Joliet JackHammers, Lake County Fielders, Schaumburg Flyers and Rockford RiverHawks Join Newly Formed North American League

The Northern League, Golden Baseball League and the United League announced they have joined forces to create a new professional baseball league to be known as the North American League. 

The league will cover many of the major markets in the U.S. and Canada and expand in 2012.   The North American League will be second to Major League Baseball in terms of the number of teams and geographies.  The existing leagues will keep their names and their business activities and will now adhere to a consistant set of league rules and by-laws.  The league will have 16 - 20 teams in the U.S. and Canada in 2011.

Illinois teams from the Northern League who will be currently joining forces with the North American League are the Joliet JackHammers, Lake County Fielders, Rockford Riverhawks and the Schaumburg Flyers.

Northern League Baseball Standings

Updated standings in the Northern League as of August 11th..
Illinois Teams will be listed in bold

Fargo-Moorehead 42-30
Kansas City 43-31
Gary SouthShore 41-36
Rockford 37-37
Joliet 37-37
Winnipeg 38-39
Lake County 31-44
Schaumburg 30-45



 

Gateway Grizzlies Open Tryout Sunday April 25th 2010

The Gateway Grizzlies will hold their open tryout on Sunday April 25th 2010 at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois.

Along with the Grizzlies, representatives from the Oakland County Cruisers and the River City Rascals will also be on hand evaluating talent.

Tryouts are $50.00 and registration begins at 8:00 am.  In case of inclement weather tryouts will be held on Monday April 26th.

For a registration form please follow the link below.

Gateway Grizzlies Tryout Registration Form

Lake County Fielders Begin Construction on Baseball Stadium Village

Baseball in Ilinois News
courtesy of the Lake County Fielders

The City of Zion has announced that its construction of a planned multi-million dollar minor league baseball stadium is scheduled to begin next week. The stadium project is now worthy of a blockbuster major league trade announcement beginning with its new location on a 23-acre site at the NE corner of the Rt. 173 and Green Bay Road, gateway to Trumpet Park and the City of Zion. The "ballpark village" will include a year round multi-use development showcasing retail shops, multi-screen movie theatre, and restaurant.


The site of the project is currently commercially zoned vacant land with sewer, water, road, traffic, and power infrastructure already self-contained, allowing construction to commence immediately, in contrast to the former location. The city proactively pursued this new site on behalf of the 2010 baseball season. "The commercial appeal of this new location has attracted exciting new private investment allowing for the project to expand and it's really the premier home for this project for generations into the future" said Mayor Lane Harrison, "Plus, the addition of retail shops and a movie theatre will create an exciting year round entertainment and shopping atmosphere, more jobs in our community, and attract further development in the area."

The stadium will be home to the Northern League's Lake County Fielders, a minor league baseball team co-owned by Academy Award winner and baseball enthusiast Kevin Costner. The stadium will also contain a permanent concert stage, and a banquet facility that will be open all year.

"I applaud Mayor Harrison's long term vision for this project, and his uncompromising dedication to the quality of life for the residents in his community," said Fielders' President Rich Ehrenreich, "We've waited 20 years to see minor league baseball in Lake County, and it will all be worth the wait. "

Gateway Grizzlies Hosting Open Tryouts

Baseball in Illinois News

The Gateway Grizzlies along with the Oakland County Cruisers will co-host an open tryout on Saturday, March 13th and Sunday March 14th, 2010.


The tryout, which will be held at Escondido High School in Escondido, CA begins at 9:00 a.m. each day. The cost of the tryout is $55.00 per camper.

For more information, contact Phil Warren, pwarren@gatewaygrizzlies.com or Eric Coleman, coleman21@hotmail.com

To register, click here  Frontier League Open Tryouts 

Brad Miller Returns With Southern Illinois Miner Baseball

Baseball in Illinois News

The Southern Illinois Miners have announced that all-star first baseman Brad Miller will return in 2010 for his third season with the team. Since joining the Miners midway through the 2008 season, Miller has hit .300 with 18 home runs, 106 RBIs and a .401 on-base percentage.

