Mark was introduced to the game through the Chicago Park District while in grammar school. His first tournament win was the Sen. Richard M Daley tournament in 1973, when he was 12 years old. He would compete as a young adult through various Bridgeport leagues. He was recruited for Wallace Softball by a group of neighborhood friends in the 1970s. One of the highlights of his time with Wallace was when he went 3 for 4 despite having a cast on his hand due to a broken bone. The team would go on to win numerous league and tournament championships, including those at Kelly, McGuane, Normandy, and Donovan Parks. Most notably, in the early 80s, Wallace Softball won back-to-back 14th Ward tournaments, defeating teams such as the Frogs. He would commute daily from NIU for the playoffs during his college years. It was during his time with Wallace that he mastered the “hard cut” signature style as a leadoff hitter. After his tenure with Wallace, he would join the Bridgeport Crush, a 2010 HOF inductee. Crush first made their presence known by winning the 1985 inaugural Henry Murillo, Jr. Tournament and placing 2nd in the USSSA State Tournament that same year. The year following, Crush won the Blue Island Class “A” league with a perfect 17-0 record, with Mark leading the way by going 30 for 30 during a stretch of games. Additionally, he was 15 for 15 while winning the Canaryville Classic one year. The Crush finished 3rd at the ASA Nationals held in Iowa City, where he was awarded 1st Team All-Tournament Honors. In 1987, they won the Budweiser Metro Park District Tournament, defeating the Safari Tigers 4-1 in a field of over 100 teams held at Grant Park. The team finished the season with an 80-20 record with six tournament championships. After 5 years with Crush, Tom Balek and Bob Glosa recruited him to a newly formed Jynx team. Jynx, a 2017 HOF inductee, had several top 5 finishes, including a third-place finish in 1991 in Kingman, Arizona, Nationals and running the table at the 1995 “A” Nationals to take the championship. At that tournament, Mark won MVP honors, along with the batting title, hitting .667. In the ’93 Nationals, he would also earn first-team honors. The team played in the Forest Parks Super 16” Pro televised league, and Ed Zolna called him “one of the top singles hitters in 16” softball”. Mark was proud of his defensive abilities behind the plate, whether backing up first base, directing plays, or making a crucial out at home. In total, he played with the Jynx for 11 years before moving to New Jersey in 1999, which ultimately led to his retirement. He did play 12” while living in New Jersey, and the locals were fascinated by his “cut swing”. Upon the family’s return to Chicago in 2001, he would rejoin the Jynx whenever the team needed a player. That was short-lived, as he would turn his commitments to his son’s travel baseball teams. He then passed on his love for this great game to his sons, who currently play. He joined them as a coach, where he helped teams such as Vision, Impact, and Signature win both league, state, and national championships. This includes the 2020 SSA Major National Champion Signature and the inaugural 2011 SSA “A” National Champion Vision. He now calls Darien, Illinois, home with his wife, Debbie, of over 40 years.
