Chicago 16" Hall of Fame

Class of 2009

Lane Niemann - Manager

Lane Niemann started the Rizza Rockers in 1986. He managed and played for them until 1999. They played in leagues from North Riverside to Mt. Prospect and won league championships in North Riverside, Clyde Park, and LaGrange and tournament titles in the Suburban Life, Forest Park, Clyde Park, and Hawthorne Park tournaments. They won the Forest Park No-Glove Nationals in 1998 and finished in the top four in the ASA Major Nationals four times.
The Rockers prided themselves on being a family oriented team, with players' wives and children attending most games. Additionally, they were fortunate to have Hall of Fame sponsor Joe Rizza backing their team. He made sure that his players always looked good on the diamond. Besides managing the Rockers, Niemann also managed and played for Kids softball and the Riddlers from 2001 to 2004. Despite his many successes on the field, Niemann's greatest memory was introducing so many young players to the game of softball.
He is the deputy chief of police for the North Riverside Police Department. He had his wife, Laura, live in Willowbrook, Illinois. They have five children - April, Carissa, Lanette, Olivia, and Lane Jr.

Hall of Famer Deb Cornacchia introduced Lane Niemann the manager of the Rockers Softball Club which Cornacchia was the team scorekeeper by saying, "Lane introduced a lot of young players who went on to become great players and some that stayed with him for a very long time. Lane is an outstanding family man." She closed by saying, "The sixteen Inch Hall of fame honors Lane Niemann."

Niemann in his acceptance remarks said, "We did win Forest Park one time. One magical time in 1998 the Rockers came through and won Forest Park. Its a pretty cool thing." Niemann went on to say thank you to the Chicago Sixteen Inch Hall of Fame for this honor and a huge thank you to all his players over the years that have made this night possible.

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