2011 Female Player: Glenda S. Junge

Glenda S. Junge

This self-taught softball veteran began playing softball 50 years ago while in grade school when she played against all the boys in the neighborhood. This experience provided her outstanding fundamentals and, most of all, confidence.

It is evident that Glenda has taught herself well, as she has a lofty lifetime .650 batting average and recorded over 1,500 round trippers in her career. She has acquired numerous state tournament accolades as well as NIT and World Tournament team selections.

Her resume of teams that she has played for reads like a book of Who's Who of Southern Illinois softball. She began her competitive career with Fults in 1966. After 9 years of success with Fults, she moved on to participate with the Class B State Champion and USSSA World Champion Hecker Miller Lite for 10 seasons. That led her to compete with Dashners from 1986 through 1991, where she captured another State Yitle and 9th and 10th World Tournament placements. Following that, she competed with the Co-Ed teams of The Marauders and Miller Lite Misfits before playing with Wells Fargo. She presently participates with two outstanding squads, the Arch Rivals and the 60+ senior team of Sho-Me.

With Sho-Me, Glenda had her most memorable softball experience as she met 4 ladies from "A League of Their Own" in Phoenix, AZ, while participating in the Senior World Tournament.

Glenda has participated with many great players over the years and mentions Deb Germann, Cinda Liefer, Linda Byron, Sandy Mason, Jeri Mueller and Judy Kaiser as only a few. Surrounding herself with such talent has allowed her to understand the word team, stating, "We win as a team, we lose as a team. It is always a team effort!"

That has always been her approach to the game, and she wants to be remembered as being a great teammate that gave 100%, got along with everyone and always tried to help others.

The Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame was created for those like Glenda who, after 50 years of softball participation, still has the burning desire to play the game without regret.

2011 Female Player: Mary Gifford

Mary Gifford

Mary Gifford's career highlights include several unexpected events, as she was the first Rockford woman softball player to hit a home run over the fence at Forrest Hills Diamonds and the first Rockford player to hit a home run over the fence at a World Tournament contest. She has coached both youth and adult co-rec teams and ran Boone County Fairgrounds Park for 8 years. She was also a USSSA director and was awarded the Illinois State League Director's Award in 1996.

Mary has a list of teams that she has played for as long as her leg and each holds special memories for the 43-year diamond veteran, whether they were competitive or just played the game for fun.

She began playing USSSA softball with the Betty Bremer Realty team from Belvidere in 1976, which launched her to a Class C state championship with the Northern Illinois Stars in 1982. After playing stints with 3C's and Town Hall, she hooked up with Prairie Moon Saloon to finish 2nd in Class A state and 5th in Class A world.

Other outstanding teams on her long term resume include Jerry's Garage, King Potter, Blackhawk Athletic Club, Hulsebus Chiropractic, Carters, Rainbow Separations, Northern Diamonds Concordia Lanes, Freedom Graphics and a present stop with Settimi Fetters with whom she captured a 2010 National Title.

While possessing a lifetime batting average over .600 and a best season mark of .782, she was always a threat at the plate, while being selected to several all-state teams.

Her many memories span from hitting numerous home runs over the fence, to playing in the middle of the night at the Class A World Tournament, to pitching a no-hitter. However, the most memorable was being selected MVP of the 2010 National Tournament, 30  years after capturing her first MVP selection in 1982.

Mary also listed Toodie Moss, Wendy Fudge, Sheila Eversole, Barb Beimal along with numerous others, as the best players she has played with. She credits her father in leading her to the game of softball and teaching her the fundamentals. She thanks Tim Fetters for giving her a chance to continue playing competitively.

As a younger player, Mary had all the softball attributes - speed, power, defense and offensive technique - but as she got older, she provided even more to her team through her knowledge and being a good teammate. That is what she wants to be remembered for when her playing days end.

Mary realizes that many friendships and memories that the game of softball has bestowed upon her over the many years can be traced to the efforts and support of the USSSA, Brenda Paulson, great coaches, fans, tournament directors and most of all her family. She also thanks the Hall of Fame Committee for this tremendous honor.

2012 Female Player: Laurie "Pizza" Guinta

Laurie "Pizza" Guinta

As a Rockford native, Laurie began playing softball in the late 70s at Rockford East High School, where she earned all-conference honors. This was only the beginning of a 36-year softball career, which has seen “Pizza” play for numerous state and national championship teams.

