Lake County All-Area baseball team

Kevin Barber | Mundelein

It's not a coincidence that Mundelein has won 54 games over the last two years. Its defense was anchored by the ever reliable and steady Barber at shortstop. "Kevin is just solid, really solid, at shortstop," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. "He's a big reason we've won a lot of games here the last two years." Over the last two years, Barber has also hit from the important lead-off position. This season, he rolled up a team-leading 40 hits, including 3 home runs and 2 triples. He also drove in 28 runs and struck out only 7 times. Barber was also a threat on the base paths with 9 stolen bases.

Troy Barton | Libertyville

Coaches love the players who do what they are told. They cherish the ones who don't have to be told a thing. That's Troy Barton, who runs sprints on the football field after games without the coaches ever having to suggest it. "Troy is a very motivated, self-disciplined person," Libertyville coach Jim Schurr said. "There's no secret to his success. He's an extra hard worker and a fierce competitor. He also happens to have great command of his pitches and great location. If I call location with Troy, for the most part, it will be there." Barton, who will be pitching at Eastern Illinois next year, rolled up 100 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. He sported a 1.18 earned run average and went 6-4 on the season while facing many of Libertyville's toughest opponents.

Ricky Erickson | Lake Zurich

A broken thumb suffered during last fall's football playoffs put Erickson a bit behind at the start of baseball season. Having not yet regained a full range of motion, Erickson sometimes found it difficult to control his pitches. So, he continued faithfully with his therapy. "Rick has worked his way back to being our left-handed workhorse," Lake Zurich coach Gary Simon said. "It seems like he is getting stronger each appearance he makes." His numbers sure support that. Erickson is one of the Bears' top pitchers, sporting a 2.81 earned run average with 3 wins and 2 saves. He also rolled up 66 strikeouts. Erickson also got the job done offensively. With a .406 average, he was the team's top hitter. He rolled up 39 hits, including 7 doubles, 1 triple and 4 home runs, in 96 at-bats. Plus, he collected 25 RBI.

Chas Evans | Lake Zurich

It was the perfect end to an imperfect career for Chas Evans. A victim of multiple knee injuries as a freshman, Evans got off to a slow start. Then, last year as a junior, he found himself playing behind some very talented seniors. For the three years prior to this season, Evans' playing time had been limited. But the senior sure did make up for that this year. On the mound, he went a perfect 8-0 for the Bears, rolling up 75 strikeouts in 49 innings and carrying a 1.56 earned run average. He also was one of the team's top hitters with a .364 batting average. He led the team with 7 home runs and also rolled up 39 hits in 107 at-bats. "Chas had a great year for us," Lake Zurich coach Gary Simon said. "He even got a no-hit shutout (against Zion-Benton in April). Week after week, he got the job done for us."

Scott Firth | Stevenson

Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca says that Firth is not only one of the best pitchers in the area, he's one of the best in the state. He could also make the argument for one of the best in history. Stevenson history, that is. With 76 strikeouts this season, the Clemson-bound Firth upped his three-year varsity career strikeout total to 190. That's a new Stevenson school record. "Scott throws hard. He's topped out at 92, 93 (miles per hour)," Mazzuca said. "He also has a very high baseball IQ. He just knows how to approach each hitter and if he ever finds himself in a (difficult) situation, he doesn't panic like a lot of kids do." Firth went 6-1 this season with a 0.67 earned run average. He allowed only 12 walks in 52 innings.

Angelo Gargano | Grayslake Central

With a 4.4 grade point average and a 30 ACT score, Gargano is familiar with impressive numbers. A junior first baseman, he's being recruited by Ivy League schools for his brain, and his brawn. Gargano also put up some big numbers on the baseball field. He rolled up a team-high 43 hits, including 12 doubles and 5 home runs, while also driving in a whopping 48 runs. It all translated into a .395 batting average. "He's put up monster numbers," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said of Gargano. "He can hit to all fields. He's one of the most complete hitters I've had since I've been here."

Thomas Gier | Grant

Despite injuries to both shoulders this season, Gier shouldered the load for Grant offensively. Just a junior, he led the Bulldogs in every major hitting category. "His injuries forced him to miss a few games, otherwise he probably would have gotten our school record for RBI," Grant coach Mike Mizwicki said of Gier, who still managed to rack up 37 RBI. "He should make a run at every school hitting record next year. He is a legitimate Division I prospect." Gier, who plays shortstop and first base, finished with 36 hits, including 12 doubles and 6 home runs. He finished with a .404 batting average, striking out only 7 times in 89 at-bats.

