If you are interested in joining the Illinois Travel Baseball Club for the 2019-2020 season, please complete this application:
Register: 2019-2020 Tryouts
Illinois Indians
Teams: 15U-18U
Home Facility: Play Ball USA in Mount Prospect, IL
Additional Training & Practice Locations:
- Heritage Park (Wheeling)
- Johansen Baseball (South Elgin)
- Legacy Performance (St. Charles)
- BIG Academy (Chicago)
- Trout Park (Elgin)
Illinois Lions
Teams: 14U-18U
Home Facility: Johansen Baseball in South Elgin, IL
Additional Training & Practice Locations:
- Trout Park (Elgin)
- Legacy Performance (St. Charles)
- Play Ball USA (Mount Prospect)
- Heritage Park (Wheeling)
Tryout Dates
All participants must attend ONE Indoor tryout and ONE Outdoor tryout for a total of TWO tryouts.
Illinois Indians:
Indoor: Play Ball USA - Mount Prospect
- Tuesday, July 9 - 8:00PM (7:40PM Check In)
- Tuesday, July 16 - 8:00PM (7:40PM Check In)
- Tuesday, July 23 - 8:00PM (7:40PM Check In)
- Tuesday, July 30 - 8:00PM (7:40PM Check In)
- Tuesday, August 6 - 8:00PM (7:40PM Check In)
- Tuesday, August 13 - 8:00PM (7:40PM Check In)
Outdoor: Heritage Park - Wheeling
- Wednesday, July 10 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, July 17 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, July 24 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, July 31 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, August 7 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, August 14 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
Illinois Lions:
Indoor: Johansen Baseball - South Elgin
- Monday, July 8 - 8:00PM (7:45PM Check In)
- Monday, July 15 - 8:00PM (7:45PM Check In)
- Monday, July 22 - 8:00PM (7:45PM Check In)
- Monday, July 29 - 8:00PM (7:45PM Check In)
- Monday, August 5 - 8:00PM (7:45PM Check In)
- Monday, August 12 - 8:00PM (7:45PM Check In)
Outdoor: Heritage Park - Wheeling
- Wednesday, July 10 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, July 17 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, July 24 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, July 31 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, August 7 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- Wednesday, August 14 - 7:45PM (7:20PM Check In)
- All players, including 2018-2019 Indians & Lions players, must register online.
- A $45 tryout fee is collected in exchange for an ITB tryout/pro style workout.
- Private tryouts are available upon request for a $90 fee.
- Age is as of May 1, 2020.
- Players may attend as many try-out dates as they would like.
Please contact Mike Pugliese at pug@illinoisindiansbaseball.com for additional information.

Padres’ minor league outfielder Jack Suwinski is starting to find his swing with the Lake Elsinore Storm. The left-handed hitter is a quiet individual but goes about his work with diligence, and the results are starting to come.
Jack Suwinski is a name that most fans wouldn’t know too much about. The Padres outfielder was drafted in the 15th round in 2016 out of a high school in the Chicago area. The soft-spoken, left-handed hitter carries a very big stick and has plenty of upside for a 20-year-old.
He is currently playing well for the Lake Elsinore Storm hitting .310 with four homers and 14 RBI in his first 16 games played. He has a great attitude and will keep advancing with his current mindset. “It is all about going about your business in the right way. Going out to the field every day and compete, while working hard. The ups and downs of a long season can get to you at some point. I am just learning every day,” Suwinski said. Playing in the Cal League at the age of 20 is no easy task. His maturity level is advanced.
In speaking to Suwinski, he left me with great lasting impressions. “I am looking to come out every day and be the best that I can be. I just want to help the team win. I want to be an unselfish player. Going out there and doing what is best for the team will help you in the long run,” Suwinski stated. You have to love when a prospect figures things out early. There is a long road still for Jack Suwinski, but he is well on his way in that journey.
Full article: https://eastvillagetimes.com/2019/04/unheralded-padres-prospect-jack-suwinski-is-swinging-a-hot-bat/
Not once, but twice, has Keith Rogalla’s name been called during the MLB Draft.
The first being in 2014 when Rogalla was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 37th round right out of high school.
