2022 Male Player: Jamie Mackert

Jamie Mackert, Minooka, IL

Jamie Mackert played USSSA softball for 11 years, beginning with the Grim Reapers in 1997. He played shortstop and batted in the middle of the lineup for KA Softball from 2001 through 2007. He compiled a batting average of over .650 and hit over 500 home runs. At shortstop, he anchored the defense with his sure-handed fielding. He won MVP awards at the National, State and National Invitational level, as well as numerous All-Tournament Team selections including Class B All-World Tournament Team in 2004 and 2006.

Jamie recalls playing with many great players over the years and learning the game from fellow IL USSSA Hall of Famers, like Larry Shepard, Bill Sahagian, Jim Cushing, Jerry Pietryk, and Al Van Gampler. He recalls being part of “The Four Horsemen”with KA Softball along with Lincoln Adams, Don Schlenbecker and Bruce Rhines plus other close teammates Dave Shaff and Don Vleck. Jamie’s biggest memories were finishing second in the USSSA B World twice (2004 & 2006) and winning both the Illinois B State and Michigan B State Tournaments in the same year. “We were invited to play in the Michigan B State in order to add to the competition and we ended up winning it!”

For Jamie, the most satisfying part of the USSSA competition was the national respect gained in the KA Softball years. Plus, “We always felt that somehow we would manage to win!”