Bradley University Baseball players Jason Leblebijian and John Nasshan were both named as some of the top prospects in their collegiate summer baseball leagues.
John Nasshan(Niles West, Niles, Illinois) was voted the #9 overall prospect by Baseball American in the Jayhawk League. The right handed pitcher went 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA for the El Dorado Broncos this past summer.
Shortstop Jason Leblebijian(Prospect, Arlington Heights, Illinois) was ranked as the 41st amoung the top 75 pro prospects in the Northwoods League by Perfect Game USA. Leblebijian batted .279 with 7 home runs and 37 rbi's for the Wimar Stingers last summer.
Zion officials say they want the Lake County Fielders out of their city.
According to city officials the Lake County Fielders baseball club did not pay rent in 2010 and did not pay rent at all in 2011. The team has played over 20 times in Zion and refused to pay the city.
The Normal CornBelters announced that they will not be renewing the contract of field manger Hal Lanier after a 46-50 finish in the 2011 season. In two seasons Lanier led the CornBelters to a 90-102 record.
General Manager Steve Mallet based his decision on much higher expectations and believes the talent pool of players grew significantly this season.
Baseball in Illinois does not have information on who within the organization is responsible for drafting and signing players.
The CornBelters are an independent professional baseball team that plays in Normal, Illinois.
Kyle Hudson was called up to the Major Leagues with the Orioles on September 1st after hitting .296 this season in the minors.
Kyle is a former University of Illinois baseball alum who was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Klye is from Mattoon Illinois.
Lewis University Head Baseball Coach Tim McDonough announced the addition of seven players to the 2012 Flyers roster.
RHP Mike Devoe from Cary-Grove, Cary Illinois
Outfielder Kane Lombardo from Nazareth, Forest Park Illinois
LHP/IF Michael Schroeder from Triton College, Crown Point IN
LHP Philip Warner from St. Charles North, South Elgin Illinois
RHP Dylan Cysewski from Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake Illinois
LHP Brad Freeman from Durban, South Africa
RHP Kegan Banks from Dripping Springs Texas
Former Northwestern baseball player and Niles West high school alum George Kontos was promoted to the Major Leagues last week with the New York Yankees.
The right handed pitcher made his debut against the Angels on September 10th throwing one and a third giving up two hits, one earned run and striking out two.
Eastern Illinois University will hold a fall baseball showcase for high school athletes on Saturday October 15th, 2011.
The morning session will provide instruction from the Eastern Illinois University coaching staff followed by a game in the afternoon session. The showcase will run from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Cost of the showcase is $100. For a brochure click on the link below.
Eastern Illinois Fall Baseball Showcase
The Southern Illinois Miners will offer free tickets to military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officials and EMT workers and first responders as well as their families at the September 11th playoff game against the River City Rascals. "This is a small thank you to the men and women who work every day and protect us" said Miners Exec Erik Haag.
The Miners first home playoff game will be on Saturday September 10th at Rent One Park.
The Southern Illinois Miners are an independent professional baseball team in the Frontier League.
Greg Billo pitched seven shutout innings for the Kane County Cougars in their first round playoff game win against Burlington last night. Billo gave up three hits and struck out seven on 83 pitches last night. The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the the best of three opening round of the Midwest League Playoffs with a 4-0 victory.
Billo was a 28th round draft pick in 2008 and signed out of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park Illinois.
Joe Benson made his Major League Baseball debut on Monday going 0-3 against the Chicago White Sox. Benson, a Joliet and Hinsdale Illinois native, played high school baseball at Joliet Catholic High School. Benson was promoted from Double-A New Britain after batting .285 with 28 doubles, 4 triples and 16 home runs. Joe was selected in the 2nd round of the 2006 MLB Draft in 2006.
Former Major Leaguer and Illini pitcher Jason Anderson joins the fighting Illini coaching staff as a volunteer coach. Jason will team up with Drew Dickinson who was named Pitching Coach on August 3rd as Illinois will carry two pitching coaches.
