This Month's News
March2015

Diane Carden and Aaron Burns to represent ASA/USA umpires at 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto

March 12, 2015

Oklahoma City, OK

Diane Carden and Aaron Burns to represent ASA/USA umpires at 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto

 

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America/USA Softball is proud to announce that Diane Carden (Newark, Del.) and Aaron Burns (Chandler, Ariz.) have been selected to the umpiring staff for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.   Carden, an umpire with Delaware ASA/USA, has been selected to the staff for the Women's Pan American Games July 19-26 while Burns, an umpire with Arizona ASA/USA, will umpire at the Men's Pan American Games July 12-18.

 

"Congratulations to the two umpires selected," said ASA/USA Softball Director of Umpires Kevin Ryan.  "It is a credit to the ASA/USA Softball Umpire program and all the Umpire-in-Chief's across the nation that we have caliber umpires like Diane and Aaron selected to represent our country at the Pan American Games.  They have worked incredibly hard to get to this place in their career and I'm sure they will represent ASA/USA Softball very well."

 

An ASA/USA umpire since 1978, Carden has a long resume as an umpire at both the international and national level.  In total, Carden has umpired at 10 ASA/USA National Championships, including three ASA/USA 18U GOLD Nationals and a Women's Major Fast Pitch National Championship.  Carden was also a part of the umpiring staff at the World Cup of Softball VII in Oklahoma City.  A member of the National Indicator Fraternity since 2000, Carden also earned her Elite Umpire honors in 2004 and is a member of the ASA/USA Umpire Medals Program at the Gold Level.  She was also inducted into the Delaware ASA/USA Hall of Fame.

 

"Wow, what an incredible opportunity," said Carden.  "This is a dream come true!  It is a tremendous honor to be selected to represent ASA/USA Softball in such a prestigious event.  I am excited about going, meeting and working with umpires who will become a part of my umpire family.  I am indeed proud and grateful for this opportunity." 

 

An umpire since the age of 12, Burns also has an extensive history as an ASA/USA umpire.  In all, Burns has worked at eight ASA/USA National Championships, including two Men's Major Fast Pitch Nationals and two ASA/USA 18U GOLD National Championships.  A member of the National Indicator Fraternity since 2002, Burns has also been an Elite Umpire since 2011 and is a member of the ASA/USA Umpire Medals Program at the Gold Level.

 

"I am still in a state of disbelief that I have been given this amazing opportunity," said Burns.  "It's an honor that others see my abilities and are confident in my abilities to represent myself, the Arizona ASA/USA, ASA/USA Softball and my country.  I am looking forward to visiting Toronto and seeing a part of the country that I have never been to."

 

The Pan American Games are scheduled to take place July 12-26 (dates reflect both Men's and Women's competition dates) in Toronto, Ontario Canada.  Tickets will go back on sale mid-April for the event and will be available for purchase online at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/toronto2015. 

 

This marks the first time since 2003 that the Men's Fast Pitch National Team will participate in the Pan American Games.  Held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Men's Fast Pitch National Team earned a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games after falling to Canada 4-0 in the Championship Game.  The Women's National Team will be defending their Gold Medal finish at the 2011 Pan American Games, which were held in Guadalajara, Mexico.  The Women went undefeated throughout the 2011 Pan American Games and won the Gold Medal with an 11-1 (four inning) win over Canada.

 

The rosters for both the USA Softball Men's and Women's National Teams were announced in January following their respective selection camps.  You can find a complete roster for both the Men's and Women's National Teams at USASoftball.com..

 

About ASA 
The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation’s largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. For more information on the ASA, visit http://www.asasoftball.com/. 
  
About USA Softball 
USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit http://www.usasoftball.com/.

 

 

Codi Warren

 

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball

Office 405.425.3431 | Cell 405. 420. 2817

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