Baseball: Lake County all-area team

Jacob Bicknase WaucondaA three-year varsity player, Bicknase stepped up as a leader for the Bulldogs. He was a vocal shortstop. "He was the leader of our infield," Wauconda coach Bill Sliker said. "He made sure everyone was going to be in the right place for all situations. Jacob is very coachable and always working to get better. Whatever it took to make our team succeed." Bicknase had a .293 batting average with 9 doubles and a home run. As a pitcher, he went 5-1 and was the team's most valuable pitcher.

Austin Ehren CarmelThere was good reason that Ehren was Carmel's lead-off hitter. "Austin's .570 on-base percentage from the lead-off spot was the key to jump-starting our offense," Carmel coach Bill Taylor said. "He combines great bat control with outstanding speed." Defensively, Ehren also made an impact in centerfield. "He was our defensive MVP because of his outstanding range," Taylor said. "His highlight film features several diving catches, one in which he dove over the fence at St. Viator to rob a would-be home run." Ehren finished with a .443 batting average. He scored 46 runs, drove in 16 runs and had 23 stolen bases.

Colin Fields LibertyvilleFields was a multi-purpose pitcher for the Wildcats this season. "Colin did an awesome job in two roles on the mound," Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said. "He often closed the first game of our conference series, but also was a starter who beat Warren, Lake Forest and Mundelein." Despite breaking his nose near the end of the season, Fields was able to return and pitch well for Libertyville. He finished with a 5-0 record and was 3-for-3 on saves. He had 49 strikeouts over 40 innings and had a 1.75 ERA.

Riley Gowens LibertyvilleA big reason Libertyville won the North Suburban Conference was the pitching of Riley Gowens. "He consistently gave our team a chance to win," Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said. "Riley dominated on the mound this year." One of Gowens' best outings was against NSC power Mundelein. Gowens pitched a win for the Wildcats. "That was at Mundelein against (player of the year) Brendan Murphy," Thompson said. "That was one of his most memorable outings." Gowens went 7-1 on the season and rolled up 63 strikeouts over 42⅔ innings. He had a 2.63 ERA.

John Herbst WaucondaHerbst was solid all the way around for Wauconda. He was named the team's most valuable player as its top hitter with a .474 batting average, 10 doubles and a home run. He also drove in a team-high 30 runs. Defensively, Herbst was tough to foil in centerfield. "It seemed like anything hit out there, he caught," Wauconda coach Bill Sliker said. "He also seemed to come up with a big hit in most of our games. He was just a very consistent player all season." Herbst was also 3-3 on the mound.

Jack Housinger StevensonWith a .945 fielding percentage, Housinger was almost always on point defensively. "Jack is one of the best defensive shortstops in the state," Stevenson coach Patrick Block said. "This year, he worked hard at the plate and became a strong leader in the lineup for the Patriots. With a .385 batting average and 28 runs batted in, Jack was always the guy that we wanted at the plate in a big situation. There are few players who have the talent, drive and heart that Jack Housinger brings to the table." Housinger had 30 hits in 78 at-bats and 14 stolen bases.

Ben Kusiak GrantThe Northern Lake County Conference player of the year, Kusiak led Grant from every area. Offensively, he put up a team-best .362 batting average with 17 RBI and 23 runs. Defensively, Kusiak was solid at third base. And this year, he added more pitching to his list of responsibilities. Kusiak won 3 games and also had 3 saves. "Ben has been a huge part of the team over the past three years as a starter," Grant coach Dave Behm said. "He continued to be a solid defensive player and offensive leader but also pitched in a significant role."

Brant Kym LibertyvilleKym put the hurt on the ball just as much as the ball (and bat) put the hurt on him. "Despite fouling a ball off his face, and getting hit in the mouth with a bat, Brant has battled all year long," Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said. "He has been our hottest hitter all year. He barrels up the baseball more than anyone around." Kym, who will play at Hope College next year, finished with a .411 batting average. He had 8 doubles, a home run and drove in 18 runs.

