Macon County Jokers Home Page

SUMMER 2019

7th ANNUAL MIDWEST SLUGFEST TOURNAMENT SERIES

* * * AFFORDABLE BASEBALL * * *

It's the best kept secret in tournament baseball - - - we are offering the best value for your team's money.

We take it easy on your team's budget because all we try to do is break-even on the events.

THESE TOURNAMENTS FILL FAST!!!

Prior year's tournaments have brought in teams from 8 states.

MI, OH, KY, IA, IN, WI, MO, IL + 1 team from Canada

Over 50 colleges have been invited to come and scout future prospects!!!

18U Tournaments - open to 18U / 17U / SR & JR LEGION / HS Varsity summer teams / 16U / high end 15U
* * * History dictates that quite a few 16U teams enter as playing up is no different than what you see when playing HS varsity baseball * * *

These 2-day tournaments are designed to have you drive in on Saturday and drive home on Sunday - - -
there is NO NEED for a Friday hotel

Generally 2 games per day featuring a play / sit / play format so games are NOT spread out all day:

2019 tournament dates:

I June 22 - 23

II June 29 - 30

III July 13 - 14

IV July 20 - 21

16 team max per tournament

4 games for $400 (weather permitting)

ALL games are 7 innings (NO time-limits / NO drop-deads / NO ties . . . )
1st games of the day start at 10am

Play / Sit / Play format so your games are NOT spread out all day

Farthest teams away get the Noon Saturday Round 1 game

Winner of the last game you play takes home the TROPHY
- - - 9 teams will take home some hardware - - -
MVO (Most Valuable Opponent) tshirts awarded at end of each game (All-Tournament Team)
- - - 4 of your players will go home with a tshirt - - -

SAVING YOUR PARENTS & PLAYERS EVEN MORE MONEY:

NO gate / NO parking fees / NO admission charges / NO association fees / NO HIDDEN COSTS

COOLERS WELCOMED - - - PLEASE bring in all the food / snacks / drinks you can carry - - - NO LIMIT!!!

Fields are about 10 minutes apart

Play is on 4 separate high school fields in Decatur, IL (population 80,000 located in the center of the state).

About 2 hours from St.Louis, MO / about 2.5 hours from Chicago, IL / about 2.5 hours from Indianapolis, IN / a little over 3 hours from Paducah, KY

Don't lollygag your way down to 1st as these events will fill fast. Reserve your spot ASAP

PLEASE CONTACT:

DON HENDRIAN

dhendrian60@gmail.com

c 217-358-1960

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OOPS - - - WE DID IT AGAIN!!!

Totals for the Midwest Slugfest Tournament Series:

4 separate high school age tournaments - - - 4 separate weekends - - - games at 4 different locations

8 days of baseball - - - 32 games each weekend - - - 128 games played

16 different teams each weekend - - - 64 teams total - - - OVER 50 TEAMS ON WAITING LIST - - - 6 different states played (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin & Illinois) - - - a team from Minnesota was on waiting list (Kentucky and Iowa have previously played PLUS a team from Canada played in the first one)

From the 64 teams rosters - - - over 900 players from over 275 high schools - - - over 150 coaches & assistants

The farthest team away was 6h 30min - - - over 20 of the teams were more than 2h 30min away - - - in total teams travelled over 7,290 miles to Decatur to play - - - teams took over 128 hours to get to Decatur to play

More than 50% of the teams stayed overnight - - - estimating that over 370 hotel rooms were filled between the 4 weekends - - - EVERY team eats at least 3-4 meals in Decatur

The tournaments themselves managed to break-even - - - there are no administration fees / salaries / stipends / payouts - - -

it is ALL strictly VOLUNTEER time.

Estimating that close to $100,000 of NEW dollars were brought into Decatur

Over 36 trophies were awarded - - - at the end of each game 2 MVO (Most Valuable Opponent) tshirts were awarded to members of the opposing team - - - 256 MVO shirts given out

20 different umpires called the balls/strikes for the 128 games played - - - over 1,660 runs were scored in the 128 games played

On Father's Day - - - dads threw out the 1st pitch to their sons for the first games that day

The competitiveness of the teams that came were very very good - - -

Parents from the host team Macon County Jokers volunteered to work 58 different 5 hour shifts - - - about 290 hours - - -

Meridian High School National Honor Society Students worked 6 shifts or about 30 hours

The Midwest Slugfest continues to be a great community event as the teams get to see the area as they move from field to field within Decatur

The Macon County Jokers are ecstatic to be doing their part in helping Decatur grow!

