“I love the game, and I’ll keep on playing until I can’t keep up with the younger players anymore.” Kim Summers began her softball career playing 14” ball in Markham at the ripe old age of twelve. She continued playing 14” ball until she went away to college at seventeen. Upon her return, she switched to 16” softball in 1974 with McLaurey Pontiac, Fifth Wheel, and Egg and Eye. In the mid 70’s, her speed and great hands in the outfield attracted the attention of Bob Eskew, the legendary coach of Rose and Crown and the rest is history. She played with Rose and Crown until the team disbanded in the late 1980’s. Besides Rose and Crown, Summers also played briefly with the O.J.’s. Throughout her career, Kim Summers was a number two and occasionally a leadoff hitter who was known for being able to get on base or for being able to advance the runner. She loved hitting to right field (perhaps made easier because she was a lefty batting from the right side of the plate). She carried a career batting average over .500 and was known for being able to hit the long ball on a regular basis. While Kim Summers is retired from 16” softball, she stills plays outfield in 11” and 12” leagues. She is an administrative supervisor for Deloitte and Touche in Chicago. She and her husband, Brian, have three children – Adam, Brett, and Eric.
Kim “Summers” Petersen
