Executive-Advisory Board

Our Executive Board

Every member of our Executive Board is a leader who has made significant contributions to our society. Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.
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STEVE M. BEDEN

Steve is the Managing Owner of the King & His Court and the driving force behind the historical preservation campaign. Steve directed the court during its final years of barnstorming. Steve is the Executive Director of the National Booster Club Training Council (NBCTC), the Governing Body for Booster Clubs throughout the United States and President of the Washington State Booster Club Association (WSBCA). He has served on numerous non-profit boards over the past 25 years.

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CHARLIE DOBBINS

Charlie's career spanned over 40 years as a men's major fastpitch player. Charlie is the Head Softball Coach at William Peace University in Raleigh NC for the past 21 years. He has served on the NCAA National Softball Committee, a member of the NFCA and was the head coach of USA Collegiate team that competed a in Spain and France during the summer of 2006. He helped retire the 'Court" after Eddie's death in 2007 through the final tour in 2011.

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BOBBY JONES

Bobby has a breadth of experience in multiple industries; including the creation of a leading photography business serving college campuses, a leading loyalty dining program in Arizona, AFLAC - as the #10 agent in sales of over 50,000 Agents nationwide. Bobby is currently the Regional Development Partner in the Pacific Northwest for Corporate Management Group. He has been recognized for his ability to network and build relationships, and is eager to share that he has never met a stranger.

Our King & His Court Player Board

Eddie Aucoin

Dave Barnett

Dave Booth

Mike Branchaud

Rich Hoppe

Tim Macklin

Our Advisory Board

Every member of our advisory board brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.
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MARK ANDERTON

Mark Anderton. New Zealand native. NZ national batting champ. Represented NZ, played fastpitch throughout the US and NZ. Currently and have since leaving the Court, coaching and training college bound female athletes in the Pacific Northwest. Also working with the Chinese Taipei National Women's Softball Team.

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MICHAEL BASTIAN

Coach Bastian’s professional coaching experience spans 25 years internationally as well as in the United States, encompassing all levels of softball. His experience includes having served as the Head Coach of the Chinese National Softball Team from 2005-2008, USA National Team Read More...

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DARRICK BROWN

Darrick Brown has served as Olivet College’s head softball coach for three years. His entire coaching career spans more than 26 years to include time leading softball, baseball and hockey teams. Coach Brown’s softball achievements include one professional world championship with the Chicago Read More...

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SCOTT GORMAN

Scott Gorman has been providing hope and redemption for those suffering from Substance and Alcohol Use Disorders for over two decades. Scott was a pioneer in the Recovery Coach movement serving the television, film, and music industries. Scott is a leading interventionist and mentors Recovery Coaches around the country. Scott is also Chief Advocate and Relationship Manager for WEconnect Health, a technology platform which provides a digital solution for addiction recovery aftercare in the palm of your hand. Scott was formerly the Independent Interventionist and Addictions Read More...

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BOB HALE

Bob has been involved with softball since he was 12 years old, as a pitcher, umpire, organizer and board member of Softball Nova Scotia. Winning several provincial championships at various level, he hopes to have softball added as a sport at his alma mater St Francis Xavier University where he has been employed for 30 years and is currently the Director, Ancillary Services. The first fantasy player with the Court in 1998, Eddie said “he “earned” my spot and played part time and promoted games in Canada and the US each summer until 2006. By far, the highlight of a long softball career.

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BENJIE HEDGECOCK

Bengie is the Executive Director fo (NAFA), the North American Fastpitch Association, which hosts the largest annual men's fastpitch softball tournament in the world. It was founded in 1993 by and for fastpitch people, its teams and players, and serves the fastpitch community of North America, and beyond. Last year's World Series in Salem, Oregon was the organization's tenth Fastpitch World Series, and hosted teams from the United States, Canada, Hawaii, and even Japan.

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SHAWN KREST

Shawn Krest is a sportswriter for ACCSports.com and the ACC Sports Journal. His work has appeared on CBSSports.com, ESPN.com, The Sporting News, MLB.com and the official game programs for the MLB All Start Game and League Championship Series. He has been honored by the USBWA, PFWA and BWAA in their annual writing contests. Every Friday, Shawn appears on the David Glenn Show, and he makes regular appearances Read More...