Miller began the 2009 season with unbelievable numbers, hitting .520 with three homers and 13 RBIs in his first 13 games. He flirted with .400 through late June and was voted the starting first baseman for the West Division All-Stars. In addition, he provided superb defense at first base.

He will join leadoff man Jereme Milons, MVP Joey Metropoulos, All-Stars Ernie Banks and Javier Brown, and 2008 on-base percentage league leader Brendan Akashian, all of whom are already on board in a potent lineup.

Rockford RiverHawk Baseball Acquires Robert Matlock

Baseball in Illinois News

The Rockford RiverHawks continue dealing this week as the RiverHawk baseball team announced on Thursday that it has acquired outfielder Robert Matlock from the Edinburg Roadrunners of the independent United League in exchange for two players to be named later.


Matlock is coming off the best season of his career. He hit a career-high .327 with no home runs and 33 RBI for Edinburg. Matlock struck out just 14 times in 297 at-bats.

In an additional move, the RiverHawks released infielder Boomer Berry. The team acquired him in a trade with Sioux Falls of the American Association last month.

Miners Baseball Sign Brader and Kourie

Baseball in Illinois News

The Southern Illinois Miners have signed right-handed pitcher Dustin Brader and outfielder Jon Kourie for the 2010 season.


Brader, 24, spent the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers organization where he went 6-0 with a 3.96 ERA in 36 relief appearances. He posted 53 strikeouts against only 21 walks in 63.2 innings of work and held batters to a .249 average. In 2009 he was with the Bakersfield Blaze, the Rangers advanced single-A club. His Bakersfield teammate, former Miner Tanner Roark, gave Miners Manager Mike Pinto a recommendation with an outstanding report on Brader’s talents.

Brader is six-feet-four-inches and 220-pounds and was drafted by the Rangers out of Arizona State in the 21st round in 2008. He began his professional career with Spokane of the Northwest League where he allowed just four runs in 24.1 innings. Despite his two years of professional experience, Brader will be classified with rookie status in the Frontier League. 

Originally from Selah, Wash., he began his college career at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix where he had a 2.31 ERA in two seasons. He struck out 152 and walked only 35 as he led South Mountain to the 2005 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. He then moved to ASU where he was a part of back-to-back Pac-10 Champion teams. As a senior he was 1-0 with a 4.27 ERA in 20 games including an appearance in the College World Series.


Meanwhile, Kourie, 26, finished his college baseball career at Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2007 and has spent the last two summers with the semi-pro powerhouse Long Island Storm.

In 91 games in 2009, the six-foot-two-inch, 220-pound outfielder hit .394 in 246 at bats, including 22 doubles, six triples and seven home runs. He had a .496 on-base percentage, stole 15 bases and drove in 63 runs. The Storm play a strong schedule which includes matchups with Major League organizational teams during spring training, the Italian National Team and a trip to the Dominican Republic to face the 2009 Dominican Winter League Champion Licey Tigers. While in the Dominican, Kourie went 8-for-16 including a home run. He also hit .444 while helping Long Island to the runner-up spot in the Stan Musial World Series.

The Long Island native played two years at Briarcliffe College in New York. At Briarcliffe in 2004, he hit .359 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI. He led the conference in home runs and triples as a sophomore. At Corpus Christi, he hit .273 over his two seasons with a .331 on-base percentage while playing centerfield against some of the nation’s top college baseball programs including Rice, Texas, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Mississippi State.

RiverHawks Baseball Aquires Justin Knoff

Baseball in Illinois News

The Rockford RiverHawks have added another experienced, strike-throwing arm to the starting rotation.


The team announced on Tuesday that it has acquired right-hander Justin Knoff in exchange from the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League in exchange for cash.

Knoff spent most of last season with the Sussex Skyhawks. Knoff was 5-5 with a 3.24 earned-run average, the fourth lowest in the league, in 14 starts. When the Skyhawks fell out of the Can-Am race late in the season, they dealt him to Lincoln of the American Association. He was 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in five appearances. Knoff combined to strike out 60 and walk 39 in 109 composite innings. Sussex reacquired him in another trade following the season.


