The Freeport International Baseball Invitational is not a tournament. There are no trophies, no awards, no MVPs and no All-Stars. Everyone who participates–from the coaches and the players, to the concession stand workers and all the folks in the bleachers–all join in simply for the love of the game.
If you have digital pictures taken during the 2009 Freeport International Baseball Invitational that you would like to share, please email them to us at: webmaster@fortheloveofthegame.org. We may put some of them on our webpage.
Attached is a 3 minute speech made by a player, Zach Salkowski, to his team last year at their banquet (Harford Sox). Zach will be playing on the Potter Baseball Tour team this summer. Zach was introduced at the banquet by Rick Warble, the coach of the Harford Sox. Rick’s son (Ricky) will also be playing on the tour team. Zach and Ricky are both really good baseball players. More importantly, they both are really good kids.
Listen to what he has to say…
We could all learn something…This is one of the many reasons this tour will be an awesome experience for so many… Thanks for being a part of it…
-Coach
RLCBATS offers a 20% of the funds from people who buy from RLCbats.com with a coupon code directly from their team. For example If your team wants to sell bats, batting gloves, mini bats, or anything else that RLCbats sells, we will provide that team with a coupon code to enter at our website (ie: Delaware Blue coats) and we will put that 20% in a separate account and cut a check to that organization whenever there is a sale to their team. contact Aaron Rekich at RLCbats.com for more information at 724-822-8936 or sales@RLCbats.com.
The Broadview Heights Ohio Eagles have played in the Freeport International Baseball Tournament for many years. Please take a look at this montage demo they created showing off the love of the game!
The 2010 Freeport International Baseball Invitational will be played July 19 to July 24, 2010. Please check back with us from time to time as we solidify plans.
The Freeport International Showcase, presented by the Paramount Scouting Bureau and National Scouting Report, provides players with an opportunity to be seen by college coaches and professional scouts while receiving an evaluation of their talent. The showcase is July 19th at 4:00 PM at Freeport Junior High Field in Freeport, PA and precedes the Freeport International Baseball Invitational. The showcase not only gives players a chance to demonstrate their talents, it gives them a chance to see how they compare to other players their age. It also gives the college coaches a chance to stay ahead in the recruiting game by seeing high school players.
Professional scouts will evaluate players for running speed, arm strength, pitching and fielding. Players will be timed in the 60-yard dash, and position players will be evaluated on arm strength, accuracy and fielding technique. Pitchers will throw against a radar gun and be evaluated on their delivery mechanics. The college coaches and professional scouts will then select a group of players to play in a mini-game.
For more information and to register, go to Freeport International
Showcase page at ParamountScouting.com
The Invitational this year had some of the coolest weather in the history of the Invitational and more rain than usual. We were fortunate to lose very few games, but the grounds crews worked hard to accomplish this. Despite the weather and the economy, the teams who came played a lot of baseball, all for the love of the game. Teams from Kentucky, Ohio and New York, as well as western PA and Japan, came as they always do for the chance to play in a format that has no playoffs or championship games and the pressure that comes with them. Teams are not eliminated and the coaches and managers love the chance to play lots of games and share baseball, culture, and fun with teams from different backgrounds and locations. Many teams end their seasons at this Invitational.
The Homerun Derby was a lot of fun for Jake Robinson of a Bluegrass, KY team. He placed first in the Derby, for the second year in a row; Nick Shay of the Kentucky Seminoles finished second; and Dylan Wysni of Trafford finished third. Nick Hiller, also of a Bluegrass team, hit a ball 400 feet directly onto a bull’s-eye painted on a sheet hanging on a fence. The words “Hit it Here” were painted on he sheet, and Nick did just that. He got to keep the sign when the Derby was over.
Yudai Yamada knocked in the winning run in the final game Saturday night, with a bases-loaded two-out single to give the USA/World team a 4 to 3 victory. Fireworks finished off the evening and the week for all participants and volunteers.
Jeff Potter, author of Whatever Happened to Baseball?, participated in the Old Timers’ Game and also announced a game for us. His book is a must read for all parents, players and coaches. You can get it at: Amazon.com “Whatever Happened to Baseball?”
