Growing up on a block full of boys on the north side of Cicero, Kim played baseball and softball in a corner yard, learning quickly to hit the ball straight up the middle to avoid breaking windows. This skill was handy in her career as she was able to control where she hit the ball and how to place it where she wanted it. After the 12-inch town league folded due to a lack of players, she played center field on the boys baseball team, con-tributing some home runs to win the season.
Once she started playing 16-inch softball in Cicero, Berwyn, Lyons and all over Chicago, she played with The Banshees, Under No Management, Foxes, Gamblers and a few other teams before joining the Break-A-Ways in 1999. Playing every night of the week, sometimes two or three games, and tournaments on weekends, her team won several ASA, USSSA and NSA tournaments. Kim earned a Most Defensive Player title and a few All Tournament teams during this time. Kim also played on The Juicers Co-Ed team in league and tournament play, winning the Grant Park tournament 9 years in a row before the team retired. Her most memorable moment from co-ed play was catching a line drive hit by a male opponent, which turned into a triple play, assisted by her female teammates. Lucky for her, it was even captured on TV.
Playing middle field, Kim had a strong arm, was fast enough to cover a lot of ground, and had the ability to hit both sides of the field, allowing her to compete with some of the great softball players. She also met her hus-band Frank through softball.
After 40 years of play, Kim retired in 2015, happy to enjoy more time with her two children and husband Frank, her teammate in softball and life.
KIMBERLEY MIONI
