In the game of slow pitch softball any player who has the ability to hit for a high average and power can help a team reach lofty goals.

Leon Kreher, of New Athens, used his talents for 22 seasons as a member of a solid downstate Belleville Budweiser team, playing along side his brother Mike and shortstop Mike O'Connor, who was a USSSA Hall of Fame inductee in 2002.

An outfielder, he hit for an impressive .625 average for his career and as far as home runs, he probably hit on average of one or more per game. Kreher, who still competes in a 40 and over league, says his club's goals didn't change much from year to year.

"Our team goal was to make it to a USSSA World Tournament every year," said Kreher. "In 1984, we won the Illinois USSSA Class B State and (finished second to Powers) in the Class B Divisional Championship Tournament (at Rockford). I played in a World Tournament every year from 1975 through 1992, most were Class B with two years being Class A."

In that 1984 Illinois Class B State Tournament, Kreher brought forth a solid effort that helped him be named to the All-Tournament team. He lists his most exciting moment in his career the fact that the team dropped their second game of that tournament, but that they were able to come back to still win the title.

In the late 1970's USSSA League, Kreher was name most valuable player three times, while also leading the league in average and home runs in one of those seasons.

As far as his competitive playing days and the Illinois USSSA, Kreher has nothing but praise.

"Playing softball was a great experience in my life," Kreher said. "I would play about 200 games a year. The Illinois USSSA is well organized and they have great tournaments. I really enjoyed playing in the game of softball."