Dray, Zimmerman Named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans

Tyler Dray

Tyler Dray from Southern Illinois Carbondale and Jeff Zimmerman from Northern Illinois University have been named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Baseball Team selected by Collegiate Baseball.


LHP Dray recorded 8 saves with a 3.41 ERA, 24 K's in 29 innings pitched this season for the Salukis.  Tyler lives in Rockford Illinois and attended Rockford Boylan Catholic high school.



Jeff Zimmerman

1B Zimmerman, who was also named the Freshman Player of the Year in the Mid-American Conference, hit .326 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles and 47 RBI's.  Jeff is from Tinley Park Illinois and attended Victor J. Andrew high
school.

University of Illinois Baseball's Chris Pack Signs with the Marlins

Senior Chris Pack from the University of Illinois has signed a free-agent contract with the Florida Marlins.  Chris is the third fighting Illini player to sign a professional contract this summer.  Pack joins shortstop Chris Parr (signed by the Diamondbacks) and pitcher Corey Kimes (signed by the Twins).

Chris was contacted by the Marlins on his way to a tryout with the Phillies by Marlins area scout Kevin Ibach who asked if Chris was interested in a closer position in the Gulf Coast League.  Pack begins his first season in the Marlins rookie-league affiliate in the Gulf Coast League this summer.

Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A 2011 All-State Team

The 2011 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Team:

Class 4A
C Austin Bosart - O'Fallon
C Blake Hickman - Simeon
C Jack Picchotti - Oak Park River-Forest
C Dan Potempa - Providence
C Rob Rabakozi - Reavis
P Connor Cuff - Lyons Township
P Luke Harrison - Glenbrook South
P Mathew James - Normal West
P Dan Ludwig - Naperville Central
P Zach Remijas - Lyons Township
IF Kevin Defillipis - Providence
IF Brian Evak - Plainfield North
IF Jake Harper - Lincoln-Way North
IF Jake Landwher - Prospect
IF Spencer Mahoney - Lyons Township
IF Tony Rallo - St. Charles East
IF Sam Travis - Providence
OF Michael Vilardo - Cary Grove
OF Jared Pyatt - Pekin
OF Zack Reks - Sandburg
OF Chris Sujka - Mt. Carmel
OF Charlie Tilson - New Trier
OF Kyle Wood - St. Laurence

Illinois Baseball Players Named to Division 3 All-American Teams

Below are players from Division III Illinois baseball teams that were voted onto the D3baseball.com 2011 All-American team.

Second Team:
DH -  Cam Stephens, Concordia University Illinois, East Leyden High School

Third Team:
OF - Josh Davidson, Aurora University, Cypress CA
IF -  Mike Foley, Aurora University, Joliet Catholic Academy
P - Jason Pankau, Illinois Wesleyan, York High School

Honorable Mention:
1B - Kevin Callahan, Illinois Wesleyan, Brother Rice High School

Bradley Baseball Hands out Team Awards

The Bradley Braves baseball team handed out it's postseason awards recently and sophomore outfielder Mike Tauchman earned the A.J. Robertson Award as most valuable player. 

Five other team awards were handed out and the award list is continued below.

Rod Thompson Hitting Award - Mike Tauchman, Palatine Illinois

Mike Dunne as the top team pitcher - Joe Bircher, Omaha Neb.

Kirby Puckett Gold Glove - Rob Elliot, Naperville Illinois

Troy Guidotti Hustle Award - Jason Leblebijian, Arlington Heights Illinois

Tim Trunk Most Improved - Eric Paulson, Barrington Illinois and John Nasshan, Niles Illinois

Phil Kaiser Memorial Award - Patrick Flannagan, Salem Illinois

Jeff Zimmerman from Northern Illinois Baseball Selected to NCBWA Freshman All-American Team

Northern Illinois DH Jeff Zimmerman was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-American second team announed on Monday.

