USA Softball Region 9

Mark did it all for over 50 years with ASA/USA Softball as a ball player, umpire and tournament director. His nearly 45 year playing career began in 1973. He then started officiating in the late 80’s before stepping away from umpiring in 2010. He was known to umpire around 100 games a year to help the association cover games. Throughout his career, Mark participated in 7 National tournaments.

Once he started running tournaments, Mark found where he belonged and loved being a tournament director. With his unorthodox style, he came up with ways to make the tournaments competitive, exciting and made sure that all the teams had fun. There are not many softball players who don’t know who Mark White is. He ran over 250 ASA/USA Softball tournaments in Mount Vernon. He directed 4 ASA/USA Softball D/E Western National tournaments., stepping up to the task wheb few others were interested. He also helped Seattle-Metro with King County by being the tournament director for the Evergreen Tournament Series in Kent, WA from 2010-2014.

What makes Mark stand out from other tournament directors is that he ran fundraisers for just about anybody in need. His main fundraiser tournaments would be the “For Garrett” wood bat tournament (for his nephew), the Royal Family Kids wood bat tournament and the “B” Strong Fundraiser. From 2004-2024, Mark has raised just under $200,000.00 for these charities.
His favorite charity tournament was Toys for Tots. He ran it for six years and part of the entry fee was having the players and umpires donate a toy. With this event, he roughly donated 1000
toys for this program.

His tournaments were so special and fun that umpires would pay their way from all over Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, California and Arizona to come and be a part of something special. There are not many people in our region that have remained as loyal to ASA/USA Softball as Mark White has. Other organizations have come and tried to recruit him away, but he tells them, “I got a great deal right here with Washington ASA/USA Softball.”

In Mark’s words: “I’d like to think I’ve kept weekend ASA/USA softball alive here in Mount Vernon, WA. I love being at the fields and interacting with the players and fans. I’ve always said, ‘Once you play in a Mark White tourney, you’re now a member of the Mark White Softball Family’. I still believe that. I’ve enjoyed promoting the game of softball. I think softball and fun should go hand in hand.”

Mark’s favorite quote at the end of the tournament, “We got away with another one!”