2003 (Spring) Male Player: Brad Lindmark

Brad Lindmark

Over a career stretching from 1982 to 1998, Brad Lindmark hit for a .670 average and hammered over 1,100 home runs. He played in state and national tournaments for 15 of the 16 years he played USSSA ball, five years at Class C, then up to Class B and final at A/AA. He was primarily a first baseman, but also played third and catcher.

From 1982 to 1984, Lindmark played with his brother Greg and a group of friends at Metz Tools. It was his brother who encouraged him to move up to competitive tournament ball.

Lindmark doesn’t care to talk about his accomplishments, but that’s hard to avoid when you have a softball pedigree like his.

In 1985, a 21-year-old Lindmark led his RMA team to the USSSA Class B Divisional Championship. In 1987, he belted a grand slam, his seventh home run of the tournament, in the championship game to give Roger’s Drywall the 1987 Class B State Title in Champaign. Lindmark, who also batted .741 for the tournament, was named MVP. In 1991, he won a Class B State Championship with Roger’s Drywall, and again the following year in Class A with Chippers Pub when he was named Class A All-State.

“He played with pride and determination – you always knew you were in for a fun hard-played game when Brad was in the park.”

— Michael Rogers

During the period, he was also a regular at the prestigious Coors All Star Challenge in Rockford. Toward the end of his career, he won the USSSA Class B Batting Championship with a .844 average.

“Brad achieved success at every level he played at, whether it be a rec league game in Rockford, or a World Tournament in Milwaukee,” Michael Rogers of Roger’s Drywall said. “Anyone wanting to form a successful team in the area had [Brad’s name] on their short list.”

Rogers went on to say about Lindmark, “He hit for average or for power, depending on the needs of the team he was playing for. He played with pride and determination – you always knew you were in for a fun hard-played game when Brad was in the park.”

Chipper’s teammate and coach Steve Hahn adds that Lindmark was “humble of his own contributions, instead giving praise to the rest of us, making others feel their defensive play was much more significant than Brad’s grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.”

Lindmark is grateful for the opportunities the USSSA afforded him.

“The USSSA and our great sponsors gave me the opportunity for great competition, new friendships, lots of travel and years of joy on and off the field,” Lindmark said. “They’ve provided me with memories I’ll never forget.”

Lindmark has come full circle. He’s back playing once a week for a Don Metz sponsored team in a recreational team, just for fun. He has some advice, however, for younger players coming into the game. Basically, it’s “be as competitive as you can.”

“I feel the game has changed over the last few years, with equipment upgrades and players wanting to play down in classification instead of moving up,” Lindmark said. “It seems like when we were younger, everybody wanted to play up. We always wanted to win at a higher level.”

For 16 season, Brad Lindmark did just that.

2004 Male Player: Larry Sheppard

Larry Sheppard

Since 1984, Joliet resident Larry Sheppard has played USSSA softball as an outfielder, infielder and pitcher in tournaments ranging from the Joliet City Championship to Major tournaments across the country.

Along the way, the strong, spray-hitting leftie has forged a .636 average that’s also produced 450 home runs. He’s contributed his sterling skills to three USSSA World Series teams, including a World Championship Class A team and five California and Illinois State Title teams.

He has played for and against some of the best local and national teams in existence at the time, including for 1992 USSSA World Class A Champion Herb’s Dynasty, California’s Sun Valley, DJ Sports, Joe Black’s, the Kamikazes, Illusions, Ken’s Beverage and Tron Piping.

Larry had a 17-7 record in USSSA State, Divisional and World Tournament play and 58-21 record overall on the mound. He has been named the Most Valuable Player in 13 Class A and B tournaments and 14 total times.

Nationally, he’s been All-Tournament at 11 Class AA to B NITs and Divisionals, and has been named Best Defensive Player five times. In Illinois, he’s been named All-State seven times. He is a member of the California 1980s All-Decade team as the left fielder.

“Probably the thing I most admire about Larry was how hard he worked to keep his game at that level, and he worked just as hard to keep the team’s game alive. He’s one of the best team guys I’ve seen in a long time.”

— Don Loid

Some athletes are just blessed with God-given ability in their youth and Sheppard was certainly one of those people. Not everyone is able to hang on to God’s gifts, but Sheppard worked diligently to do so.

“Probably the thing I most admire about Larry was how hard he worked to keep his game at that level,” Tron’s Piping manager Don Loid said. “And he worked just as hard to keep the team’s game alive. He’s one of the best team guys I’ve seen in a long time.”

At the top of his list of great softball thrills, Sheppard lists his World Title as part of Herb’s Dynasty. That is followed by a win over national powerhouse, Ritch’s Superior, in the 1993 World Series. Additionally, Sheppard fondly remembers his two USSSA Class B Illinois State Titles with Illusions and Ken’s Beverage.

Sheppard played in ten Joliet city tournaments, winning four titles and three runners’ up, with titles in three of the last four years. Along the way, he has also umpired for 11 years.

A well-traveled veteran of top flight softball in four different organizations, Sheppard appreciates USSSA softball, but would like to see greater cooperation between the organizations.

