Baseball: Northwest all-area team

Tyler Acosta BarringtonOne of the best defensive center fielders around, Acosta has demonstrated that he has offensive skills to match. The three-year starter had 4 homers in the leadoff spot while batting .333 while driving in 36 runs. "The best defensive outfielder I have ever coached," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "I am so proud to see Tyler grow from his sophomore year until now, both on and off the field. Tyler was a leader for us this season and a catalyst for our team."

Jake Andersen PalatineAndersen was the key to the great pitching the Pirates had this season. He also helped with his bat, delivering a .345 batting average and an OBP of .504. He also had 9 doubles and 3 homers. "Jake's measureable skills (arm strength, throwing accuracy and soft receiving skills) make him one of the area's top backstops," Palatine coach Paul Belo said. "But it is his selflessness that really separates Jake. Simply put, Jake is a tremendous teammate, always willing to extend himself on behalf of his team."

Rich Baczek ProspectBaczek has been a three-year starter for the Knights, and he's been an all-area selection in all three years. Baczek put up solid numbers again this year. He hit .390 with 10 doubles, 20 RBI and had a .488 OBP. "Richie is our spark plug," Prospect coach Ross Giusti said. "He brings a passion to the game that I wish every kid had. He has been a tremendous role model for our younger players on how to play the game the right way."

Dylan Bloom Hoffman EstatesA four-year starter, Bloom has been a huge factor for the Hawks in that span. He led the team in most offensive categories and hit .404 with 11 doubles and 17 RBI while posting a .584 slugging percentage. "Dylan was a four-year varsity player and will be extremely difficult to replace," Hoffman Estates coach Chuck Abbott said. "He played the game the right way - all out on every pitch. He is a great role model on and off the field and goes about his business in a professional way."

Kyle Bullock WheelingIf Bullock got on base, he usually scored for the Wildcats. He had 49 hits and scored a school-record 53 runs. Bullock hit .450 with a slugging percentage of .725 thanks to 14 doubles and 4 homers. He also had 16 stolen bases. "I feel he is one of the best defensive center fielders in the state," Wheeling coach Jason Wieder said. "He was a three-year varsity starter for us and an electric ballplayer."

Nick Calip SchaumburgCalip played big for the Saxons this season. He led his team in nearly every offensive category, hitting .358 with an OBP of .436 while poking 2 home runs. "Nick is a very naturally talented athlete who has a lot of upside ahead of him in the next few years," Schaumburg coach Cal Seeley said. "His speed and arm strength kept many runners from advancing or scoring. Nick is going to do great things over the next few seasons and we are very excited to see him play at the next level."

Mac Camardo Buffalo GroveBig Mac has had 2 walk-off winners in the playoffs for the Bison. Named the top athlete in District 214, Camardo has been a fixture at first base for the Bison. He hit .451 with 4 homers and 37 RBI and had an OBP of .617. "Mac has had another tremendous year for the Bison at the plate," Buffalo Grove coach Tim Miller said. "The aspect of his game that I am most impressed with his improvement is with his defense. Mac is a tremendous athlete, but as good an athlete as he is, he is an awesome teammate and an incredible person."

Tony Composto ProspectCompsosto made the leap from JV last season to varsity and all-area honors this year. After a great summer, Composto continued his torrid streak during the prep season. He hit .405 with 2 homers and 22 RBI and had an OBP of .480. "Tony is a great story," Prospect coach Ross Giusti said. "He played JV all of last year and made his presence known over the summer. With his hard work and great play, he locked himself into the Knights lineup this spring. Tony came up with some huge hits for us this year."

TJ Constertina Buffalo GroveConstertina was invaluable for the Bison on the bump and at the plate. He led the team in strikeouts with 57 in 54 innings and had a 2.51 ERA and a record of 6-2. At the plate, he hit .315 with 14 RBI. "TJ is as a competitive kid as I have coached in my career," Buffalo Grove coach Tim Miller said. "He has been as good as we thought he would be on the mound this year, and in crucial spots TJ always comes out on top for the Bison."

John Czeslawski ProspectCzeslawski did it from the bump, field and at the plate for the Knights this year. A solid defender in the outfield, he hit .340 with 17 RBI. He was also 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA. "John has been a model of consistency both at the plate and on the mound," Prospect coach Ross Giusti said. "He has been a great situational hitter for us in many aspects that might not always show up in the box score".

Evan Daly PalatineDaly was superb on the mound for the Pirates this season. He compiled a 5-0 mark with a 1.003 ERA in 40-plus innings pitched. "Evan demonstrated grit and perseverance on the mound," Palatine coach Paul Belo said. "A tireless worker who never settled with being average, Evan's greatest asset was his ability to compete at a high level despite the absence of his secondary pitches."

