09/14/2026
Meet the Board: Rick Graff
With more than six decades of involvement in softball, Rick Graff brings unmatched experience, perspective, and passion to the Sioux Empire Fastpitch Softball Association Board. Player, coach, umpire, mentor, organizer—Rick has lived the sport from every angle and remains a steady, influential presence in the Sioux Falls softball community.
🥎 Softball Journey: Rick has served on the SEFSA Board for 10 years and has been involved in softball since 1965. He began playing at age 4 and competed as a player for 27 years, primarily in fastpitch with two seasons of slow pitch.
His playing career is only the beginning of his USA/ASA softball involvement. Rick coached boys fastpitch for 4 years, spent 1 year as an assistant coach for a women’s slow pitch team, and then led that team as head coach for 15 years.
Rick also began umpiring at age 13 at Cherry Rock Park in the Hilltop League, now part of SEFSA. He continued umpiring league games while playing and coaching, and worked his first National Tournament in 1991. Over the years, he has umpired countless league and tournament games across multiple divisions.
🏆 Leadership & Organizational Involvement: Rick’s service extends far beyond SEFSA. He has contributed to nearly every corner of the sport, including youth fastpitch and slowpitch, women’s slow pitch, men’s slowpitch and fastpitch.
In addition to serving on the SEFSA Board, Rick is a member of the Sioux Falls People for Youth Board, an advisor for the Youth State Fastpitch Board, and a USA Softball South Dakota Deputy UIC for youth fastpitch in and around Sioux Falls.
Rick also helps with SEFSA tournaments, serves as the Ringneck Tournament Director, and this year was the USA Softball Northern Region 10U–18U National Tournament Director.
🔗 Connection to SEFSA
Rick was invited by a past SEFSA president to help develop and schedule umpires during a time when the league struggled to find enough officials. His leadership and reliability helped stabilize and strengthen SEFSA’s as well as USA SB SD umpire program.
💼 Professional Background
Rick owned and operated his own business as a Little Debbie Distributor for 25 years before retiring. Retirement didn’t last long — he now works part‑time as a valet at Avera Hospital, staying active and connected with the community.
👨👩👧👦 Family
Rick has two children, seven grandchildren, and two dogs, Sawyer and Ranger. His son played both fastpitch and slow pitch as a youth. His daughter loves the game and has supported her children as they’ve played slow pitch. His grandsons are now getting started in baseball and enjoying their early steps into the sport.
🍂 Fun Fact
When Rick isn’t on a softball diamond, you can find him in a field in the fall — hunting is his favorite way to unwind.
Rick enjoys talking softball, so say hi and be prepared to spend a few minutes discussing the game or your favorite hunt. Thank you, Rick, to SEFSA and to the USA Softball program.