“Players should now be classified A, B and C with a list for all four sanctioning organizations,” Sheppard said, sharing just one of the many ideas he’s developed in his years of softball. Ideas, he said are crucial to the survival of the game. “New ideas are needed because the level of participation is going down,” he said.

We welcome Larry Sheppard’s continued participation in USSSA softball and celebrate his past participation by welcoming him into our ranks as an inductee into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2004 Male Player: Tom McCarthy

Tom McCarthy

The general consensus regarding Tom McCarthy is that he was a talented and exceptionally competitive softball player who retired from the game far too soon. Tom wanted to be involved with his three sons as they grew up, and made the right decision, people are quick to say. Still, they contend softball is the less for it.

“It’s a sham he couldn’t have played longer,” Tom’s old skipper, Bank of Westmont manager Don Loid said. “We would have loved to have had him continue playing for us over the years.”

But Loid understood McCarthy’s motives back then and he understands them now.

“As his boys grew, he made the decision,” Loid said.

If McCarthy has been as good a father as he was a softball player, his sons are now lucky men. McCarthy epitomized the competitive softball player.

In 14 years of USSSA ball, played primarily with the Bank of Westmont, but also Bunca Car Wash and Burla Construction, the left center fielder forged a reputation as an intense competitor.

“He was a high intensity player,” Loid said. “His motor was always running.”

McCarthy said he reveled in victory and sorrowed in defeat, but that didn’t stop him from appreciating all that he was experiencing.

“During off time, I could relax with the best,” he said. “But when the time came to play ball, I was disciplined and expected all who played the game to give it as much effort and determination as I did.”

“During off time, I could relax with the best, but when the time came to play ball, I was disciplined and expected all who played the game to give it as much effort and determination as I did.”

— Tom McCarthy

At the heart of that attitude was an intense pride, both in his personal game and the game of softball itself.

“When I played on the Bank of Westmont, even though we did like to enjoy ourselves, we really dedicated ourselves to being a very competitive team, along with representing the USSSA in a professional manner,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy was mostly a good percentage hitter who would go long from time-to-time. He boasts .630 career batting average and over 250 home runs in 14 years during an era – 1978 through 1990 – in which the game of softball was played without the artificial boost of space age metals and trampoline effect bats. McCarthy was named Most Valuable Player at five Class B and A tournaments between 1983 and 1987, including a Class A tournament in Kalamazoo, Michigan while playing with Bunca Car Wash. At this tournament, McCarthy went 28 for 29 against some of the strongest competition in the country.

McCarthy was able to keep things in perspective and never put softball ahead of some of the more important things in life; however, he may have gone too far in the mid-90s. Asked to list his All-State honors for the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame, he wrote down several years and added, “but I cannot find my trophies. I threw a lot of stuff out in the mid-90s.” Apparently, that included many of his National, NIT and World All-Tournament awards, of which he says, “There’s more, but I can’t remember!”

Others remember it for you, Tom. We just hope you choose to hang on to the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame plaque that marks the induction into the ranks of the hall.

2004 Male Player: Bill Bromenschenkel

Bill Bromenschenkel

Over a 27-year career, all of which saw him compete in USSSA ball, Peru’s Bill Bromenschenkel has played on such notable competitive Illinois teams as Mendota Bud, Old Style Clippers, Mautino’s, Illusions, Aurora’s WWJD and Rockdford’s LT’s Bar & Grill. Along the way, he has earned seven State Tournament MVPs and Gold glove awards and been named All-Tournament 14 times.

Bromenschenkel played shortstop in his early years, but was primarily a pitcher. As a pitcher, he threw five one-hitters. A lifetime .650 hitter who considers himself primarily a singles hitter, he was also able to take the ball out of the park occasionally. His offensive prowess was still clearly evident when, in 2001 at age 42, he was named Offensive Player of the Tournament at the Class C Great Lakes South Nationals.

Bromenschenkel prides himself on being willing to give himself up as a batter to move base runners up, but that doesn’t mean he likes it.

“I always want to be the hitter up in the bottom of the seventh when we need a hit,” he said.

Bromenschenkel said his greatest thrill was going down to Kentucky for the 2001 Class C National Tournament where the unheralded LTs won it all.

“The best part was that this was a first-year team,” Bromenschenkel said. “Believe me, that weekend they [the team] all did a big part to win that tournament. I will always remember that weekend.”

In fact, Bromenschenkel fondly recalls many of the weekends spent playing State, Divisional and World Tournaments. They are the fruit of all the effort his teams put forth each spring and summer.

“Those are the tournaments your team works so hard to get to, the biggest you’ll play that year” he said.

Some of those big tournaments were USSSA, and some were other organizations, but he said he liked the USSSA ones the best.

“I have played in all the Illinois organizations, and I would have to say that the USSSA is the best by far,” Bromenschenkel said. “The tournaments are all run great and the directors are good people.”

The Illinois USSSA takes pleasure in returning the compliment as it welcomes a better than good player into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2005 Male Player: John Wood

John Wood

In over a quarter of a century of USSSA softball, Roscoe’s John Wood was able to quench his thirst for competition. Wood played with and against some of the most talented players in the state of Illinois during the early 70s through the middle 90s. Park Town Hall, Club 51 and Rogers Drywall were a few teams he played for over those years.

