Author: Alexa DiSpirito

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) has announced the appointment of its newest Michigan Fastpitch State Director, Abe Vinitski. Abe will oversee the state of Michigan and its area, league and tournament directors following the retirement of former State Director, Bob Wilkerson.

Bob on his retirement: “I have met many great people along the way and want to thank all of them. Especially Donny DeDonatis who provided guidance and support without pressure or limits. I hope that myself and the staff here in Michigan have been able to provide lasting memories for athletes and families throughout the years. My time with USSSA was a family affair and I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of my best friend and wife, Detra Wilkerson. She has been my rock in the trenches with me since day one and I’m blessed that this year we will celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. We have two wonderful and successful adult children, Jesse and Alyssa. They too have been involved in the family dynamic of sports and USSSA. It’s been my honor to serve our members here. Now, it’s time to enjoy some relaxation with our new grandchildren and travel. I will continue to satisfy my competitive nature through the game of pickleball.”

Bob has been a player, coach, manager, referee, administrator and genuine fan of the sport for a multitude of years, and we are incredibly grateful for his twenty years of service to USSSA. It is with immense gratitude that we wish Bob the best in his retirement.

Abe has been involved in the industry for many years as a travel coach, high school varsity coach, administrator, and USSSA Tournament Director.

When asked about his plans for the state: “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the Michigan USSSA Fastpitch program.  I am very grateful for Bob Wilkerson and his guidance and support over the years.  Bob has been a tremendous leader and I plan to continue moving the program forward, taking it to the next level. Among other things, I have spent more than twenty years supporting USSSA with local facility management and I am thankful for the confidence from their leadership team over the years,” added Vinitski.

“I want to thank Bob Wilkerson for his commitment to USSSA and guiding our Michigan Fastpitch program. Bob is one of the more genuine people I have had the pleasure of meeting in my career and I can’t thank him enough for his leadership and for being a big part of our success in Fastpitch. I am excited to transition the leadership to Abe Vinitski who has been an integral part of the operation for the past several years in the State. I am confident we will continue to be successful under Abe’s direction and can’t wait to see what he is able to do with the program!” added Ryan Highfill, USSSA Fastpitch National Director.

Bob’s well wishes for Abe: “Abe is the perfect person to take over as the new State Director of the Michigan USSSA Fastpitch program.  He has a fantastic reputation, is well connected to the state-wide fastpitch community and it has been my pleasure to have worked so closely with him over the years. He brings more than 20 years of experience with his leadership skills in sports and facilities management and has a vision to grow the program to new levels. I’m confident that he and his team will enhance quality programming with new energy, bringing exciting opportunities to teams, coaches, organizations and families. Stay tuned for all the exciting things ahead for Michigan USSSA Fastpitch!”

Please join us in wishing Abe success in his new role as he begins coordinating the continued growth and expansion opportunities for USSSA Fastpitch in the state of Michigan, effective immediately.

To our team members and the USSSA community, 

It is with great sadness that we share that Dave Ruegge, Nevada USSSA Baseball State Director recently passed away. Dave has been a valued member of the USSSA Baseball team since 2008, providing 15 years of unparalleled service to USSSA and his local baseball community. He will be greatly missed.  

Mike Evans, Nevada Baseball Event Director said, “This baseball community has been a significant part of The Ruegge Family for the past 30+ years. Dave valued every one of his relationships, turned friendships, that he made within this community.”

“Dave Ruegge was not just a State Director for USSSA in Nevada; he was a beacon of dedication, enthusiasm, and integrity for our sport. His unwavering commitment to youth athletics transformed the landscape of travel baseball in Nevada, fostering a culture of competitiveness, respect, and love for the game. Dave’s legacy will be etched in the countless lives he touched, the players he helped shape, and the community he tirelessly served. His absence will be deeply felt, but his influence on Nevada’s baseball community will live on,” added Frank Griffin, USSSA Baseball National Director of Operations.
 

Please keep Dave’s family and friends in your thoughts as they endure this difficult time.
 

For those who wish to send messages directly to Dave’s family, please send to DRuegge1953@Gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to https://www.bcrf.org (Breast Cancer Research Foundation), an organization that Dave supported for the women he loved, or to any other charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be arranged at a later date.