Cougars offering special this weekend for kids

The Kane County Cougars have designated a pair of games for the next homestand as "Kids Eat Free" games at Elfstrom Stadium.

Each child age 10 and younger who attends either Friday's game at 6:30 p.m., or Sunday's game at 2 p.m. will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, bag of chips and small soft drink. Vouchers will be distributed by Cougars staff at the gates to young Cougars fans who meet the age requirement. Vouchers must be used on the game day in which children attend - either July 10 or 12.

"While a family of four can enjoy a Cougars game for less than $60, we understand the value of a dollar, especially in today's economy," Cougars General Manager Jeff Sedivy said. "It's our hope that both games next week give families a chance to save a few bucks and continue to enjoy the same great affordable family fun that only the Cougars can provide."

In addition to the "Kids Eat Free" promotion this Friday, fans will enjoy between-innings entertainment by Dave the Horn Guy. Featured on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "America's Got Talent" Dave's unique musical montage involves wearing numerous bicycle horns that are chromatically tuned to different pitches. The evening concludes with a fireworks show set to music from the '80's, and all fans can run the bases after the game.

The 2 p.m. game this Sunday includes a pre-game autograph session with Cougars players as well as a special giveaway at the gates, as the first 2,000 fans will receive a Cougars softee baseball, courtesy of Fisher Nuts. Fans will be invited onto the field immediately following the game to run the bases.

Tickets for "Kids Eat Free" games can be ordered online at kccougars.com, calling (630) 232-8811 or stopping by the Cougars box office during business hours.

Three former Cougars named All-Stars: Yesterday's announcement of rosters for the Major League All-Star Game includes three former Cougars, as pitchers Josh Beckett and Andrew Bailey, along with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, were named to their respective league's All-Star rosters. The trifecta of All-Stars is the highest total of ex-Cougars named to the MLB All-Star Game since the 2005 midsummer classic, when four former Cougars participated.

This year's game, to be held on July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, will be the 80th All-Star Game and the 13th straight MLB All-Star Game that at least one former Cougar has represented Kane County, dating back to 1997.

Here's a capsule look at each of the three '09 All-Stars who used to call Elfstrom Stadium home:

• Just 25 years old, Bailey has been something of a Cinderella story for the A's this season. A year ago, Bailey was at the crossroads of his career as a starting pitcher at Double-A Midland, going 1-8 in 15 starts before the Texas League All-Star break. Since moving exclusively to the bullpen last summer, Bailey has discovered his true home and has left Major League hitters guessing through much of the season's first half. Since cracking the A's big league squad as a spring training non-roster invitee, Bailey is 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA and nine saves in 37 games. Bailey will be the lone representative for the A's in St. Louis.

"I was ecstatic," Bailey said to reporters after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings against Cleveland to pick up his ninth save over the weekend. "It should be a great experience."

As a Cougar in 2007, Bailey was 1-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 11 games with Kane County.

• Beckett, no stranger to All-Star Games, receives his second All-Star nod (2007, '09) and is one of six Red Sox players that will be heading to the Gateway City. Beckett was the winning pitcher for the American League in the 2007 game.

So far this season, Beckett and teammate Tim Wakefield (a first-time All Star at 42 years old) have led Boston to the best record in the AL, and the former Cougar has certainly done his part, posting a 9-3 record and 3.67 ERA. Beckett is one of the most-decorated Cougars alumni in franchise history, garnering numerous awards including a World Series MVP award (2003) and ALCS MVP (2007).

As a Cougar in 2000, Beckett was 2-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 13 games.

• Similar to Beckett, Gonzalez makes his second All-Star appearance after receiving his first career MLB All-Star call in last summer's game. Gonzalez has averaged 30 home runs per season in his first three years with San Diego, and the talented first baseman is on pace to slug more than 40 home runs for the first time in his MLB career. So far this season, Gonzalez is tied for second in the Majors with 24 round trippers.

As a Cougar in 2001, Gonzalez batted .312 with 17 home runs and 103 RBI, leading the squad to the 2001 Midwest League championship while also winning the league's MVP award.

Cross country

Saints name coach: St. Charles East has named Chris Bosworth as its boys cross country coach. Bosworth replaces Al Edgecombe, who resigned after coaching the Saints the past two years.

Bosworth has been a member of the Lake Park P.E. staff and will assume a similar position in the Wellness Department at St. Charles East. He was an all-conference runner for North Central College and coached both the track and cross country teams at Lake Park.

Volleyball

Club Fusion wins title: Club Fusion's 15 Black team won the JVDA 15 Open National Championship in Louisville last week.

This club is based in Marengo and has four St Charles girls on the team. Meghan Niski and Erienne Barry are from St Charles East. Kim Juriga and Jill Stolzenburg attend St. Charles North.

Niski was a member of the St. Charles East 2008 state championship volleyball team. She was also awarded the MVP of the National Championships.

Stolzenburg was named to the all-tournament team.

Julia Conard from West Chicago also was on the team, which is coached by St. Charles East assistant coach Mike Bui.

Correction: In the July 2 Daily Herald, new St. Charles North girls volleyball coach Lindsey Hawkins was incorrectly reported as a St. Charles North High School graduate. Hawkins graduated from St. Charles High School before a four-year career at Augustana. The past two years Hawkins has coached at Vernon Hills.

Baseball

Post 342 battles weather: Battling the elements was as much of a challenge as the competition as St. Charles Post 342 managed to play only two of five games scheduled at the 20-team Leo Brunner tournament hosted by Moline Post 246 over the 4th of July weekend.

St. Charles defeated Northbrook 14-1 in 5 innings Friday before losing 8-4 to Terre Haute, Ind. After Saturday's schedule was rained out some of the participating teams opted to leave forcing the remaining teams to decide if they wanted to stay for possible Sunday games and Post 342 decided to come home and not return on Sunday.

St. Charles pounded out 14 hits against Northbrook, led by KC Wright (3 for 3, triple), Ryan Payne (2 for 2, 2 doubles), a solo home run from Adam Karger and Brian Krolikowski's walk-off grand slam to finish the rout. Starter Andy Grunewald (3-1) allowed just 1 hit and went the distance to earn the win.

Friday's second game saw the Shockers score 3 runs in the third inning with the help of some sloppy fielding and timely hits from C J Foster and Tommy Konrad to take a 3-2 lead into Terre Haute's half of the fourth. Starting pitcher Karger (3-1) retired the first 2 hitters before a walk, 2 singles and a misplayed flyball turned into a 4-run rally which put Terre Haute back on top 6-2.

St. Charles answered with a solo run in the final inning after Terre Haute plated insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. Karger suffered his first loss of the season as Chris Burgess and Krolikowki finished the game.

Post 342 hosts Elgin Post 57 in the Kane County tornament beginning Friday night at 5:30 at St. Charles North.