At the South Dakota Amateur Softball Association’s Hall of Fame banquet, Steve Riswold of Sioux Falls was appointed South Dakota Umpire-in-Chief. He replaces Terry James of Aberdeen who has held the post since 1981.
Riz, as he is known by most in the state, has been an ASA umpire for 20 years. A Dell Rapids native, Riswold has worked men’s, women’s, youth and co-ed slow pitch and youth fast pitch games. Riswold has worked more than 50 state tournaments and 11 national tournaments, including the 2004 Hooter’s National Finals in Oklahoma City and three trips to Chicago for the 16-inch Major. Riswold served as the local UIC for men’s and women’s slow pitch in Sioux Falls since 2002, and was appointed state deputy UIC in 2005.
In 2005 and 2007, Riswold was assistant UIC at the USA/ASA 16 and under girls’ fast pitch national in Sioux Falls as well as the boys’ fastpitch nationals this past year in Brandon.
He also served as an assistant UIC at the 16-inch Class A slow pitch national in Aberdeen in 2005 and the girls’ 16 and under and 18 and under slow pitch national in Sioux Falls in 2006. In 2007, Riswold attended the national UIC clinic in Oklahoma City, and is a member of the National Indicator Fraternity, the umpire medals program and one of seven South Dakota umpires in ASA’s Elite program.
Riswold is a 1994 graduate of the Brinkman/Froemming professional baseball umpire school in cocoa Beach, Fla., and a 1993 graduate of Augustana College. He has worked for Volunteers of America in Sioux Falls for 14 years. He also officiates high school football, basketball and volleyball.
Steve is a 1989 graduate of Dell Rapids High School and the son of Sharyn Riswold.