A right-handed pitcher, Wood really has no idea how many games he has won and lost over his years, but suffice to say the wins probably vastly outnumber the defeats. The modest Wood approximates he hit .475 with 25 to 30 home runs over his 25 years of playing, both of which are most likely lower than the actual numbers.

The first State Championship for Wood was in 1977 when his team, Schlichting Excavating won the B State Title. Two years later, Wood and his Club 51 teammates brought home a Top 10 finish at the Divisional Tournament at St. Louis. It was 1981 when Wood may have had his finest season when his team won the Class B Divisional at Milwaukee in a year they may have played over 150 games. In that tournament, Wood was named to the All-Tournament team, which for most players would be their fondest memory; however, Wood has another highlight in mind.

“Scoring the winning run in the Divisional Championship game was a great thrill,” Wood said. “It was raining all morning, but we played anyway to determine a winner. I tagged from third base and slid head first into home plate. I went between the catcher’s legs and slid all the way to the backstop. I was covered head to toe with mud, but safe.”

“Illinois USSSA was my highway to play a game I loved to play. I would play any kind of ball, but I was competitive and wanted to play against the best. ”

— John Wood

In 1987, Rogers Drywall won the Class B State Championship in Champaign with Wood on the mound. Wood lists that he retired in 1996, but notes he is “still playing a little.” He also commented on how the USSSA gave him the opportunity to play the game he enjoyed.

“Illinois USSSA was my highway to play a game I loved to play,” Wood said. “I would play any kind of ball, but I was competitive and wanted to play against the best. USSSA ended up being the game to play in that regard.”

The Illinois USSSA takes great honor in returning the accolade as we welcome John Wood into an elite class of people – the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2005 Male Player: Bill Sahagian

Bill Sahagian

In his 17-year career, which began in 1987, Bartlett’s Bill Sahagian has gathered many individual honors and team championships along the way. Sahagian mainly played first base with some time at catcher for teams such as Kings, KA Softball and Tron Piping, and is now retired from softball except for the 45 & Over program.

The slugging first sacker has compiled some impressive numbers with a .615 batting average and launched over 700 home runs for his career.

In 1987, Sahagian’s first season in softball, he was selected to the All-Tournament team at the Class C Divisional Qualifier that the Kings won at Downers Grove. That season he was also named Best Offensive Player at Class C State in Rockford, where the Kings finished third. He was also named to the Class B State All-Tournament teams in 1992 and 1995 and Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1996 while playing for the Kings.

Sahagian states his most exciting moment in his USSSA career took place in 1995 at Joliet when the Kings won their second Class B State Championship.

“It was 102 degrees,” Sahagian recalls. “We came back from the loser’s bracket to win five games on Sunday, and I was named to the All-Tournament team after hitting .735.”

In 1995, Sahagian helped lead Tron Piping to their first of five straight Major 35 & Over State Championships, earning his first of three consecutive All-Tournament honors. He also paced Tron Piping to back-to-back Major 35 & Over World Tournament Titles (1995 and 1996), while being named the Most Valuable Player at the 1996 World Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida. Starting again in 1999, Sahagian was named to three straight Major 35 & Over State Tournament teams. Playing with Extreme Easton (2000) who finished third at Class B State and KA Softball (2001-2003) who won Class B State in 2003, Sahagian retired from the Men’s B program after the 2003 season.

“I would like to see [Illinois USSSA] have a better B program like in past years when there were 25 or 30 teams in the state of Illinois,” Sahagian said.

He feels as a whole, however, that USSSA in Illinois has a lot to be proud of saying, “USSSA has the most talented players and best-run tournaments of all the associations in Illinois.”

In 2004, Sahagian was named to the All-Tournament team at the Major 45 & Over World Tournament while playing for Ken’s Beverage, showing that the fire for competition still burns bright.

We honor Bill Sahagian and his great softball career by welcoming him into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2006 Male Player: John Kramer

John Kramer

In his 23-year career – 21 of those in the USSSA – Mokena’s John Kramer has earned many personal awards and played on some of the top teams in the state.

Kramer, a top notch second baseman has worn the uniform for such great teams as Snap-On, DC All-Stars, Ken’s Beverage and Ken Adams and lists himself as semi-retired. A singles hitter with situational power, Kramer amassed a .650 career batting average and pounded out 400 lifetime home runs.

While he has many individual accomplishments to his credit, it was a team moment that the man nicknamed “Stumpy” lists as most exciting in his USSSA career.

“Winning the USSSA Class AA/A NIT in Springfield, Ohio in 1996 with Belcher Construction was awesome,” Kramer said. “We took a victory lap around the stadium throwing our caps and jerseys into the stands.”

In the 1997 Open State Championship, Kramer was named All-Tournament playing for Joe Black in what would be the first of 12 State Championship teams he would play for. Two years later, while playing for Snap-On, he and his teammates captured the 1999 Class B State and 35 & Over State Championships. In both tournaments, he was named to the All-Tournament team for his outstanding all-around play.

Kramer considers winning the Great Lakes B National Tournament in Cincinnati and being named All-Tournament that same season his greatest softball thrill during his USSSA career.

