Player/Parent Informational Packet
2018 Season
Current Directors and Staff
Ernie Colombe- Director/Founder
630-664-2223
Steve Colombe- Assistant Director
630-664-2058
Coaches:
Tom FoxJake RazoNick Porretto
630-328-9333630-392-0280630-217-8499
Austin ButtsKevin TurnerZach Skog
815-354-3284630-392-1764847-791-7252
Matt RodriguezMike McGreevyBrian Kubilius
630-806-5503815-592-1875630-319-1342
Program Overview
The goal of the Kane County Phantoms baseball program is to develop and prepare players for college baseball. Our strength lies in our player’s desires to play at the next level. We design our program to have the demands similar to that of a college program. As a team, we try to make one another better on and off the field. With this formula we succeed in winning games and tournaments while getting our players prepared as they move on to the next level.
The Phantoms seek out serious baseball players who have the desire to play at the college level. Over the past eight years we have had 80 All Area/All Conference players and all our graduating seniors have had an opportunity to play college baseball. With this continued success we have added a collegiate team to go along with our high school program. Players joining us at the 15u level may have the opportunity to play in our program for 8 years.
The program will include a team at the 15u, 16u, 18u, and 22u levels in the summer of 2018. Each team will participate in seven weekend tournaments. These tournaments usually run Thursday-Sunday and take place at local colleges and high schools. Each team will participate in one out of state/out of town tournament.
More information regarding rosters, fees, schedules, and practices can be found throughout this packet. Please feel free to contact us with any other questions.
Roster Format
Ideal Roster
15 position players
Additional Pitchers added as a Pitcher Only (POs)
What is a Pitcher Only?
Pitcher only will not play a position in the field
Pitcher only will not be guaranteed at bats
At bats may be given in certain circumstances (injury)
What is a Position Player?
Position players will play a positionin the field
Position players can also Pitch
Each roster is built to be able to compete in tournaments that may require 5-7 games in a span of 3-4 days. Teams will need enough pitchers on the team to make it through several games in a few days. Our teams have been competitive and successful for several years because of our talent depth. This also prevents players from injury.
Each player that is added to the team fills a role on the team’s roster. No players added to our teams are considered to fill the role of ‘bench warmer’. Each player will get opportunities to play in each tournament. The players who do produce the most will get the most playing time.
Fees
Season Fee (Summer 2018 Team)
Position Players- $800
Pitcher Only- $525
Season fee covers tournaments, insurance, equipment, and uniforms
Additional Opportunities (Optional)
Fall Baseball:
-The Phantoms will participate in a local fall league that consists of other local travel teams. Games would take place on weekends.
Winter Practices:
-The Phantoms will have 10 indoor practices on Sundays during the winter at Top Pick Athletics in Sugar Grove. Top Pick is a new facility that includes a full turf infield, 4 batting cages, and 2 pitching lanes. We will have the full facility from 5-8 PM. See the winter practices page for the full schedule.
Letter of Acceptance
If a player accepts his spot on a Phantoms team he will be sent a Letter of Acceptance and a Payment Contract. The Letter of Acceptance simply states that the player is committed to playing for the Phantoms and accepts his role on the team.
The Payment Contract offers three different payment plans that families can choose from. These payment plans break the season fee into 2-4 deposits. If a deposit is not sent to the Phantoms on time without notice the player can lose their roster spot. As long as the player turns in the Letter of Acceptance and follows the chosen payment plan their roster spot will be held. Deposits are non-refundable.
The Letter of Acceptance and Payment Contract allows the players to commit to our team and allows our team to commit to the player. For example, we add a player to the team as an Outfielder. When he turns in his Letter of Acceptance and payments on time he is proving to us that he is committed to playing for our team. In turn, we commit to him by not adding several other players that play the same position as him.
It is important for each player to follow the Payment Contract they have chosen. Each team will be paying for tournaments, insurance, and equipment. It is important that we can pay for these expenses on time. Reminders will be sent 7-10 days prior to a player’s next payment due date. If a player cannot make a payment on time he must let us know before the payment is due. We can hold his roster spot if he notifies us of a late payment.
