Run Fast.
Throw Gas.
Hit Bombs.
Development-first travel baseball for serious players, ages 8U–15U. We train every kid like a shortstop and we make every player better — roster spot #1 through #12. No exceptions.
84 players · 7 teams · growing. A spot is earned in practice — not bought.
This Isn't About Trophies.
Plenty of programs chase wins on Saturday and let development take care of itself. We do it backwards — on purpose. Here's what that actually means for your kid.
Development Over Wins
Every decision points at one thing: a long-term trajectory toward high school varsity and college opportunities. We'd rather build the player than pad the record.
Trained Like Shortstops
Every player learns to field, throw, and move like a premium athlete. Positions and playing time are earned in practice — you don't learn a position by sitting it in a game.
The 10/10 Mindset
Master the easy things perfectly before we add game-like complexity. Boring? Sometimes. It's also how kids get noticeably better instead of just busy.
Spot #1 Through #12
Your kid develops whether they're our best player or our twelfth. Effort and attitude get held accountable. Baseball mistakes are teaching moments — never something we crush a kid over.
Real Tools. Real Data.
We don't guess at development. We measure it — and the tech we run isn't something most travel programs in the area can match.
Pelotero AI
The only facility in Chicagoland running it. Player-specific development tracking and assigned drills your kid can work on at home.
HitTrax
Exit velocity, launch angle, and spray charts. Hitters see hard numbers improve — not just "looked better today."
Driveline Methods
Driveline-certified throwing instruction. Players don't just throw harder — they throw smarter and safer.
Diamond Kinetics
Sensor-based swing and bat-path feedback that turns "keep your hands inside" into something a kid can actually see.
Arm Health First
We follow Pitch Smart rest guidelines and never pitch a player twice in one day. Your kid's arm matters more than one inning.
Home Reps That Matter
50 ground balls, fly balls, or swings a day changes a kid. We give players exactly what to work on between practices.
Serious Players, 8U to 15U.
If your player wants to get better — and is willing to put in work away from practice — we want to see them. New to travel ball or already playing somewhere, come show us.
How Tryouts Work.
Straightforward, no mystery. A tryout isn't a cut — it's a conversation about fit.
Sign Up
Click the link and grab your tryout spot. No application, no waiting on a callback — you're in.
Show Up
Come compete on one of our tryout dates — June 29 through early July at Vernon Township Field. We watch how a kid moves, competes, and takes coaching — not just one swing.
Offer
Offer letters go out about a week before the season locks. You'll have a 7-day window to respond.
Join
Accept your spot, complete season registration, and start training toward spring/summer.
I'll be straight with you. We're not the right fit for everyone — and that's the point. If you want a program that promises your kid a position and a trophy, that's not us. If you want your kid to hit the ball harder, throw the ball harder, and walk off the field a better, more confident athlete than they were in November — come try out. We'll figure the rest out together.
Don't Just Take My Word.
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Questions Parents Actually Ask.
My kid has never played travel ball. Can they still try out? +
Yes. We care more about whether a kid wants to get better and will put in work than about where they're starting from. Come show us how you move and how you take coaching.
Are your teams good? +
Our teams get good when our players get better — and we get them better every day. We don't predict results on the field. That's up to what each player puts in.
What's the time commitment? +
In the offseason, up to a few practices a week (optional but encouraged early). In season, roughly two practices a week — one outdoor, one indoor — plus games. The real difference-maker is 20 minutes of "something baseball" most days at home.
How do you handle playing time and positions? +
Everyone trains like a shortstop, and every player gets game time to develop. Positions are earned in practice — we won't pigeonhole a kid, but we also won't put them somewhere they can't yet manage. Effort and attitude lapses are the only thing that costs innings; baseball mistakes never do.
Are you careful with young arms? +
Very. We follow Pitch Smart rest-day guidelines and we never pitch a player twice in the same day. Arm health is a genuine differentiator for us — not an afterthought.
What does it cost? +
We'll walk you through the full investment and exactly what's included — facility membership, free private lessons, coaching, uniforms, and more — when we talk. We don't hide the number, and we don't surprise you with fees later.
What if it's not the right fit? +
Then we'll tell you honestly. A tryout is a conversation, not a verdict on your kid as a ballplayer. We'd rather have the real conversation up front than have a family in the wrong place.
Claim Your Tryout Spot.
No application, no waiting on a callback. Click the link, grab your spot, and show up ready to compete. Spots per age group are limited — first in, first seen.
Tryouts: June 29 – Early July · Vernon Township Field, 3050 N. Main St, Buffalo Grove, IL
Questions first? Call or email Coach Dolenga — headgorilla@gorillaathletictraining.com