Henry Marchese StevensonA football recruit for the University of Iowa, Marchese showed his versatility as a high-level multi-sport athlete by leading Stevenson in various categories including stolen bases (30), hits (50) and runs (43). "His exceptional speed and power and consistency made him one of the best players in the area," Stevenson coach Patrick Block said. "He had a fantastic senior season and worked his way into the Stevenson history books." Marchese, an outfielder, finished with a .485 batting average.

Nate Marshall Grayslake NorthMarshall was a big reason Grayslake North won the Northern Lake County Conference championship. He was 4-0 on the mound in league games. Overall, Marshall went 5-2 on the season with a 1.66 ERA. "Nate quickly solidified himself as a go-to starter with 2 wins in Florida (over Spring Break) followed by a 6-inning, 3-hit, 1-run gem vs. Lakes," Grayslake North coach Brett Hill said. "He had a 1.08 earned run average in NLCC starts."

Quinn McQuade LakesMcQuade had quite a streak of success this season. "Quinn reached base with a walk or a hit at least once in our first 32 games of the year," Lakes coach Robert Holst said. "That's unheard of. He was also a great right fielder and pitcher for us this year and was first-team all-Northern Lake County Conference." McQuade rolled up 46 hits, including 7 doubles, in 104 at-bats. He also had 21 RBI and finished with a .442 batting average.

Sonny Mentone AntiochThe forecast was usually bright and sunny for the Sequoits when Mentone was on the mound. He went 4-1 this season with a 2.03 earned run average to earn first-team all-Northern Lake County Conference honors. "Sonny really dedicated himself this off-season and was throwing our big games all year," Antioch coach Chris Malec said. Mentone will be pitching at the University of Illinois-Springfield next spring.

Will Michalski MundeleinAn ace in many other programs, Michalski happened to be a No. 3 for Mundelein, behind two Division I pitchers in Brendan Murphy (Arizona State) and Steven Sanchez (Arkansas). Michalski put up ace-caliber numbers this season. Over 49 innings, he had 61 strikeouts, which ranked second on the team. He went 5-2 with a 2.29 earned run average. "He won the supersectional for us last year," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said of Michalski. "He has a three-pitch mix." Michalski will be pitching at Wisconsin-Oshkosh next year."

Coby Moe Grayslake CentralA starter last year as a freshman primarily at third base, Moe became an important part of Grayslake Central's pitching staff this season. He led the team in wins with 6, innings pitched with 50 and in ERA at 1.90. He allowed only 14 earned runs while rolling up 46 strikeouts. "More noteworthy, Coby picked up both regional wins in relief," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. "He threw three innings of shutout ball against Lakeview and then allowed only 2 runs over six innings against Antioch in the regional final. Coby turned himself into a bulldog this year, which says something for him being a sophomore. He has a high ceiling and will only continue to get better if he keeps working at it."

Jeff Morton MundeleinMorton was nearly perfect in center field for the Mustangs. "He committed only one error on the season," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said of Morton "He has been our anchor in center field and has made a number of game-saving catches throughout the season." On offense, Morton was second on the team with 32 RBI and 11 doubles. He led the Mustangs with 6 home runs. Overall, Morton had 34 hits in 114 at-bats and a .298 batting average. He also had 12 stolen bases.

Brendan Murphy MundeleinA three-year varsity standout for Mundelein, Murphy was a go-to player at the plate and on the mound. The Arizona State recruit has been the Mustangs' ace since halfway through his sophomore year and finished his career in impressive fashion with a 9-1 record this season. He rolled up 81 strikeouts over 52⅔ innings and maintained a 1.99 ERA. Offensively, Murphy had a team-high 54 hits in 109 at-bats, including a team-high 13 doubles. He also drove in 38 runs and had a .495 batting average. "Brendan has led the team offensively all year long," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. "He set school records for quality at bats. On the mound, he has been dominant. He leads on the field with results and in practice by example."