“Softball allowed me the opportunity to play high-level ball after my college baseball career. Illinois USSSA has given me my greatest softball thrills and allowed me to meet many great people.”

— John Kramer

In 2001 and 2002, Kramer was a member of DC All-Stars who captured Tavern State Championships back-to-back in Champaign. He was named to the All-Tournament team that first year.

In the 2003 season, he helped Ken Adams win three NITs and the Class B Title. Kramer and his Ken Adams team also won another Class B Title the next year. That year he also won his seconds straight 40 & Over Open State Championship with Ken’s Beverage.

As far as playing USSSA softball, Kramer says it gave him the chance to keep his competitive juices flowing after his college days and helped him strike up friendships.

“Softball allowed me the opportunity to play high-level ball after my college baseball career,” Kramer said. “Illinois USSSA has given me my greatest softball thrills and allowed me to meet many great people.”

Kramer and his Ken Adams mates accomplished quite a feat by finishing runner-up in the 2004 Class B World Tournament in Euless, Texas.

As far as his thoughts on the state of the USSSA in Illinois, Kramer would like to change one aspect of the game.

“[The USSSA] needs to give umpires more authority,” states Kramer. “There needs to be zero tolerance because there has been too much arguing in the past five to ten years.”

We honor a player who has shown exceptional skill and loyalty for USSSA softball by welcoming John Kramer to the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2006 Male Player: Mark Austin

Mark Austin

For more than two decades of USSSA softball, Belvidere’s Mark Austin patrolled the right fields in many ball parks and complexes during the summer months. He was playing fast pitch softball before some of his friends persuaded him to switch gears.

“Some of the guys I went to high school with coaxed me to switch over to slow pitch,” remembered Austin.

Austin has suited up for such teams as the Rockford Stars, Park Town Hall and Rogers Drywall in his 22 years on the diamond. A pull-hitter, he batted for a .525 average in his career and clubbed an amazing 750 round-trippers.

“He was a big guy and a power hitter, but he was also a smart hitter,” Park Town Hall manager Jerry Fiordelisi said. “He had more speed for a big guy than people realized. When he got on base he could move and was pretty fast. He was a very good player.”

In both the 1976 and 1977 Class A State Tournaments, he was named to the All-Tournament team with the Rockford Stars. The Stars finished a respectable fourth place at the 1978 Class A National Tournament.

The 1981 season was a very special season for Austin and his Park Town All teammates. Playing alongside pitcher John Wood, an Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame Inductee, Park Town Hall won the Class B Divisional in Milwaukee with Austin having a fine all-around tournament culminating in his being named to the All-Tournament team. The team survived the championship game despite playing in the mud in a rain-bathed tournament. Later that day, he followed a solid divisional play by being named the Most Valuable Player.

“We weren’t the most talented team, but the chemistry was very, very good,” Austin said of the Park Town Hall squad. “We played Tuesdays and Thursdays in Rockford; we just all played well together.”

In 1984, Park Town Hall finished with a fourth-place finish at Class B Divisional. Seven years later Austin came up big again. He helped lead Rogers Drywall to the 1991 Class B State Championship. Austin was rock solid at the plate and in the field, helping him get named to the All-Tournament team and voted the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Austin felt that USSSA softball gave him a chance to play at a high level and create lasting relationships.

“[USSSA softball] had the best competition,” Austin said. “It was a great way to meet people and a chance to see various parts of our country.”

With his induction into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame, we honor Austin’s great career.

2007 Male Player: Leon Kreher

Leon Kreher

In the game of slow pitch softball, any player who has the ability to hit for a high average and power can help a team reach lofty goals.

Leon Kreher of New Athens used his tallents for 22 seasons as a member of a solid downstate Belleville Budweiser team, playing alongside his brother and shortstop Mike O’Connor (2002 Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame inductee).

An outfielder, Kreher hit an impressive .625 average over his career and he probably averaged one or more home runs per game. Kreher, who still competes in a 40 & Over league, says his club’s goals did not change much from year-to-year.

“Our team goal was to make it to a USSSA World Tournament every year,” Kreher said. “In 1984, we won the Illinois USSSA Class B State and finished second to Powers in the Class B Divisional Championship Tournament. I played in a World Tournament ever year from 1975 through 1992; most were Class B with two years being Class A.”

In that 1984 Illinois Class B State Tournament, Kreher put forth a solid effort that helped him be named to the All-Tournament team. He considers his most exciting moment in his career the time the team dropped their second game of that tournament, but were able to come back to win the title.

In the late 1970s USSSA league, Kreher was named most valuable player three times, while also leading the league in batting average and home runs in one of those seasons.

As far as his competitive days and the Illinois USSSA, Kreher has nothing but praise.

“Playing softball was a great experience in my life,” Kreher said. “I would play about 200 games a year. The Illinois USSSA is well-organized and they have great tournaments. I really enjoyed playing the game of softball.”

We honor Leon Kreher, a player who used his skills to help his team reach championship goals for over two decades.

2007 Male Player: Ken Dohm

Ken Dohm

For over a decade, Grayslake’s Ken Dohm played on and against some of the top teams in the country and along the way earned many individual honors.

