Inaugural NSA BPA Hall of Fame Induction Banquet

Illinois NSA BPA Hall of Famers Steve Endress (left) & Chris Gardner (right)

In 2005, Gund was appointed BPA Baseball Illinois State Director and immediately established a website which publicized new qualifying tournaments, new state championships and BPA World Series. The program today has now expanded to ages 9-18 in one year increments. Over the years Gund has been honored by the NSA with the following awards; 1999 Region 6 State Director Of the Year, 1999 Region 6 Newcomer Of the Year, 2004 North Zone NSA 110 % Award, 2005 BPA North Zone Newcomer Of the Year, 2007 North Zone Chuck Middleton Award and in 2007
NSA National Highest World Series Team Participation Award. Gund while accepting his place in the Illinois NSA Hall of Fame looked out at the audience and said, "I have a very special memory of each and everyone here tonight." Gund went on to say, "I was appointed the Northern Illinois NSA Director and it was the best thing that ever happened to me." Gund went on the thank all of his UIC (Umpire in Chief), his directors and his league parks for going beyond what was expected of them for him and closed by saying, "now that we have started the Illinois NSA BPA Hall of fame we have a tool to recognize all the people who have done such a great job for us."
Frank Hill from Schaumburg was honored as a Manager/Organizer. Hill started and coached the Sluggers for seventeen years, the Hoffman Estates Varsity for six years, and has been involved in the Schaumburg Athletic Association for twenty years. During his tenure in the SAA, he has been Travel Commissioner, Softball Head Commissioner, and President of the organization, which serves over 6,000 registrants and over 600 softball players. In the June of '96, Hill, with the help of the
volunteers of the SAA, dedicated Schaumburg's new Olympic Park with two major events: a double header he coached against the 1996 USA Olympic Team, and the National Softball Association's State Tournament. In 1997 and 1998 the Schaumburg Athletic Association played host to the National Softball Association's State Tournament. The Tournament went from 90 teams in '96 to 168 teams in '98. It was rated in the Chicago Tribune as one of the best run tournaments in Illinois. Hill help establish a cash scholarship programs and several activities which added a new dimension to the tournament. Frank also earned the 110% award from the National Softball Association. In 2003, the Schaumburg Athletic Association hosted the NSA "B" World Series which were held in the
Northwest Chicago Area. As a coach of the Sluggers, Hill's teams won, three Metro Championships,
went 6-2-2 in the Colorado Fireworks tournament, took 2nd and 7th, and 17th in the NSA World Series, and 3rd place in the NSA Super World Series. His teams have been to the NSA World Series every year since 1995. Hill brings an intense love and knowledge of the game of softball. In total Hill has worked over fifty tournaments and played in over eight hundred games, with his teams have played in twelve state tournaments, twelve NSA World Series and one NSA Super World Series.
Hill said, "This is really the frosting on the cake. As a coach it is fantastic how much you get back from the kids...you watch them grow up and get jobs... the payback is really tremendous."
Dick 'Polock' Kanoski from Bourbonnais was inducted next into the umpire category. In 1970 Kanoski started to umpire and he has umpired about 200 games every year in leagues, local tournaments and State Tournaments. Since approx 1980 Kanoski has been the Assignment Chairman
for the Kankakee area. When he started we had about 8 or 9 umpires. Kanoski started an umpire association to handle umpire needs and today he has forty-five NSA registered umpires in this association. Since the N.S.A. has became the local sanctioning body, softball has grown in Kankakee area. Kanoski has worked every level in league play and has worked almost every tournament to come through River Road Park. In total he has called more than 7,000 softball games. In 2003, Kanoski received the N.S.A. Northern Zone 110% Award. In 2004 Kanoski received an Umpire Recognition Award from The Kankakee Umpire Association. Kanoski said while accepting his place in the Illinois NSA BPA Hall of Fame, "This was the first year in thirty-seven years that I didn't put the uniform on. I did get to throw out the first pitch at the 'B' World Series at 'River Road', I really appreciate that." Kanoski went to talk about his career as an umpire and said, "For all these memories I thank you for that."
Bob Kerness from Kankakee was inducted as an umpire. Kerness has been a slow-pitch umpire since 1976 and was appointed Illinois State NSA Slow-Pitch UIC in 1999. He is responsible for the recruitment and for training of all NSA umpires in the state of Illinois. Kerness has worked or was UIC for tournaments in Iowa, Indiana, and all over the state of Illinois for approximately 30 NSA State tournaments, 20 Regionals, 80 World Series Qualifiers', and 50 NIT's. While working as an umpire, he was chosen to work the finals in most of the tournaments. Kerness has implemented a training program and pay scale for the NSA tournaments in Illinois. He has presented umpire training sessions at the annual Zone meeting and he has helped organized an Award Banquet for NSA slow-pitch umpires. Kerness is also the winner of the 2004 NSA Northern Zone 'UIC of the Year' award. Kerness said during his acceptance remarks, "I want to thank all the umpire that have worked with me because you are only as strong as your weakest link." He went to thank his family for all the
time that he missed away from them doing something that he loved by saying, "I love you."

Illinois NSA BPA Hall of Famers Gerry Gund (left) & Frank Hill (right)

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