events both insides and outside the NSSL on top of traveling to 30+ member city tournaments to support communities across the...
Scottie Thacker – 2019
Scott Thacker NSSL League Member For 8 Years • 20 Tournament Appearances • 5 NAGAAA World Series Appearances NSSL Team Activities Assistant Commissioner: 2 Years Nssl Commissioner: 2 Years Team Affiliations: Phoenix Pride D, Birmingham Defenders D, And Birmingham Defenders C. Scottie Thacker became a member of the New South Softball League in 2006. He played for 8 years. He played on the Phoenix D team, the Defenders D team and the Defenders C team. Scott was a very active member of the New South Softball League. He served on the board as assistant commissioner for 2 years and as...
Ricky Lyles – 2019
LEAGUE LEGEND INDUCTED 2019 NSSL LEAGUE MEMBER FOR 5 YEARS Team(s) Affiliation: Alabama Reps B, Alabama Reps C, and Hotshots C  Player for 5 YEARS • 12 Tournament Appearances • 1 NAGAAA World Series Appearance Ricky Lyles became a member of the New South Softball League in 2009, he played for 5 years.  Ricky played on 3 teams:  Alabama Reps B, Alabama Reps C, and Hotshots C.  Ricky was a very outgoing member of the league.  He was liked by everyone and had a personality that radiated through the park every Sunday.  Ricky was the cheerleader for the entire league. ...
Dan Reese – 2018
Dan Reese NSSL League Member For 17 Years • 40 Tournament Appearances • 7 NAGAAA World Series Appearances Current Team : Iron City Steelers C Past Teams: Psychos D, Magic City Jazz C, Lightning B, Vipers C, Sliders C, Bama Boys C, Birmingham Defenders C, Currently On Iron City Steelers C Positions Held With Team: Coach Of Pride 2005  
Eric White – 2018
  Eric White NSSL League Member For 13 Years • 1 World Series Appearance Current Team : Magic City Steelers D Past Teams: The Spawn Of The Sliders, Southern Heat, Birmingham Defenders D, Hot Shots C, Iron City Steelers, Magic City Steelers C Positions Held With Team: Coach, Manager, Assistant Coach. Book Keeper, Records Tournament Appearances: 5 Years Atlanta Big Peach, 3 Years New Orleans Bourbon Street Classic, 3 Years Metro Nashville Softball Classic, 2 Years Knoxville K-town Klassic, 1 Year Orlando Melt-down Tournament, 2 year Tampa Gasparilla NSSL Governance Activities: Current Commissioner, Southern Shootout Director 4 Years, NSSL Secretary...
Tim Harris – 2018
Tim Harris NSSL League Member For 15 Years • 40 Tournament Appearances • 10 NAGAAA World Series Appearances Past Teams: Bama Boys C And D, Birmingham Jazz C, Birmingham Havoc C, Birmingham Fury C, Kings Knight C Positions Held With Team: Team Manager, Team Treasurer