Scott Heelan | Warren

Even when he's not catching a teammate for practice, Heelan is catching. "Scott will work out at various gyms and facilities around here and if anyone wants to pitch, he'll catch them so he can get the practice. He catches other pitchers from other teams all the time," Warren coach Clint Smothers said. "He's just always working to get better. He's kind of a throwback in that way. You don't get a lot of kids like Scott anymore. He just eats, sleeps and breaths baseball." Heelan, a junior, was Warren's leading hitter with a .398 batting average. He rolled up 37 hits in 93 at-bats, including 8 doubles, a triple and a home run. He also drove in 17 runs.

Jeff Jackson | Wauconda

Call it the Jackson 500. Jackson, just a junior, is the only player on the all-area team to finish with a plus-.500 batting average. He was at .531, to be exact. "Jeff carries a presence in the batter's box that is felt by everyone," Wauconda coach Bill Sliker said. "Although he's been very successful, he continues to work hard, longer and harder than anyone in our program. He is a player who raises the players around him to become better athletes." Jackson, who started at catcher for the Bulldogs, rolled up 42 hits, including 15 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs, in 79 at-bats. He also finished with 34 RBI.

Derek Jordan | Carmel

Jordan's journey to the all-area team didn't start in first class. The junior outfielder wasn't even a starter at the beginning of the season. But when he entered a game against Marian Catholic as a pinch hitter and slammed a walk-off home to win the game, he got a spot in the lineup for the next game. He kept on moving up from there. "He was hitting sixth or seventh," Carmel coach Chuck Gandolfi said. "In his very next game, he hit a 2-run homer." Gandolfi moved Jordan to lead-off. Jordan finished the season with 28 hits, including 11 doubles, 1 triple and 4 home runs, in 71 at-bats. He also drove in 15 runs and finished with a .394 batting average.

Sean Kennedy | Warren

Call Kennedy Mr. Patient. He saw some bad pitches this year, some on purpose, some not. But rarely did he take the bait. "Whether people were trying to pitch around him, or if it was just a bad pitch, Sean did an unbelievable job of taking pitches this season," Warren coach Clint Smothers said. "He just wouldn't swing at bad pitches." But Kennedy, who sported a .347 batting average and rolled up 33 hits, including 4 doubles, a triple and 7 home runs, sure did make others swing. Also a pitcher, Kennedy rolled up 72 strikeouts on his way to 4 wins. In 63 2/3 innings, he gave up just 13 walks and sported a 2.75 earned run average.

Kevin Kelly | Lakes

Most Lakes games had a common denominator. "As Kevin went, so did our offense," Lakes coach Bill Rosencrans said. "He set the table as a leadoff hitter, always had a green light on the bases and hit for power." Kelly, a senior who played centerfield, led the Eagles in runs (37), hits (35), triples (3) and stolen bases (22). Kelly also drove in 17 runs and finished with a .324 average and 3 home runs. "He was also our defensive leader in the field, starting every game at center. He did not make an error. He was our all-around best player."

Logan Kent | Antioch

Perhaps a distance cousin to Clark Kent, Logan Kent often came off like Superman at Antioch, doing a little bit of everything to get the job done for the Sequoits. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Chandler, also a multiple all-area award winner, Kent was an all-North Suburban Conference pick as a junior and senior. He was also named Antioch's co-most valuable player as a junior and senior. "Logan is a great team leader," Antioch coach Paul Petty said. "He is very trustworthy, a quality that is becoming lost in modern-day athletes, and very dedicated to his sport." Kent, Antioch's first baseman, rolled up 36 hits, including 13 doubles and 6 home runs, in 81 at-bats for a team-leading .444 batting average. He also drove in a team-leading 26 runs and stole 4 bases.

Bryce Lahrman | Wauconda

Lahrman bulked up in the off-season and was able to pad his stats this spring. Lahrman gained 25 pounds of muscle to increase his strength and power and it showed on the mound. He went 5-2 for the Bulldogs and finished with a 1.99 earned run average. In 49.2 innings, he rolled up a whopping 94 strikeouts against just 10 walks. "Bryce's leadership and work ethic made us a better team and program," Wauconda coach Bill Sliker said. "He has pitched in the big games for us for two years with great success. Pitchers with his ability and work ethic don't come by too often." Lahrman will be playing next year at the University of Dayton.

