The Kane County Cougars will be honored as the “Chicago Area Minor League Team of the Year” at the 77th Annual Pitch and Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held January 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30PM for autographs and the memorabilia auction. Dinner begins at 5PM.
The Kane County Cougars are located in Geneva, Illinois and are a member of the American Association of Professional Baseball. The Cougars have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. A total of 195 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including MLB All-Star’s Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Wilson Contreras. Since joining the American Association in 2021, the Cougars have consistently led the AA and all MLB Partner League teams in attendance. In 2024, the Cougars won their first championship since 2014. The Cougars franchise was established in 1888 in Decatur, Illinois as the Decatur Commodores. In 1974, the team moved to Wausau, Wisconsin and played as the Wausau Mets (1974-78) and Wausau Timbers (1979-90). The franchise has won 10 championships since its inception.
OTHER AWARD WINNERS
Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame – A. J. Pierzynski
Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame – Gene Honda
Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year – Michael Massey – KC Royals
Harry Carry Sportscaster of the Year – Matt Spiegel – 670 The Score
High School Softball Player of the Year – Madison Vrastil – Andrew High School
Chicago Area College Player of the Year – Kendal Ewell – UIC
Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year – Brian Michalak – University of St. Francis
High School Softball Coach of the Year – Tom Poulin – St. Charles North High School
BANQUET TICKETS
They will be available at all meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/ Tickets are $85 member price, $100 non-member and $825 for a table of ten.