Cook County American Legion baseball previews

American Legion

Arlington

Coach: Lloyd Meyer (55th year)

Last year: 40-11, state tourney runnerup, Cook County champions

Players: Dominic Pugliese (P), Brendan King (P), John Coen (P-C-OF-3B), Pat Conlin (P-1B), Teddy Metzger (P-3B-OF), Jack Mullenix (P), Brian Bauer (P), Kyle Winkler (C), Kyle Kapka (C), Jason Leblebijian (2B-SS-3B), Brett Kay (2B-SS), Dan Lauria (2B-3B), Thomas Kelly (2B-3B), Jake Knauss (1B-3B), Peter Bonahoom (OF), Kevin Serna (OF), Ed Gerdes (C-IF), Ben Menich (P), Ryan Busse (P)

Outlook: Once again the question of the summer is can anyone stop Arlington as it goes for a fifth straight Cook County title and 11th in the last 12 years. "We'll be there and we'll be competitive," Meyer said. "Can we continue our mastery of the County, we'll see. I'd love to get in it (state) since it's here." Meyer said he "doesn't have the (pitching) depth I'd like to have" but has talent in the lefty Pugliese, who was one of Arlington's best last year, and the lefty King, who had a solid junior year at St. Viator. Coen, Conlin, Metzger and Mullenix also figure to get major innings and Meyer likes what he's seen from Bauer. An arm injury to Prospect grad and Oakton College C Shane Uhle hurt, but Meyer thinks Winkler can help with his arm. The infield should be solid with Bradley-bound Leblebijian and Illinois State-bound Kay, Lauria, Metzger and Kelly. "We've got some flexibility," Meyer said of the ability to move people around. Knauss and Bonahoom bring some pop to the lineup and Serna's return is also a big key after playing in a reserve role as a freshman at Augustana.

Barrington

Coach: Pat Wire (first year)

Last year: 14-17

Players: Brendon Schumacher (P-1B-OF), Chris Holke (3B), Jack Scheffler (SS), Derek Foderaro (OF), Sean Buchholz (P-1B), Robbie McDonnell (P-1B), Tom Unak (P-SS-2B), Bryan Grabowski (3B-SS), Ricky Alfonso (OF), Johnny Day (C), Jim Cook (IF), Jackson Lundmark (P), Jack Brewer (OF), Tyler Tureck (P), Bryant Sullivan (OF)

Outlook: Wire has a good idea of what's on the mound after his first year as Barrington's pitching coach. The lefty McDonnell (9-3, 2.10 ERA) and Buchholz (5-4, 3.78) allowed only 5 runs in four postseason wins and Unak was a solid 5-4 with a 3.10 ERA before moving to SS late in the season to solidify the defense. Schumacher pitched for Dundee-Crown and will help. "That's a nice four-man rotation," Wire said. Schumacher, who is headed for Augustana, will also help in the outfield. Grabowski returns to solidify the left side of the infield after hitting .254 in 23 games (17 starts) at Wisconsin-Superior. The Evansville-bound Day, Holke, Scheffler, Foderaro and Alfonso also played key roles in Barrington's Class 4A supersectional run. "I think we have a chance to make a great transition," Wire said. "In the supersectional game (14-4 loss to New Trier) we learned a lot and hopefully we can build from that."

Elk Grove

Coach: Brian Mucha (fourth year)

Last year: 27-13, Cook County runnerup

Players: Tim Massat (C), Dave Compitello (SS-P), Dan Launhardt (OF), Derek Wojcik (P-2B-SS), Eric Walantas (P-OF), Tony Logli (C), Chris D'Angelo (SS-OF), Donny Duschinsky (P-OF), Tyler Ford (P), Josh Daniels (P), Kyle Pfister (P), George Kalousek (1B-DH), Colin Semler (1B-2B-OF), John Hoeksema (P), Chris Hoffman (P), Kyle Pusateri (3B), Matt Kiszkowski (OF)

