According to today's Daily Southtown (7/14), congratulations are in order for:
Sandburg pitcher Nick Chmielewski who made a verbal commitment to play baseball at Illinois.
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Go ILLINI--Glad to have you on the squad Nick
Congrats to Nick and his family.
About time that Illinois finally picked up a player or two from the best baseball conference in the State.
About time that Illinois finally picked up a player or two from the best baseball conference in the State.
The sports digest section of the Daily Southtown for 7/28 has this good news:
Mount Carmel's Tony Manville, a New Lenox resident, has made a verbal commitment to play baseball at Iowa. Manville, a senior-to-be, is a pitcher and shortstop.
Mount Carmel's Tony Manville, a New Lenox resident, has made a verbal commitment to play baseball at Iowa. Manville, a senior-to-be, is a pitcher and shortstop.
Just to bump up some info...
Kyle Kaminska, Naperville Central to Michigan State.
Congrats to Kyle, Ian, Mike, Nick, Tony, and Phil. 
Jake's phone is almost off the hook right now, looking forward to hearing where he will set up shop.
while im happy for kyle, im not happy about that choice. big 10 baseball????? great education dont get me wrong. ive said it all along...but baseball....MVC much better thoughout...and he would have fit nice with the boys...I guess Grewe is making some noise....good luck and dont forget, its not too late....you have til nov 9th. take the visits and see other schools. i like Grewe and i loved him at my fav, ND. now he is at one of my rivals...he is a good guy and is going to build a nice program there.....bring the parka...so much for my root beer
Congratulations to all of the 07's on their recent signs. Sweaty, Mark Mulder may disagree with you about the long term potential of the MSU program.
Additionally, I have been recently reading posts on this board. As a coach in the area a few things caught my eye. While I do not wish to engage in a verbal sparring match, a few comments, especially recently have bothered me. First off, no one should ever question the commit of another kid. The person doing so assumes too much with no information. It really makes me question the motivation of such a post.
Secondly, and I think there will be quite a few people that agree with me on this one. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news Sweaty, because your kid is a great player (I've seen him play in person), but if you are going to gossip about the future lineup/prospects of ISU and make comments about the ISU program (positive and very negative which I have read), I'm quite certain the coaches at that university will disapprove of your speaking on their behalf or about their lineups, decisions, etc. Comments such as "I just hope that next spring's team is MORE competetive than last years team" (See ISU heading) probably will not be seen very positively. I don't say this to be malicious, moreso helpful.
This will not be the same as high school. A college DI program will not be a place where you will be openly be able to publicly speak your mind without severe repercussions if you are negative.
As an observer of this site and an infrequent poster, please do everyone a favor and keep your opinions to yourself about other commits. You have absolutely no idea what goes into those decisions.
Additionally, I have been recently reading posts on this board. As a coach in the area a few things caught my eye. While I do not wish to engage in a verbal sparring match, a few comments, especially recently have bothered me. First off, no one should ever question the commit of another kid. The person doing so assumes too much with no information. It really makes me question the motivation of such a post.
Secondly, and I think there will be quite a few people that agree with me on this one. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news Sweaty, because your kid is a great player (I've seen him play in person), but if you are going to gossip about the future lineup/prospects of ISU and make comments about the ISU program (positive and very negative which I have read), I'm quite certain the coaches at that university will disapprove of your speaking on their behalf or about their lineups, decisions, etc. Comments such as "I just hope that next spring's team is MORE competetive than last years team" (See ISU heading) probably will not be seen very positively. I don't say this to be malicious, moreso helpful.
This will not be the same as high school. A college DI program will not be a place where you will be openly be able to publicly speak your mind without severe repercussions if you are negative.
As an observer of this site and an infrequent poster, please do everyone a favor and keep your opinions to yourself about other commits. You have absolutely no idea what goes into those decisions.
coachiu, excellent, excellent, excellent
To everyone-
30 years ago my Dad talked me into going to a college that I "really" did not want to go to...and it didn't work out. From a baseball standpoint, you could not have went to many other baseball factories that were better. The advise I have for every kid, and I know finances are also a part of it, is make your own decision and then live with it. Don't go thru life wishing you would NOT have listened to someone else. A lot of this is just a gut feeling but I kind of picked the Mrs. the same way and it worked out pretty well!
