Kickapoo Baseball

Trio of Chiefs to Sign with CMU

Three seniors have signed letters of intent to play at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO.  Brian King (IF), Eric King (C/RP), and Josh Wentler (P/IF) signed their letters to play for the Eagles and their future Head Coach, Fred Smith, on Wednesday, February 17 in the Kickapoo High School Library Classroom.  (Reference this link to a viedo report: http://www.kspr.com/sports/local/84666447.html

Each of these players have been a part of the program throughout high school and before.  Their dedication and work ethic have provided them with the skills necessary continue playing baseball at the next level.

To learn more about Central Methodist University Baseball go to http://www.centralmethodist.edu/cmathletics/baseball/index.asp.

On Saturday, March 20, the Kickapoo Baseball Program will be hosting its first annual Poker Tournament Fundraiser.  This is a "No Limit Texas Hold'em" style tournament and will be held at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club.  Check in time is 12:00 with a 1:00 p.m. start time.

Players will make a $120 tax deductable donation to the Kickapoo Baseball Booster Club through the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.  Add-on and re-buys are $50.  Checks will be made payable to the Foundation, a not-for-profit entity.  Payouts to the winners will be in the form of prepaid gift cards--no cash.  There will be over $3,000 total payout.

If you want to play in the tournament please contact Bill O'Dell, Board Vice-President, by email at bodell@primarycareed.com.  (We need to have an idea of how many players to expect so we can have enough food.)  Table sponsors are also needed.  A table sponsorship is $300 and includes one paid seat in the tournament along with special recognition throughout the event.  To sponsor a table contact Bill through the link above or call 861-1920.

If you want an informational flyer sent to you, then contact Bill or Brian Hall at bri1hall@sbcglobal.net.

Admission to be Charged to Games

Beginning this spring, all Springfield schools will be charging a gate fee for admission to baseball games.  The district will provide the workers who will collect $3 for high school and older and $2 for grades K-8.  Gate passes will work the same as with other sports.

If you bought a $50 pass at the beginning of the year, that will work for spring sports.  Passes for students grade K-8 are available for purchase at either Cherokee or Carver Middle Schools.  Passes are $5 but are only good at Kickapoo, not any other Springfield high school.  It will only be cost effective to purchase a student pass.

Parents who have signed up to work the game will not have to pay admission.

2010 Spring Schedule Released

The anticipation for baseball season might be taken up a notch or two with the release of the 2010 Chiefs schedules.  Coach Howser believes this to be one of the most challenging schedules the Chiefs have set in his tenure at Kickapoo.

Opening on the road, the Varsity Chiefs have a 25-game schedule.  Kickapoo will travel out-of-state three times for seven games to the Mountain Home, AR Tournament, the Four State Classic in Claremore, OK, and the River City Festival in Lawrence, KS.  While in Kansas, the Chiefs will play one game at Free State High School and one game at the University of Kansas.  Other away games include trips to conference foes Rolla, Joplin, West Plains, Camdenton, and Glendale.  In all, 13 games will be played on the road.

There will be 12 varsity games played at Pittman Field.  The Chiefs first home game is against Ozark on March 29.  The Chiefs then welcome the Bears from Lake Zurich, IL on March 31.  In early April, the Chiefs take part in the Red and Blue Classic with three opponents already announced: Belton, Willard, and Valle Catholic from St. Genevieve, MO, the 2009 Class 2A State Champions.  Home games against Ozark Conference opponents Lebanon, Parkview, Hillcrest, and Waynesville are also on the slate.

Spring Break will be busy for the Junior Varsity team as they play two games that week, opening against Willard on March 22.  Thirteen homes games are scheduled including post-varsity games against Ozark, Branson, Parkview, Hillcrest, Waynesville and Webb City.  The Kickapoo JV Tournament is set for April 2-3 where the JV Chiefs will face four local opponents.  There are 11 road games.

The JVB team will have 15 games: 8 home and 7 away.  They also see action during Spring Break and open up a 5-game home stand with post-JV games against Willard and Springfield Catholic.  The Kickapoo JVB Tournament follows with games against Carl Junction, Joplin, and Webb City.  After double headers at Ozark and Nixa, the team plays in the Joplin Tournament.  The season ends with a double header in Branson on April 26.