Janet Carpenter’s lifelong interest in 16” softball began in 1977 when she was only thirteen. Joe Bertucci, the supervisor at Wilson Community Center in Chicago, asked her to play shortstop for the powerhouse Wilson C.C. team. They were so impressed by her defensive skills and talents on offense that they formed a long partnership. Wilson C.C. competed in tournaments and leagues throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, winning championships against such formidable opponents as Rose ‘n Crown, the Angels, Wings, Sulky Inn and Smashed. Janet attended Lourdes High School where she participated in a variety of sports – softball, volleyball, and track. In 2005, she was inducted into the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) Hall of Fame. After Lourdes, she attended Lewis University on a softball scholarship and played softball and volleyball. While there, she set several records that remain unbroken to this day. In 1992, she was inducted into the Lewis University Hall of Fame. After college, Janet pursued her love of the game when she joined the Shinnick’s Bad Attitude, a local neighborhood team. Shinnick’s played three to four nights a week and with Janet’s skills at shortstop, short center, in the outfield and at the plate, they quickly cemented their reputation by winning leagues and tournaments throughout Chicago. She also played for the infamous Desperados, capturing many titles against the Bidayos, Brat Pack and the Misfits. Janet remains active in softball today by playing for Shinnick’s/Symmetry in the 19th Ward Alderman Ginger Rugai’s Y-Me Breast Cancer tournament. Janet currently manages and coaches a 14U travel softball team, The Chicago Rockets and in her spare time also coaches the Chicago Comets Volleyball club. Janet plays an important role in local, regional and national athletics. In 2004 she traveled to New Zealand and Australia to coach the People to People Sports Ambassador program. She has officiated USA volleyball for twelve years and IHSA volleyball for twenty four years. Janet is currently employed by the Chicago Transit Authority, Office of the Inspector General, as its manager of Reporting and Compliance. She and her husband, Jim, have two children – James III, and Julie. They live on Chicago’s Southside.
