2015 Male Player: Denis L. Fisher

Denis L. Fisher

After 23 years of participation in the USSSA program, “The Fish” remains competitive in the sport that has provided him numerous All-State and All-National honors. 

While playing for the Class B National Championship, Kluever’s Snap-On team in 1999, Denis received All-Tournament honors at the Great Lakes National in Milford, Ohio, Most Valuable Player honors at Kalamazoo, Michigan and All-Tournament honors at the Joliet, Illinois Class B National Invitational and Class B State Tournament. This was only the beginning of the notoriety “The Fish” would receive as he played shortstop, third base and first base for not only Kluever’s but the 2004 Montarra team. In 2005, he participated with Men’s Major team, Team Combat, followed by the Class A Team Illinois squad in 2006. In 2007 through the present, Denis has participated on such outstanding Class B and C teams as TCP Fieldhouse, TCP Easton, HRD, Full Tilt, KBI and Precision.

Denis remarked, “The KBI team and Coach Dave Catalani was very special. He is perhaps one of the most entertaining coaches I have played for as he is always making jokes and wants everyone to have a good time.” That KBI Class C team captured the Great Lakes National Tournament in Minnesota in 2013.

Presently, Denis is participating with the nation’s end of the season’s #1 ranked Class A team Precision and was also ranked #1 in 2014 as a Class B team with Coach Bill Wax. “What a great team this is,” he said as they became the first Class B team in 2014 to beat Laser Vision, the #1 nationally ranked Major team 35 to 34 in the Windy City Major Conference tournament and later run ruling Backman/Shoppe, another Major team in 6 innings. They ended up in 3rd place after losing to Resmondo and then losing to Backman/Shoppe, 36-33 after they came back thru the loser’s bracket to knock Precision out of the tournament.

Denis also feels that there is no finer sanction of softball than USSSA, as you have to be able to be solid offensively and defensively to be a top team. He also noted that many of his best friends have come from playing USSSA softball and he expects that to continue.

His career batting average of over .700 and over 800 home-runs against some of the best teams in the country clearly explains why he is now a member of the Illinois Softball Hall Of Fame.

2015 Male Player: Brian Benning

Brian Benning

Brian began his softball career playing local church league softball as a teenager. He then started playing with Pabst based out of Freeport, IL. They travelled locally in Illinois and Wisconsin and were usually regarded as the team to beat in most tournaments. Pabst played one year in the Thursday night league at Forest Hills Diamonds in Rockford and the end of the season Brian was picked up by Rockford’s RMA to attend the Class A National Tournament.

BB played competitively for Pabst and RMA teams for over 10 seasons, the last five playing at the Class A/B level. In 1985, Kelley’s RMA won the Great Lakes Class “B” National Championship. Brian led the tournament in home runs and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Brian was among the home run leaders in many of the tournaments in which he played and was selected to many National Invitational Tournament All-Star teams. By the end of 1986, Brian Benning was named a Major Player by the USSSA - one of 150 players in the country to receive that designation. Only two players in the State of Illinois had made that list at that time. Brian’s best attribute was the ability to hit with power to all fields and was considered to be a threat from foul line to foul line.

In 1986 Steele’s Silver Bullets, a Major team from Cleveland, Ohio played an exhibition game at Marinelli Field in Rockford against an Illinois All-Star team. After the game, Owner/Coach Dave Neale asked Brian if he was interested in playing Major softball with Steeles. Brian graciously declined this great opportunity to do what he loved best, coach youth.

Brian’s competitive softball career ended in 1986 when he began teaching and coaching at Orangeville High School. He was head football and basketball coach until 1993. He inherited a football program that hadn’t had a winning season for 25 years and led them to a Final 4 appearance in the 1988 IHSA Football Playoffs and a State Championship in 1989. In 1991, as head basketball coach, the team reached the State Finals in Champaign where he became the only coach in IHSA history to coach a State Football Champion and coach a Basketball team to the State Finals.

BB left Orangeville in 1993 to become the head football coach at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, IL. He inherited a program that had the state’s longest losing streak, not having won a game in the previous five seasons. He coached there for 10 seasons, the last six making the IHSA playoffs including the 1997 NIC 9 conference champions, the only time in school history. Brian left Harlem to take the head basketball job at his alma mater, Dakota High School in Dakota, IL. In 10 seasons, he accumulated a 202 – 75 record, including 4 regional titles and 4 sectional appearances. He was also a football assistant on their 2005 and 2007 State Title teams. His career record in basketball was 315 – 121 in his 16 years at Orangeville and Dakota, where he never had a losing season in his basketball coaching career.

