2014 Male Player: Jerry Pietryk

Jerry Pietryk

If you see a truck full of sod circling the hotel parking lot following tonight's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, think nothing of it because it's just Pietryk's teammates sodding one of the guest rooms.

This would be a reenactment of one of the funniest experiences Jerry recalls in his 20 years of playing softball with teams like the Hurricanes, Home Run Inn, Extreme Easton, Ken Adams, Ken Beverage and Creative Design. Of those teams, Jerry sites the Ken Adams team as being the most fun and competitive.

From 2001 through 2006 the Ken Adams team captured 6 state titles, 5 NITs, 2 National Championships and 2 second place finishes at world tournaments.

While playing most infield, Jerry posted an estimated .650 plus batting average and hit over 600 dingers. That kind of production landed him on many state, national and world all-tournament teams.

After a high school baseball career at De LaSalle High School, Jerry played college ball at North Central College. His softball career began in 1990 when he was asked to participate in a Sunday League at Country Club Hills, which led to him being recruited by Larry Scott and John Kramer of the Hurricanes.

Even though he has many success stories, Jerry wants to be remembered as being a player that never quit and was always a good person to his teammates and to his opponents.

As he reflects on his great career, his only regret is not winning a Class B World Title, as two seconds leaves a bad taste in your mouth. He also recognizes that the USSSA has allowed him to play competitively in a well-organized environment, as he was always supported by his wife Lee Ann and his two children Blake and Hailee.