Best 16-18 Travel Teams in Il, In & Wi

Lombard lightning, top tier, norwood to name three

Great teams in Ill @ 18 + under have been covered extensively on this site. The Wisconsin Blazers out of Milwaukee are a super team which for some reason has been off the radar here. Lombard Lightning and Upper Deck Cougars have outstanding teams at all 3 levels.

In Wis- Racine Hitters, Kenosha Indians, Wisconsin Blazers

Can I have opinions on the Hammond Chiefs or the Indy Bulls?

How about the Bulls/Sox Academy team now at 16s? Saw them once at 15 and they looked pretty good. Anybody know anything about them?

Where do the Lockport kids play?

At the 17 year old level the Orland Magic will be strong this summer, having a combination of players from Providence, Sandburg and Lemont.

The Crystal Lake Travelers 16's have good team this summer. Good organization with teams from 12 - 16 with associations leading to the legion and college level teams.

Work hard and you will be rewarded!

o6BBdad... I heard Crystal Lake puts on a pretty good CABA world series at the end of the year.

TALENTSEEKR

Crystal Lake hosts the 15 year old CABA World Series each year at the end of July. Outstanding tournament with lots of great talent.

Work hard and you will be rewarded!

soxnole-udc did not have a 17,18 yr. old team last year.i'll have that ready for you tommorrow.blazers are good,we beat them twice last fall at uic but i do not put much weight on that because they were missing 3,4 players and i showcased my pitchers vs. playing to win.not sure udc will have even a 17 yr.or 18 yr. old team this year.TALENTSEEKR- YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU MAN!ANYROAD TRIPS THIS SPRING COUNT ME IN.LIL COMPANY FOR THE RIDE

playhard, i'll be looking for it. thanks for the info on udc.

playhard...I don't know how one can fall in love with someone they never met, however, I am quickly falling in love with everyone on this board.I hope that you will publish your 2004 roster on this board for all to see. Everyone, including myself, seems to be interested. I wish I could invite you, soxnole, pitchdoc, beenthere, Trad and others for a road trip. It would be non-stop conversation and a memorable trip.

For all...I am trying my hardest to attend the PG Showcase in Omaha, Neb during the college WS on June 24 (my busy time w/scouting girls travel basketball). It was just posted and Aaron Puffer is running it and it will be a smash hit. I hope PG secures game tickets for anyone wanting to attend the CWS. Every HS player must see this and maybe my favorite Arizona State will be there this year. GO DEVILS!!
I will definately make the PG events in Burbonnaise and Lynwood. I would love to see PG put on some events in Milwaukee area and N/W Indiana as well.

Norwood BLues is probably as good as it gets
around here

talentseekr, FSU visits ASU next week on 2/6 through 2/8. meanwhile we have 6 inches of snow on the ground. go noles!!!!!!!

Talentseeker

My son joined the WSA 16 team this year. I don't know as much about HS basegball as the posters here, but from what I see they have a good squad. I think there are some lockport & Lamont kids. I know I saw kyle willaims there last night & he looked pretty good. His brother looked awsome- I'm not sure where He's playing. Kyle will be on one of the 16 year old teams. I know at least one of the kids played with Lombard last year.

thanks ncb, keep us informed, especially with the top guys on that team.

There is and will be an Upper Deck 17 year old team this year. We have picked up some quality players and unfortunately lost some quality players. But all in all, should be a great team.

soxnole...go who? you mean sun devils instead of noles, right? lol. Will be great to watch! Did you see ASU's schedule this year? Probably toughest in the country. I was with the team a few weeks ago and they are pumped. Watch out for Larish! Murphy said he has the greatest swing he has EVER seen. What a compliment!Such a nice kid, too. Very down to earth knowing that he should be in the top 10 selections on draft day. Somebody once asked about size...don't care what the roster says, 3/4 of team (or at least the ones I met) is 6'0 or under.

Take the pitchfork over the bow-n-arrow people!

The Hammond Chiefs were great in 03 winning the 17-18 Babe Ruth World Series. This year I believe they still have a lot of talent coming back. They had some injured players last year that will return.

I agree with ASU seeking "players" rather than tools. If you saw what an "off-season" workout for ASU consists of you would see why PM wants players who will run through a brick wall for him. The atmoshere is unbelievable!

