Baseball: Lake County all-area team

Tim Bodine Warren

Just call him "Bodine the Bunter." Bodine was Warren's lead-off hitter this season and was certainly adept at making things happen, especially with the bunt. According to Warren coach Clint Smothers, Bodine put down at least 14 bunts for singles this season. "He did a great job for us as our lead-off hitter," Smothers said of Bodine. "He also hit above .450, so that really helped. Tim was also really solid for us in the field." Bodine, a senior outfielder who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, rolled up 41 hits in 112 at-bats. He also had 2 triples and 2 home runs and drove in 23 runs. He finished with a .465 batting average and also stole 20 bases. Bodine will continue his career at the University of Evansville.

Nate Clark Libertyville

Clark was in no rush at the plate. His patience made him one of the toughest outs in Libertyville's lineup. "He was arguably the best two-strike hitter on our team," Libertyville coach Jim Schurr said of Clark. "Nate is a very poised hitter, a very disciplined hitter. He took the pitches he needed to, he swung at what he needed to. That's why he led our team in base hits." Clark rolled up a total of 48 hits, including 35 singles, 9 doubles, 3 triples and a home run. Clark, a senior outfielder and a North Suburban Conference all-conference pick for the Wildcats, also drove in 34 runs while maintaining a .429 batting average. "Nate was also great in the outfield and had an uncanny ability to run down balls in the gap," Schurr said.

Josh DeAngelis Grayslake Central

Josh DeAngelis lives in the same neighborhood as Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen. Not only has Whalen watched DeAngelis grow up, he's also watched the senior grow into one of the best catchers he's ever coached. "Josh has been rock solid," Whalen said. "He's an extremely hard worker and has made himself into a very good defensive catcher. He also really takes charge and handles our pitchers so well." DeAngelis threw out 15 of 27 base runners who attempted to steal. Offensively, he rolled up 39 hits in 92 at-bats, including 9 doubles and a home run. He also drove in 25 runs and maintained a .398 batting average.

Paul DeJong Antioch

Call it making up for lost time. DeJong missed a majority of his freshman season because of injury. He missed his sophomore season last year because of a serious knee injury that occurred during basketball season. As a junior this spring, DeJong was determined to not only play baseball but make a difference. Mission accomplished. "In terms of talent and contributions, would it make a difference if we didn't have Paul on the field this year? Absolutely," Antioch coach Paul Petty said of his starting shortstop. "Paul did a lot for us this year and he just got better every week as he caught up to where he would have been had he not been injured over the previous two years." DeJong rolled up 34 hits, including 5 doubles and 2 home runs. He also drove in 27 runs and maintained a .318 batting average.

Chris Divarco Carmel

Not a bad senior year for Divarco. He was named the East Suburban Catholic Conference player of the year in a season in which he led his team to the league championship. "Chris has been key for us all season," Carmel coach Joe May said. "He is one of those rare talents who can place a team on his shoulders and lead it to great things. We always trusted him at the plate." And with good reason. Divarco led Carmel in almost every offensive category. He belted 43 hits, including 11 home runs and he drove in 38 runs all while maintaining a .453 batting average. The first baseman will continue his career at Northern Illinois.

Cesar Gallegos Vernon Hills

Being a closer in baseball can often be stressful. But it was Gallegos who would often stress out hitters late in game when he tried to finish off the job with his unique submarine pitching style. "Hitters struggle against the submarine delivery," Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said. "I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to hand the ball to someone and know they can finish a game. Cesar has the mentality to get the job done." Gallegos, a senior who was selected to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, went 4-1 with 2 saves. He finished with a 2.18 ERA and 50 strikeouts.

Mike Gentile Grayslake Central

Many baseball players experience slumps but Gentile was immune this season. "He was the model of inconsistency," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. "He wasn't below a .400 batting average all year. He started the season on fire and it was non-stop from there. Mike can hit the ball hard to all three fields and that's a rarity for most high school kids." Gentile, who will play baseball and football at Carthage College next year, racked up 60 hits in 125 at-bats, including 17 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs. He also drove in 43 runs and finished with a .466 batting average. Gentile stole 12 bases and also routinely showed his arm strength on defense. The senior threw out four base runners from left field.

