Scouting Tri-Cities baseball
Aurora Christian
Coach: Andy Zorger
Last year: 29-7, 12-4
Top returners: Bobby Kuntzendorf (LHP/OF, sr.); Jake Hanson (C, sr.); Josh Haugen (SS, sr.); Kenny McCracken (3B/P, sr.); Mitch Holtz (P/OF, sr.).
Key newcomers: Ian Livingston (OF, jr.); Brandon Walgren (OF/INF, so); J.T. Baksha (P/OF, sr.).
Outlook: The Eagles tied for first in the SCC Gold last year with Wheaton Academy, and few teams can match their returning firepower. Kuntzendorf made all-state last year and shared the conference player of the year honors. Hanson hit .394 with 18 doubles. McCracken, like the other three an all-conference pick, hit .396 with 8 home runs and 43 RBI. Holtz tore his ACL during the Eagles' state championship football season in the fall but could be back for the postseason. That experience should rate the Eagles a conference favorite along with Walther Lutheran who defeated Aurora Christian in last year's Class 2A sectional final and went on to take second in state. “We are extremely excited for this season,” Zorger said. “We know we are right there. Our seniors have been chomping at the bit to get back to work this year.” Three Eagles already are committed to playing Division I baseball: Kuntzendorf at Northern Illinois, Hanson at Valparaiso and Holtz at Penn. Haugen and McCracken also likely will play college baseball. “We have very high expectations going into the year, with our pitching staff being strong, but lacking some depth without Holtz,” Zorger said. “Our offense should still be very potent. We are expecting to get back to the sectional final and hopefully beyond.”
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Eric Fulara
Last year: 13-15
Top returners: Matt Miller, Matt Czerak, Matt Musuras, Shawn Soris, Steve Belovich, Andrew Bruss.
Key newcomers: Mike Fidler, Jake McCarthy, Phil Schuetz.
Outlook: The Chargers made the area's biggest improvement in 2011 going from 3-19 to 13-15, and this year they will move from the Class 3A postseason to 2A. Aurora Central returns six starters from last year's team, including their leading pitcher and hitter in junior Matt Miller (6-4, 2.23 ERA, 86 strikeouts in 69 innings). Miller, a two-time all-SCC selection, led the team in batting with a .411 average. Seniors Matt Czerak and Matt Musuras return for their third year, and juniors Steve Belovich and Shawn Soris are other key returnees. Fidler and Bruss join Miller in handling a majority of the innings on the mound. “I have high expectations for this team,” said Fulara. “Our offense should be improved over last year, but we need to be better with runners in scoring position. We stranded too many runners in key spots last year. Our pitching depth and defense is much greater than a year ago. I look forward for us to challenge for the conference title and compete favorably in the state tournament.”
Batavia
Coach: Matt Holm
Last year: 15-18
Top returners: Nick Pappas (sr., P/1B); Austin Higgins (sr., P); Steven Patterson (sr., P); Steve Durham (sr., C); Rob Bowman (sr., CF); Sam Burnoski (sr., LF); Danny Ritchason (jr., 3B).
Key newcomers: Micah Coffey (so., INF).
Outlook: In 20 seasons Holm has won 330 games at Batavia, and there's no reason to think the Bulldogs won't add many more to that total this spring. Already having to replace graduated pitchers Michael Rutas and Ben Allison, Batavia also lost its No. 3 hitter and shortstop from the past couple years to an off-season shoulder injury, Danny Seiton. Nick Pappas, who led Batavia with 6 wins last year, returns, and Holm liked what he saw from Higgins and Patterson this summer on the mound. Defensively, Holm is excited about what he has up the middle in Billy Zwick at shortstop and Higgins and Coffey at second. Captain Durham is behind the plate with the fleet-footed Bowman returning in center after starting as a sophomore. Batavia returns five regulars to its lineup. Among the run producers look for Pappas, Buroski, Ritchason and Coffey. Holm's group is looking for a better year in conference. “We need to prove ourselves in the Upstate Eight,” Holm said. “This group, for the most part, has played together now for two seasons and we have some young men who will have that opportunity to show themselves. A strong mix of senior leadership and young talent give us a lot to look forward to.”
Geneva
Coach: Matt Hahn
Last year: 21-12, 17-8
Top returners: Matt Williams (sr., OF); John Swiderski (sr., C); Jordan Touro (jr., RHP); Andy Honiotes (jr., RHP); Drew White (sr., RHP); Andy Francis (sr., 3B); Mitch Endriukaitis (jr., SS).
