Softball Hall adding Magic squad, two players

The 2026 Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame induction ceremony will include a Westman team and a pair of players.

The Westman Magic teams from 1998 to 2003, Dean Fuller of Boissevain and Brandon’s James Mann will hear their names called on May 2 at the induction banquet at the Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre in Brandon.

Tickets for the induction ceremony are $720 for a table of eight or $90 per person.

The Magic team began in 1997 as a group of mostly 15-year-old girls playing an exhibition schedule and attending tournaments, but in the midget age group, they began competing in the Manitoba Ladies Super Softball League in the Open Division.

In 1999, they began a run that saw them win two golds and a bronze at the midget and junior levels, and competed in three national championships and one western Canadian playdown while also winning adult tournaments.

Fuller, meanwhile, began playing fastball with the Boissevain high school team and in 1980 jumped to the Minto Mustangs. For 11 years, he caught for Minto and the Winnipeg Penguins, and in 1989, he spent the winter playing top-level fastball in New Zealand.

Over the years, he collected a number of provincial A and B championships and a western Canadian gold. He will be inducted as an athlete.

Mann began playing fastball at 17 in the Brandon Men’s Fastball League and developed a reputation as an elite outfielder for two decades.

After a short retirement, he played competitive fastball in the Brandon Centennial League at age 55 and then turned to slo-pitch in his early sixties, finally retiring at 76.

He won many all-star awards and played on teams that won numerous Brandon league championships, provincial championships and Western Canadian titles. He will be inducted as an athlete.

The other inductees are:

• 2013 TEAM MANITOBA — At the 2013 Canada Summer Games, Manitoba went through the qualifying record with a record of 8-1 with four shutouts, losing 1-0 to Quebec. They met again in the Page playoffs, and Manitoba won, vaulting them into the final against British Columbia. While they fell in the final, their silver medals are the top finish by any Manitoba softball team at the Games.

• BRIAN GADSBY — The Winnipegger began playing fastball at the age of 16 in the Winnipeg Industrial League and in 1975 moved up to play senior A with the Steinbach Stealers. His career lasted until 1987 on teams that won numerous provincial titles and competed in western Canadian and national championships.

After coaching for 16 years, he returned in 2003 to play senior A slo-pitch, winning a pair of 60-plus national titles and was named MVP once. From 2011 to 2019 he organized, played with, and coached the Manitoba Keystone Canucks team that competed in five Huntsman World Slo-Pitch Championships in Utah, winning three silver medals. He is being inducted as an athlete.

• DAVE SAULNIER — After a baseball career that included the semi-pro level in the United States, he joined the Winnipeg Colonels of the Western Major Fastball League in the early 1970s. By the 1980s, he was playing senior A slo-pitch and participated in numerous national championships with teams from Manitoba and British Columbia. He will be inducted as an athlete.

• LARRY SKINNER — The Vancouver product moved to Winnipeg in the mid-1960s and played and coached at the senior A level. In 1969 and 1970 he served as president of the Manitoba Major Men’s Fastball League and was the chairman of the committee that hosted the Centennial Canadian Championships.

From 1971-74, he was the first executive director of the Canadian Amateur Softball Association in Ottawa. He got back into coaching for two decades starting in 1975 at numerous provincial, national and world championships. He is being inducted in the all-around category.

• AL NORRIS — A product of Donavon, Sask., he moved to Winnipeg in the 1970s and won six provincial championships and also played for the Winnipeg Colonels of the Western Major Fastball League for three years. He also competed in the 1969 Canada Summer Games and won numerous batting titles and awards. He is being inducted as an athlete.

A number of award winners will also be honoured at the induction ceremony.

• Bruce Luebke (Wayne Deschouwer Memorial Award for umpire of the year) — The Brandonite is a longtime umpire who has travelled to provincial and national championships while also providing mentorship and leadership in his role as president of the local umpire association.

• Hope Ransome (Leo Bouchard Memorial Award for leadership in minor pitcher development) — She works with the Bonivital Softball A and AA program by running clinics in pitching, hitting and defence.

• Kylie Hammond (Eugene Michalow Memorial Award for volunteer of the year) — A devoted volunteer who helps organize for the Interlake Phillies.

• Kelsey Warkentine (Jean Mayne Memorial Award for top female player) — The Eastman Wildcat received the most outstanding player at under-17 provincials and was in the running for top pitcher at nationals.

• Russ Kihn (Jim Adams Memorial Award for outstanding administrator, builder, or executive member) — The president of the Eastman Wildcats has been an executive member since 2018 and helped turn the program around into a powerhouse.

• Kylyn Shindle (Bill Sadonick Memorial Award for minor coach of the year) — The first-year Central Energy coach led her U15 squad to a 44-12 record that included an unsuccessful trip all the way to the national final, while also finishing second in provincials.

• Chantel Charles (Bob Turner Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to grassroots softball) — The president of the Springfield Minor Softball Association since 2022, she has also coached and helped grow the sport locally.

• Chris Hanson (Edgar Stevenson Memorial Award for top male player) — The Onanole Sporty’s Originals pitcher and slugger led his club to the title and was named league MVP.

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