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JUSTIN MCLEOD

As the heart, soul and engine behind the Justin’s World of Softball website, Justin McLeod has turned a personal passion into a thriving media enterprise. His site is one of the true go-to destinations for news about Division I softball – during the season his day is spent churning through the facts, figures and first-hand knowledge he pulls in from multiple sources. The site averages 55,000 unique views monthly, a number that spikes up Read More...

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MICHAEL PETERSON

With over 2500 performances in 19 countries, spanning a 30-year career Michael has had the good fortune to be: A songwriter for the stars with the unusual good fortune to have had his compositions recorded by Hall of Famers and Grammy winners in Country, Rock, Pop, Gospel and Latin. Equally as important is the fact that he is a million selling, Grammy nominated, country music star whose songs have hit #1 on the charts five times.

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BOBBY SMITH

Bobby Smith is a great pitching coach whose primary emphasis is deceptive pitch movement. He has the unique ability to quickly recognize the source of a pitching execution error and provide specific instruction that an athlete can apply immediately to obtain positive results. Bobby knows both how to pitch and how to teach others to do so as well. Bobby manages the Texas Stars, a championship men's Read More...

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ALLEN TAYLOR

For over 30 years, Allen Taylor has been a well-respected member of the Hollywood community. He has been involved in recent film projects like Sony/Columbia Pictures "Bad Boys for Life" and "Venom," Marvel’s epic “Spider-Man: Homecoming” to other well-remembered films including "Pretty Woman," “Dead Poets Society,” "Contact," “Radio,” “McFarland” and “Pete’s Dragon.”

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DAVID VAN SLEET

David is the founder of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) and served as the teams Head Coach, General Manager and CEO in the years 2011 to 2015. Mr. Van Sleet is now the creator and General Manager of the nationally known highly competitive amputee baseball tournament team the Louisville Slugger Warriors. A team made up of active-duty soldiers, Veterans and Wounded Read More...

MARK ANDERTON

Mark Anderton. New Zealand native. NZ national batting champ. Represented NZ, played fastpitch throughout the US and NZ. Currently and have since leaving the Court, coaching and training college bound female athletes in the Pacific Northwest. Also working with the Chinese Taipei National Women's Softball Team.

MICHAEL BASTIAN

Coach Bastian’s professional coaching experience spans 25 years internationally as well as in the United States, encompassing all levels of softball. His experience includes having served as the Head Coach of the Chinese National Softball Team from 2005-2008, USA National Team coaching staff member from 2000-2005, assistant coach for the 2003 USA Softball Junior World Championship Team, as well as having coached in the WPSL and colleges throughout the United States. He has also served as a private instructor to members of the USA Olympic Team. Read More...

DARRICK BROWN

Darrick Brown has served as Olivet College’s head softball coach for three years. His entire coaching career spans more than 26 years to include time leading softball, baseball and hockey teams. Coach Brown’s softball achievements include one professional world championship with the Chicago Bandits and six college conference championships, and these accolades have landed him as a nationally known hitting and pitching instructor. He has traveled to Hawaii, North Carolina, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, and extensively throughout the Midwest and Michigan to teach clinics.

STEVE M. BEDEN

Steve is the Managing Owner of the King & His Court and the driving force behind the historical preservation campaign. Steve directed the court during its final years of barnstorming. Steve is the Executive Director of the National Booster Club Training Council (NBCTC), the Governing Body for Booster Clubs throughout the United States and President of the Washington State Booster Club Association (WSBCA). He has served on numerous non-profit boards over the past 25 years.

CHARLIE DOBBINS

Charlie's career spanned over 40 years as a men's major fastpitch player. Charlie is the Head Softball Coach at William Peace University in Raleigh NC for the past 21 years. He has served on the NCAA National Softball Committee, a member of the NFCA and was the head coach of USA Collegiate team that competed a in Spain and France during the summer of 2006. He helped retire the 'Court" after Eddie's death in 2007 through the final tour in 2011.

BOBBY JONES

Bobby has a breadth of experience in multiple industries; including the creation of a leading photography business serving college campuses, a leading loyalty dining program in Arizona, AFLAC - as the #10 agent in sales of over 50,000 Agents nationwide. Bobby is currently the Regional Development Partner in the Pacific Northwest for Corporate Management Group. He has been recognized for his ability to network and build relationships, and is eager to share that he has never met a stranger.