American Legion Baseball has bright future in Woodstock

 

By ANDREW DREISCHARF
The Independent

 

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Woodstock American Legion Team Baseball is set to make its return this summer in Woodstock.
The American Legion team was a presence in Woodstock until the late 1990s. Now a group of local men are bringing the team back in association with American Legion Post 412, which will sponsor the club. Both sides wanted to see the return of the team.
President Gary Schnulle, vice president Greg Furlano, secretary/treasurer Gary Gee, American Legion representative Dwayne Rainey and Woodstock High School varsity head baseball coach John Oliveira make up the WALT board.
“We wanted to give boys ages 16 to 19 another outlet to play baseball,” said Furlano.
The American Legion team will play at the Dream Field in Woodstock beginning in mid-June.
The reason for the team being an American Legion team rather than a travel team is because, as a rule, professional scouts attend more AL games.
The team will compete in the McHenry County American Legion League and will play against Crystal Lake, Johnsburg, Lake in the Hills, McHenry and Richmond.
The team will play 25 to 30 games, with 10 games being league games, including home and away.
Derek Lee, current sophomore baseball head coach at Woodstock High School, will coach the team. He graduated from WHS in 2001. Assistant coaches Adam Brink and Brendan Benda graduated from WHS in 2004 and 2005, respectively. This gives the team a local flavor. Many of the AL players will be or have been high school teammates.
Because this is a Woodstock team, players from both WHS and Marian Central Catholic High School recommended by their respective coaches will make up the roster. The team is still working on the possibility of including other towns as well.
The player fee is $100 and offers an opportunity for local players to play competitively at a high level over the summer.
“Interest so far has been great,” said Furlano.
The team also wants to make this the Woodstock community’s team and is asking for donations. Sponsorships are available at the game level for $100, team level for $150 and player level for $250.
Individuals can support the team by purchasing tickets to the “Meet the Players” dinner in May. For information, Call Gary Gee at 815-334-8342.
A Web site is in the process of being created.
Schnulle was not available for comment by press time.

 

This article was published in the March 5, 2008 edition of The Woodstock Independent.