Patrick Gomez (Posthumously)
Pat Gomez has always cared about youth softball and was an important part of the numerous leagues in the City of Pueblo for over fifty years. He raised two sons, who in their own right, became outstanding softball players.
As an active member of the Eastside Community, Pat began his playing days in the Pueblo Church Softball League. Gomez was not only a player but he also coached various teams and was the President of Church League. He donated his time and effort to keep kids headed in the right direction. Pat coached the softball teams at St. Leander's Church, the football teams at Bradford Fields, and the basketball programs at St. Leander's and Risley Gyms.
Gomez was part of the committee that was responsible for bringing back middle school sports in Pueblo School District #60 in 1985. In his later years, Pat worked closely with Pueblo Parks and Recreation on numerous youth activities as well as keeping score and announcing games for over 30 years at the Runyon Field Sports Complex. His notoriety was not only as a player, but also as an umpire, field director, coach, and supporter of numerous youth and adult sports programs throughout the community.
Manuel Rincon (Posthumously)
Manuel Rincon is recognized for his contributions to the sport of softball in Pueblo, Colorado. He was a player, coach, field director, umpire, and valued contributor.
Rincon began his career in 1962 as a baseball manager for the successful semi-pro club, Ramirez Restaurant. In the mid-1960s, Manuel became a player/manager of the state runner-up Ramirez Tigers fast pitch softball club. After a few years at the helm of the successful Tigers, he became a successful ASA umpire and was the head of his crew. Even though he umpired at the El Rey C.F.&I League, most of his time umpiring at that time was spent in the Independent League at Bessemer Park, which he was also one of the founders.
Manuel was instrumental in beginning a women's fast pitch league at Stauter Field before the field had lights for night games. Once lights were installed in the early 1970s by crews from Fort Carson, his women's fast pitch leagues grew into three separate divisions which numbered over 30 teams playing ball Monday through Thursday evenings. During the next twenty plus years, Rincon had Stauter Field hopping seven days a week with women's fast-pitch and Co-ed slo-pitch leagues and tournaments. All this while still working full-time at the Pueblo Army Depot.
Manuel dedicated his life to baseball and softball in the community of Pueblo, which he loved. It is safe to say that his legay is alive and well at Stauter Field.
Amber Garrett
Amber began her journey into girls' softball as a fourth-grade student. She eventually moved on to play on two of the most prestigious girls youth softball.
programs in Pueblo; the Pueblo Stingers and the Pueblo Flyers. Playing on these teams gave her the opportunity to travel throughout the country and play against some of the best competition possible.
As a high school stand-out at Pueblo County High School, she excelled as a three-sport letter winner in softball, basketball, and golf. As a four-year starter at pitcher/utility, Garrett was named All-South Central League three times and All-State twice. In 2002, she was named Pueblo County's Female Athlete of the Year.
Moving on to the college ranks at Otero Junior College, she became an academic and athletic All-American along with ranking first in her E.R.A., second in strikeouts, and second in all time wins. She was the 2004 National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Player of the Year.
Following her career at Otero, Amber moved on to North Dakota State University and was named Division I Independent Pitcher of the Year as well as ESPN Magazine's pick as an academic All-District VII first team player. Her shining moment came when she pitched a perfect game against Drake University in 2006.
Today, you can find Amber in Highlands Ranch, Colorado as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional overseeing youth and adult sports as well as special events for the community's recreation district. She conducts pitching lessons in Littleton and Highlands Ranch and currently is the assistant softball coach at Thunderridge High School in Highlands Ranch.
Tony Tortessi
Tony began his softball career at age 12 in the St. Joseph Junior League. As a high school junior, he moved up to the St. Joseph Men's team, which played in the Pueblo Catholic Men's Softball League.
During summer evenings, Tortessi played a full schedule with the Pueblo Elks in the American Legion Baseball League. From that period until 1991, he played fast pitch softball in the Pueblo Softball Association, the Independent League, and spent four years in the Rocky Mountain Softball Congress Traveling League.
Tony was a member of five notable Pueblo softball teams including the Pueblo Suns and the Pueblo Aztecs. Tortessi went on to play in three ISC National World tournaments and two ASA National Fast Pitch tournaments.
Tony received numerous Most Valuable Player awards, All-Tourney awards during the span of 1977 through 1989. He excelled as an elite hitter usually hitting in the three to five spots because of his ability to drive in runs. Tony was known and feared as a catcher with a cannon arm and if you chose to steal a base on him, you would probably be running into an out. For ten years, Tortessi was the catcher for renown pitcher and fellow Pueblo Softball Hall of Farner, Alan Colglazier.
Today, he continues to generously volunteer his time and expertise with young men and women from numerous schools on the various aspects of the game.
Karen Macaluso
Karen was introduced to the game of softball as a five-year old girl while participating in local t-ball programs. She progressed to the women's fast pitch leagues as a talented infielder and catcher.
Some of the notable teams that Macaluso played for were Centennial Bank, Colorado Excavating, Taravella's Hydr-Turf, and Miller·s Girls. She also was named to numerous All-Tourney, M.V.P., and Gold Glove Awards.
The Pueblo County High School graduate played fast pitch softball before high school girls teams were formed in 1989. It was during that period, Karen played catcher for numerous slo-pitch softball teams and played in a National Slo-Pitch tournament in Steamboat Springs, Colorado which she considers as one of the highlights of her softball playing career.
It is well noted that she currently serves as the Head Girls Softball Coach at Pueblo County High School and is giving back to the sport that she very much loves.
George Dasko
George was an outstanding high school baseball player at Central High School. Dasko played under, most notably Ed Lesar and Jim Ranson from 1963 until he graduated in 1966 then moved on to play for the Southern Colorado State College Indian's baseball team from 1967 to 1971. George ended his baseball career as a semi-pro player with the Jones Mortuary team and the Pueblo Diablos.
In 1971, Dasko moved into the realm of fast pitch softball while playing in leagues in Walsenburg, El Rey Field, and at the Bessemer Park Independent League. Some of the notable teams he played on were Gregory Electric, C.B. Builders of Lamar, Blue Lady, and he also participated in the Rocky Mountain Travel League. George participated in two World Fast Pitch tournaments in Tempe, Arizona and Bakersfield, California. George was an All-League player in the Rocky Mountain Travel League and appeared in nine State Tournaments with all the fast pitch teams he was a member of. Dasko is probably best known for his consistency as a left-handed home run hitter.
After moving to Trinidad, he became a well-known and respected boys and girls high school basketball coach. He continues to be an assistant football coach with his two sons, Gabriel and Michael at Hoehne High School.