Victor Perez WarrenPerez managed a talented Warren pitching staff as the team's starting catcher. "Victor has been our overall leader all season, leading by example," Warren coach Clint Smothers said. Perez finished with a .394 batting average and rolled up a team-leading 10 doubles. He also had a home run and drove in 19 runs.

Joe Rangel Vernon HillsRangel was a gamer, and his teammates, who voted him most valuable player, and his coaches knew it. "Joe is a fierce competitor," Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said. "When the game is on the line, he is a guy who you would like to see up to bat or on the mound. He had a great career for us as both a hitter and a pitcher." Rangel finished with a .385 batting average with 40 hits, including 8 doubles and 3 triples, over 104 at-bats. He also drove in 29 runs. On the mound, Rangel had 30 strikeouts over 34⅓ innings. He finished with a 2.04 ERA.

Brennan Reback Vernon HillsOpposing coaches weren't big fans of Reback this season, but they sure did seem to respect him. "These were quotes from two different opposing coaches about Brennan this season," Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said. "They said, 'He single-handedly beat us with his defensive play in center field.' This was after Brennan stole several hits with diving catches." Reback, a three-year starter who won the Central Suburban League Player of the Year and will play at Central Arizona Community College next year, also made an impact on offense and was voted by his teammates as the most valuable offensive player. The Cougars' lead-off hitter, he rolled up 43 hits, including 6 doubles, 4 triples and a home run. He finished with a .398 batting average. Reback also broke both the single-season (35) and the all-time steals record at Vernon Hills.

Steven Sanchez MundeleinIt was tough to earn a run on Sanchez this season. He led Mundelein with an anemic 0.52 ERA. He also rolled up 55 strikeouts over 40⅓ innings and put together a 6-1 record with 1 save. "He has a burning desire to win and is someone who lights a fire under our team on a consistent basis," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. Sanchez got better as the season progressed, getting a big win over Warren in the sectional final and batting better than .400 over the final 10 games. Just a junior, Sanchez has already committed to the University of Arkansas.

Luke Schmitt WarrenSchmitt is comfortable in a leadership role. He went from quarterback of the football team to the leader of the offense for the baseball team. Schmitt topped Warren with a .412 batting average. He rolled up 7 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs while driving in 27 runs. He also stole 21 bases. The left fielder will be playing baseball next year at Wisconsin Lacrosse.

Tyler Snep Lake ZurichJust a sophomore, Snep already now has two full seasons of varsity baseball under his belt. On top of that, he was voted captain by his teammates this year. "Tyler is one of the best baseball players in the state of Illinois," Lake Zurich coach Rick Erickson said. "The numbers he put up this season are very impressive, especially playing in the North Suburban Conference which is loaded with talent." Snep, a catcher and outfielder for the Bears, finished with a .398 batting average, 13 doubles, 9 home runs and 40 RBI. He also had 7 stolen bases.

Nate Styles WarrenStyles had a unique style this season: long hair. He grew it in order to donate it to cancer patients. He will need to cut it before he goes off to college at Air Force. He will be playing baseball at Air Force next spring. Styles was Warren's top pitcher this season and had a unique style on the mound too. He is a sidearm pitcher. Styles went 5-1 and rolled up 61 strikeouts over 46 innings. He finished with an impressive 0.64 ERA.

Matt Svanson Lake ZurichThe toughest matchups of the season for Lake Zurich went to Svanson. "Matt pitched phenomenally this season against some of the best teams in the state," Lake Zurich coach Rick Erickson said. "He went toe-to-toe with every other team's ace and rose to the challenge every time he took the mound. His ERA is very impressive considering how many innings he pitched this season and the very strong lineups he faced in the North Suburban Conference." Svanson, who will be pitching next spring at Lehigh University, rolled up 61 strikeouts over 53⅓ innings and finished with a 2.10 ERA. He was 3-4 with 1 save.

