Position: Pitcher

Dennis Whiteside

Umpire

CRBL (ca. 1980-Present)
Pitcher
Twin City Sports 1968, Cadott 1969-’70, Bloomer 1973

Dennis Whiteside has been a fixture in the CRBL galaxy since its inception (and even before). Starting as a pitcher for the Sports of the old Chippewa Valley League, he moved on to Cadott where he had his best years, including his no-hitter (1970) and one stretch in which he went four straight games without giving up a run, including a league leading 2 complete game shutouts. Had Denny continued on the mound, he may well have entered the Hall-of-Fame primarily as a pitcher, but a diversion into fast pitch softball derailed his baseball career at an early age.

Inevitably, the lure of hardball brought him back, this time as an umpire. Currently serving something like his 46th year as an arbiter, Denny is the dean of CRBL officials. His post-playing career has seen him expand to high school and Legion games for 40-odd years. One Legion highlight was umping an all-star game at Miller Park in Milwaukee ten or so years ago. He has also been seen making calls in softball, basketball, and football games, although he admits that he is limited to JV contests in the latter, not having a strong desire to be run over by varsity football behemoths at his age. All in all, he estimates that he has worked thousands of games over the last 50+ years.

In all that time, he has never had a call overturned by ABS (partly because the CRBL can’t afford that technology), but he can hold his own in a BS contest with the best of them. That is, he is among the most affable and gregarious people you would ever want to meet.

Duane Ives

First Base, Second Base/Pitcher

Augusta Athletics, 1994, ’96-2006, ’10

Duane Ives was a potent two-way weapon for the Augusta Athletics through his 13 year career. His resilient right arm and menacing bat helped carry the team through one of its best eras. During his time, the As won the Southern Division crown four times (1994, ’97, ’98, and ’99) while capturing the CRBL championship in both ’98 and ’99. In all, the team went 155-22 during his tenure, while making the WBA tournament ten times and winning it all in his rookie season.

Dewey’s fame as a two-way threat has led to rumors in recent years that word of his exploits spread across the sea and inspired a youngster named Shohei Ohtani. Whether or not this is true, the fact is that he was a force both on the mound and at the plate.

In his 117 games, his .331 would qualify as top 50 in league history but fell short of the 500 at bat minimum. But minimums were no limit in home runs, as he sits at 41st with his 22.

Meanwhile, as a hurler, his .724 winning percentage fell just one short of the number of decisions needed to make the all-time list, but that would put him at 26th in CRBL annals. His 3.92 ERA is particularly impressive considering that half his career was in the metal bat era.

A five time all star, Ives owns two All-CRBL trophies: as second baseman in1998 and as a utility player in 2006.

Dewey’s legacy goes on as he was instrumental in resuscitating the Athletics from a three year hiatus after Covid closed them down.

Andrew Ruf

Pitcher

Tilden Tigers 2007-13

Andrew Ruf jumped directly from a stellar high school stint at Chippewa Falls McDonnell to the well-stocked Tilden team of the early century. Although his career was relatively brief, Ruffer made his mark on the CRBL and follows his father, Rick, as a two-generation hall-of-famer.

Andrew played a strong role in Tilden’s success over his seven seasons, leading them to an 83-52 record with championships in 2007 and 2011. Additionally, they made the WBA field six times in that span.

A three time all-star, he was elected an All-CRBL pitcher in 2008 and that 2011 championship season. In 2008, he tied for the league lead in shutouts with two, a feat he duplicated in 2010 and exceeded by hurling three in 2012. His 7-0 effort in 2011 topped the league in both wins and winning percentage.

Despite his short number of years, Ruffer pitched his way onto a number of lifetime lists for the CRBL. At the time of induction, he ranks 47th in strikeouts per innings pitched. He is 37th in wins and 21st in winning percentage. His innings pitched per season rank 23rd. One of his most impressive accomplishments is his standing at 16th in ERA. But unsurprisingly, his proclivity to shut opponents out boosted him to a tie for 12th in that category.

