Chicago 16" Hall of Fame

Class of 2009

Monica Skowronski - Female Player

With three older brothers who were always at the park, it should come as no surprise that Monica Skowronski starting playing ball at an early age. It was at the local park that some older girls who were looking to put a team together noticed her talents and asked her to play for them. She started playing organized softball at fourteen with the Heartbreakers in a 16-and under league at Lawler Park. She stayed with them for a few years before joining other teams to play in different leagues. She played with We've Got Style in Bedford Park, Shamrocks in Forest Park, Psychos in Worth, and Irish Express in Y-Me tournaments.
In the late 1980s Skowronski started playing with Bidayos in leagues at Worth, Alsip, Blue Island and in countless tournaments. Bidayos played in the Grant Park Tournament and won it nine out of ten years during the '90s and into 2001. During those years, they also played in and won numerous Metro ASA tournament titles. Bidayos also won numerous USSSA tournaments in the '90s.
Monica played short center as her dominant position throughout her career. Her teammates remember that a ball hit to her position was most assuredly an out. She had a strong arm that racked up countless double plays and numerous assists as she threw runners out from deep in the hole. Offensively, she batted third or fourth and hit over 500 homeruns. Whenever she came to the plate, the outfielders would back up as far as they could so they could play a four-player outfield. If she couldn't hit the ball over their heads, she would either "dump" the ball over the infield or hit a line-drive to the opposite field. She won 1st team offense and defense honors in ASA Metro tournaments and was selected to numerous USSSA All-tournament teams for offense and defense. She also won the USSSA MVP for offense.
Skowronski attended Nazareth Academy and played softball there for four years. She later played for Triton College. She finished her college playing days at the University of Illinois where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She teaches elementary school and lives in Portage, Indiana.

Accepting her place into the Chicago Sixteen Inch Hall of Fame Skowronski thanked a long list of people both friends and teammates plus a couple of opponents for all their help and friendships over the years. She especially thanked her parents by saying, "My number one supporters my mom and dad. They have traveled many miles throughout my playing career. If they gave out frequent driver miles I believe that they could travel the world for free for as many games as they came to watch me play. I have hope to make you proud and I am proud to have you for my parents. I love you."

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