Author: Ryan Hill
Left to right: Coach Marty Nicholson, David Whitt, LT McCrimmon, Mike Miller, Thurmond Newton, Anthony Holmes, Jessica Urso, Greg Watkins, Lucky Williams, Daniel Dayberry, Dallas Springer, Andrea Phillips
Aug. 15, 2018 – The DHHS softball team has had a great season rolling into the playoffs. With a 14-2 record in the State Government Softball League, the team sits in first place as the playoffs began this week.
The team plays its games on a field bordered by Lake Wheeler Road at Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Campus. Rivals include teams from the Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Quality, Justice, Transportation, Revenue, Labor and Insurance, Office of the State Auditor and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
The league formed in 1989, with DHHS – then called the Department of Human Resources - being one of the charter teams. The roster is comprised of current and former state employees, and family members.
“The players are a joy to manage,” said Marty Nicholson, a chemistry technician with the Division of Public Health. “We treat each other like family and we support one another through difficult times.”
The DHHS softball team offers more than the opportunity to compete.
“This team has allowed players to build friendships outside of work,” said Nicholson, who’s managed the team since 2010.
The team’s toughest opponent in the regular season was the Department of Justice. After losing the first meeting 17-11, DHHS was leading 10-9 in the second match up and facing runners on first and second in the last inning. The team was able to force a fly ball, ending the game.
The DHHS softball team won its first tournament game on Aug. 13 against the Department of Revenue, 14-8. They will next face the winner of the Department of Agriculture/Department of Transportation game in the semifinals on Aug. 20.
The DHHS softball team is coached by Tony Ivosic and managed by Marty Nicholson. The roster includes Dr. Scott Zimmerman, Anthony Holmes, Dallas Springer, Tim Harris, Karen Mersinger, Mike Miller, David Whitt, Bennie Urso, Dr. Rebecca and Tim Pelc, Charmeir Umphrey, Shahnee Haire, Tim Bollinger, Andrea Phillips, LT McCrimmon, Wendy Holmes, Greg Watkins, Lucky Williams, Tabitha Tucker, Thurmond Newton, Jessica Urso and David Dayberry.