Mike Stout began his softball career in 1981 with Phil’s Kids, a local team from Melrose Park, playing in leagues in Bellwood, Broadview, and Franklin Park. A meeting with lifelong friend, Jimmy Donato, gave Mike his first taste of competitive softball when Jimmy asked Mike to Play for the Lords, forging an alliance that would last twenty years. In 1983, the Lords won their first Metro championship in Lisle, earning them a spot in the national tournament in Harvey. They learned from the experience when they finished fourth and fifth in the following two years. These successes established the Lords as one of softball’s top teams of that era. During the mid ‘80s Mike was selected to play in every North / South All-Star game during the years they were played. In 1985, Mike hit a three run homerun in the last inning to cap a great comeback by the North and give then bragging rights for the next year. The following year Mike was selected as MVP of the game. In 1978, Mike joined brothers Eric and Kurt Kiesel to make the J-Birds one of the top teams in Mt. Prospect’s Classic League. In 1990, they took fourth place at the Major Nationals and Mike was selected to one of his many 1st Team All-American Teams. Mike joined the Miller Taggers and Hall of Famer Frank Holan in 1991, helping them to a USSSA National title and winning the tournament batting title and being named the tournament MVP. He then moved to Bob Rascia’s 45s for the last eight seasons of his career in 1994. They took the major national title at Schaumburg in 2001. While playing for the 45s, Mike played with some of the greatest players of that era, many of the old rivals. Mike and his wife, Liz, live In Glen Ellyn, Illinois with their three children – Eric, Chris, and Elise. Mike is President of Sales for Strikeforce Bowling in Cicero. While he has retired from playing, Mike continues to give back to baseball by coaching traveling baseball and 12″ softball.
