In memory of those we lost in 2019…
KaBria Arnold, former pitcher, Morgan State (D1) and Michigan-Dearborn (NAIA)
Arnold passed away in a shooting on November 10th. She played for Morgan State in 2017 and Michigan-Dearborn in 2018.
Mark Campbell, coach, Pacifica HS/OC Batbusters
In early March, Campbell fell ill during a Batbusters game and was hospitalized, but died the following day. He coached a number of well-known names in the softball world, and was a retired homicide detective.
Jaycee Carter, catcher, Montgomery HS
The LSU-Eunice commit had just enjoyed her graduation from Montgomery High in Louisiana when she passed away in June at the age of eighteen. Carter had signed to attend LSUE along with her twin sister Carlee.
Bill Curtis, former coach, Wisconsin Lutheran
Curtis spent eight years as the head coach at Wisconsin Lutheran, but stepped down from the position at the end of the 2019 season. The 2014 Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference’s Co-Coach of the Year passed away in late November.
Megan Dobrinski, coach, Bullard HS
Formerly an assistant coach at UT-Tyler, Dobrinski passed away in August after a months-long battle with cancer. She was survived by her husband and two children, ages 6 and 3.
Robert Dunham, assistant coach, Aquinas College
Saints’ pitching coach Dunham passed away at the beginning of December. He was entering his third season on staff at Aquinas and previously was an assistant at Davenport and Lansing Community College.
Marty French, former coach, Stonehill College
A longtime coach in the Northeastern United States, French’s coaching resume included stops at Stonehill College, Massasoit Community College, and Holy Cross, as well as at the club level.
Geri Ann Glasco, coach, Louisiana-Lafayette
News of Glasco’s passing shook the softball world to its core in January, as the former Oregon and Georgia star passed away in an automobile accident in January. At the time of her passing, Glasco was less than a month from her first season as the volunteer assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Mike McGhee, coach, Ouachita Baptist
McGhee passed away in February after a battle with cancer, and in the midst of his seventeenth season with the Tigers. A former multi-sport standout in his own right, McGhee had been the head softball coach since 2006 and from 2007-16 also served as the school’s cross country head coach.
Presley Mitchell, player, Texas Attitude 12U
Mitchell, an 11-year-old travel ball player from Texas, collapsed during a game in early November and later passed away at a hospital. Presley’s obituary read, in part, “she was very dedicated to everything she did in her life.”
Ralph Raymond, former coach, US National Team
One of the greatest coaches in the game’s history, Raymond helmed the first two US Olympic teams in 1996 and 2000, leading his team to a gold medal in both Games. Raymond owned a 332-9 record with USA Softball and was a 1993 inductee into the International Softball Hall of Fame.
Micalla Rettinger, former outfielder, Northern Iowa
Investigators still do not know who shot Rettinger; the former Northern Iowa Panthers standout was killed in the wee hours of April 28th while traveling home from her job. She was a 2-time all-conference honoree during her career at UNI.
Morgan Smith, former catcher, Toledo
The Rockets’ former starting catcher, who spent her collegiate career just a couple of hours from her hometown, passed away in October. She played for the Rockets from 2010-13.
Tony Zimmerman, assistant coach, Saginaw Valley State
A longtime high school and travel ball coach, Zimmerman was entering his third season on the Cardinals staff, where he worked with the team’s pitching staff and catchers.
