Robert "Bob" Zinanti
Beginning his career playing baseball at Pueblo South High School and gaining a scholarship to Trinidad State Jr. College. Robert "Bob" Zinanti was an outstanding catcher in baseball which led him into the fast pitch softball ranks in 1979.
Playing for teams such as Pizza Hut, Platinum Racquetball Club, The Pueblo Suns, and the Pueblo Aztecs, his prolific play led to many All-League and All Tournament honors. In the ASA and ISC Tournaments from 1984-1986 he was named All World 1st team catcher.
Robert's coaching career began in 1991 with stints in mens fast-pitch and girls softball. From 998-2008 he was the head girls softball coach at Pueblo West HS and led the Cyclones to two consecutive 4A State Championships in 2004-2005. Remarkably eight out of his nine starters went on to play college softball including his daughter Christi Zinanti one of the finest pitchers to come om Pueblo. Christi went to pitch for Brigham Young University. After receiving numerous league and state coaching honors, Zinanti continues today to help & assist young girls in a voluntary capacity.
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Carmen A. Rivas
Carmen has been involved in Pueblo Fast Pitch Softball from 1953 to 1965. Between 1956-1974 Carmen teamed up with his brother John L Rivas (2010 Inductee) to develop and implement the adult softball program for the Pueblo Parks and Recreation. Their participation transformed Pueblo's softball from a recreational opportunity to a competitive softball program that was highly recognized all across Colorado.
He established the first women's slow-pitch softball league in 1994. He also established d implemented the first co-ed softball program in 1988.
Rivas played, coached, and was a field director in the game of fast-pitch softball in Pueblo for many years. Carmen is also famous for the Nickel Ball.
Michael "Mickey" Giarratano
Mickey played softball locally, statewide. and nationally for 25+ years (1949-1974). He played for such teams as Sweeny Feed Mill, Ducic's Nite Club, and VFW.
Listed below are some of Giarratano's accomplishments:
• VFW won three (3) consecutive World Championships (1950-51-52)
• All Star Team/All World Team 1951
• GPSA Hall of Fame Inductee 1993
• GPSA Hall of Fame President 1995
• Several Batting Championship Titles and several other awards
Danny "Papa" Rosales
Danny has been involved in softball from 1954-2006. During this time he was a player, softball director, softball umpire. Field Director, President of the Independent League, and a High School Softball Coach.
Listed below are some of Rosales' softball highlights:
• City-County Softball Director 1959-1982
• Played Softball 1954-1982
• Coached Softball teams for boys-girls-men-women 1956-1982
• 1st League President for the Independent League (two years)
• Softball Umpire for 25 years in Pueblo. Walsenburg. Canon City. Avondale. Denver
• 1st Softball Varsity Coach at Pueblo County High School 1996-2003
• Assistant Softball Coach at East High School 1996-2003
• Head Varsity coach at Delores Huerta High School 2005-2006
• 2003-Inducted into the Pueblo Greater Hall of Fame
• 1988-Inducted into the Mexican-American Hall of Fame
Lee M. Poteet
Lee was considered as one of the best first basemen in the city and in the state of Colorado. He started playing softball in 1971 with Dairy Queen of PSA League. Joe·s of the El Rey League and Gil's Place of the Independent League. In those days there were plenty of leagues to play in. In future years he played the following teams: Pepsi Cola. Sam's Club, Foundation Installers, Gregory Electric, Colorado 76es, Stifino's, Blue Lady. Hole in the Wall. Pueblo Knights, and the Pueblo Aztecs.
Poteet has played on 10 State Championships, and has played in 10 World Tournaments, which rank among the top of any softball players from Pueblo. Lee has won many awards such as MVP's, Gold Glove Award, all tourney teams in most of the leagues he played in. He has also been a girls softball coach since 1987. Lee has coached the Pueblo Stingers, the Colorado Stingers. and the Arvada Cardinals. He was the head coach of Heaton Middle School from 1989-1991. He has was the Pueblo County High School Head Softball coach from 1993-2010.
In 1995, Hornets won the state SA Softball State Championship. During his high school coaching career, his teams have been a state qualifier 10 times, played in the Final 4 five times. and was also state runner-up. He was chosen All Colorado Coach of the Year by the Rocky Mountain News and the All Colorado Coach of the Year by the Denver Post in 1995.
Lee also worked as an assistant coach for:
• The Pueblo Dirt Dogs Baseball Team (grandson); • The Pueblo Dirt Dogs Basketball Team (grandson);
• YMCA Basketball & Tee Ball (granddaughter); • Pueblo County High School Basketball Scorekeeper
Shannon M. Poteet-Herrera
Shannon began her fast pitch softball at the age of 8 in the 12 & under division in the City League and the ASA Class B division with the Pueblo Stingers in 1986
She began her high school softball career in 1992 and as a pitcher she led Pueblo County High School to a Class SA State Championship. She was dominant in the circle and opponents feared runs. She was the power core in the middle of one of the top high school teams ever.
Below is a list of Shannon's Accomplishments: (Between 1993-97)
• All State Honorable Mention 93-94
• 1st Team SCL 94-95/95-96
• MVP Pueblo County 95-96
• Denver Post 4A All-State 94-95/95-96
• Rocky Mountain News 4A-All State 94-95/95-96
• Colorado State Champions 95-96
• Denver Post State Tournament MVP 95-96
• Rocky Mountain News State Tournament MVP 95-96
• Denver Post All Colorado Team 95-96
• Denver Post Colorado Player of The Year 95-96
• Rocky Mountain News Colorado Pitcher of Year 95-96.
• Fast Pitch World Magazine High School All American 95-96
• Colorado High School Coaches Association All State 95-96
• Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports All State 95-96
• M.1.N.D.S. Female Athlete of the Year 95-96
• GPSA Hall of Fame High School Female Athlete of the
Year 95-96
• Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 1st Team Infield 97
• High School Career Stats:
W-39 L-8; ERA 1.29; Strike-outs 323; No-Hitters 5
• Pitcher for Colorado State University-Pueblo:
W-30 L-27; ERA 2.32
Mike Leyba
Mike participated in organized men's fast-pitch softball for slightly over 30 years (from 1963 to 1994). In the early years of his career he played in the Church League, Colorado State Hospital League, PSA City League, El Rey League, and in the Rocky Mountain Softball Congress League. Mike also served as President of PSA League fro 1976 to 1979..
Listed below are some of Mike's highlights of his career:
• 2 ISC World Tournaments; • 3 ASA National Master Tournaments; • 1 National Mexican Tournament
• 1 European Military Championship Tournament; • 1 International Tournament; • Over 500 victories as Pitcher
• 1981 Rocky Mountain Softball Congress All Star Team; • Over 50 Individual Awards
• Major victories over the Long Beach Nighthawks, 10 Canada, The National Mexican American Championship team from
Texas and over Eddie Feigner of theKing and His Court in 1976.
Esther Ayala Garcia
Esther has been involved in Pueblo Softball for 44 years. She started playing softball at the age of 8. Garcia played at Centrals field for 8 years. She also played for Risley Summer League and for Ben Arguello in the early 70's. In high school Esther played in the El Rey Women's League as a catcher. She is still active, playing Co-ed slow pitch] in various leagues. Garcia is the recipient of many MVP, All-tourney, and Gold Glove awards. Esther received her degree in Nursing from CSU-Pueblo in 1986. She is currently a nurse at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo.