Chris Assel played fast pitch softball for twenty two years with five different teams in Bismarck establishing himself as an excellent fielder while maintaining a .363 batting average along with long ball capability. During his long career, Chris was called upon to play shortstop, first base, third base and outfield. His teams participated in 19 state tournaments, 10 regionals and six national tournaments. His only state championship came while playing with Fronteer Directory in 1991 when he hit a three run, two out home run in the bottom half of the 12th inning of the title game.

In addition to state, regional and national tournaments, his teams also captured tournament titles at the Minot International five times, the Fargo Holm’s Classic twice and the Grand Forks invitational on three different occasions.

Along with his long time friend and teammate the late Jim Kapp, Chris is credited with keeping fast pitch softball alive in Bismarck for several years after the sport had declined. He actively recruited new players and then saw that they were scattered throughout the league so they played on a regular basis and kept the local league viable. He has also assisted in establishing the Junior Olympic fast pitch rebirth in Bismarck.

Chris and his wife Karen have three children, a son Dustin and two daughters Elizabeth and Annie.

Doug Berg of Devils Lake played most of his 22 years of playing time with Southam and Devils Lake men’s fast pitch teams. His primary position was pitcher but he also played shortstop and first base when necessary. His pitching record was 477-143 with 27 no-hitters. His batting average was a gaudy .409. He played in 15 state tournaments and 6 regional and was on the winning team six times in state tournaments and once in a regional.

Remarkably, Doug learned to pitch on his own and developed a great drop ball and change up. He was the only pitcher for his team at Southam and often was called upon to pitch four or five games in a one day tournament.

One example of his value to his team is cited by one of his sponsors who states that in one game against the Winnipeg Black Knights he pitched a no hit shutout and hit a home run in the last inning to win the game. Two weeks later, this same Winnipeg team, representing Canada, won the World Tournament in the Phillipines.

Everyone of the sponsors and endorsers of Doug mention the fact that he never complained, not to an umpire, a teammate or opponents. A competitor on the field and a true gentleman off the field is a common comment.

Doug works on his family farm and enjoys spending time with his family including his wife Mary, his son Jason and his daughter Tricia.

Since moving to Mandan in 1990, Jack Jones has been an indispensable man in Bismarck-Mandan softball and on the state level. He has managed and sponsored both women’s and men’s slow pitch teams with success at all levels.

In 2008 he sponsored teams which captured three national championships in one day! One of his teams won the Men’s Class D Northern National tournament in Bismarck, and his other teams won the 50 and Over National title as well as the 55 and Over National title on the same day in Spokane, Washington.

In addition to his success as manager and sponsor, Jack has been a leader in promoting softball in Mandan. He served as the City Softball Commissioner from 2001 through 2007. Presently serves on the NDASA Classification Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Mandan softball was instrumental in planning and promoting improvements to the Mandan Softball Complex making it one of the premier softball sites in the state. He also served on the committee to bid the successful Master’s 40 and Over tournament in 2009. Just to have something else to do with his summers, Jack is also Co-Director of the massive McQuade Charity tournament each June.

Rose Kreitinger has played slow pitch softball for 29 years most of them in Bismarck and all of them on some of the top teams in their divisions. During a ten year period from 1990 through 1999 her team won the state championship each year!

She has played in 28 state tournaments including Old Pro and Co-Ed as well as three regionals and 9 nationals. Her team sponsored by Fiechtner ENT team has also won the McQuade tournament five times. She has been one of the most consistent players on each of the teams for which she played, batting in either the number three batting order or in the clean-up slot. She has a batting average of .500 and still is a very dangerous hitter with plenty of power.

In the field she is known as a defensive stalwart in left field with a strong throwing arm. She is a fierce competitor who is rated as a reliable, productive player and an exceptional teammate.

One of her endorsers states “she brings such an up-beat attitude to each game and encourages her team to do their best and keep their heads up”. Win or lose, Rose has always displayed outstanding sportsmanship.

Mike Lyman was nominated in the Meritorious Service category but he could just as well have been nominated as player, coach, sponsor, umpire and all around promoter of softball in Fargo-Moorhead and in the state.

During his playing career, Mike had a .285 batting average while performing as a catcher in the fast pitch game. During this time, Mike was the catcher for some of the finest fast pitch pitchers in the surrounding area. Among others, he caught Hall of Fame members Ray Clark, Jim Baum, Pat Stockert and the late Jim Kapp.

As a manager, his team record is approximately 700 wins against 400 losses while as a sponsor one of his teams, the Outlaws, won the Class C Regional and finished in the top 20 at the national tournament. As am umpire, Mike has been involved for at least 15 years, working 10 state tournaments and having the opportunity to umpire in the 1997 Women’s Class A National Championship tournament.

Mike continues to stay active in fast pitch softball pushing strongly for an infusion of youth into the game. He sponsored younger teams into the Fargo-Moorhead league for ten years.

Mike was not only a player but a manager, sponsor and board member of the West Fargo Association, Tri-River Association and the Fargo-Moorhead Fast Pitch Association. He has also worked as a volunteer for every tournament organizing committee in Fargo giving countless hours to contribute to the success of many National and International tournaments.

Mike Lyman was nominated in the Meritorious Service category but he could just as well have been nominated as player, coach, sponsor, umpire and all around promoter of softball in Fargo-Moorhead and in the state.

During his playing career, Mike had a .285 batting average while performing as a catcher in the fast pitch game. During this time, Mike was the catcher for some of the finest fast pitch pitchers in the surrounding area. Among others, he caught Hall of Fame members Ray Clark, Jim Baum, Pat Stockert and the late Jim Kapp.

As a manager, his team record is approximately 700 wins against 400 losses while as a sponsor one of his teams, the Outlaws, won the Class C Regional and finished in the top 20 at the national tournament. As am umpire, Mike has been involved for at least 15 years, working 10 state tournaments and having the opportunity to umpire in the 1997 Women’s Class A National Championship tournament.

Mike continues to stay active in fast pitch softball pushing strongly for an infusion of youth into the game. He sponsored younger teams into the Fargo-Moorhead league for ten years.

Mike was not only a player but a manager, sponsor and board member of the West Fargo Association, Tri-River Association and the Fargo-Moorhead Fast Pitch Association. He has also worked as a volunteer for every tournament organizing committee in Fargo giving countless hours to contribute to the success of many National and International tournaments.

Kyle Magnusson is a native of Minot and began his fast pitch career in that city 20 years ago before moving on to Salt Lake City where he was a member of one of the top five teams in the nation, Larry Miller Toyota.

He became one of the top true hitters in the game of fast pitch and is considered to be one of the best contact and clutch hitters playing today. He has played at the top level of fast pitch softball for the past ten years and has been a member of eight ASA National Teams. He played for teams which captured ASA National Championship, one at the Class A level and two at the Major Level. He has also competed in three ISF World games and one Pan-American event.

He has been named to All American teams at the major level seven times and has been a member of the United States National team eight times.

Kyle is proud of his North Dakota roots and North Dakota ASA is proud to recognize his national accomplishments with his induction into the NDASA Hall of Fame.