Anderson retired from professional baseball on July 19th. Anderson also ranks third in wins at Illinois with 29 and holds the single season record for victories with 14.
Drew Dickinson was named Pitching Coach after a seven year professional career and spending two years as a volunteer assistant coach at Illinois. Drew was 30-7 in his career at Illinois.
Chris Serritella, Southern Illinois University, captures the Prospect League Player of the Year award by leading the league in home runs (14) and rbi's (60) and coming in fourth in batting average at .361.
Chris also helped lead the Quincy Gems to their second league championship in the three year history of the Prospect League with a 5-0 victory over the West Virginia Miners.
Chris will be a senior at Southern Illinois University and is from Glenview Illinois.
More drama for the Lake County Fielders baseball team from Zion Illinois this past week.
Since having a game cancelled against Calgary for using sub par baseballs that are not approved by the league the Fielders were at it again after they refused to travel to a four game series because the cost of travel was too much.
The North American League announced on Thursday that the Lake County Fielders had been thrown out of the league.
The City of Zion wants its $185,000 in rent and most of the players and coaches quit over financial issues - not to mention the on air exit from the Fielders broadcaster.
The rest of the season is up for grabs from the Fielders but you can bet there are tickets still available.
Western Illinois University announced that registration is open for their two day fall baseball camp on October 8th and 9th 2011. The camp is open to ages 15-20.
The fall camp offers instruction in all aspects of the game from Leatherneck coaches and players. Interested players can choose a one day ($85) or two day session ($155).
For more information please visit the Western Illinois Baseball website below.
2011 Western Illinois Baseball Camp
The Lincoln-Way North baseball team captured it's first summer state baseball championship at the Phil Lawler Summer Classic Tournament just three years after playing its first varsity game with an 8-5 win over Prairie Ridge.
Reed Hero became the hero as he delivered a single in the top of the seventh to give the Phoenix (21-4) a 6-5 lead. The Phoenix added a couple of insurance runs on a two out single up the middle from Josh Handzik. Reed Hero was named the MVP of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic.
The game between the Calgary Vipers and the Lake County Fielders was suspended Friday in Zion Illinois when the Vipers claimed the Lake County Fielders were playing with sub par baseballs.
Once again Fielders owner Richard Ehrenreich is left trying to explain why the Fielders were using recreational baseballs purchased at a local sporting goods store rather than purchasing its usual order for Rawlings professional model.
Ehrenreich said he is expected to announce Tuesday whether the Fielders will complete the rest of the season. Ehrenreich, who also owned the now defunct Schaumburg Flyers, was ordered by a the court to pay over $500,000 in past due rent to the village. Ehrenreich's Grand Slam Sports and Entertainment, the Fielders parent company, owes $185,000 in back rent to the city of Zion dating back to the 2010 season.
Trenton Moses from Southeast Missouri State University baseball captured the Prospect League batting title going 3-4 with a homer, a double and 4 rbi's moving his batting average to .388 on the season. Moses also holds the Prospect League record of reaching base in 45 consecutive games this season.
The Dekalb County liners play their home games at Founders Field in Sycamore Illinois.
Quincy Gems and Southern Illinois Saluki Chris Serritella went 4-4 with three home runs and double with 5 rbi's and it wasn't enough for the Gems as Terre Haute defeated Qunicy 10-8 last night in Prospect League Action. Serritella now leads the Prospect League with 10 home runs on the season.
Four other homers were hit last night - one each by Andrew Hecht (Quincy), S. Bruno (Terre Haute), N. Johnson (Terre Haute) and J. Loeffler (Terre Haute).
Lake County Fielders Baseball announcer Qumar Zaman quit while wrapping up his game broadcast last Friday stating the Fielders had not paid him the money owed to him since the beginning of the season.
Field Manager Tim Johnson also quit on July 9th claiming he had not been paid. In a show of support for Johnson eleven players refused to take the field and then were released by the Fielders. Assistant coach Pete LaCock resigned after the game and was fined $2,500 and suspended from the league.
