Local players contribute to Cardinals' success

TJ McManus (16) singles to right field for the Crystal Lake Cardinals in the fourth inning against the Elgin Rippers on Monday at Trout Park in Elgin. The Cardinals – a wood-bat team – won, 12-1, in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League game. (Justin Edmonds — jedmonds@nwherald.com )

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ELGIN – The Crystal Lake Cardinals baseball team has provided some of McHenry County’s finest collegiate players a pair of rare opportunities over the years.

Since 1995, the team has allowed its players the chance to compete against premier competition in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League and play with wood bats instead of aluminum.

“It takes time to adjust to playing with wood bats for some of the younger guys, but they enjoy the challenge, and our hitting has been coming around,” Cardinals assistant coach Robert Steinsdoerfer said.

The Cardinals have been dominant in the CSBL, posting a record of 301 wins and 183 losses since 1999. This year’s team has played up to that reputation, starting the year 14-4, and is being led by familiar faces from the Fox Valley Conference.

Joe DiMaggio (Prairie Ridge) and David Hoffman (Cary-Grove) have been integral parts of the Cardinals’ offense.

DiMaggio is hitting better than .400 and went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in the Cardinals’ 12-1 win Monday night against the Elgin Rippers. Hoffman, an incoming junior at Augustana, had a breakout game Monday, hitting a home run and driving in another run on a double.

“This is one of the best hitting teams I have been on, and we also are getting great pitching,” said DiMaggio, who recently graduated from UNLV and is considering returning to coach there next season. “If you want to see good baseball, you need to come out and see some of our games.”

Scott Spinelle (Crystal Lake Central) has been a formidable force out of the Cardinal’s bullpen, picking up five saves and one win in seven appearances.

The Cardinals also have players from California and even as far away as Australia.

“[Head coach Armie Bambino] does a great job keeping the Cardinals a team full of local kids, but he also has brought in some really talented kids from out of state as well,” DiMaggio said.