2016s that participated in the NIC-10 vs BNC All Star game:
Alec Powell, Justin Mercer, Justin Woolbright, Levon Smith, Johnny Sanchez, Kyle Damon, Jared Cantu, Nolan Gazouski, and Brady West
One final breakout
Everyone aside from 3 players have spent 5 or more years in our organization. They developed as players and individuals as a result of the program, and have also played in front of hundreds of professional and collegiate scouts over their 4 years. We are the only organization in the northern Illinois area that wins games and moves kids on to college consistently. Year in and year out we develop our players instead of simply recruiting. We are proud of their dedication to this program. They are a prime example that if you stick together and work you can become great. Every 2016 grad on this team has earned some sort of an academic or athletic scholarship.
We would like to congratulate these 2016 grads
on their commitments:
Jared Cantu - D3 North Park University
Kyle Damon - D3 Carthage College
Nolan Gazouski - NJCAA D1 Ranger College (Texas)
Alec Powell - D2 Quincy University
Matt Rosko - D2 Quincy University
Eli Sanchez - D2 Cedarville University
Johnny Sanchez - NJCAA D2 McHenry County
Levon Smith - NJCAA D2 McHenry County
Drake Sundstrom - NJCAA D3 Rock Valley
Mark Wanner - NJCAA D2 Indian Hills
Brady West - NAIA Indiana Wesleyan University
Justin Woolbright - D2 Quincy University
We have one more 2016 who is still deciding where he wants to spend his next four years. He will be added to this list when his final decision is made.
2015 Jaron Robinson (5 year Big Dog) also played with us in 2 tournaments. He started 45 games as a freshman at D1 Murray State University this year where he earned Freshman All OVC honors. In 157 at bats he batted .255 with 27 runs, 17 RBI, 8 doubles, a home run, and 5 stolen bases.
Thank you for all that you have contributed to the program and best of luck at the next level!
Information for our program's tryouts available on our homepage at rockfordbigdogs.com
18u Woolbright ends the season a perfect 5 for 5, winning the 18u DSP Wood Bat World Series!
7/24/2016
Back row: Coach Greg Grana, Mark Wanner, Drake Sundstrom, Matt Rosko, Nolan Gazouski, Johnny Sanchez, Nick Brigham, Kyle Damon, and Head Coach Tom Woolbright
Front row: Coach Tyler Woolbright, Justin Woolbright, Eli Sanchez, Brady West, Levon Smith, Jared Cantu, Jake Reinhardt, and Alec Powell
Not pictured: Coach Wade Powell
After two weeks of no games, our bats came out a little flat. We beat the 17u Sluggers 2-1 in game 1 and the Stateline Generals 5-2 thanks to a home run from Levon Smith. However, we woke up for game 3 against the Kane County Phantoms American! Levon Smith stayed hot, going 2-3 with 2 doubles, Brady West went 2-2, Matt Rosko went 2-3 with a triple, and Nick Brigham forced the 10 run rule after a shot cleared the left field fence at Wheaton College.
Game 4 against Illinois Edge resulted in a tie. We were leading most of the game including 8-5 after their 88-90mph ace, committed to Illinois State University, came out of the game. However a couple well placed hits and walks resulted in a tie game.
Due to rainouts, our third game of the day (and also the championship game) was moved to Kaneland High School. It didn't take long for us to jump on the 18u Silver Sluggers as Jake Reinhardt hit a two run homerun, easily clearing the 310ft fence in left field, and Justin Woolbright followed up with a sac fly to make it 3-0. After 3 up and 3 down for Johnny Sanchez the lightning lights went off. Umpires forced us off the field until they went off and we were delayed for 2 hours and 55 minutes. The game was called shortly after that, ending our season on a very strange note: a 1 inning 3-0 victory.
18u Woolbright goes undefeated at Kerry Wood Field tournament
for their fourth championship in a row!