Cincinnati drafted Knoff out of Siena in the 30th round in 2002 and he spent three years in their organization. St. Louis acquired him in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the 2004 winter meetings and he spent most of the 2005 season with two of the Cardinals’ affiliates.

The eight-year veteran has a career record of 40-24 and a 3.84 ERA. He’s twice been in his league’s top five in wins and twice among the top five in ERA. Knoff has never walked 40 in a season. The 28-year-old has LS-5 status in the Northern League.

Jonathan Wyatt Signs With JackHammers Baseball

Baseball in Illinois News

The Joliet JackHammers have signed switch hitting outfielder Jonathan Wyatt for the 2010 season after he spent the last three seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization.

Wyatt, a 25-year-old outfielder, was the 13th round pick in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft for the Chicago Cubs. This came after two College World Series appearances with the University of Georgia. As a Bulldog, Wyatt earned national recognition as the Rawlings Gold Glove Winner in 2007 for his outstanding defense.

Wyatt went on to play three seasons in the Cubs organization with his best year coming in 2007. The outfielder hit .306 with four homeruns and 41 RBIs for Boise. In 2008, he split the year between the Daytona Cubs and Peoria Chiefs before spending all of 2009 in the Florida State League with Daytona.

Javier Brown Signs With Southern Illinois Miners Baseball

Baseball in Illinois News

The Southern Illinois Miners have added yet another Frontier League all-star with the signing of second baseman Javier Brown. He hit .296 with a pair of home runs, 19 RBIs and a .396 on-base percentage in 65 games with the Evansville Otters in 2009.


The former Minnesota Twins draft pick hit .330 in the first half of the season with the Otters and was voted to the all-star team. In early August he was traded to Rockford, but after suffering an injury, only appeared in five games in the final month of the season. When Rockford moved from the Frontier League to the Northern League this offseason, Brown became a free agent, and Southern Illinois was at the top of his list of suitors.

“Basically, I wanted to get with a team that has a chance to win a championship and gives me a chance to learn,” Brown said. “I’m just looking for an opportunity for me to showcase my skills, and I want a place where I can work hard. I played here as a visitor last year, and I like the fans and the atmosphere in Southern Illinois.”

With the addition of Brown, the Miners now have eight current or former Frontier League all-stars on the roster. He is only 22 years old, and Miners Manager Mike Pinto is looking forward to seeing him get even better.

“Whenever you have a chance to add an all-star player to your lineup, it gives your offense a boost,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He not only hits for average and on-base percentage but also has great speed. I will have Ralph work with him to take advantage of that tool. Javie plays a solid defensive infield, and we are looking forward to seeing him thrive in our environment this summer.”

The Miners open the season on May 20 at home against River City.

JackHammer Baseball Signs Andrew Bovich

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

The Joliet JackHammers added another pitcher to their staff with the signing of 24 year old, Andrew Bovich. The left-handed pitcher was signed by the JackHammers on February 15, 2010. The JackHammers home opener will be on May 28th, 2010 against the Lake County Fielders, a Northern League expansion team.



Bovich, a former standout at Point Loma University in San Diego, CA, he was signed as a free-agent to the Arizona Rookie League by the San Diego Padres in 2009. He went 13-1 his senior season at Point Loma and went 0-0 with a 2.89 ERA in the Arizona Rookie League for the Padres in 2009. He advanced to the Eugene Emeralds, the Class “A” affiliate of the Padres, where he finished the season 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA.

Pete LaCock Joins the Schaumburg Flyers Baseball as Hitting Coach

Baseball in Illinois News


The Schaumburg Flyers have announced that former Chicago Cub Pete LaCock will take over as hitting coach for the 2010 season. LaCock, a former 1st round pick of the Chicago Cubs, and a nine year Major League veteran will be responsible for the team's hitting as well as coaching third base.


