ISC Elects Six to Hall of Fame

Blair Setford • August 16, 2022

Six nominees selected for the Hall of Fame


ISC nominates six to Hall of Fame


Moline, IL August 16, 2022 – The International Softball Congress has elected six new nominees to its Hall of Fame at its annual Board of Directors meeting today.


Brad Rona, Auckland, NZ, was a seven-time ISC All World Player and the MVP of the 2016 ISC World Tournament. A feared hitter from the time when he broke into the ISC with County Concrete, Marathon, WI in 200x, Brad was an imposing figure in the right-side batter’s box. A power hitter who also hit for a high average, Brad was a five-tool player who was just as impressive on the defensive side of the game at third base and later at first. He was a five-time ISC World Champion, once with County Materials, three times with Jarvis Travelers in 2010-2012 and with the Toronto Gators in 2016.


Todd Twachtmann, Cedar Rapids, IA, was a four-time ISC All World Player, once with St. Joseph, MO Meierhoffer and three times with The Farm Tavern of Madison, WI. Todd was admired for his professional mannerisms both on and off the field. During his 17-year ISC career, he was a strong defensive catcher, and also put up strong offensive numbers. Todd was also an ISC player representative for nine years.


Richard Helmuth, Dinuba, CA, was selected to All World teams twice with the Dinuba Condors in 1955 and 1958, playing in the World Tournament in 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1968. The Condors played in the strong California league and playing in the World Tournament meant competing with perennial powerhouse Long Beach Nitehawks. Dick caught for the Condors while winning 18 tournaments or league championships from 1954 until 1970. He passed away in 2006.


Dean Kane, Denmark, WI, has been a manager/coach for the Circle Tap Dukes organization for over 20 years. Dean has coached, managed, scorekept and puts together the schedule for the Dukes, who play one of the best schedules in the game annually. With Dean’s contributions, the Dukes have enjoyed success at the national level and in the ISC, finishing a best-ever second in 2018.


Craig Donaldson, late of Vancouver, BC, was an ISC commissioner for Canada West for 20 years before his untimely passing in 2021. Craig streamlined and updated the ISC by-laws in the mid 2000s. In more recent years, Craig served as the Vice-President of the ISC World Tournament from 2016-2020, handling scheduling, team recruiting, managed disputes, worked with umpires, kept score and maintained stats. Craig led the introduction of Pointstreak in 2015, bringing digital scoring to the ISC. Craig’s dedication and passion to continue to promote fastpitch on a local, regional, national and international level was unsurpassed with his behind-the-scenes work.


Dr. Bob Nydick, Miami Beach, FL, is the recipient of the Bob Welby Memorial Award for contributions to the game. Bob enjoyed an enviable run of success since he first entered his fisrt team into the ISC in 2004. His teams have never finished out of the top 10 and, since 2008, has teams have been in the top six and he’s won four ISC World Tournaments, two with Kitchener Rivershark Twins and two with New York Gremlins. Bob has been a sponsor, coach, talent evaluator, team builder and master recruiter.


The ISC Hall of Fame Breakfast and Induction Ceremony will be held on the opening Sunday of the 2023 World Tournament in Denmark, WI.


By Blair Setford May 2, 2025
Following the untimely passing of Ward Gosse at the young age of 56 in January, the ISC is announcing that, with the blessing of the Gosse family, the Legends Most Valuable Player Award will be named in his honor starting this year. “Ward meant so much to the Legends division with the contributions that he made during his playing days,” said ISC Legends Tournament Director Keith Erkenbrack. Ward was a two-time Legends MVP – in 2018 and 2022 – leading the Sudbury Relics to both their titles. “We are very appreciative that Ward’s family has agreed to let us honor his memory.” Ward finishes with 14 wins in his Legends career, and has the three highest total strikeouts in a tournament in division history. Prior to his Legends participation, Ward threw a no-hitter in 1994 for St. John’s and was named to the ISC Second All-World Team with Fargo in 2006. In 2012, he was a member of the Parry Island Hawks team that captured the ISC II Championship and was named Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Pitcher. The 2025 ISC Legends tournament will take place over the final days of the ISC World Tournament at Caswell Park in North Mankato, MN July 26 – August 2.
By Brian Eradus May 2, 2025
When you think about fastpitch softball’s global reach, Enzo Chiaramonte is the perfect example of how the sport transcends borders. At 27 years old and wearing jersey #2 , he’s a versatile utility player for the Georgian Bay Giants —the same team he’s represented since 2024 and will continue with into 2025. Off the field, Enzo works as a physical education teacher , guiding others to develop their own athletic abilities. Here’s a glimpse into his story. Growing Up with the Game Enzo’s passion for fastpitch started in 2009 in a small Argentine town called América, where his father, Pablo, fielded a local team. “It was different from the usual sports in Argentina,” Enzo recalls. “My friends were playing too, and we had a good junior team. It just clicked for me.” Inspired by Germán Bonaccorsi , a head coach and player at Fénix (National University of La Matanza), Enzo steadily built his skills. “He helped me see the game in new ways,” Enzo explains. “I grew to love the intensity and the sense of family within the sport.” Playing Style and Mindset As a true utility player, Enzo’s role can vary from one game to the next. “I’m focused on becoming more psychologically strong, refining my swing technique, leg balance, and explosive power,” he says. “The mental part is just as important as the physical. I’m trying to improve in every way to meet the demands of the ISC.” Before each game, Enzo centers himself by listening to music, visualizing plays, and staying positive. He also loves soccer, CrossFit, electric guitar, and rooting for his favorite Latin American soccer club, River Plate . “I need these hobbies to keep my mind fresh,” he says with a laugh.