Unfortunately, injuries cut short his days on the mound before he could achieve all the potential that his talents projected, but he will always be remembered in Tiger lore.

2 All CRBL Awards 3 Allstar Games

Note top 50 in ERA, Wins, win percentage Shutouts, K/9inn

Bill Schoch

Pitcher

Cooks Valley Hayshakers 1979-80, Tilden Tigers 1982-88

A true power pitcher, Bill Schoch had the stuff to destroy a hitter’s confidence. When his fastball was at its peak, the unlucky batter needed to start swinging shortly after leaving the on-deck circle to catch up to it.

After a two-year stint with Cooks Valley, Schoch came into his own with the Tigers. During his seven years with Tilden, he helped them to a 77-47 record, three Northern Division crowns, and the 1986 CRBL championship. Bill was the MVP of that title game, hurling a complete ten inning game, giving up five runs (4 earned) while striking out seven.

His 4.84 ERA is a reflection of his days in the heart of the metal bat era, but his dominance is well illustrated by his comparisons as he led the league in strikeouts with 64 in 1982 and 92 in 1983, K/IP (12.36) and shutouts (3) in that ’83 season, and winning percentage in ’84 and ’86 (5-0 and 9-0) with the nine wins leading the league in that category.

A two-time all-star, Schoch earned All-CRBL honors three times: as a pitcher in ’82 and ’86 and as an outfielder in ’85. Yes, he was more than a one-dimensional player. A solid hitter with ample power, he was more than capable of helping himself out at the plate when runs were needed.

But it was on the mound that he ranks among the top 50 in CRBL history at the time of induction. As of 2025, he is tied for 34th in wins, 36th in winning percentage, 36th in decisions, 29th in strikeouts, and 26th in shutouts. He is also 49th in innings pitched, third in innings pitched per season, and 12th in K/IP.

A great all-around player, and (did I mention?) he could bring it.

3 All CRBL Awards, 2 Allstar Games

Note Top 50 Inn, W, Win pct, K

Jerry Dachel

Pitcher / Outfielder

Tilden Tigers 1969-80, 1982

Whether the Tilden Tigers of 1967 through 1978 needed a pitching boost or an injection of power, they knew they could turn to Jerry Dachel.

An imposing figure on the mound, “Lurch” was responsible for numerous knee injuries among hitters due to banging them together in nervous trembling. Sharing the spotlight with his brother Tom, the duo formed an almost unbeatable one-two punch for the Tigers.

Over Jerry’s 12 year career, Tilden compiled a 148-35 regular season record, leading the Northern Division an amazing ten times with an even more amazing eight CRBL championships.

Along the way, the team went to ten WBA tournaments, going to the final four in 1972 and taking second in 1976. Obviously, Jerry was a big part of all these accomplishments.

Over the years, Jerry climbed the ladder on several CRBL pitching lists. Upon induction, his 33-7 record, and .825 clip, land him in 40th place in wins and 5th in winning percentage as of 2025. He ranks among the leaders in ERA (28th), shutouts (tied for 26th), and saves (T-12th).

One of his best seasons was in 1969 when he led the league in wins and winning percentage going 10-1, .909. The next season found him leading the CRBL in ERA, firing a 2.57 mark. As is often the case, statistics don’t always show the full story of his contributions to Tilden’s success over his years, but anyone who played against him can tell you it was no picnic.

When not pitching, Lurch manned the outfield admirably. Ever dangerous at the plate, he led the league in home runs (6), RBIs (24), and runs scored (23) in 1977. That ’77 season saw him being chosen an All-CRBL outfielder. Two years earlier, he earned MVP honors at the league championship game, going 3-5 with a double, a run, and 4 RBI with three of them coming on a home run in the bottom of the 6th that broke a 4-4 tie. Just to make sure, he singled in the final tally in the 8th to ice the game.

Between pitching and hitting, Jerry saw action in four All-Star games. His selection to the CRBL Hall Of Fame is truly well earned.

