Clem Aragon
A career beginning in the seventh grade at Keating Junior High School, Clem Aragon has made a name for himself in the annals of Pueblo softball.
He is noted for being a multi-league player, not only in the City of Pueblo but on the ball diamonds of Camp Pendleton, California; San Diego, California; and lwakuni, Japan.
Beginning in 1960, Clem started playing on such notable teams such as the Blue-Note softball team and the Jones Mortuary baseball team. His nvolvement also included playing on the HiFi team, El Sombrero, Rail Mill, and Tastee Freeze. Aragon was the recipient of many All-Tourney and MVP awards.
After conclusion of his softball career, Clem continued to play in the Senior Men's Baseball League from 2000 to 2005. He has coached the Pueblo South High School girl's JV softball team and along with that had a four year stint in umpiring. Aragon now joins his brother Leon "Chico" Aragon into this organization.
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Jerry "Beaver" Baca
As a mainstay on the baseball and softball diamonds of Pueblo, Jerry "Beaver" Baca is considered to be one of the finest outfielders to ever play the sport of softball in Pueblo. Playing on the notable Walters Brewery softball team during the 1960's and early 1970's, Jerry was recognized for his abilities with his extremely strong and accurate right arm. He was fast, a fine hitter, and a defensive competitor.
Most noteworthy is that he played in the many different softball leagues in Pueblo. Baca was the recipient of many All-Tourney and MVP awards. He was a selection to All-State Softball teams for four years. After leaving fast pitch softball, "Beaver" became an important part of the Clifton-Landrum slo-pitch softball team helping that team to many league, state, and national tournaments..
John "Juan" Madrid (posthumously)
A 33-year veteran player in Pueblo Men's Fast Pitch leagues held at Bessemer Park, Stauter Field, El Rey Field, and Plaza Verde Park; John "Juan" Madrid has made his mark on the sport of softball here in Pueblo.
John's most note-worthy achievement is that he founded La Gente Youth Sports in 1978. Every year since 1978 there has been a La Gente youth softball program with a growing number of participants each year. Currently, La Gente Youth Sports has approximately 500 participants annually in various sports programs. Madrid's main goal was to give every child.the opportunity to compete. Along with his involvement in the La Gente Youth Sports program, "Juan" found the time to coach numerous sports for Pueblo School District #60. He served as President and Director of La Gente Youth Sports for over twenty-five years before his untimely passing in January of 2003.
A street with his name goes through the heart of the neighborhood where he grew up and his family still resides there today. It is fitting that this organization inducts John "Juan" Madrid into the Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame.
Teresa "Tee" Maldonado
A softball career that started as a little girl in Pueblo, Teresa Maldonado grew-up on the many ball fields of Pueblo. Not as a player, but watching her father play softball.
Starting off in the Junior League in 1979 she played on several local traveling teams leading to several regional and state softball championship teams. When Teresa became involved with pitching coach Gib Satterlee, this would lead to her becoming one of the hardest throwing pitchers to ever come out of Pueblo.
Traveling throughout the state of Colorado Maldonado became involved and played with some of the finest girl's softball players that came out of Pueblo, Colorado. The Pueblo Power team advanced to several regional and national berths in A.S.A. Softball.
Before Pueblo girls softball came into existence in 1989, "Tee" was already playing on a fullride scholarship at Adams State College in Alamosa. Her team qualified for the N.A.LA. National Collegiate Softball Championships in Pensacola, Florida in 1990. After leaving college, she became involved with the Pueblo South High School girls softball team as a Pitching Instructor. It is ironic that the Head Coach of that Pueblo South team was her father, Jim Maldonado. They led the South girls softball team to the Colorado High School 4A State Championship in 1993.
Teresa's career and success in the sport of softball has led to her prestigious induction into the Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame.
Sara Pacheco-Donley
Starting her playing career at the age of 9, Sara Pacheco-Donley has become one of the finest softball pitchers to ever come out of the city of Pueblo. Playing for both Pueblo East and Pueblo Central High Schools, she earned All-Conference and All-State team selection.
Following high school, Sara received a scholarship to attend Lake City Junior College in Florida where she started as a freshman and led her team to a 22-5 record and a regional berth in the Junior College Regional's. In her sophomore year at Lake City, she led her team to a national tournament berth in Hutchison, Kansas where they placed second losing by a score of 4-2 to Rick's Junior College of Idaho.
With a 29-1 record, Pacheco-Donley earned All-State, MVP of the state tournament, and NCAA First Team All-American. She moved on to the University of Southwest Louisiana and led her team to an impressive 15-2 record while overcoming nagging injuries. Sara has volunteered as a coach at Pueblo East High School and at Colorado State University - Pueblo. Pachecho-Donley currently teaches at Carlile Elementary School here in Pueblo. She finds time to coach her son's baseball team, instructs young girls on pitching fundamentals, and ·continues to play Slo-Pitch softball.
Chris Santos
It is very fitting that the Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame organization inducts Chris Santos. When the name "Santos" is mentioned in Pueblo one automatically thinks "Softball". Chris Santos follows in the footsteps of his father, the late Joe Santos, a 2009 Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame inductee. He is not only known as a softball player, but as a team manager, a sponsor, and a commissioner on the local, state and national levels.
Santos began his softball career in the Junior League in 1969 and moved on to be involved with Team Azteca, Irish Pub, and the Pueblo Bandits. His teams were recognized as A.S.A. State Champions, I.S.C. Regional Champions, I.S.C. World Tournament participants, and N.A.F.A. World Series participants.
In 1996, Chris was appointed the Colorado A.S.A. Fast Pitch Deputy Commissioner. The following year he was appointed as the I.S.C. Travel League Commissioner. In 2003, Chris and the Pueblo Bandits dedicated their season to his father, Joe Santos after his passing earlier that May. In that same year, Chris was inducted into the Colorado A.S.A. Hall of Fame.
Chris, along with his family continues to keep the tradition of fast pitch softball alive here in Pueblo with the Pueblo Bandits who will be playing in their twenty-sixth consecutive season. It is noted that Chris Santos is a nominee for induction into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame.
Jesus "Chuch" Trujillo
When the Trujillo name is mentioned in Pueblo athletic conversations, you can bet that the name Jesus "Chuch" Trujillo will come up. After playing baseball and graduating from Pueblo Central High School, he went on to the military and became involved with the sport of softball on the Island of Okinawa. After returning home, Jesus teamed up with his brother Dan Trujillo Sr. playing on the most notable Jones Mortuary baseball team.
Making the switch over to softball, "Chuch" played second base for the Minnequa Merchants, later to becone the HiFi ball club.
At the end of his softball career, Jesus was introduced to umpiring by his good friend, Mickey Giarratano. During a span of forty years, "Chuch" umpired high school baseball at Runyon Field.
Moving out of baseball, "Chuch" became a softball umpire at the many softball venues in Pueblo. He was involved with umpiring both men's and women's softball leagues. Trujillo became the Head Scheduler for all of the summer softball programs here in Pueblo.
Not only is Jesus "Chuch" Trujillo remembered for his skills in baseball and umpiring, the majority of Pueblo players and fans will remember him as a well liked and fair official as well as a respected friend. These attributes have led to his induction into the Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame. Click HERE to view Trujillo's Obituary