The District #210 based 11U Lincoln-Way Prospects Travel Baseball squad, reigning back-to-back CABA World Series runner-ups in 2009 and 2010, competed in the USSSA Major Elite NIT hosted at Inwood Park in Joliet, IL in mid-April and finished 2nd to nationally ranked Team Athletic Republic (MI).
The Prospects jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the championship game, their fourth forced game on the day due to poor weather, and held a 4-3 lead into the third inning of six inning regulation play before succumbing to a very talented Team Athletic Republic of Michigan.
The 11U Prospects competed with 32 teams, over seven States represented in Joliet. The Prospects defeated Hinsdale Red Dogs 17-5 and the Wasco Wildcats 7-6 in pool play. They defeated the New Lenox Rebels 7-3 in round one of elimination play and followed that up with huge shut out victories, 12-0 over the Illinois Sparks (Adams) in quarter-final play, and another 8-0 shut out over the Quad City Hitmen which catapulted them into the championship game.
Many perennial powerhouses and ranked, established teams entered the impressive tournament. Teams included the Lincoln-Way Prospects, Team Athletic Republic, Plainfield Tornados, Tinley Park Bulldogs Red, Quad City Hitmen, Illinois Sparks, Homer Heat, McHenry County Hurricanes, Victory Baseball, Wasco Warriors, Wasco Wildcats, Milwaukee Angels, St. Joe's, New Lenox Rebels, Iowa Sticks Elite, Palos, Plainfield Vipers, Wheatland Ducks Gold, Lincoln-Way Vipers, Duneland Flyers, Lincoln-Way Blue Demons, Illinois Celtics, Missouri Diamond Dawgs, NW Indiana Shockers, Troy Titans, Illinois Hitmen, Hinsdale, Mokena Blaze, Mokena Dragons, Oak Brook Outlaws, St. Joe Heat and Plainfield Grasshoppers.
The Lincoln-Way Prospects have started the season 18-3, winning the U.S.S.S.A. Rockford opener, claiming 2nd at the Joliet Major Elite NIT and hold a State Rank at #2 in Illinois and have been recognized as high as #24 by TBS for national attention. They remain at #39 for a national power ranking and will compete in their third straight C.A.B.A. World Series in July, and have already qualified for three World Series events in 2011.
For more information on their season progress, visit www.lwprospects.com
PHOTO TAKEN BY: Beverly Blount
Back Row Standing: Coach Ron Blount, Coach Ron Dawson, Head Coach Steve Korbel, Coach Jerry Lullo and Coach Mike Roat
Middle Row: Jacob Blount, Brett Dawson, Anthony Lullo, Clay Thompson, Ryan Kaup
Front Row: Kyle Knodel, Trey Korbel, Niko Pozzi, Jared Trivette, Michael Roat, Andrew Dawson