1 All CRBL Award, 4 All-Star Games

Note Top 50 ERA, W, Win pct, Saves, Shutouts

Todd Zwiefelhofer

Pitcher

Tilden Tigers 1990-97

Anyone who ever said, “Pitchers can’t hit,” never saw Todd Zwiefelhofer play. His prowess in both aspects of the game helped Tilden to six Northern Division titles and three CRBL championships (1991, 94, and 97) over his 8-year career.

While compiling a100-29 record, the team reached the WBA playoffs in each of his years, earning runner-up status in 1990 while taking the state tourney in 1995.

Zwiefelhofer’s official statistics stand as testament to his overall excellence. Finishing with a sterling .313 batting average, he could also flash power as illustrated by his 11 home runs.

Still, while his bat remained a threat whenever he strode to the plate, it was his mound work that elevates him to Hall-of-Fame status.

His arm propelled him to five all-star appearances, and he was an All-CRBL pitcher in 1996, a year in which he led the league in wins and winning percentage with a 6-0 record. He also led in percentage in1993 with an identical 6-0. His two shutouts in 1992 topped the league. He added a no-hitter to his resume in 1997.

One telling statistic is his lifetime .844 winning percentage that held the top spot in the league for 27 years before being eclipsed in 2024.

As impressive as his league numbers were, Todd really dazzled in the post-season. He twice earned MVP honors in the CRBL championship games. In 1994, he tossed a 9-inning complete game, giving up one earned run while going 2-4 with a home run. In 1997, he again went all nine, yielding two earned runs with nine strikeouts.

Zwiefelhofer was named the outstanding pitcher in the 1985 WBA tourney where he outdueled legendary hurler Tony Garner in a 2-1 victory.

And, just for good measure, he spent some time with the independent pro Dakota Rattlers.

5 Allstar Games

Note CRBL Championship MVP 1994 (9inn, 1 er, 3h 2 k) beat Augusta 9-1 (2-4 solo HR)

CRBL Championship MVP 1997 (9 inn, 2 er, 9 h, 9 k) beat Augusta 16-2

Won Outstanding Pitcher in WBA in 1995

Roger Nosal

Pitcher

Jim Falls Dairymen 1960; Jim Falls Cadets 1961-64; Jim Falls Sturgeons 1965-69, 70

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One of the best pitchers of the Chippewa Valley League era, lefty Roger “Scooter” Nosal was a big strikeout, high innings workhorse for Jim Falls teams throughout the 1960s.

After playing in a part-time role his first three seasons, Nosal emerged as an ace in 1963 for the Jim Falls Cadets.  In 90 innings of work that year, Roger struck out 86 batters, claiming a record of 6 and 5 while leading the CVL with both a 2.70 ERA and 3 shutouts.  The following season of 1964, Nosal tied for the league lead with 8 wins (against 2 losses) as well as a winning pct. of .800 across 89 innings of work.  

When the Jim Falls Sturgeons began to play in 1965, Roger put together a monumental season, pacing the CVL with 101.2 innings pitched while striking out 125 hitters and staking a record of 6 and 6 for the embryonic franchise.  

His other CVL leading total came in 1966 when he led the league with 95 innings, within which he whiffed 91 batters, posted a 2.18 ERA, and had a 5 and 4 record in yet another awesome season.

Scooter was also an athletic outfielder and solid bat, evident in that he paced the CVL with 3 triples in 1964.  That same season, he hit two home runs and drove in 16 RBIs in just 11 games for the Jim Fall Cadets. Over his 11-season career, he wrapped a total of 7 triples within his 114 hits.  

Nosal’s talents helped the Sturgeons qualify for the WBA tournament in 1967, 1968, and 1975, while also getting a share of the North Division title in 1967.  

Competing in a period before CRBL awards, Roger played in five All-Star games – 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1968.  In the 1964 CVL All-Star classic, Nosal shined as he was named the game’s MVP.  In leading the East Division to a 9-8 victory over the West Division, Roger was the winning pitcher in relief (3.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 K) and went 1-for-2 with a huge, go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth inning for the East.

