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Mike Preece has had a 50-year love affair with softball.

The Bernard Park fixture has been a staple at many international softball tournaments and will finally get his due on June 14.

That is when officials from the International Softball Federation will be in Bermuda to induct Preece into its Hall of Fame, for his services to international and local softball as an umpire.

Ingrid Romaine, secretary for the Bermuda Amateur Softball Association, said: "Mr. Preece has been associated with the game since 1958, and it is the quality and consistency of his officiating that has attracted this supreme accolade from his peers and superiors in the sport.

"Mike...has also been a 'can do' and reliable employee of the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation since the "fifties", and is therefore, one of its longest serving employees.

She added: "His time has seen his involvement in most of the department's many activities over the years, and on many occasions, both officially and unofficially, he has received praise for his attitude and approach to getting the job done."

In 2001 Preece was recognised with a Special Achievement Award at the Government Sports Awards' programme for his services to softball. He has also made invaluable contributions to the organisation of such events as the Bermuda Day activities, including the sports events and the parade; the Department of Tourism's College Weeks, the Island Jam, and practically any and every public event organised by the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation since his first involvement with the department.

Romaine added: "This unprecedented honour is not only for Michael, but also for Bermuda and its love affair with sport, is a monumental one. He will be joining a select few Bermudians in living memory, who have been so recognised by an International Sport Federation for services to their sport."

The Induction Ceremony will be held in conjunction with a black tie dinner to be held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Saturday of next week.

Tickets, $125 each, may be obtained from the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation offices at Church Street, Hamilton and the softball diamond canteen at Bernard Park; or by telephoning 294-7945 or 296-5888 x2107.[[In-content Ad]]

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