Key newcomers: Matt Brandys (sr., RHP/OF); Jake Weede (jr., OF); Luke Polishak (jr., 2B); Bobby Hes (jr., OF).
Outlook: Geneva has the players back for another 20-win season under Hahn whose team finished fourth in a tight top half of the River race. The Vikings are coming off a strong summer run that saw them knock off St. Charles North and get within one game of making the state summer tournament. Williams has been making an impact since his sophomore season; the returning all-conference and all-area selection led Geneva in both home runs and RBI as a junior. Swiderski is back behind the plate after also making all-conference. Touro won five games as sophomore, part of an experienced group of pitchers that includes Honiotes and White. Endriukaitis made an immediate impact as a sophomore at short while Francis gives the Vikings another quality bat. “We hope to be competitive in a very good Upstate Eight Conference,” Hahn said.
Kaneland
Coach: Brian Aversa
Last year: 26-10
Top returners: Tyler Heinle (sr., C); Drew Peters (sr., P/1B); Trever Heinle (sr., SS); Jacob Razo (sr., RF).
Key newcomers: Jordan Jones (sr., 1B/C); Joey Pollastrini (jr., 2B); Tom Fox (sr., 3B); Quinn Buschbacher (sr., LF); Kyle Pollastrini (jr., LF); Ray Barry (sr., CF); John Hopkins (jr., P); Trevor Storck (sr., P); Bryan VanBogaert (sr. P).
Outlook: What's it like to start the new season as defending state champions? That's a question Kaneland sure doesn't mind hearing after its unforgettable run through the Class 3A field ended with an 11-3 victory over Oak Forest last June 11 in the state championship game in Joliet. “It's a little different,” Aversa said. “We have a lot of expectations put on ourselves. It's going to be a little different, we're going to see a lot of better pitchers this year and get the best from everyone. We'll have to work hard. But we have a lot of guys who didn't play much last year and this is their turn to leave their mark on the program.” Of the regulars in the lineup for the state title run, only catcher Tyler Heinle and right fielder Razo return, and they generally hit at the bottom of the lineup. Peters also won several key games during the postseason including picking up the victory in the state title game. “We won't have a lot of power like last year,” Aversa said. “We'll have to pitch and play defense and be aggressive. We're excited. We think we'll be a dangerous team.” While there's still battles going on for playing time, among the new starters to watch are Barry in center, Buschbacher in the outfield and Joe Pollastrini at second who could all find turns at the top of the lineup. Razo and Trever Heinle figure to be some of the top run-producers in the middle of the order. Kaneland tied Morris for the Northern Illinois Big 12 East title last year after sharing the Western Sun championship the previous season with Batavia and DeKalb.
Marmion
Coach: Dave Rakow
Last year: 21-10, 11-3 (first)
Top returners: Kyle Kozak (sr., C); Chris Simon (sr., P/1B); AJ Friedman (sr., CF/P); Andy Young (sr., SS); Mitch Sterne (sr., 2B); Mike Pipp (OF).
Key newcomers: Connor Medernach (sr., 3B); Connor Riley (jr., OF/P); RJ Gibson (jr., OF/ INF).
Outlook: A third straight conference championship highlighted Marmion's season last year but the Cadets didn't miss by much of even more accolades when they came up 3 runs short in the sectional championship against Kaneland — who went on to win the Class 3A state championship. Kozak leads the returnees from that team after hitting .434 last year with 23 RBI, 19 runs and 2 homers. Simon will be a key on the mound after going 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA. Other hitters to watch include Friedman (. 338, 25 RBI, 18 runs); Young (. 276, 20 RBI, 17 runs); Sterne (. 263, 18 RBI, 26 runs) and Pipp (. 310 AVG, 23 runs). “We think that we'll compete for another conference championship,” Rakow said. With those six returning hitters Rakow knows the Cadets will be explosive — it's who can step in for Tim Tarter (now at UIC) and Tyler Friel (at North Central) on the mound that is a preseason question. “We are confident that we'll be able to score runs consistently and make plays in the field,” Rakow said. “The biggest question mark for us this year will be our pitching. (Tarter and Friel) are very big shoes to fill. We're confident that our pitching staff, led by Chris Simon, will be competitive this year, but many of the 12 pitchers on our staff are relatively untested on the varsity level.”
St. Charles East
Coach: Len Asquini
Last year: 27-11
Top returners: Jordan Hayes (sr., 2B); Kyle Manske (sr., LHP/OF); John Hondlik (sr., RHP/1B); Joe Hoscheit (jr., C/OF/P); Brian Sobielski (jr., C/1B).