The Oak Park River Forest graduate had quite the decision on his hands, turn pro or attend Creighton University.
“That’s pretty tough. You know it’s not an easy situation, but at the time I’m talking to my family, we just thought that I wasn’t mature enough,” said the right-handed pitcher. “I was young kid, I’d never done my laundry and I just needed to do some growing as a player, too. Pro ball’s a good place to, but starting my education and going there (Creighton) and improving my baseball skills was the best thing for me to do.”
The Oak Park native chose to attend Creighton, after being a two-time First Team All-West Suburban Conference selection.
The decision proved to serve Rogalla good, as he found himself in the weekend rotation as a freshman at Creighton, while posting a 4-2 record, pitching in 14 games and starting in 10 of them. The righty also recorded Creighton’s first Big East win of the year.
Rogalla followed up his freshman year with a 5-3 record, making 15 starts and tossing 73 innings. His longest start of the year was an eight-inning, one run victory over Jacksonville.
Which leads to his junior season. In 2017, Rogalla held opponents to a .231 batting average, while striking out 70 batters in 71 1/3 innings of work on his way to a Second Team All-Big East selection.
Following his junior year, for the second time, Rogalla was selected in the MLB Draft. This time in the 12th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, lifting a weight off his shoulders.
“Don’t be so nervous now that it finally happened, I was anxious for it to happen,” said the now Angels prospect. “Then it was just a celebration, I got calls from my parents, my family members, my friends and after that it was just excitement.”
One of Rogalla’s summer travel coaches, Nelson Gord, knew this day was coming back when the righty was just a junior in high school.
“Early summer after his junior year he was scheduled to pitch on Sunday of a tournament we were playing in. Because of rain and other factors, we didn't end up playing that game. In an effort to get pitchers work in, and some additional ABs, we held a practice on that Monday. Keith and his dad weren't too happy that he got "skipped" in the rotation, but my response to them was "This weekend at the St. Charles Showcase (now the Chicagoland Classic) you're going to pound the zone with 88-90 and none of this is going to matter because my phone will be blowing up and you'll have a number of offers," said Gord. “Sure enough that weekend he was 90-92 and also showed a nasty slider a couple times. I'm sitting in the dugout just laughing at all the phone calls and emails.”
Gord, who played at the professional ranks for the Schaumburg Flyers and the Kansas City T-Bones, had some advice for Rogalla as he enters the professional ranks.
“Stay in your lane and don’t try to guess what the organization is trying to do. I saw so many guys get caught up in that trap and it takes away from the pleasure of playing the game. Once you lose the pleasure, the passion fades, and then it becomes nothing more than an under-paying job,” said Gord. “Smile and have fun. Be an energy giver. Those guys stick around forever and will always have a position somewhere.”
Rogalla is currently with the Orem Owlz, the Angels rookie ball affiliate. Since being assigned to the Owlz, he has already has some early takeaways from pro ball.
“You have to throw two pitches for strikes. Right now I’m coming out of the pen, so you can get away with a lot more because you’re not seeing a lineup two-three times,” said Rogalla. “I’d say if you make a mistake here, they’ll make you pay for it more often than college hitters do.”
No matter what happens, Rogalla is one of Gord’s former players to reach the affiliated ranks. Something Gord says is neat to see how the whole process came together.
“It’s incredible. Not because I feel that we “made” that happen, but rather because I know first hand how hard it is to get there, and what chasing that dream is like. It’s really cool to sit back and think about all the ups and downs these guys went through in order to get to where they are today. I truly believe that adversity, and those (sometimes tough) conversations, have assisted in shaping them into the men they are today,” said Gord.
These players all wore an Illinois Indians uniform for one game, one season, or multiple years. They are not playing college baseball because of the Indians, they are playing because of their own work ethic, passion, and work in the classroom. We are just thrilled that we can be a chapter (or even sentence) in their book!
