Lake County Fielders To Finish 2011 Season, Host Open Tryouts

Determined to finish their troubled 2011 season, the Lake County Fielders announced this week they will play several games against the Kenosha Kings. The first game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Fielders stadium, on Green Bay Road and Route 173 in Zion.

"Both ballclubs and their fans are excited about the upcoming games," said team spokesman Bernie DiMeo. "This is akin to the old-time minor leagues — local town ball, with each community having bragging rights at the end of every game."

It has been a troubled season for the Lake County Fielders, members of the Independent North American League. At least until they missed a tournament in Maui last week. League officials then reportedly threatened to remove the team. But DiMeo said the Fielders were still in the league, and told Patch that the team looked forward to competing against the Kenosha Kings.

The Lake County Fielders are also holding tryouts for a limited number of roster spots. The first will be held Saturday, Aug. 20 at noon at the Fielders Stadium in Zion. The tryouts also will feature a mini-draft, and someone may be offered a contract to play professional baseball, officials said.

Meanwhile, Fielders left-fielder Colin Moro of Canada spent just three weeks with the team. Moro said he would rather finish out the season not playing, than to stay with the Fielders. He will head home this week to an off-season job of coaching baseball in hopes of joining another minor league team next spring.

Fielders players, host families and staff members had seen their high hopes for the team dashed this season.

“The community has really embraced the teams and these players,” said Greg Koeppen of Grayslake, the team’s public address system announcer. “We really want things to work out. It’s something that is needed in this area.”