Clark Elliott BarringtonElliott is a Michigan recruit who is great with the glove and his bat and led his team in RBI and runs scored. Elliott moved from his natural 3B spot to help solidify the middle of the infield for the Broncos. He hit .437 with a .557 slugging percentage and drove in 38 runs. "Clark has excellent bat speed and ability at the plate," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "It is very difficult to sneak a fastball by him. Clark was voted by his teammates as the hitter of the year."

Zach Fricke Buffalo GroveThe captain of the all-area team excelled in every aspect of his play. He hit .372 with an on-base percentage over .500 with 10 doubles, 2 homers and 19 RBI. The Valparaiso commit entered Monday's supersectional at 6-0 on the mound with an ERA of 1.85 with 49 strikeouts in 42 innings. "Zach has had an unbelievable senior campaign for the Bison," Buffalo Grove coach Tim Miller said. "He has really stepped up for us from a leadership standpoint for our program. Zach has also developed that competitive edge we were looking for from him before the season started."

Johnny Gagne BarringtonGagne was the unsung hero of the Broncos this year. He quietly hit .338 while driving in 20 runs and also setting the tone on the defensive side. "Johnny was vastly underrated," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "He is a tremendous defender who I believe had one of the best set of hands I have seen this year. He is never satisfied with good and always wants to be the best."

Andy Greenberg Buffalo GroveIt is not often that a team's No. 3 pitcher earns all-area acclaim, but Greenberg is not a typical pitcher. He has been able to work back and forth between starter and reliever for the Bison, succeeding in both roles. He was 5-1 with 4 saves and an ERA of 2.17. "Andy has been a shot in the arm to our pitching staff this season," Buffalo Grove coach Tim Miller said. "Andy challenged himself in the off-season and worked very hard to develop his secondary pitches."

Bryce Hellgeth St. ViatorHellgeth had another successful season on the bump for the Lions this year. He has an ability to field and throw runners out from right field and was also a strong bat in the Viator lineup. He led the team with a .398 average and had a .593 slugging percentage with 10 double and 3 homers. He struck out 53 in 49 innings and had a 2.82 ERA. "Bryce had an outstanding year for us at the plate and has faced the best teams when on the mound," St. Viator coach Mike Manno said. "He has done many things this year for us to be successful. He has a pure passion for the game and is always trying to make others around him better."

Jack Hopper PalatineNot only did Hopper anchor the Pirates' infield, he also kept his teammates' spirits running high throughout the season. Hopper batted .354 with an OBP of 467. He had 39 hits and 19 RBI. "Jack played with a quiet confidence that drew the admiration of his teammates," Palatine coach Paul Belo said. "In the tightest situations, Jack was a calming presence, whether it be on the field or at the plate, a demeanor which allowed him to repeatedly deliver in the clutch."

Ryan Howe ProspectThe Purdue commit had another great year for the Knights. Not only is Howe solid defensively, he is a huge threat at the plate. The three-year starter hit .467 with 7 homers and 35 RBI with 18 stolen bases. "He brings a lot to the table in so many areas of the game," Prospect coach Ross Giusti said. "He is a four-tool player whose best baseball is still ahead of him."

Hunter Johnson St. ViatorThe ultimate utility player, there was no place in the infield that Johnson didn't play for the Lions. He also pitched, finishing 5-1 with 28 strikeouts in 38 innings. Johnson was also solid at the plate as well, hitting .387 with 9 doubles and 28 RBI. "Hunter was the best leader on the team," St. Viator coach Mike Manno said. "He has all the intangibles and has worked tirelessly to become the player he is."

Matt Johnston Maine WestJohnston was a catalyst for the Warriors late season success which included a regional title. He hit .410 on the year but a solid .511 in Central Suburban North play. "Matt Johnston was such a hard out, especially with 2 strikes," Maine West coach Mike Randazzo said. "He always came up with big hits in clutch situations. He always wanted to be up when the game was on the line."

Casey Kmet St. ViatorOne of the best juniors in the state, Kmet had another huge year for the Lions. Moving to catcher at times, the Notre Dame commit showed that he can play the tough spots on the diamond. He hit .393 with 5 homers and 33 RBI and had a slugging percentage of .607. "Casey is super competitive and is a natural winner," St. Viator coach Mike Manno said. "He has pure power and has plate discipline, unlike most hitters."

