Tri-Cities All-Area baseball team

Jordan Coffey | Batavia

This senior made a triumphant return from off-season shoulder surgery. Coffey played most of the season in right field but made more of an impact on the mound late in the season. He was a force at the plate all year, hitting .500 during the Western Sun season to bring his season average to .437, going along with 8 home runs to be named co-team MVP with Tim Drish. "Coffey has played multiple roles, but all the while has worked back from his shoulder issue with great purpose," Batavia coach Matt Holm said. "His drive is incredible."

Dave DeSimone | Marmion

There might not have been a better tablesetter in the area than Marmion's senior shortstop. DeSimone got the Cadet attack rolling from his leadoff spot, batting .460 with a school-record 41 runs scored and a .564 on-base percentage. Batted .462 with runners in scoring position and added 21 RBI. His presence at the top of the order was a big key in Marmion's push to the Suburban Catholic Conference title.

Tim Drish | Batavia

The senior left fielder and No. 3 hitter in the Batavia lineup was strong all season, coming on particularly strong late in the year with 7 home runs in a little over a week span. Turned a 6-5 deficit around with a 2-run homer against Willowbrook in the regional finals. For the year, Drish is batting .438 with 8 home runs, 40 RBI and 38 runs. "Tim has been a leader from Day 1," Batavia coach Matt Holm said. "This has been his focus - leading the Bulldogs to our goals on and off the field."

Johnathan Erickson | St. Charles East

This second baseman will be one of the best players in the area after a junior season that saw him emerge at the plate. Erickson hit .391 with 43 hits, 8 doubles, 26 RB and 19 runs. He had a .421 on-base percentage. "Johnathan was our most consistent player from start to finish," St. Charles East coach Mark Foulkes said. " He really stepped up his game throughout the year. He was a solid run producer and a force in our lineup."

Zach Hirsch | St. Charles North

This Nebraska-bound senior dominated on the mound, and he did it in Mark Buehrle-esque fashion, working quickly to put teams away. Hirsch went 6-2 with a 1.15 ERA and only 16 walks in 55 innings. "He is just a fun kid to watch and makes us play the game the way it is supposed to be played," St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. "On our toes, the defense plays well, he works fast. He just does all the things you hope your pitcher will do."

Adam Karger | Batavia

With Jordan Coffey on the mend from offseason surgery, Karger stepped into the rotation and delivered an outstanding season. Karger, who also returned from an early season injury, is 9-0 with a 1.43 ERA. In the Western Sun he was even better, going 6-0 with a 0.74 ERA. "Karger has been a huge catalyst for the team when were unsure how things would shake out with our pitching staff," coach Matt Holm said.

Brian Krolikowski | Batavia

This Miami of Ohio recruit delivered 7 home runs and 35 RBI while going 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA. Had his best performances in the biggest stages, such as a 3-run home run to tie a game against Sycamore, shutting down Geneva in a doubleheader sweep that put the Bulldogs on their way to the WSC title with a 20-1 record, and beating Willowbrook in the regional finals. "Brian is an impact player who is capable of taking over a game," Batavia coach Matt Holm said.

Matt Milroy | Marmion

The Ilinois-bound senior did it all, batting .466 with 35 RBI, a .556 on-base percentage and 27 runs scored. On the mound he went 7-2 in 51 2/3 inningss, finishing with a 1.76 ERA and 101strikeouts, quite a jump from a 3-3 record and 3.75 ERA as a junior. "For a lot of coaches he might be a once in a career type player," Marmion coach Dave Rakow said. "I hope I get a cople more like him."

Riley Perry | Geneva

Perry started the year by no-hitting Glenbard West and didn't let up much from there, finishing with an 8-2 record, 1 save, a 1.67 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 67 innings. He threw 10 complete games in his 10 starts. Perry's only 2 losses came in a 3-1 game against Batavia and 1-0 against DeKalb. "He has been a workhorse all year," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "He has been the guy we have given the ball to in big games and he has not disappointed. He has worked real hard at developing into a pitcher and not just someone who throws hard."

Mike Pritchard | Kaneland

The senior transitioned from third base this year to behind the plate while continuing to keep his big bat in the middle of the Knights' attack. Ranked among area leaders in average (.353), RBI (42) and extra-base hits (17). "Mike is our senior leader," Kaneland coach Brian Aversa said. "He played third for us last year and stepped in to fill a hole at catcher this year and did a great job with it. He gets great grades. Hopefully, he'll get a chance to walk on at Bradley next year and continue his career."

Brady Renner | West Aurora

Renner, a senior outfielder, went on a tear in DuPage Valley Conference play. Renner showed remarkable consistency, hitting safely in all 21 DVC games to end the conference season with a .565 average and 19 walks. Overall had a 26-game hitting streak before Batavia snapped it in the regional semifinals. Finished with 47 hits, 37 runs, 11 doubles and a .461 average. "Since we began conference play, he has been red hot," West coach John Reeves said. "He's our most consistent player and always is on base. He has been consistent the whole season."

Ryan Richardson | St. Charles North

Richardson, a junior shortstop, flirted with .500 all year before finishing with a .460 average, 35 runs, 40 RBI, 18 doubles and a .670 slugging percentage. Had a 15-game hitting streak and 10 steals. "He's a professional hitter," St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. "He just goes up there and has a great approach. He knows what he wants to hit and usually gets that pitch to hit. He's got quick hands, hits the ball up the middle as well as I've seen. If you make a mistake in he'll turn on it and hit the ball hard. Our guys learn from watching him hit."

Alex Sroka | Geneva

This junior third baseman provided another big bat in Geneva's order, hitting .490 with 6 doubles, 9 home runs, 39 RBI, 51 hits and 26 runs. Sroka also made an impact on the mound. "We knew we needed someone to hit behind Cory (Hofstetter) this year," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "Alex has done a wonderful job making teams pay for pitching around Cory and has the numbers to prove it. He has such a passion for baseball and hates to lose. He is fun to watch and a joy to have on the team."

Andru Ubert | Aurora Christian

The Eagles powered their way to conference, regional and sectional titles this year, and nobody provided more pop than Ubert. He finished with 55 RBI and 6 homers in the Eagles' No. 3 spot in the lineup. "He's been the most consistent all year," Aurora Christian coach Andy Zorger said. "There's always a chance that he's going to hit one out of the park."

<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=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=298383"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298382"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>