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Last updated: 04/06/2008 Congratulations to the following Illinois Directors for a great 2007 season. Those 2007 award winners include the following; League Director of the year, Melissa Caine, Rookie of the Year, Mike Bachio, State Director’s Award, Lori Conro, Harlem Community Sports Complex received the Award of Merit, Distinguished Service Award, Mark Pawlowski, and the Award of Excellence to Jerry Henry. Also the following umpires were honored for their continuing support and dedication to the USSSA program; Steve Raasch, Crest Hill, Jeff Myles, Dekalb and Mike McConville, Rockford. Thanks so much to all of you for your support and hard work this past season. _________ 2008 Season Dear Managers, Teams and Softball Enthusiasts, Welcome to another exciting year in Illinois USSSA. Congratulations to Blackhawk Athletic Club from Rockford, highest finishing Class C Women’s team in the Great Lakes B/C Nationals held in Canton, Michigan this past season. Also, unprecedented….Men’s Class C World Champions from the Rockford/Janesville area, Shockers/Paul Davis Restoration finishing a perfect 7-0 at Disney Wide World of Sports this past September. This is only the 2nd time in Illinois USSSA history to have a Men’s team in Class A, B, C, D or E win a World Championship. Forest Hills Lanes won the Men’s Class B World Championship in Tullahoma, Tennessee in 1976. More info on the Shockers/PDR’s All World Team members, etc. under “Past Champions”. Shockers/Paul Davis Restoration was honored at the recent Hall of Fame banquet with the team being inducted into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Honor. It is my pleasure to announce Mr. Mike Peura as your Slow Pitch State Director. Mike will handle all aspects of team classification for Men’s Class A, B, C and Northern D teams. Mike will oversee the operation of all Men’s Slow Pitch. All inquiries should be to your Area/League Director first and then to Mike for unresolved issues. Mr. Norm Faulkner is your Southern IL State Director, Ms. Lori Conro, Women’s State Director for IL & WI, Mr. David Harmes, Master’s Director and Mr. Mark Pawlowski Men’s Northern E Director. New for 2008 – The Men’s Major NIT Conference tournament that has been held in Milwaukee, WI for over 25 years has been moved to Joliet, June 6-8. All Men’s Class B, C & D teams are encouraged to play. World Tournament berths will be awarded to the highest finishing Class C and Class D team in the tournament which also includes a paid World Tournament entry fee of $300 and $500 in Sponsor Travel Expense for each team. The highest finishing Class B team will receive an unpaid World Tournament berth. Also, a single elimination tournament will also be held for those Class C and Class D teams who finish 0-2 in the Major NIT. This will be a separate Class C and a separate Class D single elimination tournament. Unpaid World Tournament berths will be awarded in each tournament to the bracket winner. A homerun hitting event will be held Friday night, June 6 for anyone who wants to swing against some of the best hitters in the country. The Re-Classification List has been posted on www.ilusssa.com and will be updated as the season progresses. Team reclassification appeals will be handled as posted on the national web site at www.usssa.com. More teams will be added, deleted and names changed during the season. The Men’s Elite C and Elite D programs will remain the same as this past season. The Elite C teams will participate in the Illinois Men’s B program and will be allowed to participate in the C NIT’s, Nationals and/or World Tournaments. The Elite D teams will participate in the Illinois C program and will be allowed to participate in the D NIT’s, Nationals and/or World Tournaments. All teams must have their team roster on the National USSSA web site at www.usssa.com prior to participation in any USSSA tournament. Instructions for adding your roster on the ISTS program are located on the Illinois web site at www.ilusssa.com. This roster must be printed, signed and turned into each Tournament Director prior to the start of that Tournament. State, National and World Tournaments will not require a roster since your roster will already be forwarded to that Tournament Director. Any Illinois team wishing to travel outside Illinois for tournament participation must (1) Register in IL prior to entry into tournament (2) Team roster must be entered on usssa.com web site (3) Contact that IL Program Director for clearance. The Illinois www.ilusssa.com and National web sites www.usssa.com will supersede any printed rulebook. Any rule changes, clarifications, additional tournaments, policy changes, etc. will be updated on the Illinois web site as changes or additions become available. Thanks so much for participating in the USSSA program and have a fun filled and safe summer. Good luck this season and play the best – Play USSSA!
Brenda Paulson |