Dohm wore the uniform of such teams as Lilly Air Systems for two different stints, Joker’s and Joe Black’s. His main positions were left or right centerfielder, but he saw a little time at second base and third base. A career .716 hitter, Dohm clubbed an average of 28 home runs a year – this would be considered Major League level today. He retired from the game of softball after the 1990 season.

Dohm started playing for power house Lilly Air Systems in 1979 as he explained.

“I went from being released from professional baseball with the Kansas City Royals to playing 12-inch softball,” Dohm said. “I probably averaged over 140 games a year for ten years. [Softball] is a great game.”

Over his career “Dohmer” was selected to All-Tournament teams twice in Illinois State Tournaments, twice at NITs and four times in Divisional/National Tournaments. In 1986, Lilly Air Systems won the State Class A (open) State Tournament held at Belleville with Dohm helping lead the way. One big highlight of his playing days would be his All-World selection at Kalamazoo Michigan in 1990 with Joe Black’s.

“The first major tournament [I played in] was in Concord, California,” Dohm recalled. “The top 12 teams in the nation were there – the best of the best.”

“The USSSA has become the best softball organization in the entire nation.”

— Ken Dohm

Over his wonderful career, Dohm admits there have been many funny moments before, during and after games and tournaments, but feels the Hall of Fame bio would not be a proper event to talk about them all.

“There are so many amusing events through the years, but I don’t think the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame banquet would be the best place to relive them,” said Dohm.

Dohm becomes the eighth member of Lilly Air Systems to be inducted into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame (as of 2007), an organization he feels is head and shoulders above the rest.

“The USSSA has become the best softball organization in the entire nation,” said Dohm. “Illinois softball USSSA has become great only through the hard work of people like Brenda Paulson.”

2007 Male Player: Bernie Carroll

Bernie Carroll

Certain players leave you in awe when you consider all of their personal and team accomplishments. To think one person could play at a high level for an extended period of time and earn that many rewards is truly amazing. The talented Bernie Carroll is one of those such players.

In over 30 years of softball, 21 in the USSSA, Elmhurst’s Bernie Carroll has played on some of the top teams in the state, gathering personal and team accolades along the way.

Carroll played on some powerful teams including One Hour Cleaners, Ken Adams Softball, Bank of Westmont, Mid America Concrete, Tron Piping and Ken’s Beverage before retiring in 2004. He mainly played as a pitcher and catcher, but he also spent time in the outfield, first base and as a designated hitter. A lifetime .575 hitter, Carroll had power to all fields as his 1,200 career home runs can attest.

Bernie was named Most Valuable Player in three tournaments over his career. The first was at the 1987 14-inch State Tournament held in Aurora, next in the 1985 Class B Qualifier in Downers Grove and finally at the 2000 Class B NIT in Joliet. Carroll was also selected seven times to a State All-Tournament Team, the last being in the 2000 45 & Over State Tournament. He was also an All-World Team selection in the 1995 35 & Over World Tournament and the 1998 40 & Over World Tournament. He played on 16 State Championship teams and three World Championship clubs.

In 1996 and 1997, his team captured the 35 & Over Major World Championships, and in 2002, with Ken’s Beverage, they won the 40 & Over World Title. He lists the 1996 championship as one of his greatest thrills while competing in USSSA play to go along with the Bank of Westmont State Title in 1989. He also played in a class A or B at State and World Tournaments from 1982 to 2003.

“I lived for softball in the 70s, 80s and 90s,” said Carroll. “I know for a lot of the people I played with and who ran the program, it was a lot more than recreation. It has been a huge part of our lives.”

There is no doubt that Carroll did live for the game of softball and the USSSA is where he made his mark. For over two decades, he used his skills to achieve personal goals as well as helping his teams reach their ultimate goals. Therefore, we honor Bernie Carroll, who typifies what the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame is all about.

2008 Male Player: Michael "Flea" Kueker

Michael "Flea" Kueker

For over a quarter of a century, Red Bud’s Michael Kueker did something he loved and did it very well. The game of softball gave Kueker a venue to showcase his talents and quench his competitive juices.

The left-handed, line drive-hitting Kueker played either left field or right field for such teams as Horrell’s Distributing, First National Bank of Red Bud and First Bank of Red Bud. He compiled a lifetime .700 batting average and a very impressive .750 on-base percentage. Possessing great speed, Kueker was known for turning singles into doubles and doubles into triples, to accompany numerous inside-the-park home runs throughout his career.

He began his softball playing days in 1976 with veteran Horrell’s Distributing club. This is where he picked up the nickname “Flea,” which he admits he first thought was “Flee” because of his great speed, but was a little surprised after receiving his team jacket and seeing “Flea” stitched into it. That name has stuck with him ever since.

“As his manager, I can say without any reservations that Mike made an immediate impact on the success of our team, hitting regularly above .500 and fielding with grace and accuracy in the outfield,” said Horrell’s manager Larry Ehlers. “Once I explained to Mike his role on the team, the team’s leadoff hitter and centerfielder, I had no role other than consultant because Mike assumed his responsibilities at his position with vigor, knowledge and competency.”

