Illinois State High School BaseballClass 3A and 4A Final Four Set

The Illinois State High School Association Baseball Classes 3A and 4A final four are set for this Friday and Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

Class 3A:

Friday:

Oak Forest takes on Nazareth at 10:00 am and Kaneland battles Waterloo at 12:00 pm.

Class 4A:

Friday:

Prospect takes on Providence at 3:00 pm and following that game Mt. Carmel will play Lyons Township. 

Mt. Carmel Honors Fallen Player Steven Bajenski

Baseball in Illinois News

On May 7, the Caravan will play St. Ignatius at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood in ‘‘Stevie’s Game.’’ Tickets are $5, with all proceeds going to a scholarship fund to be established in Bajenski’s name.

Steven Bajenski died last August due to complications from surgery he had the month before to correct a heart ailment.

Meanwhile, the work of preparing for the season goes on. Bajenski is there in spirit, as well as on the roster: He’ll be listed at the top, with his familiar No. 2, all year long.

Cales wins MiLBY Class A Advanced Reliever of the Year

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, in the shadow of Comiskey Park, David Cales admits he was a White Sox fan growing up. When he was taken in the 24th round of the 2008 Draft by that other team in the Windy City, he quickly learned how to adjust.


It was in the Cubs system that he went 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA and 14 saves in 37 games for Daytona in the Florida State League, numbers that made him the choice for a MiLBY as the Class A Advanced Reliever of the Year.

"As I became older, I loved Chicago sports all together," Cales said. "It's an honor to play for the city of Chicago, even in the Minors. I couldn't be happier playing for the Cubs. I'm just a Chicago fan. It's an absolute privilege playing for a Chicago team."

In his first summer as a pro, Cales split time between the rookie-level Arizona League and short-season Northwest League, so he was a little surprised when he made the leap right up to Class A Advanced Daytona to start this season. He nearly fell over when he got nudged up to Double-A in May, even though that didn't go so well. But he earned his way back up there, and even got a one-appearance taste of Triple-A, late in the season.

"It was a shock to go up to Double-A," Cales admitted. "Then to give me another chance at the end of the year, I don't think I could've asked for anything better. I didn't believe much of it was happening because it was happening so fast."

Cales was drafted in the 24th round by the Chicago Cubs in the June 2008 amateur draft.  David attended Mt Carmel High School in Illinois, the University of Missouri in 2006, UIC in 2007,  St Xavier in 2008 and Mt. Carmel High School in Illinois. 

Thunderbolts Host SouthSide Challenge

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

Date: Sunday April 11, 2010

Time: 10:00 AM


See the best high school baseball in the Southland as the ThunderBolts and Marist High School host this great event now in it's second year. Once again teams from the Chicago Catholic League will battle teams from the East Suburban Conference.

The 2010 Schedule:
10 am: Providence Celtics -vs- Marian Catholic Spartans
1 pm: Mt. Carmel Caravan -vs- Joliet Catholic Hilltoppers
4 pm: St. Rita Mustangs -vs- Carmel Corsairs
7 pm: Brother Rice Crusaders -vs- Marist Redhawks