21st Annual 15U MCYSA International Championships

I am glad you are running the tournament Jack and I am sure it is a well run tournament, but maybe the Houston team doesn't come up here because well over half the teams from this international tournament are from Illinois and the surrounding states. I don't have a dog in this fight but just an opinion.

to be accurate no where near half of the 15u teams are from illinois.  little foggy right now but 14 of 36 are from illinois in the 15u.  by my math that is a fair amount less than "well over half". 

Ray deleon's exact words were " I'll bring my black team on all three age levels and every top organization in the country will follow us - I'll make this the top event around".  Based on his promise - the promise that he gave me - part of our marketing was based on the banditoes being here.  Maybe if he had kept his word and what is it they say about a man - he is only as good as his given word - the 11u would have more out of state.  the 13u would have some more out of state.  Hell MCYSA recruited six internationals in 13u.

I do have a dog in the race - this event and my community.  To be fair, when I look you in the eye, shake your hand and promise you something - I will keep my promise.  Also to be fair, MCYSA recruited from Washington state to Penn. to Texas to Minnesota to fricking Japan, Lithuania, Brazil Sri Lanka, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Bonaire .....

Am I calling him out - damn straight I am.  Your worth - in my opinion - is based on the words you speak and your actions.  Give your word and then break it.  Your not worth much in my opinion.

Jack, don't sweat it.  You have a quality tournament, giving the kids a quality experience.  And while there are a lot of local teams, I would bet that if the McHenry County area put together a "superstar" team they could compete with just about anyone from Houston to Hawaii. 

Jack, sorry if I offended you as that was not my intent. I don't know Ray Deleon and not defending him . I wish he had stuck with his word and brought all the top teams, but I have heard that kind of talk out of baseball people before and not suprised that he didn't come through.

As far as the count I put out there it was over half from Illinois and surrounding states, of which I count 19 if you include the surrounding states, kind of reminds me of caba when it was here at the end, every team was getting in. When we used to go to a caba or some tournament like that it was not to play some of the same local teams we see all year, that was my point our point of going to these tournaments. However you have to put in who you can and who wants to play, again I am sure it is a great tournament. When we played say east cobb or jupiter we did not seem to run into the same team we saw all year, but it has been a while so maybe that has changed also.

Congratulations and thank you for running a great tournament in our area as it is no easy task and takes much planning,effort and dedication on your part. As a local person and baseball lover I really appreciate what you do for the community and especially the boys that get the experience playing in the tournament.

golfman25, I could be wrong but you might be suprised if you put together a "super" team from just Mchenry county. There are many fine players from Mchenry but you might be suprised when you see some of the teams around the United States. Again I could be all wrong, but best of luck to you and your players as they continue there baseball careers, enjoy the journey as it is a special one!!

2 bagger = no apology needed but thank you.  I appreciate the kind words.  You did not offend me at all. 

Golfman25 thank you for your support.

Not at all like the last few years of caba.  at the end of that era we had 29 of 44 or 46 teams from Illinois.  Again not dissing any of those teams from back then,  Just not what we were looking for.  It certainly was just play a qualifier and get in back then. 

Mac N Seitz Red Sox won the 15U.  Great games needed the "if" game against a very talented and very hot Illinois Elite team.  Very cool for my grounds crew to meet the "Sodfather" Roger Bossard.  His son was playing for Illinois Elite.  If game was a very tense 2 to 1 final.  Wisconsin Elite was 3rd.  All class organizations with talented kids and great parents and coaches.  The exact type of teams that we want and that we do attract to this event.

The bracket got blown up in elimination play - a lot of fun to watch it happen.

Started working on 2014 already.  Talk with all of you soon on the forum.

Best regards to all of you, Jack

Good luck next year Jack. My 2016 played this year and we got our butts kicked up and down. He joined a team (not very good) just to play. Played some PG events and many of the teams there (MCYSA) this year, could compete with anybody. Including the Illinois teams, especially the Illinois Elite and Illinois Hitmen.

Agreed golfman probably had 6 teams alone from Mchenry county. A super team should be started.I know of 3 kids that joined the Downers Grove Longshots, a few with Top Tier and certain other studs with PBI and Pro-Player Canes. Part of the I-80 corridor are kids from the north playing with those teams.