2012  S e a s o n

The road that led the WHAT? Men’s Softball Club through 2012 was straight uphill. After three years of trades, injuries and ineffectiveness decimated what had been one of the Lake County softball league’s top teams in 2008 and 2009, the club entered 2012 with only the most modest of goals.

Gone were the dreams of contention that had slowly eroded in 2010 and ‘011. Gone, too, was Matt Mitchell, who had been in the dugout’s lead seat for four seasons. What remained was one of the youngest rosters in the County, one that only grew younger as 2012 wore on. The WHAT? Softball Club had a new Lower Squad in the organization at season’s beginning and a new farm system in place at season’s end.

Summer League Standing

A season that reached milestone after milestone ended in a perfect way Saturday, September 29th, from the Wisconsin Mens Softball Tournament Sanctions held at the VFW Softball Complex in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
For the first time in program history, the WHAT? Mens Softball team won a weekend Slow-Pitch Mens Softball Tournament Championship.

They shot out of the gate like a cannon ball — single, single, single — and they jumped around inside and out of the dugout as Billy Bonnes crossed home plate with the winning run. The WHAT? Squad defeated – Team Fubar club 24-23 and completed the Round-Robbie Mens Fall Tournament. Among the top-performers were outfielders Thomas Wolfer, Joe Yonke – Infielders Matt Hermsen and Brandon Tengler. Also earning All-Tournament team honors were Ralph Lozano.

Upper Squad Summer Stats

Lower Squad Summer Stats

Most  Valuable  Player

The hard-hitting Clark Collins posted the highest batting average on his Squad at .652 and pounded 13 home runs while driving in 75 to win Lake County most cherished individual award, which is based on performance and team pride during the regular season.

It was a brilliant comeback season for Collins, besides his batting prowess, the 26-year-old first basemen was widely credited with helping to guide a new core of younger ballplayers come together, and return to a competitive level.

Receiving twenty first-place votes, Clark Collins batted ( .652 Avg / .701 OBP/ 1.737 OPS – 26 XB, 13 HR, 75 RBIs ).

Rookie of the Year

Thomas Wolfer was not the typical rookie, as he had been playing Mens Softball in Libertyville for years. Nonetheless, the 19-year-old Wolfer still counts as a rookie according to the Lake County Softball Association. It is hard to imagine a rookie accomplishing more than Thomas Wolfer. He was selected to the All-Star team with ( .574 Avg / .625 OBP/ 1.672 OPS – 57 EB, 21 HR, 106 RBI, 124 Runs ) slash line.

Wolfer made his team debut on October 29th. 2011 against I.D.K. Squad at SportsPark, A’ going ( 3 for 3, with 2 Runs ). Collected his first Home Run on Saturday February 18th, 2012 vs Barley 12 softball club at Myrtle Beach S.C. Field 4. Collected his first winning base hit on Saturday September 29th, 2012 vs Legacy Softball at New Berlin Wi. Field 2.

Team Memorabilia

This is a 2012 authentic softball trading card of the Rebels' Right Fielder Andy Olson and Second Basemen Brandon Tengler. SP Chirography Card represents Brandon Tengler Sporting News All Star Award, Gold Glove Award and Utility Player of the Year. There is a certificate of authenticity from the CEO of Softball Trading Cards on the back of the card.