Zimmerman led the Huskies in home runs with 11 and a .540 slugging percentage.  Jeff is one of 14 conference Freshman of the Year winner on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association list and the only representative from the Mid-American Conference.

Jeff is from Victor J. Andrew High School and lives in Tinley Park Illinois.

2011 NJCAA Division I Baseball All-Americans from Illinois Teams

The 2011 NJCAA Division I All-American baseball players from Illinois Junior Colleges:

First Team All-Americans:
Jerad Eichoff, Olney Central College, sophomore pitcher

Second Team All-Americans:
Cody Schmitt, Olney Central College, freshman designated hitter
Kyle Stanton, Southwestern Illinois, sophomore infielder

Third Team All-Americans:
Gabriel Roa, Wabash Valley College, freshman infielder

Honorable Mention All-Americans:
Jake Lueneburg, Kishwaukee College, sophomore infielder
Ryan Rizzi, South Suburban College, sophomore pitcher

Ryan Quigley Signs with the Washington Nationals

Joliet Slammers' baseball closer Ryan Quigley signed with the Washington Nationals on Monday and will be heading to the New York Penn League.

Quigley spent last year on the Windy City Thunderbolts and in his first year after Tommy John surgery with the Slammers Ryan has six saves and a 1.08 ERA. 

Ryan is a Joliet Illinois native, attended Joliet Catholic Academy and Saint Xaiver University.

Kaneland Wins First Illinois State High School Baseball Title

The Kaneland Knights scored six times in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the game away and capture their first Illinois Class 3A State baseball championship.

Drew Peters held Oak Forest to 2 runs over 4 innings and Kyle Davidson finished the last three on the mound allowing one run and earning the save.  Outfielder Joe Camiliere went 3-4 at the plate scoring three times, 3B Bobby Thornson went 2-3 with two rbi's and 2B Brian Dixon belted in four runs on three hits. Outfielder Joe Razo also added two rbi's while going 2-3 at the plate.

Lyons Township Takes Down Providence Catholic To Win Illinois High School State Baseball Championship

Lyons Township High School flexed their own muscle and defeat the Providence Catholic Celtics 8-3 to win their third the Illinois High School Baseball State Championship.

Conner Cuff threw all seven innings for Lyons giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out six.  Cuff also drove in four runs on the evening and 2B Steve Hellenbach went 3-4, SS Spencer Mahoney 2-2, and 1B Brian Rodemoyer was also 2-2 with an rbi.  Lyons pounded out 11 hits off of Brandon Magallones, Dan Wetzel and Matt Throwbridge. 

Illinois High School Baseball 3A and 4A Finals Set

The Illinois high school baseball finals are set in class 3A and class 4A.

Class 3A:

In game one Oak Forest pitcher Cody Funkhouser went all 7 innings giving up one run (a homer by Nazareth catcher Justin Gonzalez) on three hits as Oak Forest defeats Nazareth Academy 3-1. Oak Forest scored all three runs in the fourth inning on a walk, a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.

In game two Kaneland defeated Waterloo 8-2 as Bobby Thorson threw a complete game allowing four hits and strking out 5.  First baseman Sam Komel went 3-4 with 2 rbi's.  Waterloo shortstop/second baseman Alex Wittenaur went 2-3 with an rbi.

Finals Saturday at 11:00 am  Oak Forest vs. Kaneland
Class 4A:

In game one Providence topped Prospect 9-1.  Matt Throwbridge went the distance allowing one run on four hits.  Providence center fielder Brady Wilkin went 2-3 with an rbi, catcher Dan Potempa was 2-4 with an rbi.  For Prospect Pete Bonahoom was 2-3 and scored a run.

In game two Lyons defeated Mt. Carmel 4-1 Zach Remijas threw six innings allowing one run on five hits.  Keith Lehmann threw a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts.  Lyons 1B Brian Rodemoyer was 2-3 with an rbi and Mt. Carmel DH/C Tom Hayes went 2-3.

