2008 Tri-Cities All-Area Baseball Team
Alex Beckmann, Batavia
Beckmann is the only player on the All-Area team to make it three times in his three years on varsity. The NIU-bound shortstop left his mark at Batavia as one of the all-time bests in batting average. This year, he capped the season leading the team in average (.426) and runs scored (33) in 122 at-bats. The ultimate leadoff man also had 52 hits and 21 RBI to go with 8 doubles and WSC first team honors. "No one comes even close to him since I've been here," Batavia coach Matt Holm said. "We are going to miss him tremendously. Not only was he a great player, but he was a tremendous kid. I'm going to miss that more than anything."
More Coverage Links All-Area captain Mike Hoscheit
Brian Claesson, Kaneland
Aurora University will be getting a special player in this senior catcher, who finished his final season at Kaneland with 31 runs, 48 hits, a batting average of .436, 10 doubles, 1 home run, 28 RBI and an on-base percentage of .521 in 110 at-bats while taking turns batting in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. "He was the bat we always depended on," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said of one of the best catchers in the area, who landed a spot on the Western Sun Conference's first team. "He was an excellent defensive field general as a catcher. He got the job done."
Brian De la Torriente, St. Charles North
De la Torriente is one of three North Stars who is heading to a Division-I school. This talented pitcher and third baseman will play at Northern Iowa University in the Missouri Valley Conference after hitting .420 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 25 RBI, 21 runs and 12 stolen bases. As a hurler, the Unanimous Upstate Eight Conference choice went 6-2 with 1 save and an ERA of 1.90 in 42 innings and had a .968 fielding percentage.
Cory Hofstetter, Geneva
One of the most powerful hitters in the area is just a junior. This first baseman tied a Geneva single season record for home runs with 12 and is just 9 away from setting the school record in a career. He finished with a .404 batting average and 38 RBI while making the first team in the WSC unanimously for the second consecutive year. He may also finish his career as Geneva's RBI leader. "His numbers speak for him," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "He came through for us when we needed him to. He's arguably also the area's best defensive first baseman."
Mike Hoscheit, St. Charles East
This year's All-Area captain finished his senior year batting .449, with 34 RBI, 9 home runs, a slugging percentage of .847, an on-base percentage of .578 with an area-leading 36 runs after having off-season shoulder surgery. He was the team's MVP, the school's Male Athlete of the Year and landed a spot on the Upstate Eight Conference and All-Area team two consecutive years. He is currently deciding between Indiana or Illinois. Early on, coach Mark Foulkes knew he was something special. "We could tell he was different in terms of the way the ball came off the bat," Foulkes said.
Danny Jimenez, St. Charles North
One of the best pitchers in the area, the left-handed Jimenez has a solid chance at being selected in the Major League Draft. He enjoyed a strong senior season, as the lefty went 9-1 with an ERA of 1.70 with 80 strikeouts in 50 innings. He's solid at the plate as well, as he batted .350 while being named unanimous on the Upstate Eight Conference's first team. If he doesn't get drafted, he will play at John A. Logan Junior College in Carterville.
Kyle McCradic, West Aurora
This senior catcher/DH was the team's all-around guy as he batted in the No. 5 spot, was a team captain who will play at Waubonsee Community College next year. He averaged .395 in 114 at-bats with 27 runs, 45 hits, 6 doubles, 10 home runs (one shy of the school record; hit 6 in 6 games) 31 RBI with a slugging percentage of .711 with a fielding percentage of .968. "He hit extremely well for us," coach John Reeves said. "It seemed like he came up with a big home run every other game or so. He did a little bit of everything for us. He loves to hit."
Matt Milroy, Marmion
This junior enjoyed a tremendous breakthrough season on varsity after he finished the year in 90 at-bats with 42 hits, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs (including 3 in the sectional semifinals), scored 35 runs and had a batting average of .467 with a .613 on-base percentage and a .900 slugging percentage. His average was .595 with runners in scoring position. As a hurler, he went 3-3 with 77 strikeouts. "He was our best hitter and arguably our best pitcher," coach Dave Rakow said of this first team all-SCC choice. "We wouldn't have done what we did without him."
Tim Milroy, Marmion
This senior joins his baby brother on the All-Area team for the first time after the pitcher/first baseman posted 29 hits, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 16 RBI, 16 runs and a .377 batting average in 77 at-bats. He was the No. 3 pitcher in the rotation who went 3-3 with a no-hitter against rival ACC. This SCC first-teamer will play at Concordia. "The biggest contribution we got out of him was that he was our senior leader," Marmion coach Dave Rakow said. "He was definitely one of our best hitters and pitchers as well."
Mike Pritchard, Kaneland
Pritchard was called up at the end of his sophomore year last year and had the game-winning hit in a regional semifinal game. That indicated how his junior campaign would go, as the third baseman scored 25 runs, had 40 hits, had a batting average of .377 and 27 RBI in 106 at-bats and made all-conference in the Western Sun. "He was a surprise this year, and other coaches knew that," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said. "He did a wonderful job at third and got really hot at the end of the year. I'm looking forward to next year with him."
Steve Schenck, St. Charles East
This catcher went from freshman "B" team to the first team on the Upstate Eight Conference list his senior season, where he was a leadoff batter in the second half of the season. In 103 at-bats, he finished the year scoring 28 runs, 42 hits, 7 doubles, 2 home runs and 31 RBI with a batting average of .408, slugging percentage of .573 and an on-base percentage of .534. "He was our second most consistent hitter behind Mike (Hoscheit)," St. Charles East coach Mark Foulkes said. "He got on base. When I think big hits, his name comes to mind. He did everything that was asked."
