CL Legion team will host
 2010 state tourney

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CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake American Legion team already has secured a bid to the state tournament next year, and they won’t have to travel far.

Crystal Lake will be the host site for the 2010 American Legion Illinois State Baseball Tournament.

As a result, the Crystal Lake Legion team receives an automatic bid to the tournament because they are the host team. Palatine hosted this year’s tournament and ended up winning the championship.

“I believe this is a way to turn on the enthusiasm for Legion baseball here in Crystal Lake,” Crystal Lake American Legion coach Bob Bacci said. “Hopefully, this helps people realize that with our team, kids can have the opportunity to play good baseball and not have to travel to far from home to do it.”

Bacci has coached the Legion Post 171 team since 1986. Although he has coached several teams to the Division 2 District tournament, he never has had a team reach the state tournament.

“Coming from a county that has five Legion teams, it is more difficult for us as a team to make it to the state tournament, and this allows us to make that next step,” Bacci said.

“We do have an extensive base behind our program, but it is going to take a big commitment from the kids as well as their parents and our community,” he added.

The tournament is scheduled to be played the first week of August, on the heels of the annual youth baseball tournaments held by the McHenry County Youth Sports Association and Continental Amateur Baseball Association, and negotiations are pending on the specific site that the tournament will be played.

“I think it is a great opportunity for the town and our team,” said Lee Spinelle, a 2009 Crystal Lake Central grad who will attend Kishwaukee Community College this fall.

Spinelle was the starting shortstop on this year’s team, which won 32 games, but fell short of the state tournament, losing to Barrington and Wheaton in the Division 2 state-qualifying tournament.

“Hosting the state tournament is great exposure for our baseball program and the talent that we have out here in Crystal Lake,” Spinelle said.