Scott Heelan Warren

Admittedly on the small side for a catcher at 5-foot-10, Heelan was a He-man for Warren behind the plate this season. Headed to Virginia Tech on a baseball scholarship, Heelan showed over and over again that size doesn't always matter if you've got legitimate Division I skills. "We're really going to miss Scott behind the dish," Warren coach Clint Smothers said. "As a coach, the nice thing is that you never have to worry about pass balls with him back there. In my eyes, he's had an all-state year and we put him up for it." Heelan, who has already been named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, got the job done on offense, too. He racked up 48 hits in 102 at-bats, with 12 doubles, 5 triples and 4 home runs. He drove in 43 runs, finished with a .472 batting average and struck out only 8 times.

Nick Hibbing Lakes

Hibbing can be all about kidding, and joking and keeping life in the dugout light and loose. But on the days Hibbing was scheduled to pitch, he wasn't his usual self. "Nick is kind of a character and he's really fun to be around," Lakes coach Bill Rosencrans said. "But he's also one of the most competitive players I've ever coached. And when it was his day to pitch, he almost became a different person. It was serious because he just wants to win so badly. It's kind of nice to have that kind of player on your team because it kind of spreads to the other players." Hibbing, a junior who has already committed to Iowa and was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, went 7-0 on the season. He rolled up 76 strikeouts in 45 innings and finished with a 1.09 ERA.

Jeff Jackson Wauconda

The outfield, the infield, behind the plate-Jackson was able to play anywhere. "The fact that Jeff could play all those positions and play them all so well really gave us a lot of flexibility as a team," Wauconda coach Bill Sliker said. "It made us better and it gave us the ability to keep other players who could play only one position in their positions because Jeff could fill in where we needed him." Jackson, a North Suburban Conference all-conference pick who will be continuing his career at Wabash Junior College, also was a difference maker at the plate. He finished with a .440 batting average and rolled up 4 home runs and 13 doubles. He also drove in 22 runs and stole 15 bases. "His confidence is a big part of his game," Sliker said. "Every time he goes to the plate, he believes he's going to produce. I've never seen him waver on that."

Dan Johnsen Lake Zurich

Clutch catches were Johnsen's specialty. According to Lake Zurich head coach Gary Simon, Johnsen came up with at least one game-saving catch per game out in centerfield. "Dan is the best centerfielder I've coached," said Simon, who has spent 10 years at Lake Zurich and has made coaching stops elsewhere over the years. "He's got a strong arm, he covers three fields. He did it all for us this season." Johnsen, who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-area team, also pitched for the Bears. He went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA. Offensively, Johnsen finished with a .372 batting average. He rolled up 32 hits in 86 at-bats and also drove in 19 runs.

Erick King Stevenson

Also a football star, King has always been known for his athleticism. This spring, he also became known for more than that. "He blossomed from an athlete who played baseball into a baseball player," Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca said. "He's such an intriguing player because he can run, he can throw and hit and he's strong. Plus, he's 6-foot-4 and he's got that athleticism. Erick really had a great year for us." King's bat got hotter as the season progressed and he came up with big hits against Warren for the North Suburban Lake Division title and again against Mundelein in the sectional semifinal. The North Suburban Conference all-conference pick maintained a .420 batting average while rolling up 42 hits. He also scored 30 runs.

Zach Kisley Vernon Hills

With his power at the plate, Kisley started the season hitting at the No. 3 spot for Vernon Hills. "But as we needed an offensive boost, we put him in the lead-off spot," Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said. "Not coincidentally, our offense started to click. Zach has a great on-base average. He is a multiple threat offensive player as he can hit for power, average and also can steal bases." Kisley, a two-year starter in centerfield who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, finished with a .396 batting average. He also rolled up 40 hits, including 9 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs.

Corey Lasky Stevenson

The speedy Lasky could cover a lot of ground in the outfield, and that was most obvious in his own ballpark. "We have a big ball park," Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca said. "And Corey got to balls that I had no idea how he got to them. And he got to them relatively easily. He's just so fast, he's a great jumper and he reads the ball off the bat really well. I think he's the best centerfielder in the area." Lasky also was dangerous at the plate as well. He had a .388 batting average, rolled up 38 hits and drew 32 walks. "He was our engine," Mazzuca said of the North Suburban Conference all-conference pick, who will continue his career at St. Xavier. "If he didn't get a hit, he was still getting on base somehow." Lasky also led the team with 41 runs scored.

