Linnemann, Mark

MARK LINNEMANN FROM EDGEWOOD, KENTUCKY WAS ALMOST ALWAYS THE FIRST TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OF NOTE THAT BALL PLAYERS, COACHES, AND SPONSORS ALIKE WOULD SEE AS EACH NEW SOFTBALL SEASON WAS ABOUT TO UNFOLD. AN ALWAYS-SMILING MARK WOULD TAKE UP THE ENTRY FEES, MAKE SURE THE UMPIRES WERE PROPERLY ASSIGNED. WATCH THE MANY GAMES, ACCUMULATE AND RECORD THE TOURNAMENT STATS, AND THEN HE WOULD TAKE CHEESY PICTURES OF THE ALL-TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS, MVPS, RUNNERS UP AND CHAMPIONS OF HIS BELOVED PERSONAL EVENT-THE CINCINNATI SOFTBALL NEWS USSSA QUALIFIER. THEN, WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER, HE WOULD WRITE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WHAT JUST TOOK PLACE AT RUMPKE, EXPRESSWAY, RIVERSTAR, SOFTBALL CITY. AND OTHER CINCINNATI METRO SOFTBALL PARKS THAT ENCOMPASSED THE I-275 CORRIDOR. FINALLY, HE WOULD COMPILE ALL THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT HIS CINCINNATI SOFTBALL NEWS EVENT AND OTHER REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND PUBLISH IT INTO HIS VERY OWN NEWSPAPER APTLY NAMED THE CINCINNATI SOFTBALL NEWS.

THE POPULARITY OF HIS NEWSPAPER AND TOURNAMENT WAS UNPARALLELED AND COPIES OF THE CINCINNATI SOFTBALL NEWS COULD BE FOUND AT THE 13 OR MORE SOFTBALL COMPLEXES AROUND THE CINCINNATI METRO AS WELL AS OTHER REGIONAL VENUES.

PROOF OF HIS TOURNAMENT'S SUCCESS WAS UNDOUBTEDLY VALIDATED EACH MARCH AS DROVES OF SOFTBALL FANATICS DECIDED TO PLAY IN CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY DURING THE VERY COLDEST MONTH OF THE SOFTBALL SEASON. REGARDLESS OF THE FORECAST.

MARK LINEMAN'S LOVE FOR SOFTBALL BEGAN AFTER HE QUIT HIS REAL° JOB WITH PROCTOR & GAMBLE. AND STARTED WORKING AT A BALLPARK ON WEEKENDS TO RUN HIS CINCINNATI SOFTBALL NEWS PUBLICATION. MARK'S EDITORIALS AND THOROUGH COVERAGE OF SOFTBALL THROUGHOUT OHIO, KENTUCKY. AND INDIANA MADE A GROWING SPORT BECOME MORE POPULAR DURING THE '80S AND '90S, AND HIS DETAILED JOURNALISM CONTINUES TO THRIVE TO THIS DAY.

BESIDES THRIVING AS A WRITER, PUBLISHER, AND TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, MARK MOVED UP THE SOFTBALL LADDER TO BECOME THE USSSA OHIO STATE DIRECTOR, THEN THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION. HE THEN PROGRESSED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE USSSA'S NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND LATER THE BOARD'S SECRETARY AND TREASURER. HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE MANY PARKS AND COMPLEXES IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA TO BECOME A QUASI-ORGANIZED GROUP WHICH HAS WORKED TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE GAME IN THAT PART OF OHIO, INDIANA, AND KENTUCKY.

MARK ALSO ORGANIZED THE HUDEPOHL SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME ALSO KNOWN AS THE SORRENTO'S SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME AND IS CURRENTLY REFERRED TO AS THE GREATER CINCINNATI SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME.

FOR ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOFTBALL WORLD. MR. LINNEMANN WAS INDUCTED INTO THE USSSA NATIONAL HALL OF FAME IN 2007. HE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND RECOGNITION LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY FOR HIS SELFLESS SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE GAME AND THOSE WHO STRIVE TO MAKE THE GAME BETTER.