Jake Thornton, St. Charles North
Thornton, a senior center fielder, was an all-state selection last year, which captured the attention of Illinois State, where he is attending in the fall. He led the North Stars in hitting once again with a .422 batting average, stolen bases (28) and an on-base percentage of .501. He also scored 24 runs and was a unanimous Upstate Eight Conference first teamer.
Special mention
Mark Adams, ACC, sr., SS; Tim Drish, Batavia, jr., OF; Zach Hirsch, St. Charles North, jr., P; Chris Jordan, Geneva, sr., P; Kevin Massoth, Geneva, sr., OF; Rod Nelson, Geneva, sr., P/IF; Robert Reder, Marmion, sr., C; Ryan Richardson, St. Charles North, so., SS; Tony Romero, Aurora Christian, sr., P/OF; DJ Smith, West Aurora, sr., OF; Andru Ubert, Aurora Christian, jr., P/C/IF; Cory Walden, West Aurora, jr., 1B/P.
Honorable mention
Mike Adams, ACC, jr., OF; Brian Burns, Marmion, jr., P; Jordan Coffey, Batavia, OF/P; Nick Czaja, ACC, jr., P; Tyler Deetjen, St. Charles East, sr., P; David DeSimone, Marmion, jr., SS; Kyle Edwards, ACC, sr., C; Johnathan Erickson, St. Charles East, so., 2B; C.J. Foster, Marmion, jr., OF; Will Fuentes, West Aurora, sr., P/IF; Joe Gura, Kaneland, jr., Util./P; Jody Henningson, Kaneland, sr., OF; Shane Holl, Batavia, sr., 1B; Matt Morse, Aurora Christian, so., P/SS; Alex Norman, Kaneland, sr., P/1B; Ryan Payne, Geneva, sr., C; Brady Renner, West Aurora, jr., OF; Chad Roscoe, ACC, sr., OF; Dan Rowe, Geneva, sr., DH; Zach Scott, St. Charles East, jr., OF; Mike Sentman, Batavia, sr., 2B; Matt Stevens, St. Charles North, so., C; Sam Weinberg, St. Charles North, sr., OF; Dave Zielke, Aurora Christian, jr., 3B/P/OF.
The starting rotation
Top five pitchers:
Danny Jimenez, St. Charles North, sr.
Brian De la Torriente, St. Charles North, sr.
Zach Hirsch, St. Charles North, jr.
Jordan Coffey, Batavia, jr.
Tyler Deetjen, St. Charles East, sr.
The burglars
Top base stealers:
Mark Adams, ACC, sr., SS; Jody Henningson, Kaneland, sr., CF: Jake Thornton, St. Charles North, sr., CF; Sam Weinberg, St. Charles North, sr., OF.
The clutch hitters
Top RBI leaders:
Tim Drish, Batavia, jr., OF; Mike Hoscheit, St. Charles East, sr., OF; Cory Hofstetter, Geneva, jr., 1B; Matt Milroy, Marmion, jr., P/1B; Chris Richter, West Aurora, so., 3B/P; DJ Smith, West Aurora, sr., OF; Andru Ubert, Aurora Christian, jr., P/C/IF.
The risers
Players to watch out for next year:
David Brouch, Marmion, jr., RF/3B; Tim Drish, Batavia, jr., OF; Sean Grady, Geneva, jr., OF; Joe Gura, Kaneland, jr., Util./P; Ken Litrenta, ACC, jr., P; Zach Scott, St. Charles East, jr., OF; Matt Stevens, St. Charles North, so., C; Cory Walden, West Aurora, jr., 1B/P; Dave Zielke, Aurora Christian, jr., 3B/P/OF.
One season later#8230;
Most improved players:
Mark Brauweiler, ACC, jr., OF; C.J. Foster, Marmion, jr., OF; Will Fuentes, West Aurora, sr., P/IF; Shane Holl, Batavia, sr., 1B; Tom Lollino, St. Charles East, sr., LF; Mike Pritchard, Kaneland, jr., 3B; Dan Rowe, Geneva, sr., OF; Sam Weinberg, St. Charles North, OF; Dave Zielke, Aurora Christian, jr., 3B/P/OF.
The Fortune 400 club
Players who hit .400 and above:
Alex Beckmann, Batavia, sr., SS; Brian Claesson, Kaneland, sr., C; Jody Henningson, Kaneland, sr., CF; Mike Hoscheit, St. Charles East, sr., OF; Cory Hofstetter, Geneva, jr., 1B; Matt Morse, Aurora Christian, so., P/SS; Matt Milroy, Marmion, jr., P/1B; Tony Romero, Aurora Christian, sr., P/OF; Steve Schenck, St. Charles East, sr., C; Andru Ubert, Aurora Christian, jr., P/C/IF.
College-bound
Players heading to D-I schools (as of June 4):
Alex Beckmann, Batavia, sr., SS, Northern Illinois;
Chris Burgess, St. Charles East, sr., P, Central Michigan;
Tyler Deetjen, St. Charles East, sr., P, Valparaiso;
Brian De la Torriente, St. Charles North, sr., P/3B, Northern Iowa;
Jake Thornton, St. Charles North, sr., CF, Illinois State;
Sam Weinberg, St. Charles North, sr., OF, Western Michigan;
The Winners
Regional champions:
Geneva, Marmion, St. Charles North.
The Director
Top coaching job:
Dave Rakow, Marmion. The 1999 Batavia grad and first year varsity coach took a team that flew under the radar to the Cadets' first regional championship since 1969. The Cadets got further than any other team in the area after reaching the Class 3A sectional final game, where they lost to Rock Falls. Marmion finished 10-3 in the Suburban Catholic Conference (second) and set a school record in wins at 19-9 -- and they did it all without a home field.
The Future
Teams to watch in 2009:
Batavia, Marmion