BNBA Gold - - The “GOLD” Standard in Travel Baseball in Central Illinois

Playing on a BNBA Gold roster gives developing baseball players a unique opportunity to play for and learn from our community’s most experienced high school baseball coaches and educators in a competitive summer baseball environment. BNBA Gold tryouts are open to local baseball players as well as players outside of the Bloomington-Normal city limits. All players are welcome to try out for a BNBA Gold team regardless of their 2020 summer team. We want to be sure that we are putting Gold-level talent on the field to enhance the baseball experience for all involved. A BNBA committee, including all five Intercity coaches, will select the rosters. In 2021, BNBA Gold will field 15U, 16U, and 17U teams.

The BNBA Gold has been considered one of the top programs in the state of Illinois for the past 2 decades and has had over 100 players go on to play collegiately along with former Gold player Brock Stewart signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here are some of the players the Gold has produced:

Gold produced MLB signees:
*McCade Brown - University of Indiana.  Drafted in the 3rd round by the Colorado Rockies
*Harold Riggins--NC State, MVP of the ACC tournament, Drafted in the 7th round by the Colorado Rockies
*Brock Stewart--ISU, Drafted in the 6th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers
*Blake Brown--Mizzou, Drafted in the 5th round by the Atlanta Braves
*Chad Hinshaw--ISU, Drafted in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Angels
*Adam McGinnis--WIU, a finalist for the Johnny Bench award as nation's top catcher, signed by the Chicago White Sox
*John Rave--ISU, Drafted by the Boston Red Sox, Drafted again by the Kansas City Royals in the 5th round.  
*Reid Birlingmair--University of Illinois-Chicago, Drafted in 28th round by the Oakland A's
*Charlie Cerny -- University of Illinois-Chicago, Drafted in 7th round by the Oakland A's

Other notable Division I performers produced by the BNBA:
*McCade Brown -- Indiana University                                                 *Colton Moore -- Murray State
*Jacob Marti -- Michigan University                                                    *Ben Reeser -- University of Illinois
*Peyton Dillingham -- Morehead State                                                *Craig Lutes -- University of Illinois
*Griffin McCluskey -- Valparaiso                                                          *Ryan Enata -- Southern Illinois University
*Nick Gilhaus -- Wisconsin-Milwaukee                                               *Mike Kelly -- Illinois State University
*Jake McCaw -- Illinois State University                                             *Zac Johnson -- Illinois State University
*Parker Mathison -- Central Michigan                                                 *Joe Waropay -- Western Illinois University
*Nate Hardman -- Saint Louis University                                           *Andrew Holt -- Creighton
*Jack Sauser -- Northwestern University                                             *Zac Holt -- South Dakota State
*Jack Feely -- Central Michigan                                                             *Shawn McElyea -- Arkansas Little-Rock
*Jacob Gilmore -- Illinois State University                                          *Cody Gilles -- Arkansas Little-Rock
*Jack Butler -- Illinois State University                                                *Bryan Huff -- Illinois State University
*Addison Fugitt -- Southern Illinois University                                  *Brian Weeks -- Ivy League
*Mitch Fairfield -- Southern Illinois University                                  *Tyler Cook -- South Carolina Upstate
*Caleb Jacobs -- Western Illinois University                                       *Luke Stewart -- Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham
*Nick Hieb -- Illinois State University                                                   *Brock Stewart -- Illinois State University
*Matthew James -- University of Illinois                                              *Aaron Armstrong -- Missouri
*Alex Jefferson -- Missouri State                                                            *Brent Turner -- Western Illinois University
*Zach Johnson -- Illinois State University                                            *Alec Trela -- Memphis
*Dylan Johnson -- Illinois State University                                          *Colton Moore -- Murray State
*Wes Sery -- Northern Illinois University                                             *Aidan Cossio -- Western Illinois University
 *Deion Thompson -- Western Illinois University                               *Ryan Juris -- Arkansas Little-Rock
*Roman Visintine -- Western Illinois University                                 *Mike McMillan -- Bradley University 
*Jacob Hendren -- Illinois State University                                          *Deion Thompson -- Western Illinois University
*Jared Hendren -- Illinois State University                                           *Zach Frey -- Indiana State

BNBA also includes a travel division for high school players known as the BNBA Gold .

On January 9, 2004 the Bloomington Normal Baseball Association (BNBA) incorporated and started a new era for summer baseball for inter-city high school players.

The mission of the BNBA is to provide a quality competitive baseball program for players who attend Bloomington-Normal high schools. The BNBA continually works toward goals that help it achieve this mission. Those goals are:

• to assemble teams that compete at the highest level possible and strive for championships,
• to provide an environment that allows players to develop their baseball talents to the highest level possible,
• to build character and instill values of sportsmanship within its players,
• to provide an environment in which all players are able to have an enjoyable experience and build life-long friendships,
• to promote baseball within the Bloomington-Normal community, and to be positive ambassadors for the Bloomington-Normal community.