Key newcomers: Luke Ludke (sr., RHP/3B); Nick Erickson (jr., SS); Jack Dellostritto (jr., SS); Troy Dyhkuis (jr., P); Nick Huskisson (jr., P); Derek Olson (jr., P).
Outlook: Both the key newcomers and top returners category could include Asquini. He replaces Dave Haskins as coach but as anyone who knows the history of St. Charles baseball understands Asquini is anything but a newcomers. The coach of the Saints from 1996-2003, Asquini guided some of the school's most memorable teams including the 1999 Class 2A state champions. He'll have three returners who already have signed with colleges: Hayes moving from third to second and going to Olivet Nazareth; Manske headed to Blackhawk Junior College and Hondlik signed with John Logan Community College. Hoscheit and Sobielski both pack plenty of punch as juniors while Ludke came out for the team this year after not playing as a junior and “has looked real solid on the mound and defensively,” according to Asquini. Erickson and Dellostritto are both slick fielders at shortstop battling for the starting job — the kind of healthy competition Asquini says he has a lot of. “We have most starting positions still available and the inter-competition is powerful,” Asquini said. “We will be very athletic and interchangeable this year.” Juniors Dyhkuis, Huskisson and Olson add depth to the pitching staff behind Manske and Hondlik. “We always start by building a solid pitching staff with a strong defense,” Asquini said. “This year's group has embraced this focus and philosophy. Looks like a solid seven to eight pitchers and early on they will have to earn their spots in the rotation. Another wonderful battle and problem to have.” Asquini said five players are trying to win the outfield spots. Asquini likes Geneva as a team to watch in the River. “We'll look to have a solid preseason showing then strong start to the conference race,” Asquini said. “We are excited about the possibilities with this group. Their ceiling is high and hopefully we can reach it.”
St. Charles North
Coach: Todd Genke
Last year: 26-10, 19-6
Top returners: John Brodner (sr., INF/P); Jake Johansmeier (sr., INF/P); Brandon Drawant (sr., OF); Jake Smiley (sr., INF); Nick Gilmore (sr., C); Carl Formento (sr., P).
Key newcomers: Andrew Kronke (sr., INF/P); Collin Peterson (sr., P); Max Pedre (sr., P); Kurt Barbeau (jr., OF); Ryan Thomas (jr., C); Ankur Shah (jr., P).
Outlook: Another year, another St. Charles North team filled with future college players. It starts with Brodner, a two-year all-conference selection who also made all-area and all-state last year and is committed to Wright State. There's two more returning all-conference picks Johansmeier headed to Eastern Illinois and Drawant to Wisconsin-Whitewater. Gilmore also is going to Wisconsin-Whitewater and Formento to Carroll College. “The goals for the season are high,” Genke said. “The plan is to play well through a highly competitive nonconference schedule then prepare and succeed in the Upstate Eight Conference race and well beyond. We feel we have a very good shot of winning the Upstate Eight this year.” Once again the North Stars will be prepared for the Upstate Eight after their trip south to Marion that this year will see them play five teams ranked in the state's top 20: New Trier, Warren, Lockport, Carmel and Cary-Grove. Genke points to pitching depth with as a key this season anchored by Johansmeier, Formento and Kronke. “The team returns a solid core of quality defensive players that will be strong up the middle,” Genke said. “(We) will also have a potent offensive lineup that features very good speed and power potential.”
West Aurora
Coach: John Reeves
Last year: 9-22
Top returners: Richie Renner (sr., SS); Marcus Diaz (sr., P/3B); Adam Lipscomb (jr., 2B); Alex Pope (sr., 3B); Bobby Drager (sr., 1B/P); Ricky Rivera (sr., OF); Jon Acton (sr., OF); Chris Lewis (sr., C).
Key newcomers: Eric Bauer (jr., OF); Ottavio Dattolo (jr., P); Tanner Reichardt (jr., P); Chris Hawks (jr., P).
Outlook: The Blackhawks return Renner, an all-DuPage Valley Conference selection, as they try to make a move up the conference standings. “(We hope to) improve upon last year,” Reeves said. “We return the entire infield and most of the outfield.” In addition to short, West Aurora has its double play combo back with Lipscomb at second base. Pope moves from the outfield back to third base and Drager is another returnee at first. With Rivera and Acton back in the outfield, the veterans on defense should make life a little easier for a pitching staff that has one veteran in Diaz to go with new additions Dattolo, Reichardt, Mooney and Hawks.