About the Classic
The Lakeshore Classic is a regional family oriented event focusing its activities on raising educational awareness and drawing on the parallels between sports participation and academic achievement to encourage the region’s youth to follow a path for success.
Kenny Lofton
Kenny was born in East Chicago, Indiana, and raised by his grandmother who he credits for teaching him discipline, integrity and, responsibility. Kenny starred in baseball and basketball at Washington High School in East Chicago and later became a stand out basketball player at the University of Arizona. Toward the end of his college career, Kenny went back to his first love, baseball. He was eventually drafted in the 17th round of the 1988 major league baseball draft by the Houston Astros. Kenny rose rapidly through the minors and through the process helped to lead the Triple-A Tuscon Toros to a Pacific Coast League championship in 1991, prompting the Houston Astros to call him up during that same season. The rest is history, Kenny Lofton developed into an athletic fielder, a great hitter and one of the most exciting players of his era.
2019 Lakeshore Classic Cash Brochure
Corporate Luncheon Registration
AD and Vendor Registration Form
Classic Sponsorship Letter
Sponsorship Levels
Lakeshore Classic Announcement
Lakeshore Classic
Regional Advisors
Lake County Councilman
Charlie Brown
Senator
Ed Charbonneau
Consultant
Vic DeMeyer,
Edgewater Health
Dr. Danita Johnson Hughes,
Senator
Lonnie Randolph
Senator
Eddie Melton
Dave Ryan, Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
Lakeshore Classic
Planning Committee
Michael Radbel,
Main Sporting Goods
Dr. Danita Johnson Hughes,
Edgewater Health
Mike LaBroi,
Mike LaBroi Entertainment
McKinley Jelks, Sr.,
Lakeshore Classic
Beverly Harbour
GEMS Network
Cheryl Scott-Fields
GEMS Network
A 11-Year Successful Run
- Increased yearly attendance to 7,000 people.
- Welcomed college teams from Central State University, Fisk University, Tuskegee University, and University of Michigan, Dearborn.
- Tripled college and business fair participation.
- High school basketball teams from throughout Indiana and Illinois participating, in a “Border Battle” challenge.
- A history of teams coming back to play year to year.
- Corporate events featuring prominent guest speakers including;
- Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs head coach and region native
- Gene Keady, Purdue University head coach, retired
- Bob Love, retired Chicago Bulls star player
- Bryce Drew, Valparaiso University
Head Coach & 1994 Mr. Indiana Basketball
- Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State; Founder, Jesse White Tumbling Team
- Oscar “Big O” Robertson, NBA All Star and 2-time NBA World Champion Dr. Dick Barnett.
- Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, former NBA Star and successful businessman.
- Lloyd McClendon, former Manager of the Pittsburg Pirates & Seattle mariners.
- David J. Johns, Executive Director White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, Washington, DC
- Mike Huff, VP of Baseball/Fast Pitch for the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball Team and former outfielder.
- LaTroy Hawkins, 1991 graduate of Gary West Side High School. A distinguished 21 year Major League Baseball career.