Listen to Zaman quit on the air below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-lcQNKua1-Y
Mike Giovenco made his Kane County Cougar baseball debut on Friday night in Lansing Illinois allowing one hit, a walk and striking out three in two innings.
Giovenco was drafted out of North Park University in the 14th round by the Royals in 2010. Before coming to Kane County, Giovenco went 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings at Idaho Falls.
Mike now stays with his family in Roselle Illinois.
Baseball players from Illinois who made the 2011 Northwoods League All-Star game which will be played on July 18th in Wisconsin Rapids.
The Northwoods League is a summer collegiate baseball league comprised of top college players that must have college eligibility remaining. The league is considered one of the top summer collegiate leagues in the nation.
Listed are the mid season all-stars from Illinois:
Infielder Jason Leblebijian, Wilmar Stingers, Bradley Universiy, Arlington Heights Illinois
Third baseman Troy, Battle Creek Bombers, Northern Illinois University, Chicago Illinois.
Outfielder Dan Dispensa, Battle Creek Bombers, Western Illinois University, Chicago Illinois.
Outfielder Ryan Shober, Eau Claire Express, UIC, Inverness Illinois
Outfielder Davis Hendrickson, Waterloo Bucks, University of Illinois, Macomb Illinois.
Pitcher Matt Milroy, Madison Mallards, University of Illinois, Batavia Illinois.
Brian Michalak, the top assistant at the University of St. Francis the past four seasons, has been named the Head Baseball Coach and will suceed Gordie Gillespie who retired at the end of last season.
Michalak played for Gillespie after graduating from Lockport in 1979 and was a four-year utility infielder at St. Francis. Michalak now resides in New Lenox Illinois.
The 2011 Frontier League All-Stars have been announced and below are the players from the Illinois Independent baseball teams. The Frontier League All-Star Game will take place on July 13th in Avon Ohio at All Pro Freight Stadium.
West Division
Inf - Steve Alexander - Normal CornBelters
Inf - Will Bock - Southern Illinois Miners
Backup Infielders include Logan Parker, Gateway Grizzlies and Tyler Keebler, Normal CornBelters
OF - Alvaro Ramirez, Normal CornBelters
Backup outfielder Asif Shah, Normal CornBelters
C - Sean Coughlin, Southern Illinois Miners
DH - Charlie Lisk, Gateway Grizzlies
P - Mark Brackman, Chris Enourato - Gateway Grizzzlies
P - David Harden, Ryan Zink - Southern Illinois Miners
P - Ryan Sheldon - Normal CornBelters
East Divison
Inf - Erik Lis - Joliet Slammers
Inf - Mike Torres - Windy City ThunderBolts
Inf - Jake Eigsti - Rockfork RiverHawks
Backup infielders Chris Wade, Windy City and Luis Parache, Rockford
OF - Josh Flores, Joliet Slammers
Backup outfielder Bobby Leeper, Joliet
C - Zack Aakhus, Windy City
DH - Devin Shepard, Windy City
P - Todd Privet, Windy City
P - Ryan Quigley, Joliet
P - Brett Durand, Rockford
Lyons Township High School baseball finishes the season as the #7 ranked team in the Midwest Regional Rankings by the USA Today. Lyons Township, IHSA Class 4A State Champions (37-4), is the only team from Illinois in the final rankings.
1. Broken Arrow OK 36-2
2. Owasso OK 37-2
3. Maize KS 25-0
4. Lakota East OH 24-7
5. Francis Howell MO 32-3
6. Carrol IN 32-2
7. Lyons Township 37-4
8. Rockford MI 32-6
9. Burnsville MN 21-3
10. St. Louis University 24-1
The Quincy Gems baseball team captured a home playoff spot by winning the first half of the Western Division in the Prospect League. The Gems will host a first round playoff game in Quincy Illinois on August 8th against the second half winner of the Western Division.