Upon induction, Nosal is ranked all-time in triples (tied for 22nd).  As a pitcher, the Lefty’s rankings can be found in ERA (19th), innings per season (16th), innings pitched (20th), strikeouts (23rd), decisions (tied for 27th), shutouts (tied for 31st), wins (tied for 33rd), and K/9 IP (39th).     

Steve Nelson

Utility, Pitcher

Jim Falls Saints 1980-86; Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1987-90; Jim Falls Sturgeons 1991-93, 95-98, 

2013-14, 16-18; Tilden Tigers 2006-11

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One of the best all-around performers in CRBL history, Steve Nelson was a right-handed, two-way player who possessed a smooth and powerful swing, as well as a fluid and effortless delivery from the mound.

During a 29-season career in the CRBL that spanned over 40 years, “Pickle” was a dynamic hitting and pitching difference maker.  Moreover, when he wasn’t on the mound, he was often behind the plate, earning a reputation as a strong-armed, defensively talented catcher.  

Playing his first seven seasons for the Jim Falls Saints, Steve was a career .340 hitter across 1,000+ at-bats, hitting over .300 in 12 campaigns, including 11 seasons in a row from 1981 through 1991.  In four of those years, he hit .400 or better, with a personal best of .481 in 1984 (26 for 54).  Admirably, Steve also acted as player/manager for the Saints from 1981 to 1985.  

A consistent power threat, Nelson belted a league-leading 9 homeruns in 1986 to headline his other CRBL-leading totals of 32 RBIs and 29 runs scored in that year.  He also paced the CRBL in at-bats (70) and hits (29) in 1987, as well as doubles (10) and runs scored (26) in 1989.

On the mound, Pickle was known for his alchemy-like abilities to make the ball sink and run with command.  It wasn’t, however, until 1988 – his ninth season in the CRBL – that Nelson had extended time as a pitcher.  Chucking for the Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks, Steve went 6 and 2 over 48.1 innings with an ERA of 2.42 while leading the league in saves (1) and shutouts (2).  Nelson’s best season from the hill came for the Jim Falls Sturgeons in 1995 when he paced the CRBL with 85 innings, 9 wins, and 74 punch-outs.

After taking a break from CRBL play from 1999 to 2005, the Smooth Righty came back to roam with the Tilden Tigers from 2006 to 2011.  Steve then swam back to the Jim Falls Sturgeons in 2013, concluding his outstanding career after the 2018 season.  

Of course, Nelson’s talents resulted in a great deal of team success.  In total, he was a major contributor to five CRBL champions, five division winners, 13 WBA qualifiers, as well as three WBA Finals qualifiers.  In another testament to his longevity, Steve was named game MVP in two CRBL title contests, 19 years apart – 1988 with the Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks and again in 2007 with the Tilden Tigers. 

A 12-time CRBL All-Star, Nelson was also named Honorable Mention All-CRBL three times (2007 – P, 2011 – P, 2018 – C), as well as All-CRBL six times (1984 – C, 1986 – C, 1988 – P, 1989 – UT, 1991 – P, 1995 – P).  Upon induction, his diverse talents are evident in his all-time rankings.  As a hitter, he is ranked 8th in games played, (tied) 12th in doubles, 15th in runs scored, 16th in total bases, 17th in total bases, 18th in RBIs, 18th in home runs, 22nd in hits, 22nd in singles, 22nd in triples, 24th in OPS, 24th in at-bats, 24th in games played, 25th in walks, 27th in slugging pct., 37th in OBP., and 38th in batting avg.

As a pitcher, his all-time marks can be found in decisions (tied for 16th), wins (19th), innings pitched (tied for 22nd), strikeouts (30th), and winning percentage (41st).                     