From 1979 through 1992, Kueker was the player/manager of the First National Bank of Red Bud. In 1980, he played in his first Illinois USSSA State Tournament with Mudville Giants and a year later made his initial trip to the Class C Divisional with FNB of Red Bud. The 1986 season saw his club finish 13th place at the Class C Divisional. All told, Kueker teams participated in the Illinois State and Divisional each year from 1982-1992.

“Personal goals are always great for some individuals, but overall I’ve gotten the same satisfaction out of putting. Solid team together and then being able to go out and take that team to the next level,” says Kueker. “There is a great satisfaction in finding that right combination of speed, power and defense that sets your club apart from the rest and then going out and getting results.”

In the 1993 and 1994 campaigns, Kueker played and managed First Bank of Red Bud. In 1993, Kueker and his team finished second place at the Class D Illinois State Tournament and a solid seventh place finish at the Great Lakes Divisional Tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio. In that Divisional, Kueker hit an impressive .778 for the tournament. He then bounced around with a few different Class D teams over the next few years and played for Chester Victor Drugs in 1997-1998 in the 35 & Over Illinois State Tournament. In 1999, with Muehl’s out of Fairview Heights, Kueker helped his team to a second-place finish at the Illinois State 40 & Over Tournament.

All in all, Kueker played in ten Divisional (five in each Class C and D) and 17 State Tournaments (six in each Class C and D, plus five in Class B). He was also named All-League in the USSSA sanctioned Red Bud league 11 straight years (1990-2001).

As for his take on the game of softball in the Illinois USSSA, he admits there have been many changes since he first took the softball field to begin his career.

“The changes I’ve experienced over my years of participating in the USSSA sanctioned softball have been the change in the equipment,” Kueker said. “When I started playing this game, ten runs were a lot and most games were won by one run – 4-3/6-5 type games, as defense played a key role. Nowadays, it comes down to who bats last, there are more high scoring games decided in the seventh inning, with the home run ball playing a big part.”

Kueker continued, “As far as the betterment, I believe also that improving equipment has brought back some of the excitement into the game, therefore it has brought more of the younger crowd back in participating in the game of softball.”

We honor all of Michael’s accomplishments by bestowing the higest accolade for a USSSA player as we say “Member of the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame – Michael, the Flea, Kueker.”

2008 Male Player: Roy Ambrose

Roy Ambrose

Growing up in Elmhurst in the 60s and 70s with his three brothers, Roy always had the desire to play sports. With a big backyard, they were constantly challenging each other in all sports. Growing up next to a 16-inch softball coach also got him introduced to softball at an early age.

He fondly remembers coming home from an American Legion baseball game and having his neighbor waiting in the driveway to take him to Chicago to play softball because they were short guys. Playing on a veteran team taught him many valuable lessons including how to hit the ball to all fields.

Home from college always brought tow things into play: finding a job and finding a softball team to play on for the summer. He continued to play with his neighbor in two leagues and found a tournament team of younger players to play weekends within the city. The fall of 1978 was a turning point in Roy’s career. He had just finished a successful summer playing 16-inch ball and since he graduated from college, he was able to play in his first fall league. His neighbor asked him to play in nearby Bensenville and he accepted the offer.

The day of their first game, the neighbor came over to the house and informed Roy he needed to bring a mitt. He explained that he made a mistake and signed up for a 12-inch league. After batting above .850 for the league, Roy was asked to play hon three different teams from that fall league. This was the beginning of his 12-inch career and the end of his 16-inch one. In 1979, Roy was playing in Bensenville, Elmhurst and Glen Ellyn on three different 12-inch teams.

During the 1980s, Roy played on a number of league teams in the western suburbs and was searching for the perfect tournament team. During this time, he played on numerous teams including the Shooters, X’s, Steamers and FCA. In the summer of 1993, he decided to put his own team together for the 1994 season and Aurora Thunder was founded the next year. He combined veteran players with a new talent to formulate a winning combination. Between 1994 and 2001, Aurora Thunder won three State Championships and became one of the most successful teams of that era.

After the Thunder reign had ended, he took his veteran expertise to play on two quality tournament teams: WWJD and the Barn.

Roy has always been known as a smart precision hitter who always looks for the holes. With his ability to hit the ball to all fields, he has frustrated pitchers and infielders for many years. As a lifetime .733 hitter, he usually found himself batting somewhere in the one through five slots. During his playing career, he has won eight Illinois State Championships and one World Championship. He has been on seven All-State Tournament teams, one Divisional All-Tournament team and two All-World Tournament teams.

Roy continues to play softball on local area teams and plays tournaments in the Senior Division. In three years of playing senior ball, Roy has won nine World Championships with the Chicago Classics and Windy City Softball clubs. As you can see, softball still has not left this ball player as he has completed his 35th year of playing softball.

2009 Male Player: Randy Torgerson

Randy Torgerson

Randy began his playing career right out of high school in 1973 with the Prairie Moon team from Rockford, followed by participation in the “Classic A League” at Churchill Park with the competitive team of Ken Becker in 1974.