Rio Komatani Buffalo GroveKomatani has come up with huge hits for the Bison this year and has 2 homers this year after never hitting one before in his career. He hit .366 with 30 RBI and a slugging percentage of .460. Komatani will attend prep school in Japan next year and play baseball there. "Watching Rio develop into the player he is today has really been fun to watch," Buffalo Grove coach Tim Miller said. "Rio is a clutch player that has the ability to get his teammates going, and they really respond to him."

Jack Mahoney St. ViatorMahoney is one of the top sophomores in the state. Already committed to South Carolina, Mahoney, who is a natural at shortstop, showed he can throw from the mound very well, too. He was 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 51 innings. Batting, he had an OBP of .411 and scored 26 runs. "He as truly shown he is a two-way player," St. Viator coach Mike Manno said. He is very mature beyond his years, and I am excited to see his future unfold. In my opinion, he is the most dominant sophomore pitcher in the state.

David Mitchell BarringtonMitchell came up big when the Broncos needed him most. Mitchell drove in big runs in key games for the Broncos. He hit .353 and had 10 doubles and 2 homers while driving in 28 runs "David hit primarily fourth for us this year with tremendous production," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "David had clutch at-bats throughout the season in to help us win the conference."

Matt Ozanic LeydenA three-year starter behind the plate, Ozanic anchored a young Leyden staff. He hit .441 this season and was a force throughout his career for the Eagles. "Matt was the heart and soul of our team this year and an extension of our coaching staff," Leyden coach Robert Hamann said. "He did a great job leading our young pitching staff. He is what Leyden baseball is all about."

Nate Pardini Rolling MeadowsPardini was the top strikeout pitcher in the area, posting 80 Ks in 49 innings. He also hit .370 batting in the 2-hole for the Mustangs. "Nate was our workhorse on the mound and was a dominant pitcher at times throughout the season," Rolling Meadows coach Jim Lindeman said. "He throws hard and is very competitive on the mound and played a steady center field for us all year long."

Jack Reiger ConantReiger, who started as a freshman for the Cougars, had another great year for Conant. He had his best season this year when he hit .330 with a .935 OPS. Reiger had 7 doubles, 3 homers, 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases. "Jack was a four-year starter at three different positions for us," Conant coach Derek Fivelson said. "He's a lead-by-example guy who came up clutch for us several times this year. In my five years as a head coach I've never used the word irreplaceable, but for Jack I believe it's appropriate."

Drew Roberts WheelingRoberts was a hitting machine for the Wildcats. In 31 games, Roberts, who was a four-year starter, had a school-record 53 hits while scoring 35 runs and batting .533 in the MSL. He also had 9 doubles and a team-leading 32 RBI. "Drew caught every inning for us this season with a misshaped and partially torn meniscus in his knee," Wheeling coach Jason Wieder said. "He is just an unbelievable kid."

Cristian Rodriguez HerseyRodriguez did it all for the Huskies this season, despite missing 10 games with an injury. Rodriguez, who will attend the University of Chicago, hit .500 and had a slugging percentage of .647 with 30 RBI in 23 games. "At any level, anywhere, against anyone, that is phenomenal; it's especially impressive playing in the MSL," Hersey coach Wally Brownley said. "He had an amazing season for us."

Xander Rojahn Elk GroveInjuries slowed Rojahn, who has committed to Arkansas, but he picked things up later in the season. Rojahn finished 3-1 but had an impressive 43 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. "Xander started the year with a injury that got his year off to a slow start," Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna said. "He was able to come on strong as the year progressed. We are hopeful Xander stays healthy and finishes with a strong senior year."

Riley Rundquist Buffalo GroveRundquist is an old-school type player and a veritable vacuum cleaner at third. He has hit for power again this season, matching the 6 homers he hit as a sophomore. He has 32 RBI to go with his .341 batting average. "Riley has continued where he started as a freshman as one of the most explosive hitters in the state," Buffalo Grove coach Tim Miller said. "His ability to drive the baseball is something you rarely see from a high school player. When you think of Riley as a player his hitting is what stands out, but he has tremendous hands."

Andy Shover Wheeling

Shover was another in a long line of tough outs for the Wildcats this season. He had 36 hits and batted .404 with 22 runs scored and 22 RBI. He was also a terrific fielder, with a fielding percentage of .963. "Andy is a very hard working and dedicated player," Wheeling coach Jason Wieder said. "His consistent production in the middle of our lineup the last two seasons has really helped improve our play. He gives us a great defensive effort at first base as well. Andy is a terrific individual who represents Wheeling baseball on and off the field very well."

