Geralyn Riley

Female Player - Presented by Ginny Walsh

Gerri has been playing softball for 23 years. She has been involved in USSSA for the last 20 years. Gerri has played for various teams including Kohler’s Fair Warning, Taylor Rental, Corey Homes, American Athletic Club, Tri-State Express, Imperial Chevrolet, GNC Printing/Sprint Photo, Royal Construction, Club 110, Canoe Club, Medway VFW, Hot Plates, Carrofab, Tom’s Tavern and Coast to Coast. 

One of Gerri’s fondest memories comes from 1997 when she was playing co-ed softball with Club 110 and joined USSSA “A” level ranks as a member of Kohler’s Fair Warning. In addition to Kohler’s Fair Warning placing 2nd in the Class “A” Women’s Nationals, they were named the USSSA Team of the Year in Rhode Island. As a player for Club 110, she played in the Mixed World Series, where they placed 5th but dominated at the State and Regional levels. Gerri won a Co-ed World Championship as a member of Club 110 through the NSA organization. Gerri’s teammate Carolyn Thornton Iannuccilli recalls “the year when we made it to the USSSA World Series in Cocoa Beach, FL. I believe it was our first game of the tournament when Gerri, who was catching, took a foul ball in the mouth. She went to the hospital where they stitched up her split lip. Sure enough, Gerri was back behind the plate for the next game and helped us go on to finish 5th.” 

Softball memories are abundant when it comes to Gerri “Sistah” Riley. Kristen Helm, a teammate of Gerri’s, recalls: “It was 10 years ago and our team went to Nationals in North Carolina. After a long day of tournament play, our team finally was eliminated. Before the final game, there was no one to sing the National Anthem. Without hesitation, Geralyn rose from the bleachers, bat in hand as her torch, an off the shoulder mock toga, and a green Styrofoam “Lady Liberty” crown. That day- she kept the lady lit. I remember that moment even today not because it had anything to do with athletic ability, but because it was Geralyn doing what she did best- enjoying the simple moments in life.”​

Many things contribute to what Gerri considers her greatest softball thrill while competing in the USSSA program. It was the deciding game of the 1999 QWSL championship series against Trainor’s. The starting shortstop for GNC couldn’t make it because it was the night of her wedding rehearsal dinner. “We fell behind 6-2 in the 4th inning. I remember walking around the infield telling my teammates that it was still early. A half an inning later, our shortstop shows up and proceeds to tell us that she told her fiancé (now her husband) to inform her guests “she was in the bathroom.” We managed to tie the game in the bottom of the 6th inning.” Ironically, the tying run was scored by the shortstop. The game went into extra innings….“We held them scoreless in the top of the 8th and I was leading off the bottom of the 8th. They had “pitched away” from me the entire game, then a pitch came in close enough for me to get my bat on and I hit an absolute “bomb” over the centerfield fence to win the game, series, and championship! It was truly my biggest thrill as a player to be a member of that team whose spirit never died. It was a total team effort where everyone contributed to this memorable victory.” 

Gerri’s Statistics

MVP Awards

1991 Webster Classic

1998 Ginny's Round Robin

1998 GNC Printing - QWSL

2000 Patty Molloy Memorial Tournament 

2000 Ginny's Round Robin

2001 GNC Printing - QWSL

2002 Patty Molloy Memorial Tournament

All Tournament Team

1995 Northeast Divisional Class "B" 

1998 DeBeers Women's NIT Class "A"

1999 Taylor Rental Summer Kick-off

2000 Taylor Rental Summer Kick-off

2000 Taylors Maryland Women's NIT Class "A"