Brock Daniels - Oklahoma
Connor Throneberry - Penn State
Daniel Clawson - Northern Illinois
Trevor Kardell - Mizzou
Farmer Abendroth - LSU
Ethan Anderson - Tennessee
Tyler Brandenburg - Purdue
Hayden Bruno - Tallahassee CC
Bret Bushka - Butler U (Football)
Anthony Caruso - UW Oshkosh
Tristan Cazel - Parkland College
Michael Carvatta - Prairie State
Kyle Coates - Washington U (MO)
Teague Conrad - Illinois-Chicago (UIC)
Donovan Corley - Cisco JC
Harrison Cook - U of Kentucky
Dillon Di Iorio - Centre College
Austin Doty - Dominican U
Carter Gledhill - Concordia-Chicago
Jake Greifelt - Oakton CC
Egon Hein - UW Whitewater (Football)
Max Herubin - Eastern Gateway CC
Nick Hofmann - Maryville University
Sam Hojnar - Southern Illinois
Matt Jachec - Indiana State
Joe Marcucci - Augustana College
Mateo Martinez - Wichita State
Brandon Matias - Oakton CC
Garrett Moran - Trinity University (TX)
Jon Mroz - Elgin CC
Logan Mueller - Kansas State
Cam Mulvihill - UW Oshkosh
Hunter Olson - McHenry CC
Danny Pocklington - Grinnell College
Alex Rakas - Oakton CC
Ben Reniva - Quincy U (Football)
Ernan Rivera - Frontier CC
Riley Rundquist - Heartland CC
Andy Shover - Augustana College
Jake Snyder - Wheaton College
Joey Teschke - MSOE
Ethan Watrous - Cornell College
Chandler Wood - Georgia Tech
Charlie Andersen - Florida Southern
Jack Anderson - Northern Illinois
Brooks Appelt - Illinois Wesleyan Univ.
Paul Bergstrom - Creighton University
Paul Beverly - North Central College
Sean Burke - University of Maryland
Zack Clesas - Wheaton (Mass.)
Stevie Diderrich - Upper Iowa
Daniel Ensign - Gordon College
Zach Fogell - Brown University
Luke Golla - Loras College
Chris Heywood - Oakton CC
Frank Heredia - Wheaton (Mass.)
Matt Johnston - Illinois-Springfield
Jackson Kaplowitz - Xavier University
Josh Killeen - Lebanon Valley
AJ Luehr - McHenry County College
Rory Marino - Carthage College
Caleb T. Ostronic - Central Methodist
Ryan Patel - Saint Louis
Austin Pfeifer - UNLV
Jay Palmer - Elmhurst College
Matt Raymond - Calvin College
Kyle Rosenfeld - Western Illinois
Thomas Ross - Dominican University
Matt Spiewak - Loras College
Tanner Spinks - University of Tampa
Matt Woods - Bryant University
Anthony Alvarez - UW - Parkside
Eric Bennes - Illinois Wesleyan
Danny Bullard - Davenport University
Austin Chouinard - South Mountain CC
CJ Deshazer - Heartland CC
Andrew Feist - Southwest Baptist U
Ryan Fitzgerald - Dominican University
Mason Frady - Chipola College
Aidan French - Wentworth IT
Noah Gilbert - Hendrix College
Alec Honickel - Carroll University
Andrew Keene - Georgia State
Lane Koening - Heartland CC
Carter Lawler - Illinois-Springfield
Evan Lorey - Spring Arbor University
Isaac Lucas - Johns Hopkins University
Tom Narey - North Central College
JohnLuca Moschetto - Carthage College
Bryan Niznik - Edgewood College
Conner Nantkes - Washington State
Cade Negley - Santa Clara University
James Raffauf - Heartland CC
Gio Ramirez - Lakeland University
Jordan Rodriguez - Minot State
AJ Rouse - Heartland CC
Noah Schrader - Truman State University
Ethan Soderna - Ohio Wesleyan University
Jack Splett - Oakton CC
Jackson Theil - Luther College
Alex Unekis - Concordia - Wisconsin
Jordan Wendel - Butler University
Michael Wiase - Oakton CC
Brett Wicklund - Heartland CC/Illinois State
Jacob Ahrens - Rend Lake College
