** Tryouts for the 2023-2024 season have already been completed. **

The Elmhurst Explosion is the travel baseball program offered by Elmhurst Baseball & Softball League (EBSL) and is designed for select players who have the skill, competitive work ethic, maturity and understanding of the sport required to take their game to the next level and prepare for high school competition. 

Players are challenged to maintain the time commitment of the travel program and a healthy respect of the game required to further develop skills and competitively face a higher level of skill than typically seen in the in-house league. Coaches are committed to encouraging our athletes to be team players while building character and confidence. The Explosion travel program’s mission is to provide a healthy and competitive opportunity for young players to achieve their highest potential both on and off the field.

Participation in the Explosion program is dependent upon being selected after participating in tryouts. 

The Explosion travel baseball program starts at the 8U (8 years old and under) level and continues to 16U. A player’s “baseball age” is their age on May 1 and this will determine what team they will be placed on.

Explosion Part-Time Travel Baseball

Explosion 8U teams are part-time travel teams. EBSL strongly believes that at the 8U level, players should continue to play in-house baseball with and against their friends and neighbors. The Explosion Part-Time team introduces the player and their family to the commitment and level of competition of travel baseball. There may be other part-time travel teams at other age groups.

The part-time program is in addition to and compliments the EBSL in-house league. You must register and participate in the EBSL in-house league in order to tryout and participate in the Explosion part-time travel program. Registration for part-time tryouts will be announced on our website.

The Explosion part-time travel teams will participate in a Sunday baseball league beginning mid-April and extending through June. Approximately half of the Sunday games will be played in Elmhurst with the balance being played in other Chicagoland communities. There are no part-time travel practices during the months of April, May and June; only Sunday games.

Starting in July, part-time travel teams will practice 2-3 times a week (left to manager discretion), and play in 2-4 tournaments (depending on tournament availability and scheduling). The tournament season will not go beyond the month of July. Part-time teams will have the ability to practice minimally in the fall, and will have one indoor practice a week in the winter from January through the end of March.

If selected to play, each player will pay a Player Participation Fee and a Uniform Fee.

Explosion 9U-16U Full-Time Travel Baseball

At the 9U level and beyond, Explosion is a full-time travel baseball program. These players no longer participate in the in-house baseball league.

Explosion full-time teams begin winter practices in January. Practices are a minimum of once per week and consist of agility, fielding, throwing and batting practice in an indoor facility on Saturdays along with a skills camp program for all ages together on Sundays. Winter practices wrap up around spring break.

All Explosion full-time teams play in the West Suburban Baseball League. A full schedule of games will run from April until typically around mid/late June. All Explosion teams also participate in multiple (approximately 5-6) tournaments during that timeframe as well.

Our Explosion 12U program participates in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament every year. Other levels might travel out of town for a tournament as well, but that is at manager discretion.

Selection for Explosion 9U-14U teams is based on try-outs, typically held in July. If selected to play, each player will pay a Player Participation Fee and a Uniform Fee. Explosion 15U & 16U levels are often also offered, but is based on demand. These tryouts do not happen at the same time as 9U-14U tryouts.

Explosion Full-Time Payment Structure

1. EBSL Initial Payment: You will be charged an initial fee by Elmhurst Baseball and Softball League. This fee must be paid within one week of acceptance of your spot and acts as a down payment on the total fees for the year. Players who have not made this initial payment will not be eligible to play any fall ball or participate in any off season training until payment is made. This fee is non-refundable.

• What this fee covers: umpires, league fees, insurance, light fees, park district fees, tournament registrations, facility usage outside of Bo Jackson dome, team equipment​

2. Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports: All full-time travel teams will be practicing at least one time a week at the Bo Jackson Dome in Bensenville. We are teamed up with Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports and will have extensive access to this awesome facility, in addition to the professional instruction which will augment our already highly-qualified managers and coaches. Each manager will make the decision as to level of commitment his or her team will be making to the facility. This will determine the amount each player will owe. This payment will be made directly to Bo Jackson Elite Sports. The initial down payment will be due on October 1, and monthly installments will be required the next five months thereafter. Players who are not up to date with payment will not be permitted to participate in practices and games.

• What this fee covers: team practices at the Bo Jackson dome​

3. End-of-Season Payment:  At the conclusion of the season, any outstanding balance will be charged to your account.

• What this fee covers: umpires, league fees, insurance, light fees, park district fees, tournament registrations, facility usage outside of Bo Jackson dome, team equipment​

4. Uniforms: Uniforms will be ordered directly though the manufacturer toward the end of the calendar year and are not part of the payment to EBSL.

5. Fundraising: Each team will have the ability to fundraise to defray costs. Managers will work with teams and parents to create their own fundraising opportunities. In addition, there may be program-wide fundraisers which will result in sharing of fundraising profits.

Sue Bieterman
EBSL VP Travel
630-421-0664
suebaseball@comcast.net

Nathan Ries
Explosion Baseball Commissioner
630-613-0899
nries@ucgbuild.com