Drew Wiegman CarmelJust a sophomore, Wiegman was one of Carmel's leaders both on offense and defense. He started at shortstop for the Corsairs. Offensively, Wiegman finished with a .418 batting average and had 9 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs and 40 RBI. He also stole 29 bases. "Drew had an amazing year at the plate combining power and speed," Carmel coach Bill Taylor said. "He is a five-tool player who is going to be fun to watch over the next two years."

Danny Yates Grayslake NorthYates was a versatile pitcher for Grayslake North, which won the Northern Lake County Conference and had 22 wins. "Danny got the ball in Game 3 of every series when we needed to win," Grayslake North coach Brett Hill said. "We also went to him to close out games. When we needed to get an out, I knew I could give the ball to Danny. He is an incredible competitor on the mound with three solid pitches." Yates went 6-2 with 2 saves and a 1.64 ERA. He rolled up 50 strikeouts over 42 innings. He will pitch at College of Lake County next spring.

All-area team roster

Jacob Bicknase Wauconda P/OF Sr.

Austin Ehren Carmel CF Jr.

Colin Fields Libertyville P Jr.

Riley Gowens Libertyville P Jr.

John Herbst Wauconda P/OF Sr.

Jack Housinger Stevenson SS Jr.

Ben Kusiak Grant P/IF Sr.

Brant Kym Libertyville SS Sr.

Henry Marchese Stevenson OF Sr.

Nate Marshall Grayslake North P Jr.

Sonny Mentone Antioch P Sr.

Quinn McQuade Lakes OF/P Jr.

Will Michalski Mundelein P Sr.

Coby Moe Grayslake Central P/IF Soph.

Jeff Morton Mundelein OF Sr.

Brendan Murphy* Mundelein P/IF Sr.

Victor Perez Warren C Sr.

Joe Rangel Vernon Hills P/OF Sr.

Brennan Reback Vernon Hills CF Sr.

Steven Sanchez Mundelein P Jr.

Luke Schmitt Warren OF Sr.

Tyler Snep Lake Zurich C/OF Soph.

Nate Styles Warren P Sr.

Matt Svanson Lake Zurich P Sr.

Drew Wiegman Carmel SS Soph.

Danny Yates Grayslake North P Sr.

* - all-area team captain

Honorable mentionOF Nick Angel, Libertyville, Jr.; OF Tony Baumgart, Carmel, Sr.; P Ryan Cote, Libertyville, Sr.; P Pasquale DeFillippis, Warren, Jr.; C Austin DeLao, Grayslake North, Jr.; OF Tanner Dyer, Warren, Sr., OF Ben Fitzgerald, Grayslake Central, Sr.; IF/OF/P Matt Gramins, Vernon Hills, Sr.; IF Ryan Greenberg, Libertyville, Jr.; P Evan Hill, Warren, Jr.; C Lucas Hollingsworth, Round Lake, Jr.; IF Tim Jean, Libertyville, Jr.; IF Rickey Lee, Warren, Sr.; OF Charlie Ling, Stevenson, Sr.; P Nick Malmberg, Grant, Jr.; OF Dan Marks, Libertyville, Sr.; C Nick Marras, Vernon Hills, Sr.; C Jake Mitchell, Grant, Sr.; OF Stephen Mogged, Lakes, Sr.; C Jackson Petersen, Libertyville, Sr.; P/OF Eddie Pietschmann, Carmel, Sr.; OF Nic Presutti, Grayslake Central, soph.; IF Sebastian Sancen, Grayslake North, Jr.; P Patrick Schaefer, Grayslake North, Sr.; P/IF Trevor Sefcik, Wauconda, Sr.; OF Alex Unekis, Antioch, Sr.; OF Nolan Unger, Grant, Jr.; P Jay Ward, Carmel, Jr.; IF Ben Wiegman, Carmel, Fr.

Selections and profiles by Patricia Babcock McGraw