"Pete is a great additional to my staff with his experience and approach to the game.” Field Manager Mike Busch stated.

LaCock comes to Schaumburg via Tucson Arizona where he held a similar position with the Tucson Toros of the Golden Baseball League in 2009. "My sole focus is to help in any way to bring a Championship to Schaumburg" said LaCock.

Sitting next to Pete LaCock on the bench in 2010 and taking over the pitching coach duties will be former Schaumburg Flyer Drew Dickinson. Dickinson, who holds the all-time record for wins as a pitcher at the University of Illinois, looks to help the Flyers improve from a 5th place finish in team pitching from 2009.

The view from the dugout at Alexian Field is not an uncommon one for Drew as he spent the 2007 season with the Schaumburg Flyers. After his playing days were over, Drew’s passion of coaching took control as he became an assistant coach for the University of Illinois before finding his way back to Alexian Field.

Come talk to Mike Busch about his new staff at the 2010 Winterfest being held at Alexian Field on February 17th. Beat the winter chill during this tropical themed event featuring a Jimmy Buffett cover band, Hawaiian dancers, a tiki bar, the Firefly Dance Team and complimentary food and drinks should make the night unforgettable. RSVP by sending an email to info@flyersbaseball.com or by calling 847-891-2255.

Flyers Basebal, Andre Dawson Celebrity Softball at Alexian Field

Baseball in Illinois News

Schaumburg, Illinois - Alexian Field, home of the Schaumburg Flyers Professional Baseball Club (Northern League), will host a celebrity softball event for Andre Dawson on July 28, 2010, three days after his induction into The National Baseball Hall of Fame.


The gates at Alexian Field will open at 3:30 p.m. on July 28th for the “Andre and Friends Celebrity Softball Event”, which will include a 4:30 p.m. Northern League game between the Joliet Jackhammers and the Schaumburg Flyers, free autographs from Andre and Friends (during the Flyers game) at the FansEdge Autograph Pavilion, a special free commemorative souvenir for every fan in attendance, all culminating in a 7 inning softball game exhibition with baseball and celebrity legends.

Among Andre’s Friends currently scheduled to celebrate on July 28th at Alexian Field are former teammates and on-field opponents like Bruce Sutter, Doc Gooden, Dave Parker, George Foster, and Steve Garvey, along with celebrity fans like Jeff Garland (TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm) and George Wendt (Cheers).


For continuing details on this event, log onto www.flyersbaseball.com, or call the Flyers ticket office at 847-891-2255.

Rory Shortell is Back With JackHammer Baseball for 2010

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

Rory Shortell is headed back to Joliet for the 2010 season. The right-handed pitcher was acquired in a trade from Sioux City on April 1, 2009.

"Rory is a competitor that can eat up a big number of innings for us,” said JackHammers Field Manager Chad Parker. “Obviously he has had some good success here in the past and I am proud that he wants to be a part of our turn-around here."

Shortell, a 29-year-old right-handed pitcher, was drafted in 2003 by the Houston Astros. He spent five seasons in the Astros organization, finishing up in 2007 in Salem Virginia, the Astros Single “A” affiliate. Shortell had a strong year in 2008, logging a career-high 119.1 innings pitched at Atlantic City of the independent Can-Am League. The 6’3” Portland, Oregon went 3-7 with a 5.25 ERA in ’09 for the JackHammers.

Michael O'Leary Signs With ThunderBolts Baseball

Baseball in Illinois News Sources

The Windy City ThunderBolts’ newest signing is no stranger to the suburban Chicago baseball scene. Michael O’Leary will be joining the ballclub for the ThunderBolts 2010 season. O’Leary is a 23 year old, left-handed pitcher who graduated from Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois.


After earning All-Conference, All-Area, and All-County honors at Carmel  High, he pitched two seasons for the College of Lake County Lancers. Once again, O’Leary proved to be successful and picked up All-Conference and All-District awards. In his career at the suburban junior college; he pitched 128.2 innings with an earned run average of 3.93 and struck out 97 batters.

