Legion Baseball Post-Season Dates Set for 2009

The state American Legion Athletic Committee met recently to set the dates of the 2009 post-season tournaments for Classes A, B & C Senior and Junior Legion teams. 

Proposed NSAA Rule Changes Would Affect Baseball

Beginning in 2010, Nebraska high school baseball programs could see their seasons shortened by two weeks and the maximum number of games played limited by a seventeen "date" cap if recently submitted proposed changes to the NSAA's Baseball Manual are adopted. 

Class B Expands with Addition of Yutan and Waverly for Spring 2009

Baseball continues to grow as the Chieftains and Vikings add baseball to their spring sports offerings.  The addition of Yutan and Waverly increase the number of Class B teams to eighteen and the total number of programs playing spring ball to 44.

Brandon Bass Wins National Batting Award

Brandon Bass, a senior at Millard West High School, has recently been named the recipient of the 2008 Louisville Slugger Award, presented annually since 1945 by the Hillerich and Bradsby Company of Louisville, Kentucky to the American Legion player compiling the highest batting average during national competition. 

Winkelmann, Daeges, Kalkowski, Williams  and Scheffert Finish Atop Leaders

The Nebraska high school Classes of 2007, 2008 and 2009 were each represented among the top five individual statistical category leaders for the 2008 Nebrasaka Class A American Legion Senior Legion season as Brandon Winkelmann (2008), Cody Daeges (2007), Kash Kalkowski (2008), Chris Williams (2009) and Josh Scheffert (2009) finished atop the statewide leaderboard.

Fall Baseball Thriving in Football Country

Even though football is the undisputed king of the fall sports scene in Nebraska, participation in fall baseball is on the upswing in the Cornhusker state as five "Elite" teams and dozens of youth teams hit the diamond weekly under bright autumn skies.

Husker Recruits Experience Unique Baseball Opportunities

University of Nebraska baseball recruits Josh Scheffert and Kurt Farmer head into their senior seasons with valuable out-of-state baseball experiences under their belts. 

BaseballNebraska Launches Effort to Promote Nebraska Prospects

At BaseballNebraska.com, we're all about promoting Nebraska high school.  We're now adding a new service to help more players pursue their dreams of playing at the next level. 

Dana College Winter Camps (to be held on campus at Gardner-Hawks Center and Borup Coliseum)

• Youth Offense/Defense Camp - Dec. 28th, 1:00 - 4:00pm (ages 8-13)

• High School Offense/Defense Camp - Feb. 1st, 1:00 - 4:00pm (ages 14-18)

• High School Pitchers/Catchers Camp - Feb 15th, 1:00 - 4:00pm (Ages 14-18)

• $35 each camp (preregistered) / $45 at the door

• Contact:  contact Ken Misfeldt, Head Baseball Coach, at (402) 426-7913 or kmisfeld@dana.edu

• Information and Online Registration: http://www.campregistry.com/danabaseballcamps/

Riever Baseball Holiday Camps (Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, IA)

• Exclusive Pitcher / Catcher Camp - Dec. 28th (HS sophs, juniors, seniors - $100)

• Elite Hitting Camp - Dec. 27th (HS sophs, juniors, seniors - $60)

• Reiver Youth Camp - Dec. 26th (Ages 6-13 - $50)

• Contact:  Chad Ogden, Assistant Baseball Coach, 712-256-6536, cogden@iwcc.edu

2008 November Prospect Camps (Doane College, Crete, NE)

• Pitching Velocity Camp - Nov. 30, 1:00 - 4:00 (Ages 12-18)

• Explosive Hitting / Defense Camp - Nov. 30, 5:00 - 8:00pm (Ages 12-18)

• Cost - $35 each camp

• Contact:  Jeremy Jorgensen, Head Baseball Coach, 402-826-6744, jeremy.jorgensen@doane.edu

Winter Instructional Hitting League (Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, IA)

• Pre-Christmas - Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14.

• Post-Christmas - Jan. 11, 18, 25, Feb 1, Feb 8.

