For over the last 33 years Charlie Baumgartner has been spending his summers patrolling the outfields of Illinois softball fields.  Starting in 1972 Baumgartner has spent twenty-two of those years have been playing in the USSSA.  Besides the outfield, which he lists as his main position, Baumgartner has played second base and catcher, with some time on the mound.  He has played on such top teams as Lantern of Naperville, Oswego Inn, Sands of Ottawa and Plano Softball Club.

Baumgartner a player who could hit the ball to any field has hit for a career .650 lifetime batting average, but claims have to never have hit a home run.

“I am not a power hitter, so I learned to spray the ball to any part of the field,” said Baumgartner a true team player.  “I just try to get on base whether it is a walk, error, or base hit.”

The 1994 season had many great memories for Baumgartner who was playing in the Over 40 Masters program for the Plano Softball Club.  They won the state championship, but it was almost not to be as Baumgartner explains.

“In the 1994 Over 40 Masters State Tournament we gave up a seven run lead in the top of the last inning.  But then in the bottom of the seventh we scored three runs to beat the Foxes of Decatur to advance to the championship round, which we won.”

Besides the satisfaction of the team victory and championship, it was also exciting for Baumgartner on a personal level as well.  He had a very solid tournament at the plate going 20 for 25 and was rewarded by being named to the All State Tournament team.

Softball can be competitive way to escape the everyday grid and be with friends.  This is something that Baumgartner felt that USSSA softball provided.

“I play softball to be competitive and win, but if not it is a great way to meet friends, be with friends and forget about the daily hassles of work,” said Baumgartner.  “In over 20 years of playing softball in the USSSA, I think they have done a fine job of running tournaments.  Along with setting up the different classes to make it competitive to all teams involved.”