Travel General Information
Below is general information regarding travel softball in the area. If you know of additional information, tryouts, teams, organizations, coaches etc, please email kpagliarulo@peotoneschools.org so we can continue to update the below with as much information/opportunities as possible.
SOFTBALL INFORMATION GROUPS: posts include teams looking for players (sub and long-term), tryout details, coaches giving lessons, etc.
- Illinois Fastpitch Softball (facebook)
- Midwest Fastpitch Softball Friends (facebook)
- 12U Player Search Illinois (facebook)
- 14U Player Search Illinois (facebook)
- Illinois Fastpitch Softball Players Looking for Teams (facebook)
- NWI Fastpitch Softball Bulletin Board (facebook)
- Illinois Fastpitch Softball Teams (facebook)
- The Fastpitch Zone (facebook)
LOCAL TRAVEL SOFTBALL TEAMS
There is a travel team for every interest, skill and budget level. Some teams give girls with a passion an opportunity to play more than 3-4 months a year. Others are designed to give girls with a passion and ability an opportunity to play in college.
- Cost varies across teams by a number of factors:
o Paid or volunteer coaches
o Dedicated facility or rented space
o Number of tournaments entered
o Number of teams in the organization to split the overhead fees
o Distance traveled; many “travel” softball teams on the list below will play most of their tournaments locally with only 1-2 hotel stays a year
o Number of months played in a year
o Degree of winter training
o Organizations involvement in the college recruiting process
- Some teams are more competitive at the older levels (14U – 18U) but focus on development at the lower levels.
LOCAL TEAMS AT THE B/C LEVEL (not an exhaustive list; it seems new teams/organizations start every year):
- Mokena Blast
- New Lenox Power
- Frankfort Fusion (part-time)
- Tinley Park Bobcats
- Southside Smoke
- Yorkville Foxes
- Plainfield Twisters
- Orland Park A’s
- Manteno Raptors
- Chicago Force
- Illinois Irish
- Morris Rowdy Cats
- Stone City Sharks
LOCAL TEAMS AT THE A/B LEVEL (not an exhaustive list; it seems new teams/organizations start every year):
- New Lenox Lightning
- Wildcats (previously Batbusters)
- NWI Sox
- Tinley Park Rockers
- Cheetahs
- Genuwin Reign
- Indiana Batbusters
- Rhinos
- Sparks
- Illinois Stars
- Nationals
- Beverly Bandits
TRAINING
Softball is a skill sport, as a result, it is common, and often expected, that players work regularly and get outside coaching. Pitchers at a competitive level must have a pitching coach. Most players have a hitting coach. Catchers at a competitive level should have a catching coach. Some players have fielding and/or throwing coaches.
You can find coaches by going to a business/facility that provides this training. Or you can find coaches that give private lessons. Ask around and find the fit that works best for you. Private lessons may be less expensive unless you also need to rent cage time.
- Some options include:
o Diamond Sports Academy (in Mokena)
o GenuWin Sports Training (in Romeoville)
o Hard Work Gets Me Hits (in Joliet)
o MVP (in Minooka)
o S2 Breakthrough (in Orland)
o Bo Jackson Elite Sports (in Lockport)
o Future Stars Baseball Academy (Mokena)