30 years ago my Dad talked me into going to a college that I "really" did not want to go to...and it didn't work out. From a baseball standpoint, you could not have went to many other baseball factories that were better. The advise I have for every kid, and I know finances are also a part of it, is make your own decision and then live with it. Don't go thru life wishing you would NOT have listened to someone else. A lot of this is just a gut feeling but I kind of picked the Mrs. the same way and it worked out pretty well!
nc42dad,
Congrats! To your son, and on the Mrs! Now, can your gut tell me the winner of the 4th race at Arlington today? All in good fun.
Great advice. Coaches tend to rely on the "if it's a good fit" line to kids. But, if a kid does not feel comfortable in his gut, it's probably not going to work out. I'm sure your son made a wise choice for himself.
See you at the showcase!
Congrats! To your son, and on the Mrs! Now, can your gut tell me the winner of the 4th race at Arlington today? All in good fun.
Great advice. Coaches tend to rely on the "if it's a good fit" line to kids. But, if a kid does not feel comfortable in his gut, it's probably not going to work out. I'm sure your son made a wise choice for himself.
See you at the showcase!
CoachIu
first off, if you read my post' they are more for humor than for anything else...and second, i was trying to get kyle to visit and see the improvements at ISU...others may have negative comments on ISU as for me nothing but positive... i love the coaches. and lastly im(me no one else)not a big fan of big 10 baseball but a huge fan of the education there. thats all, nothing more nothing less. and yes im p-od that mr kaminska is not going to be buying me a root beer at PubII. take it easy on me coachiu,its just a forum not a contract for life.
first off, if you read my post' they are more for humor than for anything else...and second, i was trying to get kyle to visit and see the improvements at ISU...others may have negative comments on ISU as for me nothing but positive... i love the coaches. and lastly im(me no one else)not a big fan of big 10 baseball but a huge fan of the education there. thats all, nothing more nothing less. and yes im p-od that mr kaminska is not going to be buying me a root beer at PubII. take it easy on me coachiu,its just a forum not a contract for life.
Hey pitchdoc24-
As for horseracing, I am a winner there also. When I was in highschool an old girlfriend's dad gave me $4 to bet on horses and I turned it in to $8. I stopped while I was ahead!
Sweaty- There is still one more pitcher left in this house and he is pretty good too. You may still get that root beer...just not right away.
As for horseracing, I am a winner there also. When I was in highschool an old girlfriend's dad gave me $4 to bet on horses and I turned it in to $8. I stopped while I was ahead!
Sweaty- There is still one more pitcher left in this house and he is pretty good too. You may still get that root beer...just not right away.
NC, you have a PM.
im getting old my freind. ans he is only going to be a soph. im hope im still around to help recruit him. good luck to kyle. he will be joining our (lt) kyle at MSU. he will do well there. coach grewe is a great recruiter and from what i hear an even better coach. sorry if my response come off as negative. it certainly was meant to be more humorous than anything. but on a serious note, tell kyle to just go out this spring and do what he knows best, win and have a fun summer, the pressure is off....
Ryan Faidley, verbal to Eastern Kent.
Great job Ryan!
Great job Ryan!
Sweaty
If you knew 1/5 as much as you act like you know you may have some credibility, hopefully the people on here are not swayed by the misinformation you put out on a consistent basis. I m sure in the near future you will figure out a few things that you have been wrong about to this point.
If you knew 1/5 as much as you act like you know you may have some credibility, hopefully the people on here are not swayed by the misinformation you put out on a consistent basis. I m sure in the near future you will figure out a few things that you have been wrong about to this point.
i figured it out a long time ago my friend, i admittedly know nothing, and am man enough to admit it. love and kisses
Seems to me that Sweaty is just being a big fan and trying to get more good players there. Better than someone who wants to make sure noone comes along to compete with their son for playing time.
