Around Town: Teams try to make grade in Dominican Republic
The McHenry County Youth Sports Association is taking a page from the international teams that come to Crystal Lake each summer to play baseball, and will send a 15-under team to the Dominican Republic in June.
The team will travel to Santa Domingo on June 16 and play six to eight games during the next five days against teams from Latin American countries.
MCYSA president Jack Sebesta said that players would be chosen not only based on their baseball ability, but also would factor in grades, a recommendation from a teacher or counselor and a commitment to abide by a code of conduct.
The baseball portion of the tryouts will be Jan. 4 and 11, with 15 players selected from five teams. Three players each will be selected from Crystal Lake Babe Ruth, Cardinals, Cyclones and Bombers along with the Lake in the Hills Thunder.
Sebesta said the idea was formed during the summer World Series tournament when international teams inquired about the possibility of area teams playing abroad.
“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to experience baseball in another country,” Sebesta said. “Now our kids are going to do what these kids have done all these years.
Sebesta said the experience not only would benefit the players selected but also had a positive impact on all area teams and MCYSA in general.
“It will make [MCYSA] stronger and the host organizations stronger,” Sebesta said. “It’s going to build relationships with our International partners.”
MCYSA is investing more than $10,000 in the trip and players will be responsible for $300 if selected. Sebesta said he thought it was important for the players to have a financial stake in the trip but still have it be affordable.
“We didn’t want to make it so much that it was impossible for kids to go,” he said.
Gregg Sibigtroth will coach the team and said the experience will be eye-opening for the players, many of whom will be traveling outside the United States for the first time.
“They’re going to be surprised,” Sibigtroth said. “Even some of our worst fields will be their best fields.”
Sibigtroth said the code of conduct would encompass behavior both on and off the field and include such criteria as not quitting the team during the season, arguing with umpires and general behavior and appearance while traveling.
“They’re representing our community,” Sebesta said. “It’s not just baseball ability, it’s picking good people.”
While the team hopefully will be competitive, Sibigtroth said the outside of baseball qualities would play a big part in who is selected and would not be based just on ability.
“If it comes down to two kids, ones an A-plus and the other is barely making a C, the A-plus kid is going to go,” Sibigtroth said.
• Rob Smith is a sports writer for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at rsmith@nwnewsgroup.com.