As far as "chatting", I would be honored. However, for reasons I cannot get into, I cannot speak with parents of players I am watching If you know what I mean. Sooner or later a flower will blossom

PS...were you at ASU December camp?

taratko...replied back. check it.

Gosh getting a little James Bondish in here isn't it?

Its all jelousy....don't know much about this darned computer....but I guess I can say it in a regular post. Thanks for the vote of confidence Talentseeker, my kid may not be 6'4", but he plays like he is...

tratko...back at you.

Sorry 2bmom. last private message I send. I swear. Forget size of body no matter what anyone tells you. It is the size of heart that counts. And I'm not just saying it...I mean it!

taratko... i promised 2bmom i would not send anymore private messages. If you check your private message box you will see I mean what I say in most cases....

Talent,

As far as I know PG will be running some events in Milwaukee area this summer...as for the meantime...feel free to ask me anything you need...I have seen most of the players of note in Wisconsin and Northern IL.

Can email me @ agstack7325@hotmail.com

Thanks

Talentseeker try finding time in your busy schedule to catch some of the ILLINOIS EXPRESS games. If you like watching teams with Heart , CHEMISTRY, and TALENT they have IT. With the likes of, LHP MATT JERNSTAD from OSWEGO HS, KENNY WILLIAMS OF from Plainfeild CENT. MATT REIMER SS from GLENBARD SOUTH, MATT MENNEN 3B-UTILITY from NAPERVILLE CENT. the list goes on with this 18&U "TEAM". Good Luck in finding the players that have "IT".

Talent, the early strength of schedule has 4 Los Angeles area teams w the toughest schedules. fullerton, usc, irving and long beach. FSU is 5th. i believe fsu's is really toughest because they play in the # 1 conference, the ACC.

#1 baseball conference, in my opinion, is, easily, the SEC.

Lets take a look at those 2. fla cant beat fsu. s.c. cant beat clemson.ga cant beat ga.tech. only lsu has real bragging rights in head to head comp w the acc.

Huh?

Georgia beat Georgia Tech in 2 out of 2 last season with one game rained out.

Clemson beat South Carolina in 2 out of 3 last season then got smoked by Auburn, 15-0, to end their season.

Fla State beat Florida 2 out of 3 last season.

While you were thinking, ACC 9, SEC 0...it was actually 4-4.

While I disagree with all of the above re ACC being better than the SEC, I point to Baseball America as saying, year in and year out, that the SEC is the #1 conference in the nation...What about Duke, Maryland, Virginia and except for last year (NCState) as mediocre teams in the ACC.

The SEC only has Vandy and Kentucky.

No time now but I will rebut later. SEC also has Miss,Ark+ 2 other so so teams Aub Al +. Seems to me Clemson beat S.C. in the Sup Reg.

sox nole, is rauri (sp) playing with norwood next year, or is the dupage rage sticking together

After a lot of thought and planning, Ruairi will play for Buddy Swift of the Indiana Yankees. The Rage was a solid team but is no longer around. Norwoods schedule is just not conducive to the type of exposure that we were hoping for. The Indiana Yankees will play in the Perfect Game Nationals in Atlanta, The Beast of the East in Wheeling W.V., International Wood Bat Championship in Evansville, Fathers Day in Louisville and the Perf. Game World Wood Bat in Jupiter Fl. The Yankee coaching staff consists of 3 scouts from 3 different organizations and they have provided Ruairi with lessons from Terry Pendleton and Harry Spillman. ( Braves and Astros Maj Lg hitting coaches) I cant say enough about how well we've been trated by this organization. Having said that I believe the Norwood team could play w/ anybody out there but they just don't get to these aforementioned national events.Top Tier looks like a good oppurtunity but this looks just a bit better.Thanks for asking.

Don't forget about Prairie Gravel. their 14U team was the best in the state.

My son played for the Illinios Express last year, and beat the "big three" teams that were mentioned by K. Smalls. Thats probably why he failed to mention the Express

Express beat Lombard Lightning 18 yr olds?...I don't believe so

17's maybe...but not the 18's

I believe the topic was best 16-18 yr olds. Even if it was the 17 yr olds, does'nt that pretty much fall inbetween 16 n 18. Still its a shame they were'nt mentioned (xcept from jerny1111). quess it would'nt hurt to broaden ur views.

does anyone know who coaches the Express and where their home field is?