SKS and Suburban Softball
Announce Partnership
Announce Partnership
Portage, MI-
The Street Kids Softball organization announced today a
partnership with one of the top men's softball teams in the
Midwest when they agreed to join forces with the Suburban
Softball Club of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
"I believe we have put together something very special today,"
said SKS director and manager TJ Jorgensen. "Suburban is
one of the top teams around, with a history of winning on the
field that many teams have never dreamed. By bringing
together two of the most well known names in the sport, we
are hoping to make some strong moves off the field as SKS
has become known for doing."
Matt Lavender, the CEO of Suburban Mechanical and owner of the Suburban Softball team, was very
excited about the opportunity to take his group to the next level.
"Winning softball games on the field was just the first step for us," said the 36-year-old slugger. "Today's
agreement gives us so much possibilities to make some differences off the field as well, just as Street Kids
have done for a long time. There are very few people in the world who are as passionate for this game as TJ
is and its evident in his organization, and the website. His ability to network and bring together the product of
softball, the marketing of the team and the sport, with the passion for caring into one system is unique. We
are very excited to become a part of it."
Suburban Softball is currently ranked as the number one NSA Class B team in the state of Michigan and
ranked number three in the country. They have won dozens of major tournaments over the years, including
the 2007 NSA State Championship. The Street Kids Softball team won the Michigan ASA Class B/C State
Championship last year, defeating Suburban along the way.
"Suburban is a great softball team," said SKS assistant manager JR Shapiro. "They showed how great of a
team they were this year winning the Flag Day Championship then coming out and winning the B/C NIT right
afterwards. Bringing our two teams together under one conglomerate is a good move and will show much
more down the road how great of a move it can really be."
The deal was struck after several
meetings between Lavender and
Jorgensen, and after finalizing some
minor details, was made official just
before the start of the 40th Edition
of the Kiracofe Memorial Tourney,
where the Suburban Softball team
will be looking to win once again.
The Kiracofe is the longest running
memorial festival tourney in the
country, and Suburban won the
event in 2005 and finished runner
up three times, including last year. They are the featured game on Friday night in Kalamazoo as the tourney
gets underway.
Several members of both teams were excited about the merger, which will not feature the two teams
becoming one ON the field, as many pondered.
"Wow. I am very excited for this," said former Otsego prep standout Ben Knight of Suburban. "This is one
of the greatest moves in softball and I can't wait to see what comes of it."
Todd Fairbanks, arguably one of the best players in the Midwest, agrees. "This gives both teams and
excellent outlook for the future, with many possibilities on and off the field."
"What you have here is two powerhouse teams joining forces under one roof," said Suburban player
manager BJ Roberts. "I see nothing but good things on the horizon."
Two key members of the Street Kids Softball team made official comments when reached about the
agreement:
""The merging of these two organizations creates new opportunities not available before," said SKS reigning
MVP Lanny Fisher. "This is the next logical step in the growth of Street Kids Softball and I am proud that
we are now officially affiliated with such a well respected group as Suburban Softball. I have always enjoyed
competing against Suburban, with the best part being that Matt and his guys are so competitive on the field,
and so approachable off the field. I believe that this is a move that will benefit both organizations where the
whole will be greater than the sum of the parts."
Joe Horvath, the single season home run king and one of the top players around agreed. "I think its a step in
the right direction," said the four time world champion outfielder. "Suburban is a great team and a big name in
the Michigan area. I had no idea a few years ago what SKS was all about; I thought I was joining a softball
team. I soon found out about everything Street Kids does in the community and now with the name
Suburban behind it, SKS and Suburban can only go up from here. I have great respect for Matt and the
Suburban organization as I do for TJ and Street Kids. Hopefully this will be a happy home for all for years to
come."
Some minor details of the agreement include the team names. Street Kids will now be known as "Street
Kids/Easton/PAS/Suburban South" and Suburban will simply add the SKS name to their title of "Suburban
Softball/Street Kids".
The bat deal that the SKS team has with Easton will remain exclusive to Easton, as the agreement is with the
SKS team, not the organization.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Jorgensen. "Its simple. We still do what both teams came to do in the
spring, work hard for a state and national title. Our merger of the organization is more of an executive move
off the field, that will pave the way for the future of both teams. On the field, we are both still two competitive
teams who will look to win as many games as possible."
