2022 Associate: Sarah Armantrout

Sarah Armantrout, Tampa, FL (formerly of Buffalo Grove, IL)

Sarah Armantrout’s introduction into the USSSA program began as an illegal player at the Women’s C Divisional in Iowa in the late 1980s. Sarah and two other players were picked up by an Illinois team to play in that tournament. Unaware they were playing under assumed names, the team was eventually ejected from the tournament. None of this was reported to the IL State Director, however.

In the early 1990s, Sarah was hired by Spalding/Dudley Sports as their Illinois Territory Sales Manager. Her diligence converted northern Illinois to the Dudley softballs in just a few years. At the time, the Yellow Tournament Plus ball played very well on the numerous white, aglime fields that many complexes were using.

When Spalding/Dudley had a reorganization, Sarah became a Sales Rep for Worth/DeBeer Sports. Illinois USSSA followed her. When you have a great partnership, you certainly try to keep it.

One of the most knowledgeable persons in the bat and ball industry at the time, Sarah was not just a Sales Rep, but she helped sponsor many of the Illinois State, National, NITs, and World Series events during her years of partnership. Sarah gave away many items at these events including All Tournament Team awards, Individual Championship, MVP awards, and bats and later with Rip-It, shoes, jackets, and other soft goods.

Many fundraisers were initiated by Sarah at these events, which included the Walter Payton Foundation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness for Dottie Ferguson Key (Rockford Peach), and a fundraiser for IL USSSA Lifetime Achievement member (2004), Laurie “Smitty” Smith who also lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005.

Many of these fundraiser events were held on the deck of the bowling alley at Forest Hills Diamonds during/after the tournaments. Retired Chicago Bears Jim Morrissey, Mark Green, Neal Anderson, Thomas Sanders, and Wendell Davis participated with a Dudley Team for a few Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame fundraisers. Memories were made and, according to Sarah, one of her most memorable was a “very pregnant woman who jumped the fence to chase Neal Anderson playing right field!”

Sarah not only hosted the parties, but she also set up her tent at tournaments and sold and demonstrated her merchandise at slo-pitch and later, fastpitch events. Doing so while she often played with her team in the slo-pitch tournament. As a legal player, of course.

Her partnership with the Illinois USSSA and eventually the National Office grew over the years. She attended many State meetings and USSSA National Conventions. Sarah also brought Olympian fastpitch players to Rockford with autograph sessions for the fastpitch programs.

When Sarah joined Rip-It in 2009, she was a natural to become their National/International Sales Manager. Sarah attended many fastpitch events all over northern Illinois promoting Rip-It with the many fastpitch team organizations. Again, giving product to teams and players and sponsoring awards at the various local, State, and National levels.

Sarah has received many accolades from her companies in the Sales and Development areas. In 1995, she was honored with the Award of Merit and in 2003 the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois USSSA. Tonight, we honor Sarah with induction into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame in the Associate Category. This is the first time in 26 years this category has been recognized. Not bad for a 16 year old who had to fight her local park district to allow “a bunch of girls” to play travel softball. After a park district meeting was held, the Chicago Tribune ran the article: “Girls plea to play softball”. Sarah had learned an early lesson about tenacity and perseverance that would benefit her in business and life. And the park district did initiate a travel program for the “bunch of girls”, the following season.

Congratulations Sarah for your many years of involvement in the Illinois USSSA program, for a job well done, a partnership of over 25 years, and a friendship that started on the ballfield and has lasted over 30+ years. Well, maybe not a good friendship in the beginning, but a great friendship over the years.