In 1975, he joined the ranks of another outstanding team, Diamond Bar, before finding success with the Class B World Championship Forest Hills team in 1976. The next season, he participated with Bullards before playing with what Randy says was the best team he ever played on, the Rockfod Stars, from 1978 through the 1982 season.

In 1985, as a member of the RMA squad, Randy was selected to the All-World team as the leadoff batter for the Class B Divisional Champions.

In 1986, he began playing for Rogers Drywall, which finished as state runners-up prior to becoming State Champions in 1987 where he earned an All-Tournament selection and Gold Glove award as the best defensive player while playing right-centerfield.

“None of this would have been possible without the USSSA organization. They always put on the best tournaments and they always had quality umpires at all of their events.”

— Randy Torgerson

In 1993, he again received the best defensive player award at the B state tournament, while continuing to make the Forest Hills Thursday Night “Challenge Cup” League All-League team for the 11th time.

Randy was always the type of player that set the table for those behind him in the batting order as he did what it took to either move runners or get on base for the big hitters behind him.

He admits that he played with some very terrific players over the years, as he mentioned a few Hall of Fame inductees such as Yeager, Shives and Horn, while also admitting, “None of this would have been possible without the USSSA organization. They always put on the best tournaments and they always had quality umpires at all of their events.”

When it comes to great softball memories Randy says, “It would have to be beating the defending national championship team (Snyder’s) and winning the World
Championship.”

There is no doubt that his strong accurate arm propelled him into the Illinois Hall of Fame.

2009 Male Player: Phil Higgins

Phil Higgins

Softball for Phil Higgins began with one dynamic swing in a national tournament at Southgate, Michigan in 1970 where we swatted a pinch hit walk off home run to help his team finish the tournament in second place. The lesson learned was to take advantage of every opportunity provided.

Since that time, Phil has taken advantage of every door opened and every opportunity to perform at his best with some of the finest softball teams ever assembled. He played for eight seasons with Copper Hearth of Milwaukee from 1970 through 1977 and also played for Slinger Foundry for a few tournaments in 1974 along with Snyder’s in 1976. During this period, the Copper Hearth captured third place at the 1975 USSSA World Tournament and played for Snyder’s, which captured the World Title in 1976.

In 1983, “Flip” played for Steels, which finished second in the men’s major field to Jerry’s Catering. In 1984 and 1985, he took his talents to Lilly Air Systems where he was an NIT All-Star at Salt Lake.

In 1989, he enjoyed his most exciting softball moment as his Joe Black’s team defeated Steels to capture a USSSA World Series berth to Omaha, where the team finished 5th in World Series play.

In 1993, opportunity again came to Phil’s door as he was asked to participate in a charity softball game with a local radio station against singer Michael Bolton’s celebrity team. On that day he hit three home runs and made a huge impression on Bolton. This led to him participating on Bolton’s team against Michael Jordan’s select group of All-Stars at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

After that, Phil played with Bolton’s group of charity events for seven seasons from 1994 through the 2000 season. Through this opportunity, he was able to meet many celebrities in sports and entertainment such as Magic Johnson, Evander Hollifield, Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, Tom Sellick, Barry Bonds, Joe Morgan, Regis Philbin, Chris Cheliois and Joe DiMaggio. For Phil, this was a very rewarding time in his life, as he was playing a game he loved and doing it for a charity organization that helped so many.

There is little doubt that with a lifetime batting average of over .650 and a home run count well over 500, Phil deserves to be in the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame, as he not only plays the game, but promotes it through his competitive spirit.

2013 Male Player John Minger

John Minger

John began playing the game of softball in the late 1960s in the Joliet Park District League, which was the beginning of 25 years of competitive softball play in the Chicago suburbs.

In the early 70s, playing with Crowther Roofing, John received notoriety when he earned MVP honors in the Chicago Metro Tournament. This propelled him to play with the Chicago Storm, alongside other Hall of Fame inductees Tom Spahn, Benny Holt, Charlie Baumgartner and Ron Olesiak to mention a few (as of 2013).

In the years following, he participated with Malner’s Tap in the Stone City League where he won Triple Crown honors in 1981 with a .726 batting average, 21 home runs and 75 RBIs. He considers this one of his biggest accomplishments, remaining consistent and highly productive for an entire season and leading his team toward success.

As John began to wind down his productive career, he earned multiple All-State honors with the Bank of Westmont in the early 90s.

John admits that he has been blessed with the opportunity to play with numerous talented players, but more importantly quality people. Great friendships were developed with teammates interacting as families, while being competitive and working together for a common goal of winning the right way.

John can now join those friends and quality people in the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2009 Male Player: Joel Craig

Joel Craig

Very few baseball/softball careers begin on the flat plains of an Illinois T-ball field and end at a “Mountain Top,” such as Joel Craig’s has done. A career that began under the guidance of his father Don, through his Pony League years, Joel’s plateau climb began in the neighborhood with pick-up game teammates Randy and Dave Kinley at the age of eight.

