Team Store Is Open!

The Team Store was smooth for May! Only 1 backordered item, Red Richardson hats. A couple of buyers were affected, but those issues should be resolved in about a week or so.

We tested out some Sport-Tek shirts with the 2024 Huntley 47’s Baseball Logo and everyone seems to like them. I’ll be adding those shirts once I finalize pricing.

2025 Tryouts

All current 47’s players that intend to return in 2025 need to register for and attend a tryout. If there are scheduling issues, please let me know and we can work on a makeup date.

Please review the 2025 Tryout Information. If any questions, please reach out to me directly.

2025 Huntley 47’s Tryout (PDF Download)

2025 Huntley 47’s Tryout (Online View)

Scan QR Code or Click to Register

LLWS Update

Most players will need to provide age and school enrollment documentation in order to participate in LLWS events. Coaches and/or administrators will be reaching out directly regarding next steps. Any player that went through the process for 2023 All-Stars will already have their birth certificate on file, so no need to dust that off! Anyone that did not participate in 2023 All-Stars will need to locate an original birth certificate.

The birth certificate will physically be held by Huntley Little League during the vetting process but returned to the parents.

Each team will participate in a minimum of 4 games at the District Level. 10u & 11u participate in tournaments that are State-Level only, but 12U & 13U have the potential to win State, move on to Regional and ultimately the LLWS.

• 8/9/10 State Tournament = 10u 47’s

• 9/10/11 State Tournament = 11u 47’s

• Majors LLWS = 12u 47’s

• Intermediate LLWS = 13u 47’s

View LLWS Schedule on Mobile Devices

Fall Ball Program

Fall Ball should be:

• Fun!

• Flexible

• Focused on Development

• Fast Paced

• Competitive

How do we get there? Regular practices? Regular Games? Maybe, but last year Fall Ball was a long grind and I don’t think we need that after a 30+ game Spring season. The way forward in Fall may be as follows:

• Multiple skills station events (Hitting, Fielding, Pitching, Catching, etc.) offered that players can sign up for

• Multiple drop-in games offered per week that players can sign up for

• A team-less program where 47’s and HLL Rec co-exist

  • HLL Majors, 9U-10U 47’s at SRB1, SRB2 & Tomaso

  • HLL 50/70 Intermediate, 11U-13U 47’s at Warrington South & Tomaso

  • HLL Juniors, 14U 47’s at Warrington North & Tomaso

• Potential for a Round Robin tournament with other LL organizations in the area (Tri-Cities, Woodstock, Crystal Lake, etc.)

• Potential for 47’s team practices

  • This decision is up to each individual team

• Potential for 47’s team tournaments and/or special games

  • This option would be a-la-carte and not included in 2025 47’s fees

  • This decision is up to each individual team

The format is unconventional, but I don’t want dual-sport athletes to feel like they can’t participate without a full commitment. I want all 47’s players to participate as much as possible!

More to follow. I am asking a lot of questions, researching what works for other organizations and even taking inspiration from Soccer which often uses a drop-in format. The ideas are far from formulated or fleshed out and the framework needs further development, but I believe this is the way forward and in the best interest of our players.

Ring Chasers

The Old Switcharoo
This past weekend I learned a new term. “Ring Chasers”. Our 10U team has sought after appropriate competition and we entered a tournament that checked all the boxes. The games we played were great competition, but one team did not belong. The scores in pool play:

• 20-1

• 25-7

We did not play this team, but they easily won the tournament, and we came to find out that the team in question is officially a “B Team” but most of the rostered players were from the “A Team”.

Pitch Counts? Not in a consolation game!
Additionally, a team we played twice had a pitcher throw 75+ pitches in a pool play game and then 45+ pitches in a consolation bracket game with many hours in-between the 2 games.

So many things to unpack…

1. Ring Chasing is good for the social media squirts and 2025 tryouts, I guess? When the 47’s win a tournament, it will be organic and an accomplishment.

2. Tournaments outside of Little League do not track pitch count but usually have a blurb in the rules stating the coaches should follow the USA Baseball Pitch Smart guidelines. There are some varying opinions on this topic, but for youth pitchers between 9 and 14, the concern is the growth plate and avulsion fractures. The injury is serious, may require surgery and can be devastating. No game, especially a consolation game, is worth jeopardizing a player’s health.

I’ll get off my soapbox now, but Sportsmanship & Player Safety are non-negotiable items.

Coming Soon

• LLWS Additional Updates

• Fall Ball Program Additional Updates