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History of Pennsylvania's District Commissioners

The state of Pennsylvania joined the National Amateur Softball Association governing body in 1935.
They were know as Pennsylvania ASA at the time. This name continued until 1973, when a new corporation was created to separate itself from the "old" corporation to start fresh, this new corporation was called the ASA of Pennsylvania.

NOTE - in 2017, The National Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) rebranded and renamed to be called USA Softball.
Many States and Metro Organizations opted to keep their ASA of [State] name while doing business as USA Softball. Other States and Metros changed to USA Softball of [State]

Pennsylvania ASA/ASA of Pennsylvania State Commissioners (1935-73) / ASA of Pennsylvania (1973-present)

1935
(Original PA ASA Set up)
State Commissioner - M. L. 'Doc' Walters (Scranton) - appointed in 1935
State Vice President - Mike Shipley (Lancaster) - elected in 1936
State Secretary - Gordon Singer (Lewistown) - elected in 1936
State Treasurer - Russell Matthews (Scranton) - elected in 1937

Doc Walters set the state up into 21 separate districts and put commissioners in place. The National office determined that Philadelphia (Philadelphia County) and Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) received 'Metropolitan' status, separate from the State of Pennsylvania. They would receive their own ASA jurisdiction.

When Walters first took over, he held a statewide meeting in Sunbury and invited representatives from all these communities to come and sit with him and develop a statewide organization so the teams can compete in the Pennsylvania State Softball Championships with the winner gaining a berth to the National ASA Championships held in Chicago, IL.   Communities invited to the Sunbury meeting include;  Johnstown, Warren, Erie, Altoona, Lewistown, Harrisburg, Allentown, Greensburg, Norristown, Lancaster, Washington, Titusville, Franklin, Greenville, Butler, Uniontown, Berlin, DuBois, Port Allegheny, Clearfield, Mansfield, Towanda, Lebanon, Reading, Coatesville, New Brighton, Indiana, York, and Williamsport. Reps from these 29 communities helped Walters set up the states into Districts and voted on people to lead these districts as Commissioners. A couple Commissioners were responsible for two districts until a suitable replacement could be found for one of them to alleviate the burden of one man being responsible for too large an area.

WESTERN Pennsylvania Districts (9 districts, 28 counties)

EASTERN Pennsylvania Districts (12 districts, 36 counties)

1938
State Commissioner - M. L. 'Doc' Walters (Scranton)
State Secretary - Gordon Singer (Lewistown)
Vice President - Mike Shipley (Lancaster)
Vice President - Dan Park (Sunbury)
Vice President - L. E. Kramer (Oil City)
Vice President - J. Brady Marble (Washington)

Doc Walters changed the setup and went to a 12 District format. He determined this was more easily managed and also put an emphasis in the areas where most of the teams were registered ASA in those areas. He designated a four regional (4) Vice Presidents, who would serve three (3) districts each.

In 1939, M.L. 'Doc' Walters moved to Delaware due to a better job opportunity and the National ASA named a new Commissioner for Pennsylvania. On the advice of Doc Walters, the commissioner was C. M. Alexander, who subsequently was also Walter's successor at the Scranton YMCA.

1939
State Commissioner - C. M. Alexander (Scranton) - appointed in 1939
State President - Charles 'Bud' Steiger (Williamsport) - appointed in 1939
State Secretary - Ray Keyes (Scranton) - appointed in 1939, left in 1942
State Secretary - Suds Sutherland (Williamsport) - appointed in 1942
Vice President - Mike Shipley (Lancaster) - left in 1940
Vice President - Carl S. Siegfried (Reading) - appointed in 1941
Vice President - Dan Park (Sunbury)
Vice President - L. E. Kramer (Oil City) - left in 1941
Vice President - John Simon (Titusville) - appointed in 1942
Vice President - J. Brady Marble (Washington)

C . M. Alexander kept the 12 District format and the regional Vice-President setup. He kept on Gordon Singer as Secretary and appointed Charles 'Bud' Steiger as the State President. The District Commissioners basically stayed the same throughout the War (WWII) with the few changes noted below.  Three of the Vice-Presidents stayed the same except for two. During Alexander's tenure as State Commissioner, he was elected as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at the ASA National Convention. This was a tough period in ASA play as some state championships were cancelled, rules were changed to help out the World War-II effort that asked for travel restrictions. Even the National ASA changed the way the Nationals were run. It used to be that any team that won its own state or metro association had a berth directly to the Nationals. But that was changed in this period to State and Metro winners advancing to Regional play. National ASA developed 16 Regions throughout the country and put states and metros in each region based on the easiest travel time to reach each other. The Regional winner was the one who got the berth to the National Championship, along with the tournament Host Team and the Defending National Champ. They even set up a special region for Military based teams who were especially strong in this period. So, instead of 40-50 teams traveling to the National Tournament, only 16-19 teams participated instead.

