2023 Male Player: Ryan Thiede

This North Aurora first baseman/Additional Hitter started playing slowpitch after playing college baseball. In 2002 he started participating in local leagues. In 2003 he played C/D with Icehouse Dogs and the Fury. By 2004 Ryan made the jump to Class B with a local team, Creative Design. After one season with Creative he joined the Rope Club.  

After the 2005 season he was asked to play with KA Softball where he stayed for two seasons. This was the turning point in his USSSA Conference career. 

In 2008 Ryan joined Rope Club (A/B) in which he was 5th in the nation with a .773 on base percentage earning him All Conference honors. After the 2008 Men’s Major World Series Ryan was approached by John Daniels of Long Haul Softball Club a Major team. After one season with Long Haul, he was asked to play for one of the most premier teams in Major ball at the time, Dan Smith Softball out of California. With Dan Smith he represented Louisville Slugger and marked a .763 on base percentage earning him first team All-Conference honors.  

After an unexpected split Ryan transitioned back to Class A playing for long time sponsor (2018 IL USSSA Hall of Famer in the Sponsor Category), Eric Weller of EWS. In that year this slugger hit .750 placing him in the top ten in the nation once again.  

After putting up those numbers Ryan was asked to play Major softball once again by National USSSA Hall of Famer, Brett Helmer of Laser Vision Softball. There Ryan played two years winning a Major World Series in 2013.  

2014 would mark his last season of Conference softball and local team, Precision of Joliet, ran by fellow 2017 IL Hall of Famer William Wax. In his last season Ryan would win his second World Seies Championship earning All World Tournament honors. 

From 2006-2014 Ryan was a 16-time All-Tournament Team member and a two time All World Tournament selection. Ryan also served as a player representative for bat manufactures, Louisville Slugger, Miken Sports, and Easton Sports.   

2023 Male Player: Don Schlenbecker

Don Schlenbecker from Elk Grove Village played USSSA softball for 10 years, starting with Players INC in 1998. He joined KA Softball in 2001 and quickly jumped into the 2 spot in the lineup where he would remain for the next 7 seasons roaming the outfield with Dave Shaff and Lincoln Adams for 99.9% of the games. In his time with KA, he regularly hit over .700 en route to winning multiple All-Tournament Team selections and Offensive MVPs at the State, NIT, and National levels.  

Between 2001 and 2007 KA placed in the top 3 of over 50% of all tournaments they played in, and Don credits this to the type of players that embodied KA Softball. “We always knew that we would compete at the highest level, because when you prepare like our players did, your confidence remains high and steady even in the challenging times. Our guys just worked harder at their craft and stepped into their roles with more confidence than most of the teams we played.”  

Don greatest memories are the relationships that were built with the many players that came and went during his time on the field. He is extremely grateful for Pete Digioia and Players Inc Softball for introducing him to the game. “Pete is a lifelong friend, and a true leader in the softball community.” He appreciates the opportunity that was given to him to play for KA Softball by Ken Adams and Dave Shaff, and he feels blessed to have been a part of a group of guys who became family on the road, and to have been a little piece of Illinois softball that helped lay the foundation for where the younger players have taken it. 

2023 Male Player: Mike "Mac"McCormick

Mike "Mac" McCormick began playing USSSA Softball in its infancy in 1976 in the USSSA Class C program. Two of those teams were USSSA Class C State Champions. He would move to the Class B level with Hollywood, Body Language, and Rogers' Drywall, participating in A and B tournaments. 

“Mac” also played in the two best leagues in Rockford, one being the Thursday Night Challenge Cup League at Forest Hills Diamonds which was considered one of the top softball leagues in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. He had a career batting average of .610 and played in numerous All-Star Games.

His first Class C State Title came in 1981 with Whalen Construction, followed by the 1983 Class C State Title with Lithuanian Club, when he received defensive and All-Tournament honors. In 1984, he played the outfield for the Mixed Competitive NIT Co-Rec team, "Port-o-Let", which went on to defeat Steeles' of Ohio for a NIT title, collecting All-Tournament honors. Mac said, “The Co-Rec tourney was memorable because the team was put together in a few short weeks. We wanted to field a team that would be competitive.” 

Mac’s biggest thrill came in 1987 while playing with Rogers' Drywall and winning the Class B State Title against a tough and scrappy St. Claire “A’s” team from Southern Illinois. Mac went on to receive All-State and All-Tournament honors. 

“Being selected and inducted into the Hall of Fame would not be possible if not for my family, friends, and teammates that surrounded me all those playing years. I am truly honored to be part of the USSSA Slo-Pitch Hall of Fame. Without the USSSA Softball Organization and its people, us ex-high school and college players would not have had a place to go and retire. It was a great alternative to this game we loved to play.”