RIVER CITY BASEBALL
River City Baseball is a 19 year old not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing quality summer baseball opportunities for high school age players in Evansville and the surrounding area. River City Baseball originated as Evansville PALOMINO Inc., the parent organization for the Evansville Black Sox, in November, 1992. Burdette Park Youth Baseball was formed in 1994 as a not-for profit association with Evansville PALOMINO, Inc. to build and operate a high school age baseball complex at Burdette Park. Burdette Park Youth Baseball changed its name to River City Baseball in 1996. Evansville PALOMINO, Inc. was dissolved in 1997 and all assets were transferred to River City Baseball. River City Baseball is now the parent organization for Black Sox Baseball, "Backs Baseball", the Shoeless Joe Baseball Classic Tournament, and the River City Select baseball tournament.
River City Baseball hosted the 2007 N.A.B.F. Midwest Senior(18U) Division
Tournament. River City Baseball was the host organization for the National
Amateur Baseball Federation 2000 Midwest Senior(18U) Division Tournament, and
the 1997, 1998 and 1999 N.A.B.F. Senior Division World Series played at Bosse
Field and local high school parks in Evansville, Boonville and Mt. Vernon,
IN. Our tournaments provide quality competition for local teams and
players.
River City Baseball partnered with Tri-State PONY
Baseball/Softball to host the 1998 PONY Girls Softball Fastpitch National
Championships. 46 teams competed in 5 age divisions. The Evansville team won
the 18U National Championship played at U.S.I. The Boonville team won the 16U
National Championship played at the U. of E. complex.
River City Baseball consists of unpaid volunteers who
donate their time and resources to providing quality baseball opportunities to
area teens. River City Baseball offers financial support to our local and area
high school and college baseball programs thru user fees, program advertising,
and donations. Our
tournaments also provide a big boost to the local economy. Since 2001, the
Evansville hotels working with us have documented over 6000 room nights@$70.00
per room for out-of town tournament teams and fans.
BURDETTE PARK BASEBALL COMPLEX
Burdette Park Baseball Complex was begun in 1995. Burdette Park Youth Baseball/River City Baseball leases the 2 ball fields at Burdette Park from the Vanderburgh County Commissioners. With the help of the Burdette Park Advisory Board, local businesses, and fundraisers; $40,000.00 was raised and invested in converting the 2 softball fields to high school sized baseball fields. In the 16 years since, over $100,000.00 has been invested in field improvements and maintenance. Improving this complex is an ongoing project. Each year we try to budget at least $5000.00 for field improvements and normal maintenance. We receive no direct cash funding from the county government or Burdette Park. All field improvements, utilities and maintenance have been paid for by players and families, tournament fundraisers and corporate sponsors/donations. Burdette Park Baseball Complex has no paid directors, officers, or coaches. The only compensated personnel are teens who work on field maintenance and concessions.
In 2011 the Burdette Park Baseball Complex was taken over by Dinger
Bat. .
BLACK SOX BASEBALL
Black Sox Baseball is a group of former Evansville Black Sox coaches, players and friends who donate their time and efforts to run the BLACK SOX BASEBALL tournaments that help support River City Baseball. The Evansville Black Sox was a select traveling baseball team composed of 15 - 18 year olds from the Tri-state area. This team competed from 1993 thru 2000. The goal of this program was to provide maximum exposure for potential College Division I players from this area. We scheduled the best regional select teams and traveled to highly scouted tournaments with top notch competition. It was our goal to place each of these players in the best possible college program that would continue their education and provide them an opportunity to develop their baseball skills to the full potential. We are very proud that we placed every eligible player in a quality college program in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Two of our former players, Ryan Hutchinson(Vincennes Lincoln) in 1997 and Josh McKinney(Boonville) in 1999, received national N.A.B.F. Ronald and Irene McMinn Scholarships thru the River City Baseball N.A.B.F. franchise. Former player, Clint Barmes(1997), current Houston Astro shortstop, has been a celebrity guest at the HOT STOVE BASEBALL LEAGUE "Night of Memories".
"BACKS" BASEBALL
The 'BACKS' baseball team consists of select 18U Midwest high school
players. This team plays through out the Midwest in Select Tournaments and
schedules additional games against regional select teams. In 2011 this team
finished 27 - 9. This team included 20 players who will play collegiate baseball in
2012. Formed in 2000, The "Backs"
are coached by former Black Sox players who volunteer their time and talents to
help high school players reach their full potential. This program allows
players to face Division I quality teams/players, and access college
scouts/coaches.
Nine former "Backs" players are currently playing professional baseball.
HIGH SCHOOL "CUB" BASEBALL LEAGUE
The 2010 High School Baseball Feeder League included 17 teams. Each team
consists of 7th & 8th graders from a single high school district. School
districts represented are Boonville, Bosse, Castle, Central, Harrison,
Henderson, Heritage Hills, Jasper, Mater Dei, Memorial, Mt Vernon, North,
Princeton, Reitz, South Spencer, Tecumseh & Tell City. Each team is under the control or
guidance of it's high school coach and/or booster club. This league debuted in
2000 with 7 teams. The rapid growth of this league demonstrates the need for a
quality, high school oriented, teaching league that prepares the high school
players of tomorrow with a better knowledge of the high school game and the
discipline required to become a student athlete. This program was taken
over by the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in 2011. It is an opportunity for future high
school players to play together under high school rules and conditions.
SHOELESS JOE BASEBALL CLASSIC
The Shoeless Joe Baseball Classic is a 16 year old select baseball tournament for 18U and 16U teams. The 2011 tournament hosted 15 select teams from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee on the second weekend of July for a top notch, highly scouted competition. This tournament is known as one of the best tournaments of its kind in the Midwest. Each team plays 5 games over a 3 day period. This tournament provides the best high school age competition available.
This tournament showcases the University of Southern Indiana and University
of Evansville baseball complexs and programs. Proceeds from this tournament
benefit the USI & UofE baseball
programs.
RIVER CITY SELECT
The RIVER CITY SELECT BASEBALL Tournament an 11 year old select baseball tournament. In 2000, River City Baseball partnered with U.S.I. Baseball and expanded this tournament to include 18U and 16U teams. This tournament has included local and regional select teams over the years. The competition level has increased each year to further challenge the local teams involved and increase exposure for U.S.I. & U. of E.Baseball. Proceeds from this tournament help support "Backs" Baseball.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
http://www.evansvilleblacksox.com
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BURDETTE PARK DISCOVERY LODGE
5301 NURRENBERN RD
EVANSVILLE, IN