Play Ball: Lake Forest Baseball Association Registers March 1

Lake Forest Baseball Association (LFBA) opens its online registration March 1 for 9-and 10-year-olds interested in playing travel baseball this summer.

The registration process for tryouts can be completed at www.lfba.net and the tryout fee is $40 per person.

Registration for the 9-and-under and 10-and-under baseball with LFBA is secures a spot for a child in the April 17 tryouts, according to Chris Fisher, LFBA 10-and-under age group director.

"LFBA, in conjunction with the Lake Forest Park and Recreation Program, offers several avenues for 9-and 10-year-olds to prepare for the upcoming baseball tryouts and season with clinics and spring house league baseball," Fisher said. 

Children registered for the tryouts can participate in two clinics offered by LFBA. The clinics will take place at Lake Forest's Recreation Center, 400 N. Hastings Road in Lake Forest, and are offered on the following days, (there is no additional fee as it is part of the tryout registration):

• March 20 and April 10: 9-and-under (third graders) -  5-6 p.m., and 10-and-under (fourth graders) - 6-7 p.m.

"The two LFBA clinics provide an opportunity for the boys to swing the bat and throw the ball prior to the tryouts. Various skills will also be reviewed with the boys in order to better prepare them for the April tryouts," said LFBA Commissioner Bill Hanekamp.

Again this year, the 9-and-under and 10-and-under LFBA travel teams will play in the Lake Shore Feeder Baseball League (LSFBL), which starts June 6 and runs through July 31.

According to Fisher, "During the summer, the LFBA Scouts participate in the LSFBL and compete against other North Shore communities. In the spring, our 9-and-under and 10-and-under travel players are required to participate in the Recreation Center's spring baseball program."

The Lake Forest Park and Recreation's Spring Baseball season begins April 8 and ends June 4. Registration is open and early bird rates will apply until March 4. For more information, visit www.lfrec.com.

LFBA hosts its Annual Orientation Night for rostered 2011 11-and-under  to 14-and-under players and their parents at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 24) at in Lake Forest. Parents and ball players interested in 9-and-under and 10-and-under travel baseball are also encouraged to attend to learn more about the upcoming season.

For information on LFBA or the tryouts, contact: Eric Nowik, 9-and-under age group director, (847) 814-3369 or Fisher, 10-and-under age group director, (847) 582-9190

For information on the Lake Forest Park and Recreation Baseball program, contact Anthony Anaszewicz, athletics supervisor, (847) 810-3945.