T i m e L i n e
Establishment
The history of the WHAT? Men’s Softball Club of Lake County Adult Men’s Softball League began on November 1, 1997 with Scott Wilson, a longtime fan of the game, whose legwork and lobbying started after the city leagues expanded in 1997 with the organization of the Waukegan Park District Limited. In 1999, this organization won the franchise rights to participate in the upcoming season.
Early 21st century
The Club began play in 2000 on Thursday Nights, Waukegan. In their inaugural game, on May 6, 2000, the Club was defeat by Jester’s Pub, 16 – 7 score, in the Spring Tune-Up tournament. May 16, 2000 the Club play their first official game on Webster N.E. diamond; the club loses both games to the Bally Muck. The Club went 9–11 in their first season, highlighted by Adam Miller, who won the Rookie of the Year Award.
2003–2005: Staying in the Picture
The Club maintained a reputation as one of the Leagues top teams throughout the mid-2000s. The club posted a winning record in three of the four seasons following its 2003 and 2005 All-City Playoff runs, while developing young stars such as Brad Jensen, Rick Garza, Ralph Lozano and Kevin Lowery. The Club finished the 2003 season with a 32–8 record (second-best in the lake county leagues) but did not qualify for the final rounds, finishing fifth in their level.
2006–2009: A deep run, and building for the future
After finishing fourth in 2007, the Club fired team captains Chris Minor and Steve Guarini. The former was supplanted by Rick Garza and Nestor Toro, the guys who determination was to only wanting to win. The newly-formed captains had a hard-nosed approach to managing and espoused a playing style that focused on pitching, defense, and speed rather than home runs to win games. Shortly after Garza and Toro arrival, which coincided with the maturation of Nate Alden and Marcus Sims, the Club began to show signs of consistent success. The Club won consecutive division titles in 2008 and 2009. In the 2008 season, the Club set a team record with average runs scored per game. However, each of these titles was followed by a third-round playoff elimination,
2010–2011: End of an Era
The Club followed up their All-City Playoff runs with an underachieving, injury-riddled campaign after campaign. The Club had an inconsistent season in which they continually finish around third place and ultimately finished with a 1–6 playoffs record, and out of playoff contention. This era is notable for the debut of future stars Chris Olson, Matt Mitchell, Joe Yonke, James Yonke and Clark Collins.
2012–2015: The beginning of the Younger era
The Club were broken up after the 2011 season when an aging infielders Matt Mitchell, Chuck Breuscher, Geoff Killen and Ron Inden alongside with prospects Chris Olson and Rick Garza all had decided to test free agency, and leave the organization. With the 2012 season saw the birth of the more lucrative youth movement that brought in rookies Thomas Wolfer, Matt Boley, Evan Berliner, Kyle Risinger and Bradley Daniel and many more.
The 2013 season saw a temporary end to the losing, when Club captain Thomas Wolfer, in his second full season with the club, guided the team to its first winning record since 2009 and finished in first place in seven out of twelve summer league divisional titles in Waukegan in a 3 year span. A third place overall finish in 03’ a second place overall finish in 04’ and then finally ending there championship drought to win the All City playoff tournament summer league championship series in Waukegan.
2016–2020: Rock Bottom
From the 2016 season through the 2020 season, the Club posted four consecutive average seasons, the longest streak in team history. Some highlights were winning the 2016 Libertyville Thursday night league title. In 2017 the Club won both Wheeling spring and summer Sunday league championship and the Chicago Spring Tune-Up Tournament. In the 2019 the Club won the Mundelein Fall League playoffs tournament. This era had brought us a second youth movement in future stars Connor Fitzgerald, Brad Callahan, Tommy Dubicki and Drake Larriuz. Key prospects to the team included Aaron Archibald, Kyle Risinger, Ryan Siembal and Cal Haley all started to blend together with outstanding performance. In 2019, Global International Sports Review predicted the Club would win the 2020 All City playoff tournament through their strategic rebuilding process.
2021-present: Risinger takes over
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