Jojo Allen - Tennessee - Martin
Jake Aumuller - Calvin College
Evan Bell - University of Memphis
Brandon Bena - Iowa Western CC
Chris Broccolino - Oakton CC
Joey Butler - Illinois State University
Jack Coney - Purdue University
Luis Curbelo - Miami
Jalen Evans - Alvin Community College
Sam Ferri - Arizona State
Matthew Fraizer - University of Arizona
John Hendry - University of Indianapolis
Ethan Jones - Lawrence University
Matt Krogstad - St. Mary's
Jack Lauer - Adrian College
Luke McMahon - UW-Oshkosh
Medin Milla - Dominican University
Jack Molnar - Ball State
Dylan Mulvihill - Penn
Michael Nielsen - Quincy University
Zachary Nussbaum - Davidson
Eric Outlaw - North Central (IL)
Matt Pizur - North Park University
Jacob Plucinski - Lakeland College
Jason Santos - Carroll University
Shamus Segersten - Lincoln Trail College
Nathaniel Segura - Adrian College
Patrick Sexton - Oakton CC
Landon Silver - UC Santa Barbara
Timmy Simon - University of Dayton (FB)
Evan Snyder - Parkland CC
Ranko Stevanovic - Southern Illinois U
Robbie Suhr - Oklahoma Christian
Jack Suwinski - Indiana University
Jonah Ulane - The University of Kansas
Zac Veitch - Pomona-Pitzer
Nick Winter - UW Milwaukee
Zack Zagula - Adrian College
Cameron Zunkel - University of Illinois-Springfield
Nate Anderson - Heartland CC
Tyler Bordner - Kirkwood/UW-Milwaukee
Philip Bork - DePauw University
Trevor Buck - Oakton Community College
Bryan Bund - Eastern Illinois University
Alex Crinigan - Waubonsee CC
Caleb deMarigny - Union University
Casey Dodge - University of Illinois
Bailey Egan - Oakton Community College
Jonathan Eng - New York University
Michael Ferri - UW - Milwaukee
Richard Ficek - Illinois Institue of Tech.
Jacob Frank - Concordia University
Luis Gonzalez - Harper College
Andy Hayes - Macalester College
Dane Helnore - UW-Stout
Thomas Hennelly - William Jewel College
Connor Hinchliffe - LaSalle University
Davie Inman - Indiana State
Max Judnic - University of Dubuque
George Karavidas - Oakton CC
Lucas Karz - Presbyterian College
Thomas Kempf - University of Dubuque
Matthew Kozlak - Roosevelt University
Joey McFeely - Lakeland College
Marco Melgoza - Southeastern College
Alex Miranda - Oakton CC
Thomas Norton - Illinois-Chicago (UIC)
Brandon Nowak - Oakton CC/LSU
Ruben Olavarria - University of Dubuque
Jerry Park - Wheaton College
Mike Piotrowski - Dominican University
Kristopher Plough - Goshen College
Trystin Raikes - Parkland
Josef Rimac - Augustana College
Sal Rodriguez - Minot State
John Santee - Harper College
Ryan Sargent - Ohio University
Adnan Sator - Lincoln Trail College
AJ Sauseda - Harper College
Trey Schramm - Xavier University
Ryan Sinacore - U of Texas at Dallas
Wayne Sobotka - Iowa Central
Ian Steigerwald - Augustana College
Nick Dalesandro - Purdue University
Kristjan Storrie - Central Arizona CC
Bryan VanDuser - Concordia University
Sam Warady - Concordia - Wisconsin
Rob Yost - Oakton Community College
Connor Youngman - Oakton CC
2014 Alumni in College Baseball
Braven Bacardi - Illinois Wesleyan
JT Baksha - Western Illinois University
Tyler Bench - State College of Florida
Steve Buhrt - Calvin College
TJ Case - High Point (NC)
Micah Coffey - Minnesota
Sammy Colon - Judson University
Alex Cowan - Aurora University
Matt DeLaVega - Oakton/ McKendree
Patrick Dillon - Oakton Community
Geoff Duckmann - Indiana Tech