Brad Martin Libertyville

Martin was Libertyville's catch-all, meaning he pretty much caught all the balls that were thrown his way at first base. "Brad was arguably the best first baseman in the North Suburban Conference," Libertyville coach Jim Schurr said. "He's such a heady player. Nothing gets by him at first base. His ability to catch anything and then put a tag on is impressive. He's smart and he just knows how to play the position. We also probably picked off 10 to 12 guys at first. His presence there provided such a sense of calm." Offensively, Martin was anything but calming for the opposition. He rolled up 44 hits, including 10 doubles and 5 home runs. He also drove in 38 runs and finished with a .415 batting average. Martin was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team.

Alex May Carmel

Looking for an easy out? Look past May. He struck out an average of only once every five games while maintaining a .432 batting average. "He was the toughest out in the Carmel lineup," Carmel coach Joe May said. "He was so consistent at the plate. We had to move him up in the lineup and he delivered beyond expectations. He started quite a few rallies for us and was a main cog of the team." May hit 8 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs, one of which jump-started Carmel's offense in a regional win over Buffalo Grove. May, who will continue his career at Elmhurst College, also starred behind the plate as the team's starting catcher. "He was the quarterback on the field," May said. "He made a lot of calls defensively."

Matt Murphy Grayslake Central

Murphy was Grayslake Central's ace and often faced its most challenging opponents. And yet, not one team got the best of Murphy. He finished the season with a perfect 9-0 record on the mound. "You don't get to be 9-0 by accident," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. "Matt is such a hard-nosed, tough kid and a competitor. He always wanted the baseball." In 65 innings, Murphy racked up 73 strikeouts while allowing just 12 walks. He also finished with a 2.10 ERA. "Matt just attacks guys," Whalen said. "And he's got three things that all the scouts look for: size (he's 6-3), velocity and movement. Two of out three usually gets a lot of guys into college. If you have three out of three like Matt has, you have a great chance to be able to do something beyond college." Murphy will continue his career next year at Southern Illinois.

Mike O'Donoghue Mundelein

O'Donoghue got it done on 'O' for the Mustangs, but he also was the heart of the team's defense at shortstop. "Mike is such a great athlete and he did it in all phases for us," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. "He also ended up giving us some quality wins on the mound." O'Donoghue missed about a week of the season with an injured ankle but still put up impressive numbers. Offensively, while hitting in the three-spot, he finished with a .409 batting average. He rolled up 38 hits in 93 at-bats, including 9 doubles, 4 triples and 3 home runs. O'Donoghue, a North Suburban Conference all-conference selection, also drove in 31 runs for the Mustangs.

Matt Risdon Mundelein

The backstop screen and Matt Risdon are usually close in proximity since he plays catcher. And yet, they aren't very well acquainted with each other. "I can't even remember the last time a ball got to the screen on Matt," Mundelein coach Todd Parola said of his veteran catcher. "He did a great job with our pitchers and he was a great leader behind the plate. He's one of the favorite players I've had over the years. He works hard and he's always happy to help out the coaches." Offensively, Risdon led the Mustangs with 46 hits in 104 at-bats, including 12 doubles and 2 home runs. He also drove in 28 runs and finished with a .442 batting average. Risdon, a two-year starter behind the plate, was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team.

Kyle Ruchim Stevenson

Ruchim used to be the everyday shortstop who would occasionally pitch. But this season, Ruchim became such a rock solid pitcher that coach Paul Mazzuca couldn't help but use him as his ace. "Whenever we had a big game, I gave the ball to Kyle," Mazzuca said. "I just felt he was the right guy to lead this team. He was a great leader on and off the field and he really had an all-state year." Ruchim, who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team and is the honorary captain of the Daily Herald all-area team, was 7-2 on the mound this season and got the win in the supersectional that propelled Stevenson to its first trip downstate. Offensively, Ruchim drove in 46 runs while rolling up a school-record 10 home runs and maintaining a .463 batting average. He also holds the all-time home run record at Stevenson with 16 dingers. "He led our team is almost all categories," Mazzuca said of the Northwestern-bound Ruchim. "He came up with big at-bats for us all season."

Zack Schneider Warren

The Warren baseball team won a school-record 29 games this season and Schneider certainly accounted for a big share. The senior pitcher went 11-2, facing many of Warren's toughest opponents. In fact, he knocked off Carmel in the sectional semifinals last week to thrust the Blue Devils into their first sectional title game. "Zack has been so great. To be 11-2 against the competition we play says a lot about him," Warren coach Clint Smothers said. "Webster University (which is where Schneider will continue his career) is getting a gem, without a doubt. His game is all about keeping his composure and I really like that about him." Schneider, who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, pitched 57 innings and finished with 70 strikeouts. He walked just 15 batters and had a 1.24 ERA.

