NSA Hall of Fame: Darcell Fleeman (2024)
CATEGORY: Umpire
YEAR INDUCTED: 2024
AWARDS WON: (coming soon)
The summer of 1989 marked the beginning of the National Softball Association career for Darcell Fleeman. From day one, Darcell began building the respect as an outstanding umpire from Directors, coaches, players, fans, and most important her fellow umpires. Darcell’s ability to be an effective mentor and teacher was soon recognized by the Umpire in Chiefs and Directors she came in contact with. Over the years her reputation as a mentor and teacher gained her invitations to be an instructor at NSA Clinics in many states throughout the Midwest. Darcell is very proud that the only Association she has worked is NSA.
Darcell was invited to umpire weekend events, State Championship events, and World Series, and it did not take long for Umpires-in-Chief and Directors to recognize her ability to work with all umpires to help them improve their game. In a short time Darcell was assigned to be the UIC at many weekend events. Darcell has worked five (5) Fast Pitch Worlds as an Umpire and ten (10) as a site Umpire-in-Chief. She also served as UIC four (4) times for the NSA Senior Slow Pitch World Series in O’Fallon, IL.
In addition to NSA, Darcell also umpires JUCO, NAIA, and D-3. Her passions when not umpiring include providing pitching lessons, volunteers for Major League Baseball for their Umpire Prospective Camps, on the board for her local umpire association, and works with disabled individual to help them find employment.
During her career with NSA, Darcell was awarded the National 110% Award, Regional 110% Award, and Rookie of the Year.
Darcell has three children Jessica, Christopher, Nicholas and a Grandson Lincoln. Jessica and Christopher have followed in their mother’s footsteps and are NSA Umpires.
On November 6, 2024 Darcell Fleeman became the 41st Umpire to be inducted into the NSA/BPA Sports Hall of Fame.