O’Leary’s next stop was Trinity International University located in Deerfield, IL. He pitched one season there before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa. The UNI Panthers are a Division I program in
the Missouri Valley Conference. In his final season as a college athlete, O’Leary appeared in 16 games and had a record of 2 wins and 4 losses. He sported a 5.11 ERA, while accumulating 25 strikeouts.

When O’Leary takes the field for the ThunderBolts in 2010 it will not be his first time as a Frontier League player. He had a brief stint with the Midwest Sliders last season, while only pitching in 2 games. O’Leary has
had many successful seasons in the Chicagoland area and hopefully next year will be no different. As the 2010 season approaches, he will be calling Crestwood home and trying to help the ThunderBolts win a third
Frontier League Championship.

Lake County Fielders Stadium Design Finalized

Baseaball in Illinois News
courtesy of the Lake County Fielders

The City of Zion and the Lake County Fielders will present a redesign of its minor league baseball stadium to the public at the Fielders upcoming Fan Fest, February 21-23. The redesign incorporates all the elements of the initial stadium design (including suites, banquet facility, party decks, and concert stage) into a single-story structure that will be built to expand vertically in the future.



"The single story nature of having all the fan elements on one level brings the fun atmosphere closer together for everyone to enjoy," said Beth Alderson, Fielders Manager of Community Relations, "and it also saves over a month of construction time."


The Fielders are co-owned by Academy Award winner and baseball enthusiast Kevin Costner, and are set to begin its inaugural Northern League season in May, 2010. For details about the Fielders, its Fan Fest, and upcoming events, log onto www.fieldersbaseball.com or call (847) 731-8000.

Kyle Wright and Brett Durand Return to Riverhawks Baseball

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

Rockford’s only professional baseball team announced Wednesday that it has re-signed pitchers Kyle Wright and Brett Durand (above). Each won 10 games last season, the first time in team history that the RiverHawks have had two pitchers crack double digits. The pair accounted for nearly half the team’s victories last season.

Wright, a Frontier League all-star, was 10-6 with a 2.24 earned-run average. Wright became the first RiverHawk in six years to win the league’s ERA crown. Wright struck out 129, second in the league, and walked 41 in a league-high 144 2/3 innings. Wright pitched a league-leading seven complete games – a team record – and tossed two shutouts, tied for the league high.


Durand was 10-6 with a 3.81 ERA. He struck out 110 and walked 23 over 130 innings. In his last five appearances, Durand won three of four starts and picked up a five-out save in a rare relief appearance.

Each finished the year a victory short of Tanner Watson’s three-year-old RiverHawks wins record.

Mike Damchuk Retuns to Souther Illinois Miners Baseball for 2010

Baseball in Illinois News

The Southern Illinois Miners have announced that reliever Mike Damchuk will return for the 2010 season. Damchuk was 5-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 29 appearances and tied for the team lead with six saves with the Miners in 2009.


Damchuk, who will be 25 when the season begins, signed with the Miners three weeks into the 2009 campaign and immediately strengthened the bullpen, allowing just one earned run in his first seven appearances. The Canadian native was untouchable at Rent One Park. In 15 appearances in front of the home crowd, he was 4-0 with five saves and did not allow a single earned run in 22.1 innings, striking out 25 hitters and holding opponents to a .164 average.

Cornbelters Baseball Acquire Eric Brown and Asif Shah

Baseball in Illinois News Sources

In exchange for future considerations, the CornBelters acquired SS Eric Brown from the Amarillo Dillas of the Independent United League and OF Asif Shah from the Chico Outlaws of the Independent Golden Baseball League. The CornBelters will play the first home game of their inaugural season at the Corn Crib on Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. versus the Windy City Thunderbolts.


Brown attended Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX. He is working towards earning a B.S. in Occupational Education. After spending time in the Independent Continental League, he was traded to Amarillo Dillas of the United Baseball League where he hit .455 with 15 RBI and two home runs in 55 AB.

Shah attended Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, MO. He signed with Chico this past off season and hit .345 with seven RBI and two home runs in 58 AB.