CENTER TWP — Ron Wissinger's first experience on a softball field was as an umpire.

He called his brother Ken out on a bang-bang play at first base.

“I tagged along to watch Ken play and they needed a first base umpire,” Ron recalled, laughing. “When I rang him up, that was the end of my umpiring career.”

It also marked the beginning of a softball career that is landing Ron Wissinger in the Amateur Softball Association of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

Wissinger, 62, of CenterTownship has been playing softball since 1970 and remains an active player today. He will be inducted at 7 p.m. March 2 at the Holiday Inn in Grantville.

“He is more than deserving of this,” said Joe Baney, manager of the Maroadi Transfer Softball Club. “Ron was my leading home run hitter for over 10 years, my leading RBI man for over 10 years.

“He won two tournament MVPs for me. He takes pride in his defense and bats over .600 as well.”

Wissinger hit in the No. 4 spot of the Maroadi Transfer lineup from 1997 through 2002, when its over-40 and over-45 teams won six consecutive national titles without losing a game.

“That's an incredible feat, one that will never be duplicated,” H.M.R. Softball Club manager Dave McMaster of Saxonburg said.

Wissinger has been playing for McMaster's 55-over and 60-over tournament teams since 2005.

Wissinger's softball resume' includes:

Playing for 15 ASA state championship teams.

Playing for 12 national tournament championship teams and being named first team All-American.

Winning two national championship MVPs.

Winning three national tournament home run titles.

Winning two national tournament batting championships.

The personal honors mean nothing to Wissinger, however. He's all about winning.

“I don't know how many home runs I've hit and I don't care,” he said. “I'm not an 'I' person. Helping teams win is where the fun is for me.

“That's why I work hard on defense, being a good third baseman or first baseman. I used to play the outfield, but like anyone else, I moved to the infield as I got older.”

Wissinger was nominated for the Hall of Fame by Guy Demaio, the ASA commissioner for this district.

“They induct three to six news members each year and I believe Ron is the first individual from Butler County to go in,” Demaio said. “He has excelled at this game for years.

“He is respected by the opposition as a great hitter, period, not just a guy who hits a bunch of home runs.”

Demaio said Wissinger is one of the premier softball players in all of Western Pennsylvania.

“As he's gotten older, moved from one age level to the next ... different game, different level, it has never diminished his performance,”Demaio said.

That's because Wissinger takes his training for the sport very seriously.

Even during the winter months, he and some teammates take batting practice inside a warehouse in Carnegie.

“One of the guys I play ball with owns the warehouse,” Wissinger said. “We hit into a net off pitching machines. It really helps.”

Wissinger has increased his bat speed over the years by swinging a bat under water in the Butler Cubs Hall pool.

“I did that three times a week. It was a good way to stay in shape,” he said.

Such training has paid off.

“That man is the ultimate team athlete,” McMaster said. “Ron is so soft-spoken. He doesn't strut around, show off or cop an attiude in any way. He lets his performance do the talking.”

“For a big man, he's one of the most versatile players I've ever seen,” Baney said.

There are currently 144 individual players in the ASA of Pa. Hall of Fame. The first class was inducted in 1974.