T.J. Skelnik PalatineSkelnik truly had a season to remember this year. He had a perfect game in March and a 3-run walk off home run in the playoffs in May. Skelnik batted .343 with 34 hits and 21 RBI while compiling an OBP of .446. "T.J. was a true student of the game, always asking questions in an effort to broaden his baseball acumen and skill set," said coach Paul Belo. "He is the type of player who was willing to work before and after practices and games to hone his craft."

Tom Wingen FremdWingen was a key factor for the Vikings' success this season, banging the ball all over the field and leading his team in nearly every statical category. He had a .352 batting average with a .416 OBP and a very impressive .705 slugging percentage. "Tom was our best and most consistent hitter all year," Fremd coach Chris Piggott said. "Tom was the person you wanted up in a clutch situation. When we needed to drive in a run, Tom always came through. He came up with big hits time and again. He was solid in the field at second base with quick hands and good feet."

Michael Zavoli Barrington

Zavoli was clutch this year with walk-off homers against both New Trier and Libertyville. Zavoli was also the MVP of the MSL West. A solid defensive catcher, he hit .417 with 9 doubles and 2 huge homers while driving in 29 runs. "I felt he was going to surprise this year, and he didn't disappoint," Barrington coach Pat Wire said. "He hit two memorable home runs this season for us and was a leader throughout the year."

All-area roster

Player School Pos. Yr.

Tyler Acosta Barrington CF Sr.

Jake Andersen Palatine C Jr.

Rich Baczek Prospect OF Sr.

Dylan Bloom Hoffman Estates OF Sr.

Kyle Bullock Wheeling CF/SS Sr.

Nick Calip Schaumburg OF Sr.

Mac Camardo Buffalo Grove 1B Sr.

Tony Composto Prospect OF Sr.

TJ Constertina Buffalo Grove P/SS Sr.

John Czeslawski Prospect P/OF Sr.

Evan Daly Palatine P Sr.

Clark Elliott Barrington SS/2B Jr.

*Zach Fricke Buffalo Grove SS/P Sr.

Johnny Gagne Barrington SS Sr.

Andy Greenberg Buffalo Grove P Sr.

Bryce Hellgeth St. Viator P/OF Sr.

Jack Hopper Palatine SS Sr.

Ryan Howe Prospect SS Sr.

Hunter Johnson St. Viator IF/P Sr.

Matt Johnston Maine West SS Sr.

Casey Kmet St. Viator 3B/C Jr.

Rio Komatani Buffalo Grove RF Sr.

Jack Mahoney St. Viator SS/P Soph.

David Mitchell Barrington 1B Sr.

Matt Ozanic Leyden C Sr.

Nate Pardini Rolling Meadows P/CF Sr.

Jack Reiger Conant CF Sr.

Drew Roberts Wheeling C Sr.

Cristian Rodriguez Hersey OF/1B/P Sr.

Xander Rojahn Elk Grove P Jr.

Riley Rundquist Buffalo Grove 3B Jr.

Andy Shover Wheeling 1B Jr.

TJ Skelnik Palatine P/1B Sr.

Tom Wingen Fremd 2B Sr.

Michael Zavoli Barrington C Sr.

* - All-area team captain

Honorable mentionJack Ankony (Prospect), Anthony Catalano (Prospect), Daniel Clawson (Hersey), Teague Conrad (Conant), Patrick Cooney (Wheeling), Nick Ergastolo (Prospect), Carter Gledhill (Buffalo Grove), Matt Helms (Palatine), Jack Kane (Rolling Meadows), Matt Majer (Conant), Cade O'Neal (Hersey), Cory Scholler (Maine West), Luke Seidel (Fremd), Ryne Singsank (Elk Grove), Ryan Stejskal (St. Viator), Josh Stitt (Palatine), Brent Swenson (Fremd), Josh Wastyn (Maine West), Michael Wittich (St. Viator)

Special mentionJohnny Auge (Leyden), Richie Banas (Hoffman Estates), Nick Bogaerts (Barrington), Colin Broeker (Conant), Ethan Burgh (Prospect), AJ Ceffalio (Hersey), Tyler Concialdi (Buffalo Grove), Connor Giusti (Fremd), Nick Hofmann (Elk Grove), Jake Horcher (Barrington), Bryce Jensen (Prospect), Jon Keller (Hoffman Estates), Jim Kliver (Hoffman Estates), Kyle Krogstad (Hoffman Estates), Jake Meyer (Barrington), Mikey Owsley (Barrington), Joe Pavletich (Conant), Luke Pontikis (Conant), Casey Pulikowski (St. Viator), Jason Rivera (Palatine), Nick Rattin (Fremd), David Roscoe (Maine West), Luke Stoffel (Palatine), Cade Zalewski (Wheeling)

Selections and profiles by Dick Quagliano