Outlook: Putting runs on the board shouldn't be a problem for the Red Sox. "I think we're pretty talented and our strength is going to be hitting the ball," Mucha said. "Our lineup is deeper than I've ever had." Back from Division III power Carthage are D'Angelo (.289, 14 RBI in 36 games) and Pusateri while Kalousek will be limited to DH duty the first month after Tommy John surgery on his elbow forced him to redshirt at Eastern Illinois. Launhardt also returns in CF, with the Bradley-bound Compitello leading off, Semler providing pop in the middle and Walantas bringing speed in the No. 9 spot. "He's probably the surprise of everyone on the team," Mucha said. The key will be finding enough pitching with Duschinsky and Pfister only available on weekends. Hoffman, who pitched for Wisconsin-Parkside, and the Winona State-bound Wojcik will anchor the staff. Wojcik threw a no-hitter Wednesday at Northbrook where the only two runners reached on errors. "Early in the season Derek usually pitches well for us," Mucha said. "He was locating his fastball and curveball and mixing in a couple of changeups. He doesn't really mess around." Mucha also hopes to have hard-throwing Kentucky-bound P Walt Wijas for the postseason.

Mount Prospect

Coaches: Tom Krumsee and Bill Starr (first year)

Players: John Scully (2B), Ryan Tuntland (SS), Justin Johann (C), Steve Zimmerman (1B), Derek Howard (P), Ed Rodriguez (P-OF), Kevin Ciardello (OF), Mike Hepner (1B), Brian Crowell (IF), Matt Transon (IF), Alex Crobak (P-1B), Dan Hoppel (P)

Outlook: Starr and Krumsee take over and were able to get things rolling with some late additions. "We have some really nice, talented players and I'm very impressed with our arms," Starr said. "I think we'll be fine." Johann is solid behind the plate and Tuntland and Zimmerman come off impressive seasons offensively at Maine West. Howard shut out Palatine for 3 innings in his first start and Hoppel should also help on the mound for a team Starr hopes improves once everyone gets accustomed to playing together. "The chemistry is good even though these guys have never played together," Starr said. "We've got some good athletes and that's really what it's all about. I think we'll be competitive."

Palatine

Coach: Jeff Ryder

Last year: 31-6

Players: Nick Addison (OF), Zenon Kolakowski (OF-1B-P), Mike Tauchman (OF-1B), Clint Terry (P-1B), Jake Llanas (P), Ryan Shober (SS), Mike Schoolcraft (P), Brett Chidester (P-C-IF), Joey DePaolis (3B-SS-P), Colin Conway (P), Sean Stutzman (P), Matt Johnsen (P-OF), Joe Campe (IF-P), Mike Luschen (OF), Trey Cannon (OF), Eric Paulson (2B), Tyler Gregory (C), Richard Concialdi (C)

Outlook: No matter what happens in the regular season, Palatine knows it will be in the state tourney as it will be the official host at Rec Park in Arlington Heights. "We can play around with things a little more," Ryder said. He has a lot of talent to work with as Shober, who should return from a bad back July 1, Addison and Chidester returned from college to form a strong nucleus with the Bradley-bound Tauchman and UIC-bound Schoolcraft, who should return soon from tendinitis. "We have a good balance of young kids with older ones," Ryder said. Pitching should be solid as Johnsen will go from closer to starter as he did at Fremd. Terry and Kolakowski will help on the mound and from the left side of the plate.

Notes

The season schedule is even more compressed as the postseason dates were moved up nationally and locally to accommodate for kids who have to return to college or start other high school sports.

Arlington and Rec Park will be the site of the Cook County tourney (July 21-26) and the state tourney (July 29-Aug. 2). The Great Lakes Regional in Appleton, Wis., is Aug. 6-10 and the World Series is in Fargo, N.D., on Aug. 14-18.

• Pat Wire is familiar with Barrington's tradition as one of the top American Legion programs in the state. Wire played on the 1995 state champion and the 1996 state tourney qualifier.

"I know how that feels and what it takes to do that," Wire said. "I learned a lot from Kirby (retired Legion and high school coach Smith)."

Wire coached Barrington's freshman "A" team for five years before moving up to become the varsity pitching coach. Varsity head coach Jim Hawrysko relinquished the Legion head coaching duties to focus more on the high school's summer season and to have more time with his family.

"They asked me if I would be interested and I just jumped for joy," Wire said. "I was ecstatic about it. I appreciated and I'm honored they thought that highly of me."

• Palatine coach Jeff Ryder has become a man for all seasons. Ryder also coaches soccer and basketball at Quest Academy in Palatine.

• Wilmette Waves general manager Don Wallace will once again be posting scores and standings on the team's Web site at wilmettewaves.com.