Joel’s softball climb began after high school, as he was introduced to the slow pitch game at the age of 19, by a fellow T-ball mate, Donnie Fox. Little did Fox or anyone else at the time realize the uphill path that he had provided Joel, as the introduction to competitive softball was just around the bend. The gradual climb had placed Joel among the finest in the area, as he participated in the Stone City VFW in Joliet. How fitting that at this time Stone City teammate John Zola dubbed Joel “The Llama” to aid in his steep assent as Joel joined Ken Adam’s One Hour Cleaners team from Downers Grove in 1989, which captured two Class B state championships, with Joel receiving MVP honors in 1993, under new sponsor Home Run Inn.

In 1990, teammate Brian Ward provided Joel with a map to the “Mountain Top” as he provided Joel the opportunity to play with Louie Calvisi’s Sunset Technologies, the USSSA AA World Series Champions that season, where Joel impressed future Mountain Top manager John Rector. This friendship opened the pathway to Joel’s highest peak, as he joined the Mountain Top team full time in 1998 and became a contributing factor in the team’s Class B world title in 1999, Class A title in 2001 and runner-up titles in 2000 and 2002, along with numerous State and NIT championships.

Following the 2002 season, Joel decided to begin his descent from competitive softball, as he announced his retirement at age 40, but not without a final pause with his old teammates on the Ken’s Beverage team, which he pitched to the 2003 40+ World Series title, while earning Best Defensive Player honors.

A few months later, Joel would suffer a severe back injury that would end his on-field heroics but would not take away his memories and love of the game. With over 800 home runs, a .600 plus batting average, 9 state championships, several world championships, numerous NIT titles, and countless individual awards, it was a climb that only a few have had the opportunity to make and one that few will ever forget.

2010 Male Player: Steve Walker

Steve Walker

For 20 years, every weekend during the summer was tournament time for Steve Walker as he and his teams competed to qualify for USSSA State, Divisional or World Tournament Berths around the country. This was the norm for this outstanding lead-off batter, which led teams like Brauns or Annie's Army to eight world tournament berths in 12 seasons. He also helped teams like Parksite, Sparta Merchants and Busch to World tournament play.

This fleet-a-foot right center fielder, with a lifetime batting average of .650 credits Roger Waldron for leading him to the slowpitch game and his favorite team Braun's, where he played the majority of his career for his best coach, Annie Braun. With most league locations in Southern Illinois playing without fencing during his younger stages of his playing career, Steve sped to over 200 homeruns with the majority being of the inside-the-park variety, while being selected as an All Star 12 times and a three-time Most Valuable Player.

Steve's most memorable softball experience occurred in 1995 with the Busch team, which took 2nd place in the State Tournament, while being the oldest player on the team and playing with his son-in-law Tony Dugan.

Steve was an all-around high school athlete, as he played football, basketball and baseball all four years at the varsity level and was awarded the Joe Garagiola Award following his senior baseball season. That competitive spirit and continued commitment to his teams, teammates and the sport of softball over his 27-year playing span has now led him to Rockford and the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2010 Male Player: Dave Villareal

Dave Villareal

As a player (first baseman, pitcher and catcher), Dave was known as not only one of the finest in the state of Illinois, but one of the finest nationally. He played for some of the best teams ever assembled in the state, with The Boyz of Plano, The Kings of Bensonville, Sports Page of Arlington Heights and Joe Blacks of Highland Park topping the list of A and AA quality squads.

Dave also played for a number of teams over his 30-year playing span in the St. Charles league. His lifetime .615 batting average and over 1,600 homeruns helped identify him as one of the best.

Dave began his playing career at the B level, but quickly moved up to the A and AA levels, while qualifying and playing in two Men's Major World Series. He also was chosen to a number of All-State tournament teams, while playing for several state championship teams.

Dave's best memories occurred while playing for the Joe Black's team that beat Steele's Sporting Goods out of Ohio, when they were ranked #1 in the country.

Another great memory occurred when he hit 3 homeruns in a Major NIT to help his team in acquiring a berth in the Men's Major World Series in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Of all his accomplishments, Dave says he is most grateful for the opportunities to play against the best players ever to play the game.

2010 Male Player: Jim Rumple

Jim Rumple

If the next time you go to your favorite OTB facility and you see Jim Rumple on the race card, bet $20 on him to win. This is what his teammates did as they stopped traffic in Clinton, Iowa as his teammates matched him up against every other fast guy in the tournament. Those that bet on Jim were not disappointed, as he was the only undefeated barefoot sprinter in the tournament field.

Speed however, was not Jim's only prowess to fame, as he was a complete player playing flawless defense in the outfield, at shortstop, at second base and at pitcher positions during an abbreviated competitive 18-year career, which has seen him swat 350 career home runs. He achieved All-State honors twice and played on the 1976 USSSA Class B World Championship Forest Hills Lanes team.

Jim believes that the Forest Hills team chemistry was the best he had ever played with as he states, "It was a great group of guys to play with."

Jim's softball playing career began in 1971 when he began playing with the Rockford Rams, followed by Club 51, the State Champion RMA squad and highlighted with a stint with the professional Chicago Storm team in 1977. From 1980 to 1984, Jim participated with RMA/Rockford Stars, which did not finish out of the top 10 every year in world tournament play.

Jim says, "The slowpitch game was made for me. I never played it for any accolades, I just played because I loved the game."