Randy Gustafson

Utility, Pitcher – Lafayette Lakers 1997-98; Stanley Loggers 1999-2002; Stanley Slammers 2012-17

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A left-handed batter who possessed superior bat control and a disciplined eye at the plate. Randy Gustafson was an extremely respected player throughout his 12 seasons of competition in the Chippewa River Baseball League.

Beginning with the Lafayette Lakers in 1997, Gustafson hit .327 (18 for 55) in his CRBL rookie year.  That mark was the first of 11 seasons in which Randy would hit .300 or better.  In two of those seasons, he hit over .400, doing so for the Stanley Loggers in 2001 (.458 – 22 for 48) and 2002 (.400 – 16 for 40).  

Commendably, Randy also served as a player/manager for five seasons, doing so for the Lakers from 1997 to 1998 and the Slammers from 1999 to 2002, during which he led the 1999 Slammers to their lone WBA appearance with a 13 and 5 record.     

After a 10-year absence from CRBL competition, Gustafson returned with the fledgling Stanley Slammers in 2012.  With his bat-to-ball skills as sharp as ever, Randy hit .330 or better in each of his six seasons on the club, including a personal best of .556 (20 for 36) in 2016.

Combined with his batsmen skills, Gustafson’s eagle-eye at the plate enabled him to have a career on base percentage of .502.  In seven different seasons, Randy had 10 or more walks, with a high on 19 in 2012.

A reliable left-handed pitcher, Randy logged 446 innings while winning 22 games over his CRBL career.  In three seasons, Gustafson pitched over 50 innings, with a high of 56 for the Slammers in 2013.  

A participant in one CRBL All-Star game (1998), the high regard shown towards Gustafson was evident in his array of accolades — three Honorable Mention CRBL awards as a pitcher/1st baseman (2002, 2012, 2016) and four All-CRBL selections: 1997 at utility, 1999 at utility, 2014 at utility, and 2016 at designated hitter.

Upon induction, the Great Slammer is ranked 5th all-time in on base percentage, 9th in batting average, 11th in OPS., 34th in slugging pct., (tied) 38th in pitching decisions, 41st in innings pitched, and (tied) 41st in walks as a hitter.

Mark Gannon

Pitcher- Lafayette Lakers 1990-95; Hallie Eagles 1996-2002

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A left-handed thrower, Mark Gannon was one of the most durable and consistent pitchers of his era, providing his teams with a resilient arm and an ever-present competitiveness each time he took the mound.

Renowned for working the corners of the plate and making hitters get themselves out, Gannon began his CRBL career with the Lafayette Lakers in 1990.  After throwing a combined 121.1 innings in his first three seasons, Mark led the league with 93 innings in 1993.  He eclipsed that total with an incredible 100.1 innings pitched in 1994, leading the CRBL once again in that category for the Lakers while also tying for the circuit lead in wins with 9.  By eclipsing the 100-inning barrier in 1994, Lefty became the first CRBL pitcher since 1979 to accomplish the feat.  More impressively, as of 2023, no CRBL pitcher since Gannon in 1994 has been able to crack the elusive century number for innings pitched in one season – a span of 29 seasons and counting. Over his career, Gannon pitched 13 seasons in the CRBL, exceeding the 50-inning barrier nine times.

In 1996, Mark became a Hallie Eagle, and again led the CRBL in innings pitched with 52.2, while also going 5 and 2 with a 3.25 ERA and twirling one of the four shutouts in league play that year.  His big debut season for Hallie helped the Eagles win the South Division, on their way to defeating the Tilden Tigers 11-7 in the CRBL title bout.    

A participant in nine CRBL All-Star games, (1991 to 1997, 2000 to 2001), Gannon was named Honorable Mention All-CRBL as a pitcher in 1992.  Accordingly, for his Iron Man efforts in 1993 and 1994, he was also named All-CRBL as a pitcher in each of those campaigns.  

Upon induction, the Lefty’s all-time pitching rankings can be found in decisions (11th), innings pitched (11th), innings per season (13th), wins (tied for 27th), and strikeouts (34th).