Travel team

BD...Look around the Northwest suburbs of Chicago...they have some nice travel teams although I'm not sure if they go down to 12 year olds.

Definitely should be playing more competitive baseball at 14...with the full-sized fields.

I'm sure someone from the North or Northwest suburbs will be chiming in later today.

BD,

There are Travel Programs in The Rockford area. For one, The Hitmen, and maybe another called The Gators? I have coached against others, but their names escape me at the moment.

We played at a big tourney there a few years back and there were many teams there. Try to find out what the tourneys are (maybe Triple Crown, maybe Omaha Super Series) and maybe you can find out who the teams are.

Thanks for the input so far.

The Hitmen are a High School Travel team and I have not heard of the Gators. I know there is a Rec team named the Gators.

Heard there were a few 12 yr old all americans coming from that area..

This stuff has gone mad!!

no offense to the poster here, but just read about the travel stuff. We are nuts!!

deucedoc

What is nuts about asking at what age I should look to give my son a chance to play with a higher level of competition?

I looked at your link and there is an 11 year old team Illinois Sparks that won CABA. Obviously they are a travel or club team. Just want to try and give my son an opportunity to see how he compares with other players.

Don't know for sure but the rockford hitmen seemed to start before high school as I thought that Jake Smolinski played travel ball for them for a while at about 13 or so. The tournament fastball referred to was associated with the super series.

For what it is worth & I suppose I open myself up to attacks, but those of you with younger kids I will pass on what I did.

First off, I will premise evrything by saying be careful who select because the WHO you are with is probably more important than the WHAT you are doing.

My two (pitchers)did limited travel ball at 11. We got lots of grief from Little league - both the directors & other coaches. They thought I would burn out their arms but I was coach and had control of when and how much they pitched. Very positive for their development facing better competition, playing REAL baseball not LL rules.

Both did travel at 12 - one went full time and it was bad & the other was part time and it was a good experience.

13-14 One did travel exclusively, the other played Pny League (I had control of his arm.)

In high school we have both done a mix of high school summer league and travel. It is hard when your kids are pitchers. I limit their innings and told duece doc before we jumped on board and he was totally cool with it. His lack of pressure to win is what you need at that level. This is just my opinion but I think the single most important baseball is what you do in the fall. My youngest threw 25 innings this fall against good competition. We were working on mechanics and experimenting on some things as well. You don't have that luxury in the spring and summer.It made a huge difference with the older one (learned a quality slider) and we will see how it goes for the other.

My best advise - playing in the fall should be a top priority.

BD13,

I was kidding. I hope you find out the answers your looking for.

Are there any other travel teams near Rockford for 12 year olds? I know of McHenry County Hurricanes.

Thanks

BD,

I know of the Rockford Sluggers and Rockford Cyclones. Not sure if they're rogue teams or part of larger organizations. Perhaps an Eteamz search might answer your question. All comes down to how far you're willing to commute.

You may want to try the Janesville area, they have two good organizations up there. Rockford also had the rangers but I think they were just a rogue age group team.

Thanks for the input. The Rockford Cyclones are not a travel team anymore just an inhouse team. I will look into eteamz as well.

You could play 150 or is it 1500 games with the Sparks Orioles diamondbacks Forget-about-it's.. whatever too many teams to remember anyway and the always entertaining Deuce!

bergen, okay we all get it you don't like the orioles program or deuce. I have known deuce for a while now and I don't recall his kids playing 150 games or 1500. He also focuses on instruction and takes an active interest in their development and also helps them move on to the next level whatever that might be for ecah individual player. I have also seen him work with kids that are not his program and also help with their recruiting process.

The Boys of Summer used to be a good travel team in Rockford. If youre in Belvidere you should also look at all the teams in the western burbs as well. In addition to eteamz, you might want to look at Skilton's baseball...they usually list many team websites.

I have to say if you are against travel ball then you are pretty uninformed or perhaps you come from a community where little league or town ball is a viable option...if you are not then if you want to progress as a player you have to play and play against good comp.
Where we are from LL is a terrible option. My son is 14 and has a chance to play varsity. He would not be able to do that if all he had been facing was 65mph city league throwers....

quote:

Originally posted by bergenhschamp:
You could play 150 or is it 1500 games with the Sparks Orioles diamondbacks Forget-about-it's.. whatever too many teams to remember anyway and the always entertaining Deuce!

Huh, crawled out from under your rock again to spew some more filth?

Careful where you step guys, don't want you to slip on the slime trail he leaves wherever he goes.

Not worth commenting boys. Save you energy. Let's talk about the Danks/Gonzalez/Fields trade to the Marlins for Cabrera.......

NC,

Agree completely. I enjoy the "hot stove" talk almost as much as the regular season, especially if our local teams are in the mix. I hadn't heard about your possible Sox deal with the Marlins but it's worth talking about. I know Cabrera's a stud, but he's getting larger by the meal. Gonzalez is a top prospect with Fields already establishing himself as a can't miss. Interesting.

Its-

I found a neat sight - www.mlbtraderumors.com
It is great reading if you like the hot stove talk.
We have no inside info in the "K" household on the Marlin front but why wouldn't both sides jump at that trade? Win-win for both sides. Let Kenny know for us. Ozzie & Cabrera re-united once again! Both of them can go on a diet. Leaves the Sox with the possibility of trading Konerko or Crede. I propose Konerko to the Angels for Shields, Adenhart & a top 10 prospect. Thoughts?

Wow, that's a lot to digest. As for "let Kenny know for us", what's there to tell? Doesn't he already know everything there is to know about baseball? Just ask him, or listen to him talk.

I would think that Crede has played his last game for the Sox. He is a poor man's third choice after ARod and Lowell as a third sacker. But, the Konerko stuff makes sense, especially if they trade Garland.

Now, that's about all I can handle in one night, all this Sox talk. Maybe FBD can throw some wood on the fire about what the Cubs might do, or what we fans might be hoping for. Soxnole, no comments needed!

Thanks guys

Boyz of Summer 15-16 yr old team
Rockford Hitmen 17-18 team.

I will keep looking thru eteamz and sites.

thanks for the input

Ken-Z might be looking for players. If not, try Tribal Choppers.

Those teams were house league teams that are now no longer. They have taken a new name of the Rockford Cyclones. (not the original travel team)