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This frosh has Wright stuff

There was no big blowout celebration when Cory Wright got the news.

It was business as usual for the St. Charles North freshman, who on Aug. 21 received an invitation to represent the Great Lakes Regional 15-Under team, in USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series.

“I just went out to hit later that night,” said the left-handed first baseman and pitcher. “I tried to get better.”

People have blurted “I’m going to Disney World,” over lesser achievements, and Wright indeed is taking a trip — this Thursday morning to the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., where he’ll work out with the rest of his Great Lakes teammates.

The Great Lakes team, coached by St. Charles North baseball assistant Terry Ayers, will play games against similar 15U squads representing other areas of the country on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before returning home later Sunday.

Fourteen regional 15U teams will be in Cary — and the same at two other age groups — with the goal of selecting players for 2012 National teams.

Wright most recently played for the Illinois Diamond Owls, a travel club that at one point was ranked 25th in its age group by Travel Ball Select. The Owls won about 82 percent of their games and played in tournaments in Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.

“I’m going to have to compete a lot,” he said, “because there are hundreds of guys that are going to be there, and there’s only eight spots that can be filled.”

Yes, the odds are stacked. But slim chances don’t seem to deter the 5-foot-11, 155-pounder. He headed to this year’s Great Lakes tryouts at Schaumburg’s Alexian Field with a failed attempt two years ago already under his belt.

That’s why, as he said, “It means a lot.”

“I know that I didn’t hit very well at that (past tryout), and that’s one of the things I did very well at this tryout. I know I’ve improved a lot as a pitcher,” said Wright, whose 77 mph repertoire keeps batters off balance.

Another difference was he’d just reached the age where players move to regulation distances from the shortened youth model.

Cory has had a certain advantage ever since he picked up a baseball glove for good at about 3 years old.

Before the Wrights moved to South Elgin, his father, Phil, coached at Canyon del Oro High School, outside of Tucson, Ariz. His players included such youngsters as Ian Kinsler, Jason Stanford, Colin Porter and the Duncan brothers, Shelley and Chris. All reached the Major Leagues.

Older brother K.C. Wright, a 2009 St. Charles North graduate, is now playing for Judson College.

With all of those high standards, Phil Wright appreciated what Cory had accomplished.

“He said he was very proud of me because it was very hard going back to try out for a team, or be selected for a team that didn’t select you in the past,” said Cory, who turns 15 on Sept. 20.

Now, for the present. Which if more high standards are met, could bring an exciting future.

“I don’t want to say I’m nervous,” Cory Wright said, “but it’s a big thing.”

Wings at Their Feet

North Central College’s Wings at Their Feet Back to School Supply Drive is in its eighth year. New and used school and classroom supplies are being accepted at the college athletics office and also at the Cardinals football game at 6 p.m. Saturday against Bethel College; and the 7 p.m. Sept. 13 volleyball match against Elmhurst College.

The program’s creator is Kari Kluckhohn, North Central’s head women’s track coach and an assistant women’s cross country coach. She started the project in memory of her son, Samuel, who passed away at full term but before his birth. She first started soliciting supplies from her track team, but it was so successful she implemented it among all Cardinals athletes.

For the past three years Wings at Their Feet has been recognized by the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators.

Soccer Stars

It was a big week for local graduates, and alumni of the Eclipse Select Soccer Club.

Making 11 saves for victorious Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s 1-0 win over Minnesota and 4 more in a 2-0 shutout over Iowa, keeper Jamie Forbes (St. Charles North) on Monday was named the Horizon League player of the week. She was also named to Top Drawer Soccer’s national team of the week.

Fellow St. Charles North graduate — yes, we realize this is St. Charles North heavy, but these things go in cycles — Florida State’s Taylor Vancil earned a shutout in net while making her first start of the season last Sunday, aa 4-0 win over Alabama-Birmingham. Last year while at Louisville as a sophomore, Vancil went 10-9-0 with 5 shutouts and 125 saves.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com