Brian’s teaching and coaching career was cut short on Feb 1, 2011 while traveling to school with his youngest son, Brett. Their van was hit head on by a semi-tractor trailer a mile from school in a bad snow storm. Brett sustained injuries that resulted in a hospital stay of three days, but Brian’s injuries were much more severe. He was in a coma 3 weeks and the hospital for 5 months. He had 14 major surgeries and almost 300 trips to physical therapy after his release from Van Matre Rehab Hospital. Miraculously, Brian has resumed playing one of his favorite pastimes, golf.

Brian is married to Kathy and will celebrate 25 years of marriage next year. Brian’s oldest son Kyle (22) is married to Sara. They have 2 children Aubrey (3) and Carter (6 weeks). Brian’s other son Brett (19) is playing college basketball at the University of Southern Indiana on a full scholarship. Brian also has one brother Don (wife Sue) and sister Bonnie (husband Merle).

Welcome BB to the IL USSSA Hall of Fame you are truly a winner in life and on the field!

2015 Male Player: Joe Ambrose

Joe Ambrose

When it comes to state championships, Joe Ambrose may be the poster child for the Illinois USSSA, as he may be one of very few that has been a member of a state championship at every level A thru E. Along with his team successes, “Jammer” captured numerous individual All-State, All-NIT and All-National awards in several different classes.

He found early success with The Steamers and Home Run Inn teams during the late 80s and early 90s. In 1993, he began play with the Men’s A/AA team Joe Blacks where he played hundreds of games at the AA/Major level. As an example of his contribution to the Joe Black’s team success, he averaged a home-run in less than every four at bats, while compiling well over 800 dingers in his career.  

When asked about one of his most thrilling moments playing softball he stated, “Playing on ESPN in the Major World Series in 1997 and I hit a home-run over dead centerfield fence at the Cubs minor league stadium. Even though our team got killed, it was quite a moment.” Former coach and IL Hall of Famer, Tom Starck, added this regarding his former teammate, “Joe Ambrose was a great player for us and one of the best ever to wear the Joe Black’s uniform. I’m so glad to see him take his place with so many other fine players in the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.”

In his 22 years of USSSA play, Joe provided a .675 batting average, while playing with other numerous Hall Of Fame players, such as Tom Starck, Burgess Watts, Brian Schultz, Roy Ambrose, Mike Oates, Dave Villarreal, Kurt Kozlowski, Ken Adams and many, many, more.

As an example of his long ball prowess, Jammer finished in 3rd Place out of 150 home run derby participants at the A/AA World Series and finished in 2nd Place at the Men’s Major contest.

Joe commented about the Illinois USSSA program, “I really like what the Illinois USSSA has done with the 50 plus program, which has allowed many of the guys that I played with to remain active in the game. I am looking forward to coming out of retirement and joining them at some point.”

We are looking forward to seeing Joe return to the field as a Hall Of Famer in the near future.

2016 Male Player: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer

Mike began his softball playing career with Lannings of Beloit in 1983. He played for Ken Lanning for 5 seasons, which saw the team finish 2nd in the Wisconsin State Tournament. Softball success seemed to follow him in his early years, as he played on the Class “A" State Championship team, Chipper’s Pub and was awarded the Golden Glove for his efforts; “Spence” says this was his most favorite team. The Chippers team spring boarded him to play with other talented squads like: Ingrassia, Ralston-McLaren, Pope Transport, Shockers, PDR and Wood Law, and presently with Team Arkansas.

The talented shortstop that played his high school ball at Hononegah in Rockton has accumulated an outstanding .730 lifetime batting average, while swatting over 700 homeruns. His best season by far was in 1991, when he posted an unequaled .820 BA.
With all these years of experience, Mike says his most memorable moment was when he was up to bat and could hear a guy saying “Watch This Guy!” and heard his daughter reply, “That’s My Dad!”

“Spence” has mentored many kids and younger players who reach out to him for advice and hopes he has improved their talents, behaviors and created a positive environment for growth.

Funny moments also occur over the years and his most memorable was watching Dennis Muth do a face plant into the baseline after rounding 1st base, while attempting to take 2nd.

