2023-2024 Tryout Dates Posted
You may contact us regarding 2023-2024 Tryouts at longshotstryouts@gmail.com.
Please ALWAYS confirm dates and times here prior to attending. CHANGES OR ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE POSTED IN THE SCHEDULE BELOW!!
SOME SCHEDULES AT VARIOUS AGES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED. SELECTIONS ARE BEING FINALIZED. IF ANY NEW DATES ARE CREATED, THERE WILL BE A NOTE HERE.
If there are weather/field concerns or forecasted inclement weather, we will post a weather update by 3:30 PM each weekday for planned tryout dates.
We will post weekend updates by 2pm and throughout the day.
Save yourself registration time - download the form (below) and bring it filled out.
Catchers - don't forget your equipment!!
Players - don't forget your water bottles!
Tryouts are annually held, beginning in July, for our next FULL YEAR Longshots Baseball season, which includes the fall program, three winter development segments and the spring/summer season. Additional private instruction is available from some of the Chicago area’s premier instructors and coaches.
Most Senior Division (HS) players in our program typically play with their high school graduating class team, regardless of their age eligibility. If they are capable and it's the correct course of action, we will place them "up". Players should try out for the team that corresponds with their graduating class.
All younger players will play with their class, as well. We believe, based on our extensive and successful experience, that "age-under" players, when playing up and developing with their school class early, stand a much better chance to compete as they approach high school. We do not set up players to “play down”. If you would like to “try out up”, please contact us.
All players in our program try out every year. Where there is no entitlement here, our players always are challenged to earn their way. There is clearly an advantage to getting into the program early and developing faster to be more competitive as players get older. As most folks in travel baseball, college coaching and pro scouting know, Longshots Baseball is highly recognized for player development. We become a highly sought-after destination as players get older. Our track record of player success – EVERY YEAR – speaks for itself.
Players, by age group (and ultimately teams), are selected by our highly respected and experienced Senior Division (HS-level) coaches. For 8th Grade and under selection, evaluation and selection is primarily done from coaches outside outside that age group. Our 7th and 8th grade age groups have been non-parent led.
2023-2024 TRYOUT SESSIONS
All current and prospective players must try out. Current LB players have obviously tried out across the year. If there are dates or injury concerns, please feel free to notify us. We will do what we can to accommodate folks, but there isn’t always a lot of flexibility.
Players will be allowed to attend only one tryout session. We will give players feedback after tryout session. We will likely give feedback in one of a couple forms:
1) An invitation to play (done in-person or follow-up contact)
2) An offer to attend a follow-up tryout session for further review (done in-person, follow-up contact or listed here on our site)
All players play with their grade, regardless of age eligibility. All grade group rosters start “clean” every year – nobody is guaranteed a spot. We are not like most programs... we don't look for "a player or two". We are looking for the most talented, skilled, passionate and committed players who want to truly be the best baseball player they can be… because it’s what we as a program commit to support and develop. It is what we do best… and have done... for 29 years!
We have had 60 MLB draft picks, 5 MLB players and ~480 college commitments in 17 graduating classes. How many programs have been so consistently successful each year? In today’s world of so many new travel teams popping up each year, we are beginning our 30th year. Every program talks development… we DO development. Ask any college coach or pro scout for a reference. They all know us and what we do.
We welcome parents to be as involved as they want to be in this program, but the program and the age groups are non-parent led. We do have many parent coaches involved in the program... some of whom have played MLB ball.
We encourage youth players to try out when they are ready, but as young as reasonable. It is very clear that the training our younger guys get positions them much more effectively for making our older teams, as highly talented players try out at all ages here every year. All our training is designed and executed as age-appropriate.
Tryout Schedule 2023-2024 Season
NOTE: These dates are subject to change. Please check the schedule before attending a session, and please check here for rain/weather and other updates.
NOTE: Roster spots will begin to be filled immediately. In most cases, we will save a very limited number of spots for our last listed tryout. When a player is offered a roster spot, it is confirmed when we receive a deposit check.
NOTE: We will notify all interested tryout participants when each age/grade group tryout process is completed. Roster completion notice will be posted next to the Age Group (below). Confirmed 2023-2024 players will be notified prior to the tryout process being completed.
UPDATED on 7/25/23
Class of 2024 (Seniors)
(Check us out if your program doesn't have a Fall/Summer 18U program)
Contact us at longshotstryouts@gmail.com to set up a tryout.
Class of 2025 (Juniors)
July 6, 5:30 pm , Whitlock Park East Field (grass)
July 11, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) Canceled
July 12, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) Canceled
July 13, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) NEW
July 17, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) NEW
If these dates don't work, contact us at longshotstryouts@gmail.com
Class of 2026 (Sophomores)
July 6, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass)
July 11, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) Canceled
July 12, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) Canceled
July 13, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) NEW
July 17, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) NEW
If these dates don't work, contact us at longshotstryouts@gmail.com
Class of 2027 (Freshmen)
July 5, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass) canceled
July 6, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass)
July 10, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass)
July 13, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass)
July 17, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park East Field (grass)
If these dates don't work, contact us at longshotstryouts@gmail.com
8th Grade
July 5, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin) canceled
July 6, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 10, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 13, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 18, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 24, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin) NEW
7th Grade
July 5, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin) canceled
July 6, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 10, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 13, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 18, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin)
July 24, 5:30 pm, Whitlock Park West Field (skin) NEW
**Please use the Memorial Park address (below) for youth tryouts.**
6th Grade (TWO Cooperstown Dreams Park teams)
July 5, 7:15 pm, Memorial Park North Field Canceled
July 11, 7:15 pm, Memorial Park North Field
July 13, 5:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field
5th Grade (two teams)
July 5, 7:30 pm, DOERHOEFER Park (4101 Venard, DG)
July 6, 7:15 pm, Memorial Park North Field canceled
July 7, 7:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field, NEW date
July 11, 5:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field Canceled
July 13, 7:15 pm, Memorial Park North Field
July 17, 6:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field
July 20, 6:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field NEW
July 22, 10:00 am, Memorial Park North Field NEW
4th Grade (one team)
July 10, 7:15 pm, Memorial Park North Field
July 12, 5:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field Canceled
July 15, 1:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field NEW Canceled
July 16, 4 pm, Memorial Park North Field
3rd Grade (one team)
July 10, 5:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field
July 12, 7:15 pm, Memorial Park North Field Canceled
July 15, 1:30 pm, Memorial Park North Field NEW Canceled
July 16, 4 pm, Memorial Park North Field
Whitlock Park (East & West fields)
4001 Fairview Ave
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Memorial Park (North Field - smaller field in back)
5500 Springside Ave (Maple and Springside)
Downers Grove, IL 60516
2013 All-State Players - Ricardo Ramirez (University of Illinois-Chicago) and Brian Glowicki (University of Minnesota and Chicago Cubs)
Fitz Stadler an All-Stater from Glenbrook South, 2015 Chicago Cubs draft pick and a 2018 Toronto draft pick from Arizona State. He was ranked 8th best player in the state by Prep Baseball Report and #2 ranked RHP in 2015.
10U Longshots player Nick pictured with Illini players Nick Blackburn, Pat McInerney, and Ryan Nagle at the 2015 College Super Regional in Champaign. The trio of Longshots alumni wew all MLB draft picks!
PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO THE FIRST TRYOUT SESSION YOU ATTEND. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PROVIDE AN E-MAILED COPY TO US IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU.
Contact us for Tryout Inquiries or Questions
longshotstryouts@gmail.com
