Japan baseball team ready to play ball in McHenry County this summer

The McHenry County Youth Sports Association, the nonprofit organization that has hosted the summer 15-year-old Baseball Championships in Crystal Lake and surrounding communities for the past 14 consecutive years, received confirmation that Team Japan will participate in the annual event.

This past November, MCYSA announced that they had entered into a new partnership with the United States Sports Specialty Association to host the inaugural MCYSA/USSSA 15U Open Summer National Championship.

In addition to the premiere 15U event, MCYSA/USSSA also will host the 11U and 9U Open Summer National Championships and the 13U and 10U National Invitational Championships.

All five age group events will take place July 26 to Aug. 3. Representatives from Team Japan stated that at least one 15U team would be attending the event in Crystal Lake.

The Japan Amateur Baseball Association is making tentative plans to send their second 15U team to Australia during that same time frame.

Team Japan representatives did state that if the second team did not go to Australia that they would be attending the MCYSA/USSSA event in Crystal Lake.

"This is outstanding news," said MCYSA president Jack Sebesta. "Over the years a wonderful rapport has been built between Team Japan, MCYSA, our host teams and the residents of the City of Crystal Lake and other communities that have home-stayed the Japanese players when they have traveled thousands of miles to play baseball in our community.

"It is great to see that our guests from Japan feel the same way and value the friendships and relationships that have been nurtured all these years."

In addition to Team Japan, the international field on the 15U level includes three teams from Puerto Rico, two or three from Canada and for the first time ever a team from the Dominican Republic.

In 2007 the only foreign team in the 15U was from Japan.

Currently, the 2008 tournament has 24 states committed to be represented which would double the number from 2007.

Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Canada also will be represented on the younger age levels as well.

For information visit Web site www.MCYSASports.org.