There have also been some comments made that I'm sure where meant to be taken with a grain of salt.
There have also been some comments made that I'm sure where meant to be taken with a grain of salt.
I am surprised with all of the early commitments. It appeared that earlier years, players would wait and take their visits and evaluate what the best fit really was. What is causing the change? Is it the coaches putting pressure on saying you have until a certain date or is it the player wanting the process to end or is it somethine else?
Your name gets to the top of their list, they make you an offer, the school gives you a time limit to answer & if it is a place you really want to go... why wait? From my understanding,
early verbals are much more common in the South. If I go through this again with son #2, we will do this much differently next time.
early verbals are much more common in the South. If I go through this again with son #2, we will do this much differently next time.
Will Hebard (RH-NT) made a verbal commitment to Villanova.
Rockford, IL-Former Area Coder Jake Smolinski committed to Clemson University for next fall. Smolinski was on the SPARQ Midwest Team in the 2006 Area Code Games and is an infielder / outfielder from Boylan Catholic High School. In 2005, he hit .441 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs. The run production continued for Smolinski as he scored 45 times last year. He earned First Team All Conference honors, team MVP and MVP of the Northwestern University Showcase.
Congrats and good luck at Clemson!!!
Congrats and good luck at Clemson!!!
Congratulations to the following Sparks guys:
Tyler Newsome (Marist)-Michigan State
Brian Stroud (Providence)-Western Michigan
Phil Wunderlich (Downers Grove South)-Louisville
T.J. McFarland (Stagg)-Missouri
All four are not just great players, they are all outstanding students, and great young men.
Tyler Newsome (Marist)-Michigan State
Brian Stroud (Providence)-Western Michigan
Phil Wunderlich (Downers Grove South)-Louisville
T.J. McFarland (Stagg)-Missouri
All four are not just great players, they are all outstanding students, and great young men.
Congrats to SS Elliot Soto and RHP Cody Scarpetta - both committed to Creighton.
is there a newspaper report and jake smolinski? can you provide the link to it, please
Congrats to Jake, just a great person overall!
Any more to report??
Deerfield catcher Cameron McConnell to Notre Dame. Congrats!
Montini SS Pete Cappetta - Univ of IL
Pete and Cam are great; ball players, students and fine young men. Good luck to everyone out there.
Pete and Cam are great; ball players, students and fine young men. Good luck to everyone out there.
Congratulations to Cam and Pete. Cam, with a Greg Yersich caliber pop time and Pete Cappetta who, when I first saw him play with Praire Gravel just jumped out as a ballplayer. Pete doesn't run in the outfield, he glides. He strides like a gazelle. Whether he ends up at shortstop for the Illini or in the outfield, they just got themselves one heck of a young man.
All the best to you both.
Bruce and Jordan
All the best to you both.
Bruce and Jordan
Congrats guys!
West Chicago LHP, Eric Wyman - UIC
Congratulations Eric
Congratulations Eric
Clemente ss Rafael Garcia- UIC
Congrats Raffy,
UIC got a dandy! Keep it up and good things will happen for you...
UIC got a dandy! Keep it up and good things will happen for you...
Congrats to the McMurray family -
Casey Mac just committed with the University of Illinois.
U of I - pretty impressive recruiting:
Nick Chmielewski, Pete Cappetta and Casey McMurray
Three Big Time STUDS
Casey Mac just committed with the University of Illinois.
U of I - pretty impressive recruiting:
Nick Chmielewski, Pete Cappetta and Casey McMurray
Three Big Time STUDS
"bummer" big 10 ??? good luck to all 3 guys all great players.......
Congratuations to Casey and the entire McMurray family. Just like the first time I saw Pete, when I saw Casey play with Praire Gravel it was obvious just what a special player he is.
I think it is fantastic that the University of Illinois has recruited and gotten committments from some of our area's top players in the class of 2007. Maybe now the top academic state school will move up as a baseball destination.
I think it is fantastic that the University of Illinois has recruited and gotten committments from some of our area's top players in the class of 2007. Maybe now the top academic state school will move up as a baseball destination.