Finals Saturday at 5:00 pm Providence Catholic vs Lyons

Illinois Chicagoland 2011 High School All-Area Baseball Team

The Chicago Sun-Times announced their All-Area baseball team yesterday.  Sam Travis from Providence Catholic won the Player of the Year award belting 15 homers, 16 doubles, 3 triples and drove in 72 runs while hitting .504.

Sun-Times All-Area Team:

OF Tim Barry, Oak Forest
LHP Wes Benjamin, St. Charles East
RHP Connor Cuff, Lyons Township
2B Kevin DeFilippis, Providence Catholic
RHP Kyle Funkhouser, Oak Forest
UTL Jack Landwehr, Prospect
C Dan Potempa, Providence Catholic
1B Tony Rallo, St. Charles East
OF Chris Sujka, Mt. Carmel
3B Sam Travis, Providence Catholic
OF Charles Tilson, New Trier
SS Michael Vilardo, Cary Grove

Baseball Players from Illinois Picked in 2011 Major Leage Draft - Day 3

Baseball players from Illinois selected in the 2011 Major League draft in rounds 38-50....

Round 38, pick 1153, Marlins, RHP Joseph Ceja, Marquette High School

Round 40, pick 1225, Reds, 3B Sam Travis, Providence Catholic High School

Round 40, pick 1230, Rays, RHP Joseph Perricone, Hersey High School

Round 41, pick 1256, Braves, C Keelin Rasch, Harrisburg High School

Round 42, pick 1262, Pirates, RHP Nicholas Hibbing, Lakes Community HS

Round 42, pick 1273, Marlins, LHP Jerad Grundy, Heartland Community College

Round 42, pick 1286, Braves, OF Cody Livesay, Anna Jonesboro HS

Round 43, pick 1292, Pirates, CF William Argo, University of Illinois

Round 43, pick 1304, Dodgers, RHP Alex Hermeling, Glenbrook North HS

Round 43, pick 1316, Braves, 1B Jacob Lueneburg, Kishwaukee College

Round 43, pick 1319, Yankees, RHP Tyler Farrell, Galesburg HS

Round 46, pick 1382, Pirates, RF Jeff Schalk, Wheaton North HS

Round 46, pick 1392, Mets, RHP Richard Ruff, Quincy University

Round 48, pick 1461, White Sox, CF Dontrell Rush, Harlan HS

Round 48, pick 1469, Yankees, LHP Wesley Benjamin, St. Charles East HS

Round 50, pick 1529, Rays, C Ian Tomkins, Abilene Christian

Kane County Cougar Baseball's Greg Billo Named to Midwest League All-Star Team

Right handed pitcher Greg Billo (Palos Heights Illinois) from the Kane County Cougars was named to the Western Division squad for the Midwest League All-Star team which will take place on June 21st in Davenport Iowa.

Billo is 3-1 on the season with a 1.38 ERA - second best in the Midwest League. 

Illinois State High School BaseballClass 3A and 4A Final Four Set

The Illinois State High School Association Baseball Classes 3A and 4A final four are set for this Friday and Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

Class 3A:

Friday:

Oak Forest takes on Nazareth at 10:00 am and Kaneland battles Waterloo at 12:00 pm.

Class 4A:

Friday:

Prospect takes on Providence at 3:00 pm and following that game Mt. Carmel will play Lyons Township. 

Illinois Baseball Players Selected in 2011 MLB Draft - Day 2

Baseball players from Illinois selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball Player Draft - rounds 11-37...