She began playing after high school with the Girogi Girls in 1980, but soon moved to more competitive teams as Prairie Moon Saloon, Kinney Shoes, John Slack, Ace of Diamonds, Sandy’s Amoco/Cubbys, Lithiuian/Blackhawk, and Add A Bath Demarini/Kaisers.
After 30 years of USSSA play, she reflects that she has been very fortunate to have played on so many great teams and with so many great teammates.

With a career batting average of .610 and a primary position as pitcher, Laurie earned numerous all-state and all-NIT honors. Highlighted by an MVP selection during the 1989 Class C State Tournament.

She recognizes teammates, Wendy Fudge, Toodie Moss, Vicki Brown, and Meghan Murray as a few of the best players she has shared the field with over the years, while mentioning Al Dalhmier, Tim Gifford, and Dick Hahn among some the great coaches that she has had the privilege to play for over the years.

She thanks the USSSA with providing her the opportunities to have met so many great people that have developed into so many great friendships that have lasted a lifetime. She also thinks it is great that she has had the experience to have played with the second generation of some of her teammates.

Even though Laurie’s funniest softball experience landed her on her butt, while pitching and falling backwards over the pitching rubber, she got back on her feet and dusted herself off to be honored as one of the newest members of the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.

2013 Female Player: Jackie Fischer

Jackie Fischer

The word destiny would be the best way to describe Jackie Fischer, as she was destined to find success in the sport of softball. With God-given talent and her parents’ support and guidance, she began playing softball in 1976 with the Blue Lick Optimist team from Bullitt County, Kentucky.

This was the beginning of Jackie’s success, which led her to play in the Kentucky High School State Tournament with her North Bullitt High School team from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, which was soon followed by Division II success with Kentucky Wesleyan College, where she was named to All-Great Lakes Valley Conference teams.

After finishing her master’s degree at Indiana State University in Terra Haute, she took a teaching position at St. Mary’s of the Woods College while living in the small community of Kansas, Illinois. This move allowed her to begin playing with such notable adult teams as, Duggan’s Softball of Terre Haute, Indiana (94-98), Prime Time Softball of Paris, Illinois (99-05), Absolut Softball of Decatur, Illinois (06), and Stage II of St. Louis, Missouri (07-11).

Recently, she departed her position at St. Mary’s Of The Woods College and assumed the position as Dean of Student Affairs at Moberly College in Moberly, Missouri. These teams have provided her numerous championships at many National Inv., State Tournaments, and at the 2008 Class B World Tournament, where she was named to the All-World Tournament team.  This Stage II team was by far the most athletic team that she played for in her 40 years of softball participation, as she described it as an amazing degree of camaraderie among its members.

Jackie’s best offensive year at the plate occurred with Stage II in 2007, as she hit .714, while serving as EH and filling in at 1st base. Her countless number of all-tournament selections is highlighted by being named Dudley “Class C” NIT Most Valuable Player in 2002.  Among her most memorable softball experiences she listed winning the 2008 Women’s B World Tournament, winning the 1999 Triple Crown Tournament, winning the 2002 Dudley NIT at Rockford, and traveling to Russia to conduct softball clinics.

She also listed other outstanding players that she has shared the diamond with over the years beginning with Lisa Harvey, Dee Lake, Bobbi Mattingly, Jenn Jackson, Amanda Brown, Diana Chalfant, Sandy Fletcher, and Cindy Johnson. Her favorite coaches as, Chico Embry, Jerry Rhodes, Garvin Fehler, Ken Ayers, Diana Chalfant, Clyde Muncy, and Dee Lake.

Jackie wants to be remembered as a person that always contributed to her team’s success in a positive way, encouraged others to do their best, while showing respect for the game and everyone involved.

In explaining the opportunities that the USSSA has provided her over the years, she reflected on the opportunities that her parents have also provided her over the years, beginning with the 1990 USSSA Tour of Russia, Tallinn, Estonia, and Finland. As an assistant tournament director in Kentucky, she had the opportunity to interact with some great coaches, players, umpires and field personnel over the years. Her most meaningful however has revolved around the relationships that have been built over the years with teammates and opponents, as they reflect on specific tournaments, games, and plays that have made up their history together. The many years of softball travel has created a bond that runs deep among all that have contributed to Jackie being named to the Illinois Softball Hall Of Fame.

2014 Female Player: Madelynn Herbert

Madelynn Herbert

For a person who had to endure the softball challenges behind the plate for the Chicagoans for many years, Herbie has never attributed her contributions to the game as physical. Even while playing on those hundred-degree days, getting run into and getting stuck in the mud behind the dish, she feels her personal accomplishments were driven by the camaraderie that she shared with her teammates, opponents and officials of the game.

