Tony Portincaso started playing softball in 1981 with the Masters, a team from the Northwest-side of Chicago. They played in Norridge and Niles and at Hiawatha and Oriole Parks. He got a taste for competitive softball while playing in a couple of games at Clarendon Park. In 1984 he joined Pegasus, a team comprised of some neighborhood friends. Pegasus honed their softball skills by playing in leagues at Indian Road, Riis Park, Norridge, Evanston, and Franklin Parks. They then joined the competitive Mt. Prospect league, a move that would start Tony’s competitive softball career. Pegasus won their first Metro title in 1990 at LaGrange by beating the Eastsiders. This victory earned them a slot in the ASA Major Nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Pegasus returned to the ASA Nationals in 1991 by playing in the “A” Division at Blue Island. They returned to the Major Nationals in 1992 at Mt. Prospect where they finished sixth. In 1993 Tony joined the 45s and stayed with them until 2000. In 1996 the 45s won their first Forest Park title and took second in the 1998 ASA Major National Tournament at Cedar Rapids. Although he started out playing first base for the 45s, he switched to short center in the late ’90s. There he became one of the top players at that position. He would play there for the rest of his career. In 2001, looking for his first Major National title, Tony left the 45s to play for the Bucks. They ended up taking second place to the 45s in the ASA Major Nationals in Schaumburg. However, Tony was selected as a 1stTeam All-American. He was selected as an ASA 1st Team All-American twice and was an ASA Second Team All- American twice. The next year he rejoined the 45s and stayed with them until 2006. In 2003, while with the 45s, Tony won his first ASA Major National title. They went on to win National titles in 2004, 2005, and 2006 in Chandler, AZ and Mt. Prospect. Needing a break from the commitments of major softball, Tony played for Punch in 2007, but he was back with the 45s in 2008. He played with them in 2008, 2009, and 2011 (they didn’t field a team in 2010). Tony and the 45s won five Forest Park Titles – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009. As the decade came to a close, Tony could look back at numerous National titles, All-American honors, and a lifetime of friendships and memories. Tony and his wife, Diane, have two children: Gabrielle and Joseph. They live in Bloomingdale, Illinois.