Round 11, pick 335, Baltimore Orioles, Adam Davis, catcher from University of Illinois

Round 11, pick 354, Texas Rangers, Connor Sadzeck, RHP from Howard College TX

Round 12, pick 364, Arizona, Joshua Parr, SS from Illinois

Round 12, pick 377, Detroit, OF Jeff Holm from Michigan State

Round 15, pick 472, Boston, RHP Braden Kapteyn from Kentucky

Round 17, pick 522, New York Mets, OF Johathon Clark from Lee University

Round 18, pick 568, Twins, LHP Corey Kimes, University of Illinois

Round 19, pick 585, Angels, LHP Ryan Crowley, Northwest Florida State

Round 20, pick 628, Colorado, RHP Daniel Winkler, Central Florida

Round 22, pick 678, Colorado, LHP Logan Mahon, Southeast Missouri State

Round 23, pick 694, Arizona, 3B Ryan Court, Illinois State

Round 23, pick 705, Angles, LHP Zachary Borenstein, Eastern Illinois

Round 24, pick 748, Twins, RHP Nick Burdi, Downers Grove South High School

Round 29, pick 876, Royals, RHP Jacob Junis, Rock Falls High School

Round 29, pick 898, Twins, LHP Derek Thompson, Tuetopolis High School

Round 30, pick 930, Tampa Bay, RHP Chris Burgess, Black Hawk College

Round 31, pick 933, Seattle, LHP Kyle Hunter, Kansas State

Round 31, pick 936, Royals, 1B Christopher Serritello, Southern Illinois Carbondale

Round 31, pick 947, Detroit, RHP Brian Stroud, Central Michigan

Round 33, pick 992, Pirates, 3B Christopher Lashmet, Northwestern

Round 37, pick 1115, Orioles, C Nicholas Skolo, Concordia U

Illinois Baseball Players Selected in First Seven Rounds of 2011 MLB Draft

Outfielder Charlie Tilson from New Trier High School is the first Illinois baseball player selected in the 2011 MLB Draft.  Charlie went in the 2nd round and the 79th overall pick to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Below are the Illinois players selected in rounds 3-10...

Round 3, pick 114, Cincinnati Reds, Anthony Cingroni, LHP from Rice University

Round 4, pick 129, Chicago Cubss, Tony Zych, RHP from Louisville 

Round 6, pick 203, San Diego Padres, Kyle Gaedele, OF from Valparaiso

Round 7, pick 228, Colorado Rockies, Harold Riggins, 1B from North Carolina State

Round 7, pick 230, St. Louis Cardinals, Nick Martini, OF from Kansas State

Round 8, pick 245, Baltimore Orioles, Johnny Ruettiger, OF from Arizona State

Round 8, pick 261, Chicago White Sox, Ian Gardeck, RHP from Angelina College

Round 8, pick 269, New York Yankees, Philip Wetherell, RHP from Western Kentucky

Round 8, pick 271, Phillies, Austin Wright, LHP from Ole Miss

Round 9, pick 279, Cubs, Garrett Schlecht, OF from Waterloo High School

 

Teutopolis Wins Second Straight Illinois State Baseball Championship

The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes rode the left arm of Derek Thompson and defeated Walther Lutheran 4-0 to win their second straight Illinois State High School baseball state championship.

Thompson gave up six hits, walked two and struck out 9 to earn the win.  Damon Hoene was 2-3 with 3 rbi's and Dillon Hardiek went 2-3 with an rbi.  Walther Lutheran shortstop Chris Stevens and pitcher Shaq Cockwell both had two hits for the Broncos.

Carrollton Baseball Wins Illinois 1A State Championship

Carrollton High School baseball scored two in the first, two in the third, and put the game away with two more in the fourth defeating Lanark (Eastland) 8-1 and capturing the 2011 Illinois class 1A state championship.

Joey Coonrod threw a complete game giving up 1 run on 5 hits and striking out 11.  First baseman Brenton Walls went 3-4 with 3 rbi's, catcher Curtis Weber went 2-4 and scored three times. 

Illinois State High School 2A Baseball Final Four Set

The Illinois State High School 2A Championship round has been set as Walther Lutheran, DuQuoin, Teutopolis and Erie-Prophetstown will battle in Peoria Friday and Saturday.

Friday's match ups:

Walther Lutheran vs. DuQuoin at 3:00 pm
Tuetopolis vs. Erie-Prophetstown at 5:00 pm