Tyler Schweigert Libertyville

No wonder Libertyville coach Jim Schurr says that Schweigert "makes us go." Schweigert was the Wildcats' lead-off hitter and at one point in the season had a 24-game hitting streak. "You get a lot of games started off on the right foot when you're getting that out of your lead-off guy," Schurr said. "He was getting on base like every other time." Schweigert rolled up a team-leading 54 hits and also led the Wildcats in doubles (11), home runs (6), runs (45) and batting average (.439). The senior shortstop, named to the North Suburban Conference's all-conference team, also led the team in stolen bases and had the fewest strikeouts on the team. "Tyler was such a leader for us at shortstop," Schurr said. "He always worked extra hard and just his presence out there went a long way." When he wasn't playing shortstop, Schweigert pitched for Libertyville. He finished with a 3-1 record on the mound.

Jimmy Spagna Carmel

Spagna did it all for Carmel, including the intangibles. "Jimmy is such a team leader, a captain," Carmel coach Joe May said. "His leadership was one of the reasons we had a successful team. The others follow him. When Jimmy speaks, his teammates listen." Spagna also spoke volumes with his performance at third base, on the mound and at the plate. The hard-throwing right-hander was one of the best pitchers on the team and went 4-1 with 1 save. He finished with a 2.18 ERA. Offensively, while sitting in the No. 3 spot, Spagna hit .382 with 7 doubles and a home run. He will continue his career at John Carroll University.

Travis Vanderwall Lakes

Vanderwall finished the season with a bang. Toward the end of the season, he was rolling up hits like crazy. "He was getting two to three hits in every game towards the end of the season," Lakes coach Bill Rosencrans said. "The last half to third of the season, Travis was on fire." In fact, in a late-season game against Grant, Vanderwall belted a whopping 3 home runs. "And he missed a fourth home run in that game by a foot," Rosencrans said. "Travis hit five of his six homers this year in the last month. He was just hitting everything. He also pitched real well for us, too. Travis was by far our best all-around player this year." Vanderwall, who was selected to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, hit .456 on the season. He rolled up team-leading 41 hits in 90 at-bats, including 10 doubles and 6 home runs. He also drove in a team-leading 30 RBI. On the mound, Vanderwall went 5-2 with 42 strikeouts in 38 innings. He also walked only 5 batters, which is tied for eighth in the IHSA record books.

Jeremy Wiker Grant

Wiker likes to talk baseball. And talk and talk and talk about it. "He is constantly talking about baseball," Grant coach Dave Behm said. "He talks about high school baseball, college baseball, pro baseball. He knows players and stats and can't get enough of the game. That is the same way he practices and plays baseball, with a love for the game and that is one of the big reasons he has been so successful this year and over his three-year varsity career at Grant." Wiker, who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team and will be continuing his career at North Central College, led the Bulldogs in just about every offensive category. Hitting out of the No. 3 slot, the catcher finished with a .424 batting average. He rolled up 10 doubles, 2 home runs and drove in 29 runs.

Patrick Wilson Stevenson

Stevenson ran out to a 23-1 start this season and Patrick Wilson was a big reason why. He was hitting on all cylinders from the get-go. "Patrick carried us in the early part of the season and that's why we got off to such a good start," Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca said. "He was a great four-hitter for us and he was in the top three in all offensive categories." Wilson, a first baseman who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, had 47 hits and 4 home runs. He also drove in 40 runs and maintained a .443 batting average.

Honorable mention

Tyler Adams, sr., OF, Mundelein; Parker Asmann, jr., P/IF, Lake Zurich; Luis Carrasco, sr., IF, Mundelein; Justin Cokefair, sr., P, Grant; Brandon Fern, jr., IF/OF, Grayslake North; Kevin Fessler, sr., C, Wauconda; Charlie Gandolfi, jr., IF, Mundelein; Teddy Heiser, sr., IF, Stevenson; Cameron Jerina, sr., OF, Antioch; Chris Marras, soph., C, Vernon Hills; Wills Massie, sr., C, Lakes; Anthony Orlando, sr., IF/P, Lake Zurich; Chris Rana, jr., P/IF, Round Lake; DJ Snelten, sr., P, Lakes; Ed Tatera, sr., P, Grayslake North; Dar Townsend, soph., P, Libertyville; Chad Uhler, sr., IF, Libertyville

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