Gabe Farrowe - Harper College
Jeff Gargul - Concordia-Wisconsin
Nick Goldsmith - Pitt
Mitchell Goll - Illinois Wesleyan
Ryan Haff - University of Illinois
Tom Jeffries - Joliet Junior College
David Keaton - Coe College
Danny Kelly - Illinois Wesleyan
Joe Kukla - Dominican University
Wiley Lauerman - Grinnell College
Mark Lemus - College of Lake County
Anthony Marra - Concordia University
Jack Mueller - DePauw University
Nick Newman - St. Cloud State
Cody Pazik - Oakton/UIS
Reilly Peltier - McHenry Community
Caleb Potter - West Virginia
Rhett Rapshus - Black Hawk College
Justin Reaves - Holy Cross
Keith Rogalla - Creighton University
Michael Rothmund - U Illinois-Springfield
Devin Rybacki - Oakton/UW-Milwaukee
Noah Sadler - Heartland CC/Illinois State
Tommy Simon - Coe College
Christian Solinski - Waubonsee CC
Vince Surdo - Kankakee Community
Michael Szeszol - Concordia (WI)
McCarthy Tatum - Fresno State
Chad Thompson - Rockford College
Jeff Tucker - Edgewood College
Eddy Valenzuela - Robert Morris
Chase Woods - Oakton CC
Stetson Woods - Fresno State
Tyler Zunkel - College of DuPage
Cam Adams - North Park University
Lorenzo Aguayo - Morton
Connor Conzelman - Valporaiso
Matt Donovan - Ave Maria
Sean Dunne - Elgin Community College
Gabe Dwyer - UIC
Danny Hyde - Oakton/Northern Illinois
Zach Koziol - Benedictine University
Nick Loggarakis - North Central College
Matt McTague - Concordia
David Meade - College of Lake County
Adam Naliwajko - Webster
Ryan Nikolich - Parkland
Shane O'Leary - Judson
Roy Pettingill - Webster/Harper
Ricardo Ramirez - UIC
Jake Roehn - Ohio University
Nick Rybarczyk - Southern Illinois U.
Nick Seketa - Kalamazoo College
Brian Sobieski - Elgin Community College
Tommy Schaedel - Coe College
Jeff Woods - Olney Central College
Patrick Bellinger - Evansville
Connor Bieda - Alvin College (TX)
Ryan Czachor - Phoenix College/Oakton
Aaron DeGeorge - McHenry
Mike DeRosa - Cornell College
Erik Fetchko - Purdue North Central
Jack Forde - DePauw University
Jimmy Frankos - Iowa
Matt Godinsky - Grinell
Nick Johnson - Benedictine University
Alex Hernandez - Dominican University
C. Illiopoulos - Spoon River College/Truman State
Charlie Jerger - Heartland/Northern Kentucky
Brent Kiesel - Harper College
Derrick Mason - McHenry
Jake Monson - Aurora U.
Ryan Ross - North Central
Bryce Skelton - Lakeland
Kevin Stahmer - Cornell
Frank Walkiczek - Heartland
Danny Barnett - Maryville
Doug Beath - Oakland U
Mike Farias - Carthage
Kurtis Kaufman - UIS
Brett Kosar - Robert Morris
Will Krug - Illinois
Jon Mahay - St. Ambrose
John Munyon - IL Weselyan
Julian Ochoa - Augustana
Brian Pichardo - Concordia
Tommy Ricciardi - Miami (OH)
Robert Romano - IL Weselyan
Mike Shewchuk - Holy Cross
Jerry Silva - Chicago St.
Connor Skocynski - Oakton
Jeff VonMoser - San Mateo
Jack Wietilspach - Niagra
Matt Woodstock - Beloit
Kevin Davis - Joliet JC
Ryan DeRosa - Cardinal Stritch
Josh Fischbach - Kishwaukee
Tyler Goldstein - John Hopkins
Dan Hodorowski - Beloit
Derek Jordan - Milwaukee Sch Eng.
Kyle Kapka - Lewis University
Erik Lira - Oakton
Mike Mancuso - John Carroll
TJ McNulty - Penn
Mike O'Connell - Knox College
Greg Partyka - Bradley University
Tyler Pazik - Indiana State University
Mike Pugliese - Carthage College
Tommy Ross - North Central
Matt Scott - St. Joe's
Ryan Tuntland - Oakton/West Virginia
San Francisco Giants