• Two Sessions Nightly:  6:00 - 7:30 or 7:30 - 9:00pm

• Cost - Pre-Christmas - $100, Post-Christmas - $85

• Contact:  Chad Ogden, Assistant Baseball Coach, 712-256-6536, cogden@iwcc.edu

2008 Creighton Baseball Camps (Creighton University, Omaha, NE)

• Youth Hitting League Camp - Nov. 9, 16, 23, Dec. 7 & 14,Time TBA, ages 8-13, $100

• Youth Hitting Camp - Dec. 27 or Dec. 29, 12:30-2:30, $55

• Youth Pitching Camp - Dec. 27 or 29, 10:00am-12:00pm, ages 8-13, $55

• High School Hitting League Camp - Nov. 9, 16, 23, Dec. 7 & 14, Time TBA, ages 14-18, $100

• High School Hitting Camp - Dec. 28, 12:30-2:30, ages 14-18, $55

• High School Pitching Camp - Dec. 28, 10:00am-12:00pm, ages 14-18, $55

• High School Advanced Hitting Camp - Dec. 20, 1:00pm - 3:30pm, ages 14-18, $65

• High School Advanced Pitching Camp - Dec. 20, 9:00am-11:30am, ages 14-18, $65

• Contact:  Assistant Coach Brent Alwine at (402) 280-3877 or at brentalwine@creighton.edu.

Seeking Teams for Senior Legion Tournament:  Columbus Senior Legion is  looking for teams to play in its tournament June 12, 13 and 14th. Contact Kyle McCright at 402-910-1438 or mccrightkr@mlc.edu

Seeking Teams for Junior Legion Summer Tournament:  Lincoln Southwest is looking for a couple more Junior Legion teams to complete the field of its June 19-21, 2009 Baylor Test Prep Invite at Den Hartog Field in Lincoln.  The entry fee is $325 with a four game guarantee.  If interested, contact Nick Schieffer at (402) 890-1147 or nschief@lps.org. 

Seeking Team (1) for Junior Legion Summer Tournament:  Elkhorn is looking for one more Junior Legion team to complete the field of its June 26-28, 2009 Wooden Bat Tournament.  It will be first come, first served. The entry fee is $400. Bats will be supplied and each team will be playing 5 games. Championship trophy is a laser engraved wood bat. If interested, contact Josh Snyder at jsnyder@epsne.org. 

Seeking Games:  Waverly High School,  a new Class B baseball program, is looking to add a few more games to its spring 2009 schedule.  If interested, contact WHS Activities Director Jack Guggenmos at (402) 786-3011 or jguggenm@esu6.org.

Seeking Games:  Yutan High School, a new Class B baseball program, is looking to add a few more games to its spring 2009 schedule, particularly a tournament or two.  If interested, contact YHS Activities Director Dan Tietjen at (402) 625-2241 or dtietjen@esu2.org.

Seeking Teams for Summer Tournament:  Springfield (MO) Area Baseball Ass'n is looking for teams for its 38th Annual Holiday Showcase, July 1-5, 2009.  Thirty-two team pool play, 3 game guarantee, 18u.  Contact:  Tournament Director, Nolan McCaulley at 417-863-7690 or nmccaulley@aol.com; or Steve Brewer at 417-766-4005 or bbfan79@sbcglobal.net.

Seeking Teams for Summer Tournament:  The 8th Annual Battle of Omaha Presented by Nike, has added additional tournaments for 2009.   In addition to 2-19U's and 17U, Tournament Director Scott Hodges has added a 10U, 11U, 12U, 14U and a 15U.  All tournaments take place during the College World Series with games being played throughout Omaha.  Last year the three tournaments drew 99 teams, and more that 140 are expected for 2009 - All affiliations are welcome.  For more information, see Battle of Omaha website, or contact Scott Hodges for more details.  scott.hodges27@cox.net

Seeking Team (1) for Summer Tournament:  2009 Hladky Memorial Tournament in Gillette, Wyoming, June 25 - 28, has a spot for one more team in eight-team tourney.  Each team guaranteed five games, possibly six.   Teams in tournament include Gillette Roughriders (2008 WY state champs) and Minot Vistas (2006/2007 ND state champs).  Contact Nate Perlberg, (307) 689-4542. 

Strike Zone Tunnel Line Drive League - The Strike Zone, 2900 S. 110th St., Omaha

• 13-14 Tunnel League or High School Wood Bat Tunnel League, 4 week sessions, live pitching

• Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30 or Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28 or Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25 or Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22

• Four hitters per team

• $200 / team or $60 / individual (non-members), $160 / team or $50 / individual (members)

• Contact Joe Siwa at (402) 398-1238 or jsiwa@strikezoneomaha.com

Essential Skills for High School Baseball - Ultimate Baseball Academy

• Four one-hour group classes with instruction by Roncalli Head Coach Tom Kupfer

• Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30 or Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28 or Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25 or Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 @ 1:00pm

• November classes at Siemens Bay location; others at new UBA Facility at 120th & I

• $120 / player

• Contact Tom Kupfer at (402) 935-1UBA or tkupfer@ultimatebaseballacademy.com