Bermuda Amateur Softball Association (BASA) president Michael Preece has been elected into the International Softball Federation (ISF) Hall of Fame after nearly 50 years of umpiring service.

Preece is now among the 133 members in the ISF Hall of Fame and was congratulated yesterday by Minister of Sport Randy Horton at the Cabinet Office.

He began umpiring in 1958, gaining his certification as an ISF umpire in 1973, and has recorded 34 years as an international umpire. He has also represented Bermuda at the ISF Congress as a delegate.

Preece was nominated for the Hall of Fame at the XXIII Congress in Manila, Philippines, last week.

His official induction ceremony is to be coordinated by the ISF and the BASA at a later date.

Minister Horton said: "While Mr. Preece has enjoyed enormous success overseas, he has been instrumental in encouraging the love of softball here in Bermuda.

"He has served as umpire-in-charge in Bermuda from 1972 to 2005 and as director of umpires from 1992 to 2005. He now serves as president of the BASA."

Preece is a long-serving employee of the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation.