The NJCAA Division I baseball top returning position players from Illinois Junior Colleges.
Catcher Josh Meade, John A. Logan, Josh hit .294 last season.
DH Kyle McHugh, John A. Logan, Klye hit .301 with 6 homers and 51 rbi's in 2011.
Catcher Phil Pupillo, John A. Logan, Phil hit .288 with a homer and 16 rbi's last year.
Outfielder Tyler Mikrut, John A. Logan, Tyler hit .280 with 8 homers and 23 rbi's last season.
Catcher/DH Cameron Sloan, Kaskaskia, Cameron hit .369 with 2 homers and 29 rbi's last year.
Infielder Steve Todoschuk, Kaskaskia, Steve hit .389 with 2 home runs and drove in 39.
Utility player Cody Schmitt, Onley Central, Cody hit .420 with 46 rbi's last season.
First baseman Derek Peterson, Onley Central, Derek hit .385 with 3 homers and drove in 54 last year.
Catcher Nate Ruzich, South Suburban, Nate hit .318 and drove in 41 last year.
Second baseman Luis Bruno, Southeastern Illinois, Luis hit .320 with 3 homers and 23 rbi's.
Outfielder Brian Doll, Southeastern Illinois, Brian hit .352 with 3 home runs in 2011.
Third baseman Cody Daily, Southeastern Illinois, Cody hit .348 with 6 homers last year.
Second baseman Marshall Vallandingham, Southeastern Illinois, Marshall hit .351 with 35 rbi's in 2011.
Shortstop Gabriel Roa, Wabash Valley, Gabriel hit .500 with a homer and 35 rbi's last year.
First baseman Jeff Jackson, Wabash Valley, Jeff hit .364 with 7 homers and 45 rbi's last season.
Outfielder Korey Hall, Wabash Valley, Korey hit .327 with 18 rbi's in 2011.
Two baseball players at Illinois schools have been named to the NCBWA Division II preseason All-Region Team in the Midwest Region.
Senior outfielder Mike Bolling from Lewis University was named to the First Team of the Midwest Region. Mike is a transfer from Triton College, attended Guerin Prep HS and lives in Chicago Illinois. Bolling led the conference in stolen bases last season with 31.
Senior closer Brian Thompson from Quincy University was named to the NCBWA Second Team of the Midwest Region. Brian went to Monmouth-Roseville HS and lives in Monmouth Illinois. Thompson led the nation in saves last season with 16.
Illinois Wesleyan and North Park finished on top of the CCIW in 2011 and Wesleyan returns all but two position players for 2012.
Illinois Wesleyan has finished on top of the CCIW three of the last five years and returns with All-American first baseman Kevin Callahan and All-Region players Jon Erickson, Bobby Czarnowski and A.J. Nathan.
North Park lost their starting outfield and all but one starting infielder, All-Region third baseman Ryan Javich. 2011 All-Conference picks Eric Sousanes and Brad Medina will also add leadership for North Park in 2012.
Wheaton College returns All-Region players Trey Martin and Justin Zeller. Between the two they hit 17 home runs and drove in 79 last year.
Augustana returns their most outstanding pitcher, Jared McIntosh. McIntosh was a first team All-CCIW in 2011 and went 4-0 with a 2.68 era. Joing McIntosh is closer Josiah Martin and infielder Joe Cecchi.
North Central also lost it's starting outfield to graduation but three year starter Steve Hlavac will return to the outfield after an injury in 2011.
Elmhurst returns fifth year senior infielder Zach Hofer who is also the teams closer. Second team All-Region sophomore Dave Wolek and Gold Glove infielder Brian Evans also return for the Blue Jays.
Milikin returns infielder Theo Facer, .345, 8 doubles, and outfielder Dan Weber .272, 18 rbi's.
Quincy University baseball, along with Southern Indiana, has been chosen as the favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference for 2012. Quincy earned 114 points in the voting and is the clear favorite in the West Division ranking ahead of Drury. The University of Illinois at Springfield was picked to finish last in the West.
Quincy finished 2011 capturing the GLVC Tournament Title and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament for the first time since 2006. Quincy finished the 2011 season with a 35-20 record.
Below are the Illinois baseball players mentioned by responding coaches for the Horizon League preview.
Voted as the most underated pitcher in the Horizon League is Tyler Deetjen from Valparaiso. Deetjen is a 6'3" LHP from St. Charles East HS and lives in St. Charles Illinois. Tyler threw 103 innings last season going 4-7 with a 4.19 ERA.
Voted with the best outfield arm is UIC junior Nick Addison. Nick attened Fremd HS and lives in Barrington Illinois.
Below is a list of the top high school baseball players to watch in Illinois for 2012. The list includes players that made All-State teams, nominated by their head coach or another coach or who were reported as signing or committing in the fall to a college team.
P Aaron Michel, St. Teresa
C Adam McGinnis, Normal West
IF Adam Walton, Stevenson
P/OF Alex Jefferson, Normal West
LHP Alex Young, Carmel Catholic
P Anton Schrader, Dee-Mack
IF Benjamin Tabb, Kenwood Academy
C Blake Hickman, Simeon
P Booby Kuntzendorf, Aurora Christian
OF Brady Wilkin, Providence Catholic
P Brandon Magallones, Providence Catholic
IF Brett Chappell, Rock Falls
P Brett Lick, Marian Catholic
IF Brian Sisler, Dekalb
OF Cannance King, Harlan Academy
C Chris Hall, New Trier
IF Danny Seiton, Batavia
IF Devin Pickett, Marian Catholic
P Eddie Delavira, St. Rita of Cascia
P Eric Scheuermann, Palatine
OF Jack Czeszewski, Elk Grove
IF Jack Landwehr, Prospect
C Jack Picchiotti, Oak Park River Forest
IF Jacob Stewart, Mt. Zion
IF Jake Walters, St. John Vianney
IF Jalen-Romell Parks, Kenwood Academy
C Jason Goldstein, Highland Park
C Johnny Zubek, Oak Forest
P Jon Kunpfert, Peoria Notre Dame
P Jordan Crawford, Evanston
P/IF Jordan Ruckman, Herscher
C Keith Lehmann, Lyons
P Kevin Duchene, Joliet Catholic
P Kevin Elder, Westminster Christian
IF Kevin Ross, Niles West
P Kyle Funkhouser, Oak Forest
IF/OF Matt Buck, Peoria Notre Dame
P Matt James, Normal West
P Matt Scholtz, Oswego East
P Mike Lutz, Lake Zurich
OF Mitch Holtz, Aurora Christian
P Nick Altobella, St. Laurence
P Nick Blackburn, Nequa Valley
P Nick Hedge, New Trier
P Nick McCarty, Catherdral
IF Nick Roscetti, Williamsville
P Patrick Bellinger, Schaumburg
P Peter Resnick, Glenbrook North
P Robby Nunn, Marian Catholic
P Ryan Borucki, Mundelein
IF Ryan Broucki, Fenwick
IF/P Ryan Koziol, Providence Catholic - transfer from Brother Rice
OF/IF Ryan Nagle, Streator
P Ryan Olson, Newman Central Catholic
RHP/LHP Ryan Perez, Westminster Christian
IF Ryne Roper, Harrisburg
IF Sam Kint, Mount Carmel
P Scott Thomas, St. Rita of Cascia
OF Shane Brown, Simeon
IF Stephano Belmonte, St. Rita of Cascia
IF Steve Hellenbach, Lyons
P/OF Sully Stadler, Glenbrook South
IF Tommy Hook, Lockport
P Tyler Jay, Lemont
IF/P Tyler Leffler, Benton
P Tyler McGowan, Harrisburg
IF Wes Sery, Normal West
C Zach Little, Washington
C/IF Zach Soria, St. Rita of Cascia
C Zach Stoner, Rockford Boylan
OF/P Zak Kutsulis, Providence Catholic
Left handed pitcher Talor Eikenberry has been named as one of the top 50 prospects in NAIA baseball for the 2012 preseason by Perfect Game USA in their 2012 NAIA preview.
Eikenberry is currently at Union College in Kentucky and transferred from Iowa Western Community College. Taylor is from Rock Falls Illinois.
Eikenberry originally committed to Baylor out of High School but wound up having Tommy John surgery and wound up at Iowa Western Community College. After his sophomore year at Western, Taylor committed to NC State but wound up at Union College, an NAIA school in Kentucky.
The top baseball players from Illinois to watch this year in the Southeastern Conference.
RHP Ian Gardeck, transfer from Angelina College and is from Lake in the Hills Illinois. Ian was the 8th round pick by the Chicago White Sox in the 2011 MLB Draft.
RHP/Relief Pitcher Brett Huber, Ole Miss, Brett attended Althoff Catholic HS and lives in Belleville Illinois. Huber went 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 4 saves last season.
Here is the list of the top baseball players to watch from Illinois for 2012 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Projected Relief Pitcher of the Year:
Kenny Long, Illinois State, Kenny is from Dundee Crown HS and lives in Fox River Grove Illinois. Long set the ISU record with 15 career saves, went 4-1 with a .092 ERA last season.
Projected Player of the Year:
1B Chris Serritella, Southern Illinois Carbondale, Chris attended Loyola Academy and lives in Glenview Illinois. Chris redshirted in 2011 but was drafted anyway by the Royals in the 31st round.
Top Players to Watch:
OF Kevin Hall, Wichita State, Kevin is from Glenwood HS and lives in Springfield Illinois. Kevin hit .254 with 3 homers, 13 doubles and stole 24 bases last season.
SS Alex Staehely, Creighton, Alex attended Benet Academy and lives in Sugar Grove Illinois. Staehley hit .285 with 3 homers, 23 doubles and 36 rbi's in 2011.
2B Kevin Tokarski, Illinois State, Kevin went to Downers Grove North HS and lives in Downers Grove Illinois. Tokarski hit .282 with 3 homers, 30 rbi's and stole 25 bases last season.
Catcher Matt Mirabal, Illinois State, Matt is from Mount Carmel HS and lives in Chicago Illinois. Mirabal hit .247 with 6 doubles and 25 rbi's last season.
Pitcher Chris Razo, Illinois State, Razo is a transfer from Heartland and lives in Chillicothe Ilinois. Chris was the pitcher of the year at Heartland.
Pitcher Otto Roberts, Illinois State, Otto is a transfer from Southwestern Illinois and lives in Belleville Illinois.
Outfielder Jordan Siversten, Southern Illinois, Jordan is from Carmel Catholic and lives in Richmond Illinois. Siversten hit .297 with 9 homers, 16 doubles and 48 rbi's in 2011.
Outfielder Nick Johnson, Southern Illinois, Nick attended O'Fallon HS and lives in O'Fallon Illinois. Johnson hit .271 with 4 homers, 8 doubles and 38 rbi's last season.
LHP Cody Forsythe, Southern Illinois, Cody is from Calvert City KY.
LHP Nathan Dorris, Southern Illinois, Nathan is a transfer from Rend Lake CC and lives in Marion Illinois.
RHP Dakota Bacus, Indiana State, Dakota is a transfer from Southeastern CC, attended Moline HS and lives in Moline Illinois.
RHP Sam Johns, Evansville, Sam attended Civic Memorial HS and lives in Bethalto Illinois. Sam was injured in 2011.
SS Jason Leblebijian, Bradley, Jason is from Prospect HS and lives in Arlington Hts. Illinois. Jason Hit .315 with 14 doubles last season.
2B Rob Elliott, Bradley, Rob attended Nequa Valley HS and lives in Naperville Illinois. Elliott hit .276 with 4 homers, 21 rbi's and stole 28 bags last year.
LHP Joe Bircher, Bradley, Joe is from Omaha NE.
RHP John Nasshan, Bradley, John is from Niles West HS and lives in Niles Illinois. Nasshan went 3-8 with a 4.55 ERA last season.
The top baseball players from Illinois and projected finish of Illinois teams in the Summit League for 2012. The list is based on how the conference coaches voted in their preseason polls.
Western Illinois is projected to finish 2nd behind Oral Roberts.
