A group of individuals is heading into the USA Softball of South Dakota Hall of Fame this fall.
Among those to be inducted are Deb Finnesand and John Ewart of Aberdeen, and JC Crawford of Sisseton. Finnesand and Crawford are going in as players, while Ewart is going in as a player, coach, and contributor.
Watertown’s Joe Stellinga will be inducted as a player, coach, and sponsor.
DEB FINNESAND
Known as Deb Esche at the time, Finnesand started playing fastpitch at the age of 10 through Parks and Rec. By the time she was 13 she started playing in women’s leagues. While there was no softball for high school girls at the time, Finnesand attended Northern State where she was not only a standout basketball player for the Wolves, but also a four-year all-district member the softball team.
Finnesand later went on to coach the Northern softball team for eight years. Meanwhile she continued to play softball and was a member of numerous state and regional championship squads.
She was named all-state in women’s slowpitch more than 20 times, and also won national All-American honors in slowpitch.
JOHN EWART
Ewart has been involved with softball in Aberdeen since 1983. He played on 24 state championship teams and also a region champion. He played in five national championship tournaments.
Ewart also coached a women’s team to a pair of state titles.
He has served numerous positions in softball including Aberdeen area commissioner, South Dakota Deputy Commissioner (a position he still holds), and State President of USA Softball. He has also served served on the ASA-USA Softball State Executive Committee since 2006.
JC CRAWFORD
Crawford started playing softball in 1976 and has continued every year since.
He has played on numerous state championship teams as well as been in multiple national tournaments. He has been a member of nine world championship squads playing in the National Indian Athletic Association. He was selected to the all-tournament multiple times and won several Most Valuable Player awards at the world series events.
Crawford once played in a softball game that was shown on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
The 2024 Hall of Fame Banquet will be at the Ramkota Inn of Aberdeen on Oct. 12, starting with a social at 5:30. The evening with have a social, meal, an introduction of the new members, some special awards for local and umpires. The banquet cost is $40 per attendee. To reserve tickets contact Hall of Fame director Mike Dykstra at 605-222-3139 or email kdykstra@sio.midco.net.
