Since 1984, Joliet resident Larry Sheppard has played USSSA softball as an outfielder, infielder and pitcher in tournaments ranging from the Joliet City Championship to Major tournaments around the country. Along the way, the strong, spray hitting leftie has forged a .636 average that’s also produced 450 home runs. He’s contributed his sterling skills to three USSSA World Series teams, including a World championship Class A team, and five California or Illinois State title teams. He’s played for and against some of the best local and national teams in existence at the time, including for 1992 USSSA World Class A champion Herb’s Dynasty, California’s Sun Valley and DJ Sports, Joe Black’s, the Kamakazees, Illusions, Ken’s Beverage, and Tron Piping.

Larry had a 17-7 record in USSSA State, Divisional and World tournament play and 58-21 over all on the mound. He has been named the Most Valuable Player in 13 Class A or B tournaments, and 14 overall. Nationally he’s been all-tournament at 11 Class AA to B NITs and Divisionals, and been named Best Defensive Player five times. In Illinois he’s been named all-state seven times. He is a member of the California’s 1980’s all-decade team as the left fielder.

Some athletes are just blessed with God-given ability in their youth, and Sheppard was certainly one of those people. But not every one is able to hang onto God’s gifts. Sheppard worked diligently to do so.

“Probably the thing I most admire about Larry was how hard he worked to keep his game at a high level,” said Don Loid, manager of Tron’s Piping. “And he worked just as hard to keep the team’s game alive.”

Sheppard, he said, is also, first and foremost, a team player.

“He’s one of the best team guys I’ve seen in a long, long time,” said Loid.

“I’ve had a lot of great thrills,” said Sheppard. “But four stand out in my mind.”

At the top of that list is his World title as part of Herb’s Dynasty. That is followed by a win over national powerhouse Ritch’s Superior in the 1993 World Series. Additionally, Sheppard fondly remembers his two USSSA Class B Illinois State titles with Illusions and Ken’s Beverage. Sheppard has played in 10 Joliet City tournaments, winning four titles and three runner’s up, with titles in three of the last four years. Along the way, he has also umpired for 11 years.

A well traveled veteran of top flight softball in four different organizations, Sheppard appreciates USSSA softball, but would like to see greater cooperation between the organizations.

“Players should now be classified A, B and C, with a list for all four sanctioning organizations,” he said, one of just many ideas he’s developed in his years of softball. Ideas, he said, are crucial to the survival of the game.

“New ideas are needed because the level of participation is going down,” he said.