Friday night during the opening ceremonies at Sherman Park, the Ringneck Tournament Committee honored a USA Softball of South Dakota Umpire and a Contributor These awards might be from the Ringneck but the people chosen over the years are appreciated by all of USA Softball in South Dakota and beyond. 
The umpire honoree is our very own UIC Steve Riswold of Sioux Falls. Steve is the SD UIC as well as the Regional UIC. He is on the National Umpire Staff who teaches and works with umpires all over the US. Steve was selected USA Softball 2 years ago to travel to Germany to host clinics for our arm service umpires. Riz just recently got home from a 2-week stint as the UIC at the senior games as USA Softball representative of umpires. Steve not only trains local umpires but has assembled a staff of area UIC throughout SD that help in training not only veteran umpires but umpires as young as preteen. And some of the best young umpires in the nation as we have teenagers working in national tournaments. In the summer you can usually find Steve at a softball diamond in the midwest as he is out amongst the masses. South Dakota softball us lucky to have Steve Riswold as their UIC.
Teri Schmidt was given the Ringneck Award. Teri is and has been the voice of Sioux Falls CVB person forever. And there is a reason for her longevity, she is darn good at her job.Mayor Paul TenHaken declared May 14 to be “Teri Schmidt Day,” then graciously kept the microphone and improvised to help keep things moving on the dais.
“You guys know what a champion this woman is for the community, for the CVB, right?” TenHaken said to applause.
Teri was also honored this past spring at a home town basketball game in Winner, SD when she was inducted into Winner School Hall of Fame.
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----- USA Softball of South Dakota State Commissioner |
