Added 27-Dec-2010

In July 2010, the inaugural Demarini Inviational Showcase was held in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Featuring a field of 32 highly competitive 18U Gold and 16U teams from across the country, the tournament was a critical success and provided a great recruiting showcase opportunity for the young athletes that participated. Wednesday night’s opening festivities, sponsored by Demarini, included a home run hitting contest for players from the participating teams as well as a staggering homerun exhibition put on by former Olympian Krystal Bustos. In addition, Coach Eugene Lenti of DePaul and Coach Kate Drohan of Northwestern addressed the athletes and coaches. On Thursday morning, tournament pool play began and culminated with a single elimination tournament that ran from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon. Over the course of pool and elimination play well over 100 college coaches flocked to attend the first-year tournament. All of the games were held at Ackerman Park and most of the games could be watched simultaneously because of the ideal layout at the complex. The small and select tournament field coupled with the user friendly venue garnered positive feedback from college coaches and participants alike.

For 2011, the second annual Demarini Inviational Showcase will again be held at Ackerman Park in Glen Ellyn, Illinois from July 13-17. And just as last year, the tournament will boast a strong and select group of teams from across the country competing in pool and elimination play in a 7 game guarantee format.

The schedule for the tournament is as follows:

• Wednesday July 13 – opening night festivities including a homerun contest and all-star game for players from participating teams
• Thursday July 14 – pool play begins
• Friday July 15 – pool play continues
• Saturday July 16 – pool play concludes, single elimination play begins
• Sunday July 17 – elimination play concludes

** Entries for the 2011 tournament field are now closed. **