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The DuPage County All-Area baseball team

Nick Barrett,

Glenbard North

Since making his varsity debut in late April, Barrett's impact with the Panthers was immediate and immense. Flashing power to all fields, the junior second baseman led the team with a .439 batting average, .558 on-base percentage and .727 slugging percentage while homering four times and driving in 22 runs. "He's got a Division I bat," coach Rich Smelko said. "The ball just jumps off it."

Chris Botsoe,

Hinsdale Central

After missing the bulk of last year due to injury, Botsoe made up for lost time during this senior season. The Louisville-bound center fielder excelled in all phases while chasing down flyballs and stealing 15 bases. A .752 slugging percentage came courtesy of 14 doubles, 6 triples and 4 homers. Botsoe hit .390 and drove in 28 runs. "He's an all-around talent," coach Jason Ziemer said.

Alex DiFranco,

Neuqua Valley

When injury shortened the Wildcats' starting pitching staff, DiFranco stepped up to become the team's leader on the mound. The senior, who played third base when he wasn't pitching, went 6-2 with a 2.75 ERA. DiFranco also hit a team-high .377 with 17 RBI and 24 runs scored. "He did everything for us with an attitude of, 'What can I do to make this team better?'" coach Robin Renner said.

Charlie Donovan,

Westmont

The Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Baseball Captain, Donovan also earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Illinois. Shattering most of the program's season and all-time records, the senior Michigan-bound shortstop hit .483 with an .883 slugging percentage, 29 extra-base hits, 33 RBI, 44 steals and 64 runs scored from the leadoff spot. "He's got all five tools," coach D.J. Cocks said.

Joe Donovan,

Westmont

Already committed to Michigan as a sophomore, Donovan set a program record by leading DuPage County with 10 home runs. The catcher thrived in the three hole, hitting .454 with an .866 slugging percentage and 43 RBI. Deceptive speed allowed him to steal 24 bases. "He was a solid hitter as a freshman, but he definitely added power to his game this season," coach D.J. Cocks said.

Ryan Eiermann,

Naperville Central

With a mental approach as strong as his clear physical ability, Eiermann pitched beyond his years as the Redhawks' sophomore ace. The hard-throwing Texas Christian University commit, the DuPage Valley Conference's co-pitcher of the year, went 8-1 while striking out 114, walking 11 and posting a 0.56 ERA. "He's exceeded all our expectations," coach Mike Stock said.

Joey Engel,

Downers Grove South

The ideal leadoff hitter also showed Gold Glove defensive ability at shortstop for the Mustangs. Committed to play at Columbia University, Engel thrived with a scrappy style of play. Numerous bunt singles, walks and 17 stolen bases helped him score 41 runs. The senior two-year starter batted .395. "He's probably the most consistent player I've ever coached," coach Darren Orel said.

Garret Howicz,

Waubonsie Valley

A two-year starter at shortstop for the Warriors, Howicz was as good defensively as he was offensively. A tribute to the senior's versatility, he'll likely be a catcher at Xavier University. Power to the gaps allowed Howicz to tie a program record with 17 doubles. He batted a team-high .436 and drove in 25 runs. "He always had a very smart approach at the plate," coach Bryan Acevedo said.

Mike Johnson,

Hinsdale Central

Johnson may be headed to West Point to play football for Army, but the senior first baseman carried over that power to the baseball field. Johnson showed tremendous patience by walking 20 times - helping him to a .495 on-base percentage - but was most effective driving the ball. He batted .379 with 6 homers and 31 RBI. "He's just a real polished hitter," coach Jason Ziemer said.

Jake Lindstedt,

Wheaton Academy

The player of the year and hitter of the year in the Metro Suburban Conference West Division, Lindstedt proved to be a fierce competitor every moment he was on the field. The senior pitcher and first baseman batted .490 with 30 RBI while going 6-1 with 63 strikeouts and a 0.98 ERA on the mound. "He battled every pitch for us, whether he was on the mound or at the plate," coach Brad Byrne said.

Bobby McMillen,

Naperville Central

A standout football player committed to Iowa State, McMillen also boasted one of the area's most feared bats during his two-plus years on varsity. The senior outfielder hit .361 with 12 doubles, 6 home runs, 29 RBI and a .630 slugging percentage. "He's a big moment player," coach Mike Stock said. "We're always trying to get Bobby to the plate with runners in scoring position."

Danny Oriente,

Downers Grove South

DuPage County's leader with a .560 batting average, Oriente tied the program record for hits and doubles in a season while setting the record for triples with eight. The junior catcher had 25 extra-base hits and drove in 39 runs. He stole 13 bases and struck out only three times in 133 plate appearances. "I think he's one of the best right-handed hitters in the state," coach Darren Orel said.