Herbie's trip to softball success began at an all-girls Catholic school in Chicago in the late 60s and early 70s. There is no way that she could have thought it would end at the Illinois Softball Hall of Fame in Rockford in 2014.

Herbie says, "I was lucky to have played for the Chicagoans for my entire career. In the 1980s the team won 3 Class A State Tournaments and captured a team best 8th Place in the World Tournament."

During her playing years, she was named to two All-Tournament NIT teams and was named to the State All-Tournament team. She sites seeing the Chicagoans team inducted into the 2008 Hall of Honor as being her most thrilling softball event to present.

She contributes that the Chicagoans team was always there for each other, no matter what. The Chicagoans had no real sponsors and we actually had fundraisers, car washes, candy sales, candlelight bowls, whatever it took to raise money to be able to play ball with each other. That team was all about friendship that have spanned over 35 years and am sure those that will last forever.

Herbie states, "I have been fortunate to have played with Hall of Famers like Karen Foley, Jan Wilson, Mary Malpede, Dee Susin, Coach Gloria Kolbusz and the remainder of the Hall of Honor Chicagoans team."

2017 Female Player: Mary Ellen Buckley

Mary Ellen Buckley

Mary Ellen “Buck” Buckley loved the game, loved to compete and hated to lose. Her goal was always about what she could do to help the team win, and she was privileged to play with teammates who shared her passion. There were years when she played 5 nights a week and tournaments every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day when summer ball ended with the World Tournament. But her season didn’t end with summer as she played Fall ball into November.

Buck played in leagues from St. Charles to Milwaukee and countless ball parks in between. She didn’t care how far she had to travel in order to take the field, and she was elated to be playing with the best of the best on Precision Erecting that included Wisconsin Hall of Famer Mary Biondi Kasinski and Laura “Flip” Fillipp, a 1996 Illinois USSSA Hall of Famer and National Hall of Famer.

Buck started her USSSA career in 1978 with teams such as Lee’s Deli, Racine Royals and joined Precision Erecting in 1981, one of the best Class A teams in Wisconsin. Buck and Flip were the only two Illinois players on this Wisconsin-based team, so they not only became teammates but traveling companions and lifelong friends. For six consecutive years Precision Erecting won every league and Wisconsin State Tournament in which they played. They traveled to all the big NITs in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, usually winning or finishing in the top five and occasionally doing it the “hard way” – through the loser’s bracket.

Buck was Precision’s left fielder and lead-off hitter with a .600 batting average and .800 on-base percentage. She was known for taking an extra base whenever she could and lived up to her team’s name when she played for Head First, a league team out of Franklin Park.

Flip sums up her longtime friend, “Buck and Kathy Rile (teammate from Cannon Illusions) were the most competitive people I have ever played with.” That’s quite the compliment as Flip has played with many other National contenders including Steele Sports and Little Caesar’s with many talented athletes.

Mary Ellen also volunteered at numerous USSSA National Youth Clinics in Oklahoma and Virginia for Mildred Burrell, former USSSA Women’s and Youth National Director. It was at these clinics that buck realized how much she enjoyed working with kids, and years later she was able to realize her dream of doing it full time when she gave up working as a Medical Technologist and a medical sales rep to become a science teacher.

Always a competitor at heart, Buck took what she learned on the softball field and applied it to academic competition becoming a Science Olympiad coach during her first year of teaching. Her team won its first of six consecutive Illinois State titles in 2011 and went on to win back-to-back National Championships in 2016 and 2017.

Buck sums up her softball career, “The game of softball taught me about life and was my life in my 20s. I learned about responsibility, time management, organization and the value of friendships. The lessons I learned have shaped who I am as a person and who I am as a coach today.”

2015 Female Player: Meghan Murray

Meghan Murray

Meghan Murray started playing slow pitch softball at the age of five and converted to fast pitch when she entered Minnetonka High School in Minnesota. In her senior year, this starring high school shortstop was awarded a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

While playing shortstop all four years at Notre Dame, Meghan was a two-time Academic All-American. Under her leadership, The Irish were the Big East Conference Champions three times and she was named the Big East Player of the Year. After graduation she played one year in the Fast Pitch Pro League with Tampa.

Following her fast pitch career she moved to Illinois in 1999 and started playing slow pitch again for such teams as Guervo Gold, Add-a-Bath and Blackhawk Athletic Club. Meghan always played shortstop and maintained a .500 batting average but she doesn’t remember how many home runs she hit over the years besides a couple memorable ones were on the “bigger fences” at Forest Hills Diamonds. 