The Street Kids Softball organization announced today a
partnership with one of the top men's softball teams in the
Midwest when they agreed to join forces with the Suburban
Softball Club of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
"I believe we have put together something very special today,"
said SKS director and manager TJ Jorgensen. "Suburban is
one of the top teams around, with a history of winning on the
field that many teams have never dreamed. By bringing
together two of the most well known names in the sport, we
are hoping to make some strong moves off the field as SKS
has become known for doing."
Matt Lavender, the CEO of Suburban Mechanical and owner of the Suburban Softball team, was very
excited about the opportunity to take his group to the next level.
"Winning softball games on the field was just the first step for us," said the 36-year-old slugger. "Today's
agreement gives us so much possibilities to make some differences off the field as well, just as Street Kids
have done for a long time. There are very few people in the world who are as passionate for this game as TJ
is and its evident in his organization, and the website. His ability to network and bring together the product of
softball, the marketing of the team and the sport, with the passion for caring into one system is unique. We
are very excited to become a part of it."
Suburban Softball is currently ranked as the number one NSA Class B team in the state of Michigan and
ranked number three in the country. They have won dozens of major tournaments over the years, including
the 2007 NSA State Championship. The Street Kids Softball team won the Michigan ASA Class B/C State
Championship last year, defeating Suburban along the way.
"Suburban is a great softball team," said SKS assistant manager JR Shapiro. "They showed how great of a
team they were this year winning the Flag Day Championship then coming out and winning the B/C NIT right
afterwards. Bringing our two teams together under one conglomerate is a good move and will show much
more down the road how great of a move it can really be."
The deal was struck after several
meetings between Lavender and
Jorgensen, and after finalizing some
minor details, was made official just
before the start of the 40th Edition
of the Kiracofe Memorial Tourney,
where the Suburban Softball team
will be looking to win once again.
The Kiracofe is the longest running
memorial festival tourney in the
country, and Suburban won the
event in 2005 and finished runner
up three times, including last year. They are the featured game on Friday night in Kalamazoo as the tourney
gets underway.
Several members of both teams were excited about the merger, which will not feature the two teams
becoming one ON the field, as many pondered.
"Wow. I am very excited for this," said former Otsego prep standout Ben Knight of Suburban. "This is one
of the greatest moves in softball and I can't wait to see what comes of it."
Todd Fairbanks, arguably one of the best players in the Midwest, agrees. "This gives both teams and
excellent outlook for the future, with many possibilities on and off the field."
"What you have here is two powerhouse teams joining forces under one roof," said Suburban player
manager BJ Roberts. "I see nothing but good things on the horizon."
Two key members of the Street Kids Softball team made official comments when reached about the
agreement:
""The merging of these two organizations creates new opportunities not available before," said SKS reigning
MVP Lanny Fisher. "This is the next logical step in the growth of Street Kids Softball and I am proud that
we are now officially affiliated with such a well respected group as Suburban Softball. I have always enjoyed
competing against Suburban, with the best part being that Matt and his guys are so competitive on the field,
and so approachable off the field. I believe that this is a move that will benefit both organizations where the
whole will be greater than the sum of the parts."
Joe Horvath, the single season home run king and one of the top players around agreed. "I think its a step in
the right direction," said the four time world champion outfielder. "Suburban is a great team and a big name in
the Michigan area. I had no idea a few years ago what SKS was all about; I thought I was joining a softball
team. I soon found out about everything Street Kids does in the community and now with the name
Suburban behind it, SKS and Suburban can only go up from here. I have great respect for Matt and the
Suburban organization as I do for TJ and Street Kids. Hopefully this will be a happy home for all for years to
come."
Some minor details of the agreement include the team names. Street Kids will now be known as "Street
Kids/Easton/PAS/Suburban South" and Suburban will simply add the SKS name to their title of "Suburban
Softball/Street Kids".
The bat deal that the SKS team has with Easton will remain exclusive to Easton, as the agreement is with the
SKS team, not the organization.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Jorgensen. "Its simple. We still do what both teams came to do in the
spring, work hard for a state and national title. Our merger of the organization is more of an executive move
off the field, that will pave the way for the future of both teams. On the field, we are both still two competitive
teams who will look to win as many games as possible."
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