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 plays 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. This era is notable for the debut of future stars Steve Guarini, Chris Minor, Travis Platt, Brett McCollum and Jeff Wilson.
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. This era is notable for the debut of future stars Nestor Toro, Nathan DeRohan, Joey Ratliff, Ross Jensen and Zach Smole.
2007–2011: A Deep Run
After finishing fourth in 2007, the Club release team captains Chris Minor and Steve Guarini. The former were replace with Rick Garza and Nestor Toro, the two 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 base-to-base, defense, and speed rather than home runs to win games. Shortly after Garza and Toro arrival, 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. This era is notable for the debut of future stars Nate Alden, Chris Olson, Matt Mitchell, Joe Yonke, James Yonke and Clark Collins.
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.
2012–2016: Dawn of a New Era
With the 2012 season saw the birth of the more lucrative youth movement that brought in rookies Thomas Wolfer, Matt Cross, Kyle Risinger, Brandon Tengler, 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 with ( 7 ) summer league championships in a 3 year span. A third place overall finish in 03’ a second place overall finish in 04’ and then finally winning the All-City Playoff Tournament Championship Series in 2005. This era is notable for the debut of future stars Cal Haley, Aaron Archibald, Jake Economos, Mike Gould, Bradley Daniel, Ryan Siembal, Matt Boley, Tyler Henkel, Adam Tagli, Danny Morales, Brad Shippee and Evan Berliner.
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.
2017–2021: The Wuhan
The goal for the WHAT? Sftbll in 2017 is a team based more on defense, speed and pitching, a move made more likely by the in-season pick-ups of Evan Bierman, Chris DeRue, Kevin Matesi, Tim Matesi, coupled with the requisite power and Coach Vasquez unabashed energy. The 017’ the Club won both Wheeling spring and summer Sunday Leagues and the Chicago Tune-Up Tournament 017 and 2021. In the 2019 the Club won the Mundelein Fall League Playoff Tournament. This era had brought us a second youth movement in future stars Connor Fitzgerald, Brad Callahan, Tommy Dubicki, Drake Larriuz and Vic Tuccy.
2022-present: Moving Forward
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