2011 Female Player: Glenda S. Junge
/Glenda S. Junge
This self-taught softball veteran began playing softball 50 years ago while in grade school when she played against all the boys in the neighborhood. This experience provided her outstanding fundamentals and, most of all, confidence.
It is evident that Glenda has taught herself well, as she has a lofty lifetime .650 batting average and recorded over 1,500 round trippers in her career. She has acquired numerous state tournament accolades as well as NIT and World Tournament team selections.
Her resume of teams that she has played for reads like a book of Who's Who of Southern Illinois softball. She began her competitive career with Fults in 1966. After 9 years of success with Fults, she moved on to participate with the Class B State Champion and USSSA World Champion Hecker Miller Lite for 10 seasons. That led her to compete with Dashners from 1986 through 1991, where she captured another State Yitle and 9th and 10th World Tournament placements. Following that, she competed with the Co-Ed teams of The Marauders and Miller Lite Misfits before playing with Wells Fargo. She presently participates with two outstanding squads, the Arch Rivals and the 60+ senior team of Sho-Me.
With Sho-Me, Glenda had her most memorable softball experience as she met 4 ladies from "A League of Their Own" in Phoenix, AZ, while participating in the Senior World Tournament.
Glenda has participated with many great players over the years and mentions Deb Germann, Cinda Liefer, Linda Byron, Sandy Mason, Jeri Mueller and Judy Kaiser as only a few. Surrounding herself with such talent has allowed her to understand the word team, stating, "We win as a team, we lose as a team. It is always a team effort!"
That has always been her approach to the game, and she wants to be remembered as being a great teammate that gave 100%, got along with everyone and always tried to help others.
The Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame was created for those like Glenda who, after 50 years of softball participation, still has the burning desire to play the game without regret.