International youth baseball championship visits county
By EL CONQUISTADOR
The McHenry County Youth Sports Association will host its 17th annual Summer Baseball International Championships July 24th- August 2nd.
Sixteen international teams in the 15, 11, and 9 year old age groups will come to McHenry County to compete against some of the best teams in the United States. Teams from Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and many more will travel to McHenry County to play in the championships.
Nowhere in the country will you find an event to compare with the international flavor that MCYSA has to offer.
Not only do we have the privilege of hosting this tournament right here in our own backyard, but the community is welcome to enjoy the games.
Teams will play at fields such as Lippold Park, Veterans Acres, many local high schools, McHenry County College, and other locations within the county.
Tournament events include the Jesse White Tumblers, homerun derby, opening parade, Mayor Shepley’s Crystal Lake Drum line, singing of all the national anthems and “Take Me Out to the Ballpark” complete with fireworks.
For the past 16 years, events hosted by the MCSYA have been the top single-event economic force in McHenry County. Every year this tournament brings teams and families from all over the world to McHenry County.
This 10-day event books up hotels and benefits a ton of local businesses.
The event also is supported by local organizations, including city of Crystal Lake, Sage Products and the Crystal Lake Park District.
Not only is this great for our community, but gives residents a chance to get out and enjoy an affordable event with families and friends. With the MCYSA experience the community can attend games and cheer on local teams with baseball enthusiasts from all over the world. International matches, such as Japan versus Puerto Rico, are an event on their own to go see.
Not only does the tournament benefit the community, but each year college scholarships are given to athletes playing in the tournament. In 2003 MCYSA created The Justin Schroeder MCYSA Student/Athlete Achievement Memorial Award, which is named for a local baseball player who died in a car accident before he could receive the scholarship. Since its inception, more than $24,000 in scholarships have been awarded.
The MCYSA tournament brings people together by acting as a common ground we all can relate to. Baseball is camaraderie, it’s teamwork, it’s sweat and toil and doing your best, and it’s mostly good clean fun.