In 1945, C. M.  Alexander resigned as the Pennsylvania ASA State Commissioner and the National ASA looked for a new Commissioner for Pennsylvania. They found a person that they thought would continue to lead Pennsylvania in the right direction and keep it in great standing with the National Office. The commissioner was Ed Ward of Erie.

1946
State Commissioner - Ed Ward (Erie) - appointed in 1946
State Secretary - R.F. Merwin (Erie) - appointed 1946
State Umpire-in-Chief - Earl Hunsicker (Allentown) - appointed 1947

Ed Ward was appointed by the National Office in hope that he would continue the tremendous job that Doc Walters and C.M. Alexander did. The first thing Ward did was realign the entire state. And he didn't realign the state into anything resembling what was done before, his realignment consisted of using the current PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) High School alignment of the way they put High Schools in certain areas and called that PIAA District X. Ward set up the districts in this state along the same geographical guidelines. Commissioners were replaced and many things changed. Ward did not see the need for a State President or Area Vice Presidents, he replaced the longtime State Secretary with one of his own. The Districts ended up lopsided with many area in one District and very few in others. But this was the way he wanted it. As the way a team advances to the State Championship was determined by that team winning it's league, Area, County and District. The way this format was set up had some of the best teams in this state eliminating each other before they reached State Play.

Before the start of 1950, Ed Ward was replaced as State Commissioner by the National ASA Office. Harold 'Red' Markle of Williamsport would be the new commissioner for 1950. Markle then made Ward his Western State Deputy Commissioner, but in 1950, Ed Ward was suspended indefinitely by ASA for conduct deemed detrimental to the game. He was alleged to have done some things that favored the Western part of the state, especially Erie. The first State tournament he presided over was the 1946 Men's State Tournament. It came down to the last three teams, One was from Williamsport, one from Coatesville and the other from Erie. The two teams outside of Erie protested the Erie Pitcher that his delivery was illegal. Ward told them that only an umpire can call an illegal pitch. The umpire, from Erie refused to call it. The two teams refused to play until this matter was solved. Ward forfeited both teams out of the tournament and awarded the Erie team, the state championship. This was just one incident in what amounted to many more.

1950
State Commissioner - Harold Markle (Williamsport) - appointed in 1950
State Staff (1950-1973)

Red Markle's Original District Commissioner Setup in 1950

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Red Markle Re-Organized the State in 1952 adding (2) Districts and replacing/adding some Commissioners

Here are a couple more Re-Organizations of Districts that took place in 1955 and 1960

Pennsylvania ASA State Staff (1935-1973; disbanded in 1973 and replaced by New ASA of Pennsylvania)

In 1973, Pennsylvania ASA changed its corporation name to ASA of Pennsylvania to USA Softball of Pennsylvania

2023-present
State Commissioner  - Jeff Sell (Harrisburg), Officially appointed in May 2023

2023-2023
State Commissioner (Interim)  - William Robison (Harrisburg), Officially appointed in April 2023 and served until May 2023

1973-2023
State Commissioner - Andrew S. Loechner (Lancaster) - selected Nov 1972, Officially appointed in Feb, 1973 and retired March 2023.

Note - The people listed here are put in if they served in that position before 1973 as well and the District Commissioners of the current Districts are listed not by the number that District once was part of , but by Area of that District, because Commissioner, along the way changed District numbers and areas so many times, I thought it would be easier for all of us, who are familiar with the Current setup to understand the past better. 

District Commissioners

The Pennsylvania Amateur Softball Association (PA-ASA) was pre-1973 and it contained a varied number districts depending on who was State Commissioner
The Amateur Softball Association of Pennsylvania was from 1973 to present the original 12 Districts were re-organized. Since 2017, dba USA Softball of Pennsylvania

DISTRICT ORIGINS

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District History (PA ASA and ASA of PA) - ASA Softball rebranded and renamed to USA Softball in 2017

ASA of PA/USA of PA in Bold

NOTE - Since ASA of PA Started in 1973, there have been 56 different District Commissioners

Pennsylvania ASA Metro Regions

Note - Billy Caye, Pittsburgh (1980-1986) -  Pittsburgh Metro Player Rep/East Central Regional Player Rep

NOTE - Just a little history on Southeastern PA District-6/14/15

1973 District-6 Commissioner – Jim Manenti (Wayne)
District-6 UIC - Tony Madiro (Downingtown)
Delaware County Commissioner - Barrie Cole (Havertown)
Chester County Commissioner – Tony Madiro (Downingtown)
Montgomery County Commissioner – Dale Johnson (Pennsburg)
Bucks County Commissioner – Joe Reavis (Bensalem)