On the next two pages you can find an example Letter of Acceptance and Payment Contract.
Letter of Acceptance Contract-Example
I, ______have chosen to have my son, ______become a member of the Kane County Phantoms. The cost for the 2018 summer season will be $800 for a position player. ($525 for a Pitcher Only)
I understand that if the player has to leave the team for any reason, or at any time, all of the money that has been collected is the property of the Kane County Phantoms and is non-refundable.
This fee includes the cost of all required uniforms. This will include two jerseys and two hats. Other apparel such as shirts, jackets, and shorts will be offered but are not required to purchase.
I, the parent or guardian of the above named baseball player give my permission for emergency medical treatment in the event that I cannot be reached and hereby waive, release, absolve, indemnify, and agree to hold harmless the Kane County Phantoms, Ernie Colombe, and the coaching staff for any claim arising out of any injury to the above named player.
PLAYER SIGNATURE AND DATE:
______
PARENT SIGNATURE AND DATE:
______
COACH’S SIGNATURE AND DATE:
______
Payment Contract-Example
The season fee for the 2018 Phantoms will be $800 for Position Players. In order to secure a spot you will have to choose a payment option and make a payment by August 5, 2017.
--Please circle the payment plan that best fits for you and follow the due dates
Option 1
First Payment of $200 due by 8/5/17
Second Payment of $200 due by 10/5/17
Third Payment of $200 due by 1/15/18
Fourth Payment of $200 due by 3/15/18
Option 2
First Payment of $400 due by 8/5/17
Second Payment of $400 due by 3/15/18
Option 3
First payment is the full $800 due by 8/5/17
PLEASE SIGN THIS FORM AND RETURN WITH PAYMENT AND SIGNED LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
CHECKS PAYABLE TO: KANE COUNTY PHANTOMS
MAIL TO:ERNIE COLOMBE
C/O KANE COUNTY PHANTOMS
1345 SLATER ST.
SUGAR GROVE, IL 60554
PARENT SIGNATURE AND DATE:
Field Level Recruiting Profiles
All Juniors and Seniors in the program will get a Field Level recruiting profile. The profiles are free to set-up. The recruiting profiles include all of your academic and athletic information that will be important for college coaches to see. It also allows players and coaches to upload links to recruiting videos, showcase reports, or any other updates about the player. Coaches also write an assessment of the player for college coaches to see.
Our coaches share your profile with college coaches that we are connected with on the Field Level database. We send your proifle to coaches of schools that may be a match for you. They then receive your information and can view your recruiting profile. If they are interested in recruting you they will follow you on Field Level so they can view your contact information and get all updates on your profile.
We have connections with over 400 colleges on Field Level. Connections include colleges at the NCAA, NAIA, and Junior College levels across the country.
Recruiting Videos
Coach Austin Butts will be leading players with taping and making recruiting videos. These recruiting videos will be posted on our website, on field level, and on YouTube. The link from the YouTube video can be shared by the player with college coaches. Below is a link to Austin’s YouTube page with all recruiting videos he has made.
Schedules
Each team will participate in 7 tournaments on weekends. Each team will participate in 1 out of state tournament. Most tournaments run Thursday-Sunday. We select our tournament schedule in February/March. Colleges and High Schools host most tournaments. It is an easy way for college coaches to see talented High School players showcase their skills.
Teams will play on 7 ofthe following 9 weekends in 2018:
June: 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-1July: 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29
Over the past few years we have played at the following colleges:
North Central CollegeJudson UniversityWaubonsee Community College
South Suburban College Northern Illinois University University of Iowa Prairie State College
Lewis UniversityValparaiso UniversityCarthage College
Concordia University- Chicago Western Michigan University Illinois Central College
Kankakee Community CollegeWestern and Eastern Kentucky University
Kishwaukee Community College DePauw UniversityElgin Community College
Rock Valley College Wheaton College Wabash College Illinois State University
St. Joseph’s College Illinois Wesleyan University Lincoln Land Community College
Eastern Illinois University Lakeland College University of Missouri-St. Louis
Benedictine University Ball State University University of Notre Dame
The next page gives an example of what a summer tournament schedule looks like.