Vinnie Licciardello | Grayslake North

Certainly a marked hitter, Licciardello rarely succumbed to all the tricks opposing pitchers used to send him back to the dugout. "Vinnie is one of the most disciplined hitters I've every coached," Grayslake North coach Andy Strahan said. "He is a tremendous leader and will be very difficult to replace." Licciardello, a senior who started in left field for the Knights, finished with an impressive .495 batting average, striking out only 9 times. In 97 at-bats, he rolled up 48 hits, including 8 doubles and 4 home runs. He also drove in 24 runs.

PJ Marsek | Vernon Hills

A standout quarterback for the football team, Marsek was a leader for the baseball team as well. He played in the outfield, pitched and was one of the best hitters on the team. "He really turned things on for us," Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said. "He is our best all-around athlete. He started closing games for us and his offensive numbers, considering he missed about eight games, are impressive." Marsek racked up 34 hits in 73 at-bats for a .466 batting average. He drove in 13 runs and had 3 doubles and 2 home runs.

Nick Mazza | Vernon Hills

With North Suburban division and conference titles to its credit, Vernon Hills has had plenty of talented players in its ranks over the years. And yet, head coach Jay Czarnecki, the only coach the Cougars have known, doesn't hesitate in his assessment of where Mazza fits in. "He is the best defensive shortstop we have ever had at Vernon Hills," said Czarnecki, who was willing to go even a step further. "And, he's one of the best all-round defensive players that I have seen on a high school baseball field. I can't put into words the things he brings to the table." According to his numbers, he brought plenty. Mazza rolled up 42 hits, including 8 doubles and 4 triples, while maintaining a .365 batting average. Mazza, a three-year varsity starter, did all of that less than a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Jay Mueller | Mundelein

Mueller started with a bang, and ended with one, too. Playing behind some very talented senior pitchers last year, Mueller didn't get many innings on the mound last year. Then suddenly, he got a very important start. "He got thrown into our regional championship game last minute and he wound up throwing a shutout," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. "That was kind of his coming out party and he's built off that. He's been able to keep his momentum." Isn't that the truth. As Mundelein's ace, Mueller finished up with a 9-2 record this season. In 70 innings, he rolled up 58 strikeouts and gave up just 23 walks. Offensively, Mueller was equally impressive. He led the Mustangs with a .415 batting average. He also tallied 39 hits, including 10 doubles and 5 home runs, and drove in a team-leading 33 runs.

Jeff Nicoline | Round Lake

Round Lake coach Ed Adamson was able to conserve his mound visits this year thanks to Nicoline. "He was like a coach out there for us," Adamson said of Nicoline, the team's starting second baseman. "I wasn't always having to go out there if there was a problem. He would call time, get the guys together to talk it out. He was a real leader for our younger guys." Nicoline was a real leader period. He lead the team with a .408 batting average and 29 hits, including 6 doubles. He also rolled up 13 RBI. "Jeff put a lot of pressure on himself to help the team. He'd do anything for the team," Adamson said. "And he was a clutch competitor. The team was always looking for him to get the clutch hit."

Paul Poirier | Carmel

After pitching in last year's supersectional as a sophomore, expectations were high for Poirier on the mound. But a shoulder injury midway through the season limited him to playing first base and some designated hitter. "He was disappointed, sure, but nothing rattles this kid, which is what he showed in that supersectional game last year," Carmel coach Chuck Gandolfi said. "Paul just found other ways to help us this year." In 97 at-bats, Poirier rolled up 39 hits, including 6 doubles, 2 triples and 4 home runs. He finished with a .402 batting average. Before getting hurt, he pitched 20 innings and was 2-1 on the mound.

Kyle Ruchim | Stevenson

Just a junior, Ruchim has already committed to Northwestern. It's easy to understand why he is Big Ten material. Ruchim started at shortstop and also pitched for the Patriots. He went 4-1 on the mound, carrying a 0.72 earned run average. Defensively, his sure hands and quick feet allowed him to make even difficult plays in the infield look routine. Besides all that, he was Stevenson's top offensive player. He led the team with 34 hits, 4 home runs, 29 RBI and a .583 slugging percentage. "The sky is the limit for Kyle," Stevenson coach Paul Mazucca said. "He is a special player who can run, hit, field and pitch. He got a lot of key hits for us this season and he'll be even better as a senior."

