Ranz Bodison

Bodacious Ball completed High School in Central Washington and then attended Central Washington University. After only one Quarter he decided he wanted to Serve his country and joined the US Army. During his four years of service he received the Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal W/ Campaign Star, NATO Medal, Valorous Unit Award and many others including unfortunately, The Purple Heart. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and was a Husky Operator for a route clearance unit. His unit, “41st Engineer Battalion discovered more IED’s than any other unit deployed to the area. The IED he took on May 21, 2010 got his Husky and caused him to sustain injuries (to include a traumatic brain injury) which unfortunately, earned him a Purple Heart.

He was due to discharge in June 2011 and had no idea what his future plans were going to be once he left the Army. His friend had tragically lost his fiance (Sammi) in January and he went to Colorado to assist him and her mother with her funeral and made several trips to Colorado in the next few months. He had long discussions with Sammi’s Mom about the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the area, being an option for his employment, among many other ideas. When visiting Colorado in April, he met Sammi’s moms cousin, who was the local high school baseball coach. One thing led to another and by his discharge date, he was moving to Colorado, became the assistant baseball coach at the high school and also for a competitive girls fast pitch team that Sammi had played for. He enrolled in college at Colorado State University-Pueblo and tried out for a pitching position.

He graduated from college in May of 2015 with a Bachelors of Science degree, majoring in Criminology and also a minor in Coaching. He played baseball all four years with his team made regional’s 3 of the 4 years that he played and ended his pitching career there as the teams relief pitcher. A couple of months later he was selected to play with the US Military All Stars where he pitched for the team wearing the name Sammi and her old softball #1 on his Uniform. In reference to the fact that his Army buddies tragedy, ironically led to his future. He is returning in 2016 as a pitcher and Head Coach and is looking forward to a great season as he travels 11 States in the Annual, Red, White & Blue Tour.