HPHS Baseball Feeder Program A Success in Year One

The Park District of Highland Park has partnered with Highland Park High School to create a community-based travel baseball feeder program.

The new program, for middle school aged players from 12 to 14 years old, will have three teams: 12U, 13U and 14U - totaling 36 players.

According to a Park District news release, the goal is “to give younger players the opportunity to learn the high school’s system, compete in larger national tournaments and get a head start developing the fundamental skills required in high school baseball.”

“It has been an exciting year with the development of the feeder program for the community. All the hard work put in by both the Park District and the HPHS Baseball Staff to make this a true feeder system is unparalleled,” said Dan Casey, Head Baseball Coach at HPHS. “I am excited about the direction of the program and can’t wait to have the chance to coach some of these young talented players when they get the Varsity level -- It is a GREAT Day to be a Giant!”

In the program’s first season, the 12U team finished second overall in the Deerfield WoodBat Tournament the Omaha SlumpBuster Silver Bracket Division II. The 13U squad also finished second in the Deerfield WoodBat Tournament and went 16-4 overall in MSBL play this year. The 14U team is still finishing their season.

“The development of a community based Feeder Baseball Program for travel baseball players ages 12-14 in Highland Park has provided young baseball players in the Highland Park community early access to competing as a HPHS Giant,” said Chris Maliszewski, Recreation Supervisor for the Park District of Highland Park. “All of the extra effort Coach Casey and his staff have put into the development of this program will surely pay dividends as these youngsters get to high school and compete at the next level.”