Tim Ryan | Lakes

Ryan was Lakes' workhorse this year, getting all the big starts. "He was our guys this season," Rosencrans said. "We knew we could count on him to get the job done." Ryan went 6-3 on the mound and also picked up 3 saves. One of his key victories came late in the season against Vernon Hills, which threatened Lakes' shot at its first North Suburban Prairie Division title. But the win gave Lakes some breathing room, and eventually the title. Ryan, a senior, gave up only 21 walks in 52 1/3 innings of work. He also rolled up 60 strikeouts.

Tyler Schweigert | Libertyville

There were plenty of times Schweigert, Libertyville's starting shortstop, wowed fans with a diving grab or a throw to first from his knees. But Libertyville coach Jim Schurr says that it's the everyday plays that Schweigert makes that wows him. "Tyler has made many difficult plays and that's great, but if you can't also make the routine play, then it doesn't really matter," Schurr said. "Tyler makes the routine plays, too. It's about that consistency." Schweigert also makes clutch hitting a part of his routine. From the lead-off spot, he led the team with 35 hits, including 8 doubles, 1 triple and 2 home runs. He also drove in 15 runs and maintained a .371 batting average. Once on base, Schweigert remained a threat. He stole 9 bases on the season.

Aaron Snyder | Grayslake Central

Despite drawing almost all the toughest assignments, Snyder managed to post a 9-2 record on the mound. "He's been our bulldog," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. "He's so tough. He's pretty much been a machine." In 58 innings, Snyder rolled up 81 strikeouts and allowed just 19 walks while carrying a 1.14 earned run average. The Southern Illinois-bound Snyder is a three-year varsity performer who has been the Rams' ace the last two years. "He's improved so much since his sophomore year because his work ethic has been incredible," Whalen said. "He was at 76, 77 (miles per hour) back then and now he's topping out at 89. That's all about him and his commitment."

Brad Sorkin | Stevenson

Sorkin was in control this season. A year ago, he gave up 20 walks in 40 innings. This season he was down to 15 walks that were spread over 50 innings. "Brad really had good control. He just really delivered," said Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca, who watched Sorkin pile up big victories against teams such as Fremd and Mundelein. "I think he dominated hitters all season long with his fastball and his changeup. His changeup was dynamite." Sorkin, who will pitch at Illinois State next year, went 6-1 with a 1.26 earned run average. He rolled up 53 strikeouts.

Ryan Thorsen | Grant

North Suburban Conference Prairie Division opponents didn't like seeing Thorsen take the mound. In four of his division starts, he finished with double-digit strikeout totals of 14, 14, 15 and 20. Overall, in 64 total innings pitched, Thorsen struck out 98 batters, which means he averaged nearly 2 strikeouts per inning. "Ryan doesn't look like your typical strikeout pitcher. He's 5-foot-10, 150 pounds," Grant coach Mike Mizwicki said. "But looks are certainly deceiving-just like his pitches." Thorsen went 5-3 on the season and finished with a 1.31 earned run average. He has numerous academic and athletic scholarship offers, but was undecided through Wednesday.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>All-Area Teams</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Cook County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298406"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298405">Softball captain: Nikki Goranson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298398"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298397">Baseball captain: Jon Carlson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298403"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298402">Soccer captains: Laura Mayer, Mary Kubiuk</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298401"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298400">Volleyball captain: Chris Falknor</a></li> </ul> <h2>DuPage County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298392">Softball captain: Hannah Santora</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298582">Baseball captain: Jack DeAno</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298391"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298394">Soccer captain: Leah Fortune</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298390"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298393">Volleyball captain: Joe Kelly</a></li> </ul> <h2>Fox Valley</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298676"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298362">Softball captain: Kimberly Pierce</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298660"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298356">Baseball co-captain: Brian Brauer</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298355">Baseball co-captain: Craig Lipp</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298658"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298361">Soccer captain: Cori Wronski</a></li> </ul> <h2>Lake County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298410"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298408">Softball captain: Olivia Duehr</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298407"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298396">Baseball captain: Chas Evans</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298404"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298409">Soccer captain: Courtney Levy</a></li> </ul> <h2>Tri-Cities</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298385"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298379">Softball captain:Stephanie Becker</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298383"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298380">Baseball captain: Matt Milroy</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298382"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298378">Soccer captain: Emily Hinchman</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>