Five Lake County softball teams reach nationals
All five teams from the Lake County Fastpitch Softball Association completed their successful summer travel seasons by earning bids to nationals.
The 18U Lake County Liberty-Moretti, coming off its 2006 Northern National Championship in Brooklyn Park, Minn., earned bids to three national tournaments.
The tournaments included ASA nationals in College Station, Texas; the TCS Fastpitch World Series in Park City, Utah; and the USSSA World Series in Overland Park, Kan., by virtue of winning the championship of the Wauconda Northern Ice Summer Celebration in June.
The team has now earned 12 berths to nationals in the five years of its existence.
The 18U Lake County Liberty-Jones also qualified for three different national tournaments.
They included the ASA Northern Nationals in St. Ann, Miss., after winning the ASA Bloomingdale Sparkler Tournament in July; the TCS Fastpitch World Series in Park City, Utah, and by virtue of its second-place finish at the AFA Barrington Tournament, the AFA Nationals in Beaumont, Texas.
After three consecutive USSSA bids the last several years, the 16U Lake County Freedom won a berth in the ASA Northern Nationals in Burlington, Iowa.
The 15U Lake County Glory earned bids at the 15U USSSA World Series in Hutchinson, Kan., as well as at the 16U-B USSSA World Series in Salisbury, Md., as a result of its fourth-place finish in the USSSA Northern Illinois State Tournament in Rockford.
Finally, the first-year 12U Lake County Stars secured a berth to the USSSA World Series Nationals in Orlando, Fla. after its strong finish in its very first tournament, the 12U USSSA Mattoon Cobras Tournament.
This year's LCFSA teams are comprised of players from various area middle schools as well as the following area high schools: Antioch, Buffalo Grove, Cary-Grove, Carmel Catholic, Evanston, Glenbrook North, Grayslake Central, Lakes, Lake Zurich, Lane Tech, Libertyville, Stevenson, St. Viator and Warren.
Several Lake County players are also playing softball at the collegiate level, representing schools such as the University of Arizona, Aurora University, Elmhurst College, College of Lake County, Macalester College and Miami of Ohio University.
LCFSA tryouts: The Lake County Fastpitch Softball Association will hold tryouts for the 18U Liberty, 16U Freedom, 14U Glory, 12U Stars and 10U Spirit on the following dates. All tryouts will be held at Lake Zurich High School, 300 Church Street, at the varsity softball field.
•10U: Saturday, Aug. 18, 9-11 a.m.
•12U: Saturday, Aug. 18, noon-2 p.m.
•14U: Saturday, Aug. 18, 3-5 p.m.
•18U: Sunday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. noon
•16U: Sunday, Aug. 19, 1-4 p.m.
•18U: Saturday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m.-noon
•16U: Saturday, Aug. 25, 1-4 p.m.
•10U: Sunday, Aug. 26, 9-11 a.m.
•12U: Sunday, Aug. 26, noon-2 p.m.
•14U: Sunday, Aug. 26, 3-5 p.m.
Travel players from all areas with a desire to play competitive A-level softball and who have an interest in playing high school and college varsity ball are welcome to try out.
There is no fee for the tryout. Players should bring their own equipment and water, and should arrive 30 minutes prior to their scheduled tryout time to complete a registration/waiver form.
Players under 18 years of age will need a parent's signature on the form. For more information about tryouts, check the Web site at www.lakecountyfastpitch.org, call (847) 722-4120, or e-mail docmoretti@aol.com.
Tryouts for the 23U Lake County Independence will be announced at a later date.
For more information about the 23U Independence, please contact Dave Vikartofsky, (630) 209-8300.