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July 17, 2023

Four Class of 2023 Huntley High School baseball players were umpires at the McHenry County Youth Sports Association's international championships. Front row, Joey Garlin and Mike Dabe. Back, Vinny Costantino and Andrew Ressler.
Steve Peterson
Four Class of 2023 Huntley High School baseball players were umpires at the McHenry County Youth Sports Association’s international championships. Front row, Joey Garlin and Mike Dabe. Back, Vinny Costantino and Andrew Ressler.

Sports • July 17, 2023

HHS baseball standouts enjoy umps role

By

HUNTLEY – Umpires walked as a group to various diamonds on the first day of McHenry County Youth Sports Association (MCYSA) Summer International Championships.

Four members of the group – Mike Dabe, Vinny Costantino, Joey Garlin and Andrew Ressler, are getting ready for college after graduating from Huntley High School.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Dabe, who worked home plate, said. “We work for Fox Valley Blues umpires. Due to the shortage of umpires, they encourage young baseball players to get involved.  You get to stay involved with baseball. You want to do the best job possible.”

Dabe said he plans to continue umpiring when he reports to the University of Dubuque in Iowa next month, where he will be on the baseball team. Ressler will attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Costantino will attend Loras College. Joey Garlin will attend University of Illinois. Also umpiring from Huntley is Ryan Dabe.

Dabe has strong memories of the international youth baseball tournament for ages 11U to 15U divisions underway for its 30th year in Crystal Lake. “My teams won the tournament twice as Pro Player teams,” he said.

“The hardest thing is the close calls, because the coaches and parents all have their opinions,” Costantino said.

But the young umpires feel they’re ready for such situations.

“The FVB gives you good training,” Garlin said.

HHS head baseball coach Andy Jakubowski praised Red Raiders as umpires.

“I give our guys credit,” the coach said. “The umpiring profession is not an easy one and for those who do it, I have the utmost respect for them giving back to the game and helping the kids.”

 

About the tournament

 

Huntley was represented by three teams, U11 squads Citius and Raider Baseball Academy, as well as Next Level in the U15 Division. Next Level advanced to its division title game July 17. The tourney continues July 20-22.

Organizers are proud the tournament reached 30 years, held at Crystal Lake Park District’s Lippold Park. This year it has 60 plus teams, and welcomed back Brazil’s youth team for the first time since 2019 due to COVID.

“The tournament is not the same as it was 30 years ago. We have been able to adapt,” MCYSA Board President John Streit said.