His favorite coaches were Harrison Jones and Mike Carroll, while he sites some of the best players to share a diamond with are Jim Cushing, Brad Lindmark, Steve Stull, Brian Cunningham, Mike and Dave Carroll, and Don Klarner.

He states that if he has any regrets, it is not giving more respect to opposing players and he wishes he would have talked more to them over the years.

In his final statement, he said that he has been blessed and provided with a talent to play the game of softball. USSSA has provided the avenue to achievement and is most appreciative of his selection to the Hall of Fame.

2016 Male Player: James Phad

James Phad

Jimmy Phad had been involved with softball for over 40 years, starting with tournaments  on the United States Marine Corps National team. Jimmy has been able to see all phases of USSSA softball play from the beginning of his career with his hometown team, "Lost Acres" in 1981 and with longtime C USSSA Team "The Outsiders" winning 2 C State Titles and multiple NITs, all with a tremendous group of teammates.

Jim played B with the Easton group. Getting some great opportunities with his Rope Club team travel at the C and then B level, that had what became some of the most elite players from Illinois. He then joined his 2nd softball family of Full Tilt softball. More C State Championships were won, but more importantly a softball family.

With USSSA and GSL combining, Jim was on the No Ego/Next team that won the Nationals in Blaine, MN as well as the GSL World Series.

Jim began as an outfileder, then moved into 3rd base and finally landed in his desired home of the pitcher's mound. There he kept playing with his trademark curve and screwball until this year at the National level, finishing 9th pitching in the C worlds at the age of 60 with his ISS family.

Along the way, Jim has won some incredible tournaments including many 35+ and 40+ with one of his favorites being the 40+ USSSA World Series in 2010 in Arizona. There he earned the MVP award.

He always achieved a lifetime batting average in the .650 area with his trademark right filed line hits. But where the fun really began was 12 years ago with his Full Tilt family, that included his son Michael when he was 18 years old. After having 3 incredible daughters, the last child was a boy that Jim was able to watch grow and excel as a centerfielder, and then a middle infielder.

USSSA has given him the ability to travel to incredible venues with amazing players. Lifetime friends and family brought him joy and continue to give him incredible fun with his 50+ and 55+ teams that roam the country to play this amazing game.

2016 Male Player: Kevin Mattson

Kevin Mattson

Kevin began playing USSSA softball in 1979 and has continued to enjoy the game to this day.  The 55-year-old has maintained his love of the game over the years, due to finding success at the competitive level of play and through the making of lifelong friendships.

The outstanding first baseman boasts an impressive .670 career batting average and has hit over 650 dingers, while receiving countless All-Tournament and MVP honors. His participation with RMA, Franks Sports Page, and Mary’s Place has provided him with additional team success stories. All-Tournament recognition in Divisional Class B tournament play at Milwaukee, Steeles Sports Invitational and Little Caesar’s Qualifier has put Kevin in a class of his own.

He has played in state and divisional tournaments from 1981 through 2000 and was a member of the 1985 Class B Divisional Championship team of RMA. He was also a member of 2 state championship squads.

Kevin recalls that his most memorable softball moment was when he hit a 3 run home run in the 6th inning to put RMA up 4, after they intentionally walked Brian Benning in front of him. His timely blast aided the team to the divisional tourney game victory 14 to 13!

2016 Male Player: Tim Fetters

Tim Fetters

Tim was nicknamed “Pig Pen” appropriately by fellow teammate Jim Yeager. Even though the story of how he acquired this name is not exactly clear, it has stuck throughout his playing career.

Tim began playing the game in 1975 right out of Harlem High School and remains on the field today, while still playing in the 50-and-over classification. The 59-year-old third baseman/pitcher began play with Schlichting Excavating and soon became noticed as one of their leading hitters, and recognized with best offensive player accolades during Class “A” N.I.T. play in Memphis and Milwaukee.

He was also a contributing team member of the 1976 Class B World Championship team, Forest Hills Lanes, at the ripe old age of 19 where he joins fellow Hall of Famers: Clancy Horn, Jim Rumple, LT Graham , Rod Shives, Ken Franzen, Don Cox and Randy Torgerson.
He boasts an impressive .585 life-time batting average, while swatting over 650 home runs in USSSA play.

Also, Tim has coached his daughter’s Slow Pitch team and was the Women’s State Director for 4 years. Tim states, “I have been to so many places due to great sponsors and the outstanding USSSA program over the years as a player. That is why I coach and sponsor, so to give back to the program and so my daughter and her teammates get the same opportunities that I did.”