For more than two decades of USSSA softball, Belvidere’s Mark Austin patrolled the right fields in many ball parks and complexes during the summer months. He was playing fast-pitch softball before some of his friends persuaded to switch gears.

“Some of the guys I went to high school with coaxed me to switch over to slow-pitch,” remembered Austin.

Austin has suited up for such teams as Rockford Stars, Park Town Hall and Rogers Drywall in his 22 years on the diamond. A pull-hitter, he batted for a .525 average in his career and clubbed an amazing 750 round-trippers.

“He was a big guy and a power hitter, but he was also a smart hitter,” said Park Town Hall manager Jerry Fiordelisi. “He had more speed for a big guy than people realized. When he got on base he could move and was pretty fast. He was a very good player."

In both the 1976 and 1977 Class A State tournaments he was named to the all-tournament team played on the Rockford Stars team that finished a respectable fourth place at the 1978 Class A National tournament.

The 1981 season was a very special season for Austin and his Park Town Hall teammates. Playing along side pitcher John Wood, USSSA Hall of Famer, Park Town Hall won the Class B Divisional in Milwaukee, with Austin having a fine all-around tournament and being named to the all-tournament team. The team survived the championship game despite playing in the mud in a rain bathed tournament. Later that day he followed solid Divisional play by being selected the Most valuable player.

“We weren’t the most talented team, but the chemistry was very, very good,” Austin said. “We played Tuesdays and Thursdays in Rockford, we just all played well together.”

In 1984 Park Town Hall finished with a fourth place finish at Class B Divisional, then seven years later Austin came up big again. He helped lead Rogers Drywall to the 1991 Class B State Championship. Austin was rock-solid at the plate and in the field, efforts that helped him be named to the all-tournament team as well as voted most valuable player for the tournament.

Austin felt that USSSA softball gave him a chance to play at a high level and create lasting relationships.

“(USSSA softball) had the best competition,” Austin said. “It was a great way to meet people and a chance to see various parts of out country.”