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YOUR RATTLER CLASSIC CHAMPIONS!

2ND PLACE!

3RD PLACE!

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ZACH WILL BE PITCHING FOR THE BIG BLUE

Congratulations to Macon County Jokers pitcher/outfielder Zach Bugg who signed his letter of intent to play for Coach Brandon Townsend and the Millikin University Big Blue (members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – CCIW). Coach Townsend spotted Zach at a camp that Millikin held this past summer.

Zach is a senior and the top pitcher for his #1 seeded Central A&M Raiders. He was also a forward on the Central A&M’s basketball team.

“I’ve seen Zach play since his junior high days with the Young Guns and you could tell then he was going to be a special player,” says Joker Coach Don Hendrian. “Zach threw for us in the fall and showed right away that he was a front line pitcher who has swing and miss stuff. We’re excited to have him take the hill for us this summer!”

“Zach throws hard and I expect him to rack up some innings for the Big Blue right away.”

Zach is the 2nd Joker to commit to Millikin next year joining Craig Austin.

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JOKERS WELCOME CCSJ COMMIT

The Macon County Jokers are pleased to announce the addition of Trystyn Schoonover to the 2016 summer roster. Trystyn is a 3 sport athlete for the Champaign Central Maroons and he recently qualified for STATE 2A wrestling at 170 pounds! He is committed to NAIA Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave where he will wrestle and play baseball.

While on his visit at CCSJ for wrestling they saw that he had a baseball shirt on. They asked him about it and watched some video of him playing baseball - - - liked what they saw - - - made an additional offer.

Trystyn can pitch, catch and play infield or outfield. He throws hard and uses a splitter for his out pitch. His Champaign Central Maroons baseball team is expected to make a run at 3A STATE and he will join the Jokers when they finish. He was also a hard hitting outside linebacker for the Maroons that made it to the STATE 5A Semi-Finals.

“What a coincidence that Trystyn contacted me,” says Joker coach Don Hendrian. “We were looking to add another arm and he was looking for a team. He sent me an email and I gave him a call. With him playing for us we certainly have the depth to go deep in tournament play. We look forward to seeing him in a Joker uniform!”

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GAVIN IS NOW A LYNX!

Congratulations to Macon County Jokers 3rd baseman and starting pitcher Gavin Stanzione as he will be headed to play baseball for Lincoln College Lynx Coach Tony Thomas next fall. Gavin is finishing up his senior high school season for LSA Lions Coach Erik Johansen and will start his 2nd year of play for the Jokers this summer. Coach Thomas got to see Gavin play last year in one of the Midwest Slugfests that the Jokers host.

“Gavin did not start last summer on the Joker’s roster but we picked him up through the season to add some depth to our pitching,” said Jokers Coach Don Hendrian. “I remember him toeing the rubber for us in 110+ heat index temperatures and holding down an undefeated team in tournament play. He also played some amazing 3rd base for us. I have to use both hands to count the number of “Brooks” type plays he made. He also carried our team a couple of weeks with his bat. Gavin still finished 3rd on the team in hits and had a 368 batting average even though he didn’t play a full season.”

“Gavin is a big kid that stands about 6 foot 4 and he’s just a good kid to have on your team - - - I just can’t say enough about him. He should do well for the Lynx and am told that he is projected to start off as a closer for them.”

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CRAIG INKS HIS LETTER OF INTENT

Macon County Joker center fielder Craig Austin (Decatur LSA - 2016) signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Millikin University Big Blue Coach Brandon Townsend on March 8th. Craig put up some UNPRECEDENTED numbers last spring for LSA which earned him an All-State accolade (60 hits / 550 ba / 598 obp / 789 slug / 1387 obs) - - - he is the 3rd Macon County Joker to be named an All-Stater - - - Craig then continued his torrid pace by leading the Jokers in hitting over the summer (400 ba / 478 obp / 475 slug / 953 obs) and fall (706 ba / 737 obp / 1059 slug / 1796 obs).

"Craig reminds me a lot of my older son," said Joker Coach Don Hendrian "and he went on to be a 4-year starter at Millikin and led the Big Blue team in hits for 2 of those years. Craig handles the bat every bit as good as him and I look for Craig to have the same impact for Millikin. He will challenge for a starting outfield spot next spring for the Big Blue."