Schedule Information
Even though the Phantoms are a summer baseball team, we expect players to have regular attendance at games. Obviously, there will be circumstances in which players will have to miss a game or practice. However, players should not be missing for long periods of time. If you see yourself having multiple conflicts in the 2018 summer our program may not be the best fit for you. Coaches are allowed to reduce playing time for players who miss often. Players who miss excessively will be removed from the team.
Each team will have a few practices after the High School spring season and before our Summer Tournaments. High School players are not allowed to practice with travel teams during the IHSA Spring Baseball Season. Once tournament play begins teams will not practice during the week due to IHSA Summer Baseball.
Schedules-2017 Summer
15u
June 2-4: Diamond Sports Promotions Chicagoland Invite @ North Central College, Lee Pfund Stadium
June 8-11: Diamond Sports Promotions Elgin Invite @ Judson University, Elgin Community College
June 15-18: Diamond Sports Promotions NIU Invite @ NIU, Waubonsee CC, Judson University
June 29-July 3: Tri-State Wood Bat Championships @ Whitlock Park
July 6-9: 314 Tournaments All-American Classic @ Missouri Baptist University, GCS Ballpark (St. Louis)
July 13-16 Diamond Sports Promotions National Championships @ North Central College, Lee Pfund Stadium
July 21-24 Prep Baseball Report International Championships @ Lippold Park
16u
June 2-4: Diamond Sports Promotions NIU Invite Showcase @ NIU, Waubonsee CC, Judson University
June 8-11: Diamond Sports Promotions Elgin Invite @ Judson University, Elgin Community College
June 22-25: Seminole Sports Orange and Blue Invite @ Century Park, Romeoville High School
July 6-9: 314 Tournament All-American Classic @ Missouri Baptist University, GCS Ballpark (St. Louis)
July 14-16: Lombard Wood Bat Summer Slam @ Madison Meadow Park
July 20-23: Diamond Sports Promotions Chicago Classic @ North Central College, Lewis University
July 28-30: JP Sportz Play the Turf @ Heritage Park Turf Complex
18u
June 2-4: Team Exposure College Prospect Invite @ Kishwaukee College, Rivets Stadium
June 10-11: USSSA Harlem Baseball Classic @ Rockford Harlem High School
June 23-25: Lombard Wood Bat Slugfest @ Madison Meadow Park
July 8-9: Greater Midwest Baseball Championships @ Lippold Park
July 13-16: Diamond Sports Promotions National Championships @ North Central College, Judson University
July 21-23: Woodside Sports Viva Las Dells @ Woodside Sports Complex (Wisconsin Dells)
July 28-30: Team Exposure End of Summer Showcase @ Kishwaukee College, Rivets Stadium
Winter Practice Schedule
Dates-ALL Sundays / 5-6:30 / 6:30-8November 26 / 15u / 16u + 18u
December 3 / 15u + 16u / 18u
December 10 / 16u / 15u + 18u
December 17 / 15u / 16u + 18u
December 24 / OFF
December 31
January 7 / 15u + 16u / 18u
January 14 / 16u / 15u + 18u
January 21 / 15u / 16u + 18u
January 28 / 15u + 16u / 18u
February 4 / 16u / 15u + 18u
February 11 / 15u / 16u + 18u
February 18 / 15u + 16u / 18u
*All Practices at Top Pick Athletics
769 Heartland Drive in Sugar Grove, 60554
Phantoms Baseball
SINCE 2010: 25 TEAMS
OVERALL RECORD: 401-258
CHAMPIONSHIPS: 29
2ND PLACE FINISHES: 19
Kane County Phantoms Baseball
Follow on Twitter @KCPhantoms