A Tip of the Cap

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. It commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other family members who have died. This Memorial Day I would like to remember those associated with Kenosha softball that have passed on.

Softball first became significant in Kenosha in the early 1960s, continued to flourish during the ‘70s and ultimately exploded in the ‘80s and into the ‘90s. Games were being played on eight city diamonds and at seven private parks each night of the week. This was the “Golden Age” of Kenosha Softball.

In recent years we have lost many of the people that were an integral part of this popular game. With the help of several area softball savants I was able to compile the following list of these special folks.

Keith Anthonson – Player
Jim Darula – Player
Bea Dinan – Sponsor
Vern Ekern – Sponsor
Sacramento "Kenny" Garza – Player
Tom Gascoigne, Sr. – Manager
Walter Glass – Player
Russ Guarascio – Player, Umpire
Mark Issetts – Player
Dennis “Doc” Kalberg – Player, Umpire
Herb Kolmos - Player
Darrell Kozel – Player
Jim Krifka – Player
Corky Lettsome – Manager
Art “Shorty” Llanas – Player
Ricky Llanas – Player
Jim Mason – Manager
Leila Mercado – Player
Don Newport – Umpire
Sam “Finney” Perry – Organizer, Sponsor
George Pflueger – Umpire
Bob Reschke – Manager, Player
Nick Scavone – Manager
Jeff Schneeberger – Manager, Player
Tom Sorensen – Player, Sponsor, Manager
Dave Spitzer – Player
Randy Warnock – Player
Jim Webber - Player, Umpire

Although some of the above have served our country, that is not what this list is about. On this Memorial Day I want to honor them for helping to make the great game of softball something special in the city of Kenosha. A tip of the cap to all of them for providing many wonderful memories.


My thanks go out to Pat Hegewald, Jimmy Gentile and Leon Rosko for helping me put together this list. My sincerest apologies to any that may have been missed. Until next time…from the booth.