Craig starts his spring season next week for LSA Lions Coach Erik Johansen and will play for the Jokers again this summer. Craig is truly a special player and worth the effort to go watch play - - -

you won't be disappoiinted!

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JOKERS DYNAMIC DUO HEADED TO LAKELAND

Meridian Hawk's ace pitcher Hayden Damery & Central A&M Raider's big backstop Kohlby Ohl will both be headed to Lakeland next fall.

"Both of these guys were huge pick-ups for us this summer! I was coaching the Central team at a Jr. High Showcase in the fall when I got the text that they wanted to play for the Jokers and my cheeks hurt from smiling all day," commented Joker coach Don Hendrian.

Hayden was super for Meridian this spring where he picked up 6 wins with a 2.19 era and struck out 69 in 58 innings pitched. He's very crafty on the mound as he commands 3 pitches. Hayden also swings the bat pretty good too where he had a 444 average and led the team in every offensive category. He was a 4 year starter for the varsity.

Kohlby is a specimen behind the plate as he is an excellent receiver, blocker with an above average arm. He threw out quite a few kids foolish enough to try and steal on him and has an uncanny ability of picking kids off with his snap throws. He's also pretty good at the plate too as he hit 419 with 44 hits / 12 doubles / 36 rbis for the Raiders.

"We put together some video for these guys and sent out to several college coaches and they attracted a lot of attention from schools in Iowa and Illinois but they wanted to stay closer to home - and there's nothing wrong with that.. They're both super kids who have a lot of talent and are very coachable - - - they'll do well there," Coach Hendrian said.

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MIDWEST SLUGFEST I, II, III, IV TOURNAMENTS 2015

OVER 64 TEAMS FROM 7 STATES MAKE A BID TO PLAY

For the 2nd straight year - - - the Macon County Jokers hosted 4 tournaments this past summer in Decatur.

64 teams entered and over 20 were on the waiting list hoping to get in. Teams from Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois entered and/or expressed interest - - - but only 16 teams per week make the journey to the area.

The Slugfest has evolved into a great community event as the teams' games were scheduled on over 8 different fields allowing them to see the area as they move from field to field with about 50% of them staying overnight.

The Macon County Jokers are glad to be doing their part in helping Decatur grow!

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ALL-STATER CRAIG AUSTIN

CONGRATULATIONS to Craig Austin as he becomes the 3rd Macon County Joker to be selected to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team. Craig is just a junior but put up some monster numbers this spring for the Decatur Lutheran Lions.

In 30 games played - - - 60 hits / 109 at-bats / 550 batting average / 17 doubles / 3 triples / 1 home run / 23 runs batted in / 44 runs scored / 19 out of 20 stolen bases / 598 on base percentage / 789 slugging percentage / 1000 fielding percentage / ONLY 3 strike outs

"I've seen Craig make plays in the outfield that a normal human being would not make," commented Joker Coach Don Hendrian. "On several occasions players had to be told to go back to the dugout because they thought they had reached base safely thinking there was no way that ball was caught. And when he's not hurting you with his glove he's killing you with his bat. Craig is so quick at making adjustments at the plate that no matter how you try and pitch him he always seems to find a way to get on base. He is very deserving of the honor."

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CONGRATULATIONS to Mason Hinton as he has committed to playing baseball for the MacMurray College Highlanders (Jacksonville, IL) members of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). This past spring the Highlanders finished 3rd in the East Division narrowly missing out on the conference tournament.

It's said that you have to play well in front of the right people and Mason did just that. The Highlanders spotted Mason when the Jokers played a fall game last year on the MacMurray campus and head coach Justin Fuhler took an immediate interest in Mason and started pursuing him.

Mason had an incredible regional game this year where he struck out 19 batters in a Decatur Lutheran Lion win including the first 9 batters he faced while allowing only 3 hits. Mason certainly left his mark at Decatur Lutheran as he ended his high school career this past spring and set several season and school records

Season records: Hitting: RBIs (32)

School records: Pitching: most wins (9), strike outs (106), strike outs in a game (19)

Hitting: RBIs (64), Home runs (5)

Joker coach Don Hendrian says that, “Mason is a rare breed. I can’t think of anyone else I would want at the plate in a crucial game situation because I can always count on him to deliver. He is ALWAYS smiling and talking to everyone during a game. Just a super kid and glad he plays for us. We wish him the best as he moves on to the next level.”