Slow-pitch softball saga continues for Lentine family

Tom Lentine seemed destined to lead a slow-pitch softball life.

As the oldest of eight children, he was raised watching and eventually playing with his father, legendary Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Famer Frank Lentine.

“I probably started going to the games when I was 4. I was the batboy, went to all of the national tournaments,” Tom Lentine said. “I started playing when I was 17 or 18.”

For 40-plus years, Lentine has continued playing daily as he approaches his 59th birthday in August. And his joy of slow-pitch softball has been passed along to his three children – sons Tommy and Chris and daughter Ashley.

Lentine and Tommy Lentine currently are teammates on the March Manufacturing team, which will play at the 57th Annual No Gloves National Softball Tournament. Chris Lentine will be playing with the 45s.

During the mid-2010s, Lentine and all three children regularly played together for the Impact team and manager Stan Patek.

“It’s a dream come true (playing with them). My daughter plays with us, too, if we’re shorthanded,” Lentine said.

“Winning nationals in 2009 (in Crystal Lake) was probably the biggest highlight for me. Forest Park is still on my bucket list. I’d like to win one before I stop playing 16-inch at the Majors level. A couple of thirds, fourth, but not a championship.”

Being among the handful of players still able to play with their children adds to the enjoyment. Lentine’s understanding wife Michelle makes it a complete family affair. She regularly attends games as “the big team mom,” and also because it’s a chance “to see the kids.”

There’s also the community of the entire slow-pitch family.

“To me, it’s the biggest return out there. The friends you make in softball last a lifetime. It not only helps in softball but it helps you in the job market, everything,” Lentine said.

“You can’t go anywhere and not run into someone you’ve played with, you’ve played against. It’s funny. Now I’m playing against the kids whose fathers I played against. They’ll ask, ‘Did you play against my dad? And you’re still playing?’ That’s how it works.”

When Lentine first started playing, he was an outfielder. Now he serves as player-manager and generally pitches, catches and is an extra hitter.

Lentine is content to “let the young kids run around (in the outfield),” but he thinks offensively he’s as good as ever.

“I think I’m a better hitter now at 58 or 59 then when I was 25, 30,” Lentine said. “I think I see the field better. I have a better understanding of what I can, can’t do. When I was younger, I kind of pigeonholed myself and now I’ve expanded (my range).”

Lentine’s children were standout athletes at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, where he served as athletic director until retiring in 2020. This coming school year, Lentine becomes interim athletic director at Elmwood Park High School.

Tommy and Chris, one year apart in school, played baseball at Montini and were members of state championship football teams. After Tommy redshirted as a college freshman following shoulder surgery, they were baseball teammates for four years at Ave Maria University (Naples, Fla.). Ashley was a Montini softball standout and played at Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa).

For the March team, Lentine calls Tommy the “Swiss Army knife” — playing infield, outfield, “whatever makes the team better.” Chris also provides multiple roles for the 45s.

The last couple of years Tommy has added responsibilities.

“I told him I’m at the end of my career. I want this to keep going so he’s going to have to take more of a managerial role,” Lentine said. “He’s done a great job with that.”

At 85, Frank Lentine still is active in the local softball world, umpiring four days a week. For its 50th anniversary, the American Softball Association named Frank Lentine among the top 22 players of the last half century.

Frank Lentine played in the No Glove National Tournament from 1965-81, winning two championships with the Bobcats and one with the Stompers along with numerous titles in Forest Park. Initially retiring in 1982, he made a comeback in 1995 with Seniors softball, adding 29 more national championships. 

Frank Lentine retired from competitive softball at age 77.

“My goal is to play until at least 78. I’ve got to beat him at something. I’ll never catch him as far as championships,” Tom Lentine said laughing. “The one thing about me and my boys is we can hit. If you can hit, you can play in this game a long time.” 

John Rice contributed to this story.