2009 PREVIEW

The 2009 season promises to be as good as any in the 27 year history of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.  From top to bottom, the league will be very competitive and provide some of the area's finest summer baseball. The Lombard Orioles enter the summer as the favorite to win the Northern Division, but they will be challenged by the Melrose Park Indians, Addison Braves, and Oswego Cats.  Two collegiate teams fill out the division: the Crystal Lake Cardinals and league-newcomer, the Chicago Zephyrs.

The Chicago Wildcats, a team comprised of all college players, begin the 2009 campaign as defending champs of the South Division, but the Wildcats graduated several outstanding players and may have a tough time replacing them. Look for the Crestwood Panthers, the Beecher Muskies, and the VeePak Hawks to battle out for the top spot in the division.  But don't be surprised if the Oak Forst Shooters and Westmont Red Sox shuffle some feathers.  Both teams are greatly improved over last season.

The Fox Valley Blues, led by Jeff Collis, and the Suburban Umpire Association, led by Rich Panovich return to provide officials for the 2009 season.  The Blues will handle the North Division homes games, with the SUA handling the South

The summer schedule also includes the Third Annual CSBL-WSL Challenge.  On Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14. the eight-team Wisconsin State League will match up with eight teams from the Chicago Suburban League. Each team will play two double-headers.

The CSBL is a twelve team league, but two of its teams, Addison and Lombard, also play in the WSL. So, for the Challenge week-end, Addison and Lombard will represent the WSL.  That leaves two CSBL teams, the Oak Forest Shooters and the Chicago Zephyrs, playing home and home double-headers against one another the same week-end as the challenge.  For more details, check out the "Schedule" page.

As for the post-season, the CSBL will, once again, register with both the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) and the National American Baseball Federation (NABF).  The CSBL will host a AABC Regional Qualifier from July 30 - August 2, and the Beecher Muskies will host a NABF Regional from August 6-9.

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