EVANSTON TO HOST YOUTH BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

EBSA Organizes Annual Stars and Stripes Tournament

 Beginning in 2012, Evanston Baseball and Softball Association (EBSA) organized what it expects to be an annual travel baseball tournament in Evanston for 9-13 year old players from throughout the Chicago Area.

 The Stars and Stripes Tournament will be held at James Park on July 6-8 and include 40 travel baseball teams from as near as Chicago and as far as Libertyville.  The tournament is being organized with assistance from The Strike Zone, a baseball and softball academy located in Glenview.  EBSA’s travel teams, the Orange Cats, will have 4 teams participating in the tournament as well

 Judging from similar tournament held in other towns, EBSA  expects approximately 500 players and, along with their coaches, parents, and families, potentially over 2,000 people could attend the 3-day tournament.  “We are very excited for this tournament which, in addition to being a lot of fun for the players, can also generate revenue for Evanston businesses,” said EBSA President David Campbell. 

The tournament will have 5 divisions, one for each age group 9-13 and will include approximately 135 games over the 3 days with the semi-finals and championship games for each division being held on July 8.  “We have a lot of experience organizing tournaments of this size and we are pleased to partner with EBSA for this annual event,” said John Fix, The Strike Zone President.

EBSA has been operating in Evanston for over 60 years and is the largest non-profit youth sports organization in Evanston and is run entirely by volunteers.  Each year EBSA serves over 1,400 boys and girls ages 5-14 in youth baseball and softball programs.