On an individual level she was chosen to the All-Tournament Teams in National Invitational Tournaments in 2003, 2004 and 2006 while playing with Cuervo Gold and Add-A-Bath. In 2006, 2008 and again in 2009 she was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Great Lakes National Tournaments. In 2007, while participating in the Mixed State Tournament, she was awarded All-State Team honors. 

Even though Meghan was a great player and a Field Director/Activities Director on and off the field, some of her most treasured memories are those post-game parking lot parties. One of her favorites included five teams (some from out-of-state), 10 umpires and circle of about 70 people - highlighted by a pizza delivery! Playing in front of her family in Minnesota at a Great Lakes National Tournament was another highlight and the “whole team going to her parent’s house for dinner after the game was amazing”. 

“I love softball. I have since I was a young girl. Fast pitch gave me the opportunity to attend and play at Notre Dame, slow-pitch gave me the opportunity to meet and forge lifelong bonds with friends. I’m committed to paying it forward." 

Meghan is now a volunteer coach for the Lake Forest Softball Program and co-chairs the Laurie Wilson Scholarship Fund started after the passing of her dear friend and teammate.  “The Fund raises money and invests it in young student athletes to ensure they have the opportunity to participate in athletics and learn the same life-lessons I’ve learned,” she added.

Meghan retired in 2012 but her name still appears on the Add-a-bath roster every year, just in case! You never know when you’re going to need a pretty good hitting, retired shortstop, a natural team leader and certainly an Activities Director at the ballpark.

Welcome to the IL USSSA Hall of Fame Meghan Murray, you certainly deserve this honor!

2016 Female Player: Casey Clutch-Creakbaum

Casey Clutch-Creakbaum

Remembering the journey is important to Casey Clutch, and staying the course enabled her to keep competing in Women's Fastpitch at the elite level for 11 seasons for the Indiana Slammers (inducted into the 2015 Illinois USSSA Hall of Honor).

Casey joined the Slammers in 2003 after her sophomore year of college as she wanted to feel the fun of playing summer ball again. She quickly became a leader of the team and eventually mentored the younger pitchers along the way. From 2007-2013, the Slammers had a record of 105-12 in USSSA tournaments and Casey's USSSA pitching record was 26-0, with a 1.03 ERA with 14 shutouts in 42 appearances. Her overall record for those same 7 years was 43-2, with a 1.07 ERA with 19 shutouts in 75 appearances.

In USSSA play, Casey is a five-time Women's Illinois State Champion (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), three-time Women's World Series Champion (2008, 2009, 2011) and a 2012 World Series runner-up. She also received numerous USSSA individual awards, including 2012 Illinois State Tournament MVP, 2011 World Series All-Tournament Team, 2009 World Series Outstanding Pitcher and 2009 Illinois State Tournament Team.

At 13, Casey started playing travel ball and was impressed with the pitchers at that level of play, including the ones she had caught that summer. She decided she wanted to learn how to pitch so her high school team could be competitive throughout her career, and she felt she would have more impact on the mound versus behind the plate. She and her dad, John, took their gloves down that journey together and sought pitching instructors and clinic opportunities to learn the craft. Casey learned quickly and handled half of the varsity pitching load her freshman year at Frankton High School in Indiana. In her junior year, she led the team to their first ever State Championship in 2000 (Class 1A).

In 2001, she was named Indy Star Metro North Softball Player of the Year with a high school career record of 64-16, 0.35 ERA, 44 shutouts, 900 K's, 10 no-hitters and 3 perfect games, along with a .431 batting average.

Casey's career continued as a 4-year starting D-1 pitcher at the University of Evansville with the team winning the 202 Missouri Valley Conference tournament and a trip to the NCAA regionals. In UE history, Casey is 4th in wins with 47, 3rd in shutouts with 16 and 4th in saves with 5. Casey was a two-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete and named to the 2004 MVC All-Tournament Team.

In 2002, she was selected at an open tryout to attend the USA Women's National Team Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. Pitching for and against Olympic players was an amazing experience and a spectacular opportunity.

Casey graduated cum laude in 2005 with a BS in exercise science from UE and graduated summa cum laude in 2007 with a MS in kinesiology from Texas Women's University with an emphasis in coaching. She is a 4-star NFCA Master Coach.

Even though she is retired from playing, Casey continues to be involved in softball by providing softball instruction through her business Clutch Athletic Performance, Inc.

Casey lives in Fishers, IN with her husband Eddie Creakbaum and their two sons Eli (5) and Alex (1).