A veteran newspaper reporter and editor, Don DeBat covered business and real estate at the Chicago Daily News and Chicago Sun Times for 26 years. However, DeBat says the most fun he had during his newspaper was the two seasons he spent on the Daily News sports desk as a nightshift copy editor and author …
Les Duncan began his storied softball career in 1969 as an ASA umpire. From 1972 to 1980 he was ASA Area Director and umpired four National ASA tournaments. After going independent in 1981, Duncan rose to the position of National Director for all 16-inch softball for the country, a position he held until 1994 when …
A pioneer of baseball and softball manufacturing since 1889. Developed much of the equipment used throughout the industry today. He is famous in our community due to his development of the trademark of the game the “Clincher” softball. Softballs were stitched on the outside and rarely did they stand up to the gravel playgrounds of …
Beverly Dagenais has enjoyed triple success in her softball career. She was one of the top players of the 70’s, a pioneer woman umpire in mens leagues during that same time, and compiled a 110 – 22 record as a manager. Beverly played shortstop, short center and pitcher with the Pets in Blue Island and …
What do 234′-1″ and a knee length cast say about Mary DiFiglia? They testify to her athletic skills and her competitiveness. The 234′ – 1″ represents the distance Mary threw softball for a women’s 16″ record that still stands (an honor bestowed on her by Jesse Owens.) The knee length cast refers to the time …
Bud Doroskin began his softball career in 1976 with the Badgers, a local team from Rand Park in Des Plaines. In 1981, he got his first taste of national tournament competition with the Rat Pack, a select group of Rand Park players. In their first metro at Schaumburg, Buddy pitched the Rat Back to a …
Tim Decker started his softball career in 1967 playing in local leagues around the Bensenville, Wood Dale, and Franklin Park areas with his high school buddies and his brothers, Gary and Bob. When they moved out of state in the mid ‘70s, Tim made the move to some more notable teams beginning with the Pacers …
A graduate of Oak Lawn High School who played softball and baseball, Bill Dvorak was one of the top players of the “80’s. During his 21 years playing 16” softball, Bill reached milestones most players only dream of. His softball career began when he formed a church team in 1970. He then started Coolers in …
Bob Dinkelman started playing CYO ball for St. Pascal’s in the 1960s with the ’69ers. They played at North side, Shabbona, Dunham, Riis and Portage parks. In 1970, they combined with Active Screw to form the Lyon 45s, playing at Portage, Evanston and Clarendon parks, becoming one of the North side powers in the game. …
Matt Dosen began what would become a 34 year softball career in 1964 when he was 22 years old playing with a neighborhood team at Russell Square and Cal Parks. It might have been a neighborhood team, but it had a legendary sponsor – Alderman Ed Vrdolyak. 1967 brought a change to Dosen’s career when …
