The Glenview Blaze 14U baseball team finished its 2018 season by placing 5th at its national tournament, the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The team defeated elite travel teams from DC, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Ohio before losing to the eventual champion from Tom’s River, New Jersey.

Finishing with a record of 43-15, the Blaze 14U team won the Mid Suburban Baseball League Championship (defeating the Pro Player Canes 13-3 in the championship game) and the July Blowout Tournament at the Ho Chunk Baseball Complex (defeating the Lincoln-Way Prospects 4-3 to capture the crown). The MSBL Championship was the team’s second MSBL Championship in a row, having captured the 13U Championship in 2017 with many of the same players on its roster. Led by Manager T.J. McManus and Coaches Jim McManus and Mike Regan, the 2018 roster consisted of Alex Cherian, Jack DiSano, Brandon Gordon, Ryan Henschel, Jackson Hill, Blake Lidskin, Nick Martinelli, Greg Neppl, Quinn Nimesheim, Kyle Odeshoo, Andrew Randazzo, Mike Regan, and Sam Stefani.

From 10U to 14U, this Blaze team was one of the most successful in Blaze program history, winning more than sixty-eight percent of its games during that time. The team won or was co-champion of its MSBL division all five years, captured seven tournament championships (including an Illinois State Championship), and finished as semifinalist or runner-up in numerous other tournaments, including elite travel tournaments all across Northern Illinois. The Glenview Blaze Elite Travel Baseball Organization was proud to have all of the players who played on this team in its program and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.