Eric Orze,

Glenbard North

The DuPage Valley Conference's player of the year and co-pitcher of the year simply brought brilliance to the mound. Committed to Northwest Florida State, Orze went 12-0 with a 1.05 ERA, 91 strikeouts and only 9 walks. The senior also batted .331 and drove in 18 runs. "He's been as good as it gets on the mound for us," coach Rich Smelko said. "The sky's the limit for him."

Brandon Petersen,

Waubonsie Valley

The confidence to throw three pitches for strikes in any count allowed Petersen to develop into a true ace for the Warriors in his second varsity season on the mound. The junior pitcher and first baseman went 6-1 with a 1.09 ERA and notched 59 strikeouts. In his first varsity season at the plate, he hit .323 with 22 RBI. "He gave us a chance to win every time out," coach Bryan Acevedo said.

Jacob Petersen,

Metea Valley

Named Metea Valley's most valuable player, Petersen continued the strong play that began midway through his junior season. The senior first baseman and pitcher led the Mustangs with a .442 batting average and 27 RBI. Petersen came into the season as a No. 4 starting pitcher but ended it as a No. 2 while posting a 5-2 record with a 2.67 ERA. "He carried us in stretches," coach Craig Tomczak said.

Will Simoneit,

Glenbard West

Simoneit's value knew no bounds. A four-year varsity member, the senior catcher's play behind the plate was critical while calling most of the pitches for an all-junior staff. Simoneit, who will play at Cornell, led the Hilltoppers in most offensive categories while batting .414 with 4 homers and 29 RBI. "He was a player who made his teammates better," coach Andy Schultz said.

Jason Sullivan,

St. Francis

During four varsity seasons the Central Michigan recruit carried the Spartans to levels never before seen, including a second-place state finish two years ago. The senior shortstop and pitcher batted .432 with 4 homers and 32 RBI while going 11-1 with a 0.80 ERA and 93 strikeouts against only 11 walks. "He loves rising to the occasion in pressure situations," coach Nick Hall said.

Jack Szott,

Metea Valley

DuPage County's strikeout king this season was overpowering on the mound. Szott, committed to Western Michigan, went 9-4 with 116 strikeouts and a 1.08 ERA. Two losses were by 1 run. The senior three-year starter also played first base and hit .275 with 17 RBI. "He refined his secondary pitches and the difference showed," coach Craig Tomczak said. "He became a complete pitcher."

Brett Whelton,

St. Francis

Blistering offensive numbers made it easy to overlook Whelton's stellar defensive play. The junior catcher was a terrific pitch framer and was rarely run on by baserunners out of respect for his arm. But about those offensive numbers: a .438 batting average with 4 homers, 44 RBI and a .670 slugging percentage. "He's just gotten better every single week," coach Nick Hall said.

Cam Zunkel,

Willowbrook

With Zunkel leading the way on the mound in his first varsity season, the Warriors set a program record for wins. The junior pitcher and shortstop went 9-2 with a 1.58 ERA and 58 strikeouts, and from the two hole in the lineup Zunkel hit .327 with 19 RBI. "When he's pitching we're just confident we're going to win the game," coach Vic Wisner said. "Everything he does is full-speed ahead."

Honorable mention: Brett Albaugh (sr., P-IF-OF, Wheaton Academy), Myles Farley (sr., 2B, Downers Grove North), Alex Garon (sr., OF, Naperville North), Luke Greenberg (sr., P-OF, Glenbard North), Peter Hamot (sr., P, Downers Grove South), Connor Hickey (sr., OF, Benet), Trey Jones (sr., 1B, Willowbrook), Justin Kelly (sr., C, Wheaton Warrenville South), Austin Loehman (sr., P, Westmont), Alex Luka (so., 1B-P, Montini), Jason Neville (jr., P, Waubonsie Valley), Michael Nielsen (jr., C, Lake Park), Mike Powers (sr., P, Benet), Jake Radel (sr., 2B, St. Francis), Chris Roycroft (sr., P, Willowbrook), Andy See (sr., SS, Metea Valley), Peyton Seidler (sr., 1B-P, West Chicago), George Swedie (sr., P-SS, Lisle), Tyler Tesmond (sr., OF, Neuqua Valley), Andrew Wrona (sr., SS, Glenbard South).

Chris Botsoe
Alex DiFrancoNeuqua Valley baseball
Charlie Donovan
Joe Donovan
Ryan Eiermann
Joey Engel
Garrett Howicz
Michael Johnson
Jake Lindstedt
Bobby McMillen
Danny Oriente
Eric Orze
Brandon Petersen
Jacob Petersen
Will Simoneit
Jason Sullivan
Jack Szott
Brett Whelton
Cam Zunkel
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