1974 District-6 Commissioner - Jim Manenti (Wayne)
Delaware County Commissioner - Barrie Cole
Chester County Commissioner – Tony Madiro
Montgomery County Commissioner - Joe Wallock (Pottstown)
Bucks County Commissioner – Joe Reavis

1975 District-6 Commissioner – Barrie Cole (Havertown)
Montgomery County Commissioner - Joe Wallock
Norristown League President – Al Bertucci (Norristown)
Norristown League VP – Nick Cianciulli (Norristown)
Norristown League Treasure – Corky Piacatelli (Norristown)
Norristown League Secretary – Bob Fryer (Norristown)

1976 District-6 Commissioner - Barrie Cole (Havertown)
North Montco Commissioner (Pottstown/Linfield Area) - Joe Wallock
Southwest Montco Co-Commissioner (Norristown, Bridgeport) – Charlie Granese (Norristown)
Southwest Montco Co-Commissioner (Conshohocken, Lower Merion) - Al Bertucci
Southeast Montco Commissioner (Lansdale, Abington, Willow Grove) – Rich Cocchmiglio (Lansdale)
Montco Player Rep – George Schools (Conshohocken)
Norristown League President – Al Bertucci
Norristown League VP – Nick Cianciulli
Norristown League Treasure – Corky Piacatelli
Norristown League Secretary – Bob Fryer

1977 District-6 Commissioner - Barrie Cole (Havertown)
North Montco Commissioner – Joe Wallock
Southwest Montco Co-Commissioner – Charlie Granese
Southwest Montco Co-Commissioner – Al Bertucci
Southeast Montco Commissioner – Rich Cocchmiglio
Norristown League President – Al Bertucci
Norristown League VP – Charlie Granese
Norristown League Treasure – Corky Piacatelli
Norristown League Secretary – Bob Fryer
District-6 Player Rep – George Schools
Delaware County Commissioner – Sonny Pompilli
Chester County Commissioner – Joe Wallock
Bucks County Commissioner - Joe Reavis

1978 District-6 Commissioner - Barrie Cole (Havertown)
Upper Montco Commissioner – Ted Auman (Pottstown)
Central Montco Commissioner - Charlie Granese
Eastern Montco Commissioner - Rich Cocchmiglio

1979 District-6 Commissioner - Barrie Cole (Havertown)
Upper Montco Commissioner – Ted Auman
Central Montco Commissioner - Charlie Granese
Eastern Montco Commissioner - Rich Cocchmiglio
Other District-6 Commissioners
North Delco Commissioner – George Richardson (Radnor)
South Delco Commissioner – Sonny Pompelli & Bill Coates
South Chester Commissioner – Al DiPilipps
North Chester Commissioner – Pat Nattle (Phoenixville)
North Bucks Commissioner – John Gluck
Central Bucks Commissioner – Tom Driger
Middleton Area Commissioner – Dave Macese
Bristol Area Commissioner – Ralph Galione
Delco JO Commissioner – Ed McGaughey
Chesco JO Commissioner – Dan Lynch
Bucks-Montco JO Commissioner – John Felice

1980-81 District-6 Commissioner - Barrie Cole (Havertown)
Montgomery County Commissioner - Charlie Granese
Montgomery County Player Rep – Sully "Heels" Gelet (Norristown)
Norristown League President – Charlie Granese
Norristown League Secretary - Bill Plichta

1982, District-6 was divided into (3) Districts.
District-6 now included just Delaware County and Chester County
District-14 was formed from Montgomery County
District-15 was formed from Bucks County

1982 District-14 Commissioner - Charlie Granese
District-14 Deputy Commissioner – Vern Schlotzhauer
District-14 Deputy Commissioner – Burr Robbins
District-14 Deputy Commissioner – Ted Auman
District-14 Deputy Commissioner – Sully Gelet
District-14 UIC – Rich Robbins
District-14 Player Rep - Sully Gelet
ASA Southeastern Area Regional Player Rep - Sully Gelet
Norristown Boro "A" Division President – Sully Gelet Norristown
Central "B" Division President – Sonny Borzillo
Norristown Rec "C" Division President – Rich Luce
Norristown League Treasure – Sully Gelet
Norristown League Secretary – Bill Plichta
Norristown UIC – Burr Robbins
Montco Umpires Assignor – Ted Every
Norristown Officials Umpires Assignor – John Bilella
JO Commissioner – Vern Schlotzhauer

ASA of PA Slow Pitch Softball History Home Page

©1998 Steve Dimitry, all rights reserved.

Email: sdimitry@verizon.net