7/10/2016
Back row: Head Coach Tom Woolbright, Drake Sundstrom, Nick Brigham, Mark Wanner, Matt Rosko, Nolan Gazouski, Levon Smith, Kyle Damon and Coach Tyler Woolbright
Middle row: Johnny Sanchez, Jared Cantu, Brady West, Jake Reinhardt, and Justin Woolbright
Front row: Bat boys Rylan and Cooper
This weekend we had the opportunity to play all of our games at the beautiful, year old Kerry Wood Field in Chicago. Three professional scouts, Cincinatti Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies, came out to watch our pitchers. We outscored our opponents 43-6 including a 7-0 victory in the championship game! Levon Smith went the full seven innings and was one walk away from a perfect game! He struck out 9 and walked just one.
We return to action on the 23rd where we will open up the 18u DSP Wood Bat World Series at Waubonsee Community College!
18u Woolbright brings home Carthage Team Exposure championsip
for their third straight first place finish!
7/04/2016
Back row: Coach Tyler Woolbright, Justin Woolbright, Nick Brigham, Kyle Damon, Nolan Gazouski, Brady West, Matt Rosko, and Head Coach Tom Woolbright
Front row: Jake Reinhardt, Levon Smith, Johnny Sanchez, and Eli Sanchez
Not pictured: Alec Powell, Jared Cantu, Mark Wanner, and Coach Wade Powell
We played some extremely competitive programs including the Norwood Blues, Pro Player Canes 18u, and RBI Cubs. All three teams had active college players on their roster and we stuck right with them. The RBI Cubs handed us our first loss of the year, but we bounced back against the Algonquin Stingers where Kyle Damon led the offense. He was 3-3 with 2 doubles and 2rbi!
Against Pro Player in bracket play, Justin Woolbright went 3-4 with 2 doubles, Brady West was 2-4 with a double, Matt Rosko was 2-3 with a triple, and Johnny Sanchez was 1-3 with a bomb over the left field wall.
In the championship game against the Norwood Blues, Johnny Sanchez made quick work of the college-loaded 18u team. He struck out 6 in 7 innings giving up only 2 runs. He was supported by Nolan Gazouski who was 2-3 with 3rbi and a triple, doubles from Brady West and Levon Smith, and Justin Woolbright who was 2-3 with 2 more doubles.
We now move onto Kerry Wood Field to face the Illinois Patriots next weekend!
18u Woolbright goes undefeated again to win DSP 18u Elgin Invite!
(6/27/2016)
Back row: Coach Greg Grana, Coach Tyler Woolbright, Levon Smith, Kyle Damon,
Jaron Robinson, Brady West, Matt Rosko, Coach CJ Robinson, Coach Mark West
Front row: Head Coach Tom Woolbright, Justin Woolbright, Johnny Sanchez, Jared Cantu,
Jake Reinhardt, Nolan Gazouski
Not pictured: Alec Powell, Coach Wade Powell, Drake Sundstrom, Nick Brigham, Mark Wanner, and Eli Sanchez
Two come from behind wins allowed for another championship for 18u Woolbright!
In the semi-finals the Kane County Phantoms intentionally walked Brady West in the 7th inning of a tie game to get to Justin Woolbright. Justin responded by squaring up a sharp one hopper too quick for the third baseman to handle. The ball bounced over his shoulder into left field and allowed the winning run to cross the plate!
In the championship game against ESP Oswego, big hits came off the bats of Levon Smith, Nolan Gazouski, Jaron Robinson, and Jared Cantu. Lee tripled to right-center field to bring the game within one and was knocked in when Johnny Sanchez hit a ball in the hole that the SS couldn't handle.
In the top of the 8th, Cantu led off with a single and stole second shortly after. Gazouski then knocked him in with a line drive to center field. Robinson drove a shot over the left fielder's head for a double that brought in Gazouski to give us the permanent 5-3 lead!
We are currently undefeated at 10-0 against very good competition. We are looking forward to the next three tournaments, starting with Kenosha next week!
18u Woolbright goes undefeated to win Rockford Team Exposure Tournament!
(6/21/2016)
Back row: Head Coach Tom Woolbright, Drake Sundstrom, Matt Rosko, Kyle Damon, Nolan Gazouski, Nick Brigham, Brady West, Justin Woolbright, Assistant Coach Tyler Woolbright
Front row: Johnny Sanchez, Jake Reinhardt, Jared Cantu, Levon Smith, Eli Sanchez
Not pitcured: Coach Wade Powell, Coach CJ Robinson, Jaron Robinson, Mark Wanner, and Alec Powell
