One of Morton's best softball players, former player of the year, dies at age 46

No one preached positivity to her Morton softball teammates like Lori Greiner Grover.

Her signature motto – "Remember your HAT" (hard work, attitude, team) – will be forever engrained into the minds of those who played with Greiner. And those lasting memories of Greiner live on following her death at age 46 on June 12 due to complications from leukemia, according to her obituary.

“I don’t know that there was a day that Lori did not walk that walk,” former Morton softball coach Gigi MacIntosh said. “She always worked extremely hard. She was a very talented athlete. She was athletic and she worked hard, so that’s why she achieved all she achieved. She had a great attitude.

“… Arguably one of the best (softball players) to come out of the tri-county area, for sure.”

Greiner, who was named the 1996 Journal Star softball player of the year, was in remission from leukemia "but ultimately succumbing to complications," according to her obituary.

During her prep career, the four-year varsity starting short stop was a fixture on the all-Mid-Illini Conference, JS All-Area and Chicago Tribune all-state teams. Greiner was a member of Morton’s first three of five successive Class AA state trophies as state runners-up in 1994 and 1996 to go with a third-place finish in 1995.

MacIntosh says Greiner held every career hitting record except triples upon her graduation in 1996.

But as much as her on-field accolades will always be remembered, Greiner’s team-first mentality was far more impressive. She gave up her No. 17 jersey – worn because Greiner was before April 17 – to freshman and eventual 1998 player of the year Kristin Smith, who really wanted that number.

“If that’s not being a great teammate,” MacIntosh said, “I don’t know what is. (Lori) wanted to make the freshmen feel welcome up on the varsity and she did a great job of that.”

Following her time at Morton, Greiner played for Southern Illinois, starting 216 of 222 possible games. She displayed an extraordinary knack for academics, earning accomplishments as a member of the 1998 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete team as well as being named the 2000 Saluki Booster Club Scholar Athlete of the Year.

A bachelor’s degree in computer science took Greiner to General Motors where she spent over 20 years in data analytics. Later in life, she "fell in love with golf" and "played in numerous tournaments," according to her obituary.

Family and friends came from all over the country to celebrate Greiner’s life this past Saturday, providing stories about their lost loved one.

“That just speaks volumes of the impact that Lori made,” MacIntosh said of people coming far and wide to pay their respects. “Comment after comment, ‘I’m a better person because Lori was in my life.’"

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.