2nd Annual Jake Vinyard #JVStrong Memorial Baseball Tournament June 30 th July 2nd, 2017 Team Welcome Packet
Introduction Thank you for your interest in playing in the 2nd Annual Jake Vinyard #JVStrong Memorial Baseball Tournament. We are sincerely happy that you registered to play in this tournament. We are hosting this tournament in memory of Jake. Our son. A brother to his 3 sisters, a grandson, nephew, cousin and friend of many. We sadly lost Jake on April 8 th, 2014 to suicide. Just one week to the day after his 19 th birthday. Jake loved the game of baseball. From his first time picking up a bat when he was 4 years old, to playing T-ball, Little League in Bartlett, playing in RBBA in Spring Grove, playing for the Richmond Jr. Rockets all the way to playing Varsity Baseball at RB, he loved this great game. Jake s favorite number was 33. Jake was a devout White Sox fan and loved Aaron Rowand, who wore #33 for them in the late 90 s and early 00 s. Jake also loved Frank Thomas and he was fortunate enough to meet him at a Cubs/Sox game at Wrigley when he was very young and was able to get his autograph on a baseball. Jake was an awesome drummer also. He loved all different types of music and played in a band called Final Call for a couple of years. Jake was a great kid and we are still devastated that we lost him. As difficult as it is, we are trying to turn our personal tragedy into a positive for someone else. Watching the games played this week will be healing for us, knowing these games are being played in Jake s memory. Our family is committed to make a difference. We have received so much support from our community, which we actively participate in many capacities. We will continue to be committed to our community and beyond. The Jake Vinyard Foundation was established in July of 2016 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our foundation s slogan, is #JVStrong. We have used that and it s been adopted and followed across the country and the world. Our campaign is to pay it forward. We want to respond to a person s kindness to oneself, by being kind to someone else. We have over 2000 followers on Facebook and hope to continue to grow that number every day. We have aligned our foundation with National Organizations, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We will walk in Jake s memory for the 4 th time in September in the Out of The Darkness Walk. We will support organizations that provide assistance to those with mental illness and who suffer from PTSD. We have goals to reach out to other communities and would like to spread the word of #JVStrong by helping them rebuild baseball fields that need repair. We simply want to give back and pay it forward for others in Jake s memory. Through our foundation we will be able to accomplish these goals. We have received great support from our community and we want to continue supporting others that need that same support. Thank you once again for playing in our tournament. We have worked hard to make this a great event. Randy, Kelly, Kaitlyn (McRoy), Kayla & Haley Vinyard
Field Locations Spring Grove Park 2102 Main Street Spring Grove, IL 60081
Field Locations Thelen Park 8401 Winn Road Spring Grove, IL Winn Road Parking Main Street
General Information Managers/Coaches, please have a representative from your team check in at Thelen Park. We will have a check in / welcome table set up at the concession stand, where you will receive your welcome packet. Each team must submit team roster and proof of insurance. (if you haven t emailed them in yet. Managers must also show birth certificates (they will not be validated at check in, we just want to be sure you have them) At check in, you will receive your players Tournament Shirts and some other gifts for your players. There will be a tournament director for each venue. You will meet them at your first game and they will be available for any questions and rules interpretation. If they cannot answer your question it will be escalated. Please drive slow into and leaving park entrances leading up to parking lot. Watch carefully for pedestrians walking to the ball field When leaving Spring Grove Park, please be aware that there is a sidewalk right after the stop sign. When exiting, please be sure to stop at the stop sign before you reach the sidewalk and watch for pedestrians When leaving Thelen Park, please be aware that traffic coming from the left is coming up hill, so please pay attention. If an incident happens in the stands and you need to call 911 for an emergency, be sure to let them know that you are at the Baseball Fields at either Spring Grove Park or Thelen Park in Spring Grove or Richmond Burton High School in Richmond. Our local 1 st responders are dispatched from McHenry County, so this information is helpful to them. We would appreciate nothing but courtesy from our spectators. Please treat the umpires with respect no matter the outcome of a call or the game.
Local Establishments The Grove - Main Street & Blivin Billy s Beef & More (Blivin & Route 12) Tommy s Sports Bar (Blivin & Route 12) Spring Grove Tavern (Winn Road and Route 12 (next to Walgreens) McDonalds (Route 12 and Winn (in Jewel out lot) Village of Spring Grove Park Policies Please leave the park clean. Please dispose of all waste in designated receptacles Unauthorized vehicles are not permitted on the grass, entrance to the park, or other designated areas identified by No Parking Signs Fires are prohibited The sale, use and possession of any controlled substance is expressly prohibited, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages, beer, wine, wine coolers and other spirits in our Village parks. All pets must be leashed and restrained by the owner. Pets are not permitted in the playground areas or on the athletic fields. Pet owners are responsible for picking up and disposing of, from any park area, their pet s feces into designated trash receptacles. Children 12 years of age and younger must be supervised by an adult at all times.