| IHSBCA Supports Northern Illinois University |
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| Monday, 14 April 2008 | |
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The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association has been the voice of Illinois high school baseball for more than 40 years, proudly representing every high school in Illinois. The IHSBCA's main objective is promoting the great game of high school baseball, but behind the scenes the association has reached out to support many great causes off the field. This year, the Coaches Association is reaching out to support one of the most important charity movements in Illinois history. About a year ago, a tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech shook the very core of the American Spirit, maybe the biggest tragedy that hit our country since 9/11. Even though Virginia Tech is miles away from Illinois, we all felt the pain. Little did we know a year later a similar tragedy would strike the Northern Illinois campus. The Northern Illinois tragedy was different, because it happened close to home. Baseball coaches all over Illinois have connections with the Northern Illinois Campus. Many of us have sent players to play at Northern over the years. Past and current Northern Illinois coaching staffs have always worked closely with the Illinois Coaches Association. Just this year, a winter storm prevented the key note speaker getting to our annual state clinic. The entire Northern Illinois coaching staff stepped to the plate, and covered the entire Friday clinic. The Friday night crowd was the largest in the history of our clinic. After the tragedy at Northern Illinois, the Notre Dame Baseball staff decided to do their part to help heal the wounds. The connection between Northern Illinois and Notre Dame (the present coaching staff at Notre Dame, Dave Schrage and Scott Lawler, coached at Northern Illinois before turning the program over to Ed Mathey and the current Northern Illinois staff, and the Northern Illinois Athletic Director is a former Notre Dame employee). Dave, Scott, Ed, and even Ed's assistant coaches are all former Illinois high school baseball players and now are members of the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association. Both staffs rely heavily on recruiting our Illinois athletes.
The two schools decided to use the great game of baseball to contribute to the Northern Illinois trust going to the family of the NIU victims. On April 16th, NIU and Notre Dame played a baseball game at US Cellular Field. The Chicago White Sox generously donated all proceeds from the game to the trust. The IHSBCA decided to support this game and this important cause in a big way. The Executive Board unanimously voted to donate $1000 to the benefit game. The I.H.S.B.C.A. is encouraging ever high school baseball coach in Illinois to make a personal, team, or school donation to the Northern Illinois trust fund in the name of high school baseball. "February 14 Scholarship Fund" can be written on the memo line. Checks of any amount can be mailed to: The IHSBCA and Northern Illinois University thanks you for your support.
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 18 April 2008 ) |
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