Top Players from Illinois:
LHP/DH Rich Mascheri, Western Illinois, Rich is a transfer from College of Lake County, attended Wauconda HS and lives in Wauconda Illinois. Mascheri redshirted in 2011 but hit .385 last summer and was a West Coast League All-Star.
Catcher Manny Reyes, Western Illinois, Manny is from Santa Monica California.
Shortstop Austin Cowen, Western Illinois, Austin is from Gillette Wyoming.
Outfielder Matt Igara, Western Illinois, Matt is a transfer from Heartland, attended Jacobs HS and lives in Algonquin Illinois. Igara hit .317 with 4 homers and 19 doubles last season.
First baseman Tom Lilja, Western Illinois, Tom is from Lincoln-Way East HS and lives in Mokena Illinois. Lilja hit .281 with 11 homers 8 doubles and 43 rbi's in 2011.
The top baseball players to watch from Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference for the 2012 season.
SS Kenton Parmley, Southeast Missouri State, went to Goreville HS and lives in Goreville Illinois. - Parmley hit .308 with 5 homers, 17 doubles and 30 rbi's last season.
3B Zach Hawkins, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Zach attended Pinckneyville HS and lives in Pinckneyville Illinois. Hawkins hit .345 with 3 homers, 12 doubles and 44 rbi's in 2011.
OF Devin Caldwell, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Devin went to Civic Memorial HS and lives in Cottage Hills Illinois. Caldwell hit .314 with 6 homers, 16 doubles and 53 rbi's last season.
RHP Travis Felax, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Travis attended Triad HS and lives in Troy Illinois. Travis went 5-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 2011.
The 2012 top baseball players to watch in the Mid American Conference from Illinois or on Illinois teams. The list is based on how the conference coaches voted in the pre-season polls.
Relief Pitcher Dietrich Enis, Central Michigan, LHP Dietrich is from Lincoln Way East HS and lives in Frankfort Illinois.
RHP Jon Weaver, Central Michigan, Jon is from East Leyden HS and lives in Franklin Park Illinois.
Outfielder Bryce Redeker, Miami Ohio, Bryce is a transfer from Kankakee Community College, went to Bishop McNamara HS and lives in Watseka Illinois.
1B Jeff Zimmerman, Northern Illinois, Jeff is from Andrew HS and lives in Tinley Park Illinois.
SS Alex Jones, Northern Illinois, Alex is from Kansas City Kansas.
Outfielder Jamison Wells, Northern Illinois, Jamison is from Combined Locks WI.
3B Troy White, Northern Illinois, Troy went to Whitney Young HS and lives in Chicago Illinois.
RHP Tony Manville, Northern Illinois, Tony is a transfer from Iowa, went to Mount Carmel HS and lives in New Lenox Illinois.
Relief Pitcher Kyle Glancy, Northern Illinois, Kyle attended Oak Park River Forest HS and lives in Oak Park Illinois.
LHP Casey Webber, Western Michigan, Casey is from Providence Catholic HS and lives in Tinley Park Illinois.
3B Ryan McMillin, Western Michigan, Ryan attended Lyons Township HS and lives in LaGrange Illinois.
The 2012 Illinois baseball players to watch this year in the Horizon League. The list is based on how the conference coaches voted in their pre-season polls in the Horizon League.
LHP Tyler Deetjen, Valparaiso, Tyler is from St. Charles East HS and lives in St. Charles Illinois.
3B Patrick Guinane, Butler, Patrick is from Glenbrook South HS and lives in Glenview, Illinois.
OF Mike Hoscheit, Butler, Mike is from St. Charles East HS and lives in St. Charles Illinois.
Judson University in Elgin Illinois features two NAIA players to watch in 2012.
Senior outfielder Matt McHenry who hit .299 with 6 home runs, 17 doubles and 41 rbi's in 2011. Matt is from Blue Spring CO.
Junior RHP/DH T.J. Swank hit .331 with 6 homers, 9 doubles, and 39 rbi's and on the mound T.J. went 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA and 6 saves in 15 appearances last season. Swank is from Crystal Lake Illinois and transferred from Coastal Carolina.
Here are the division II baseball Midwest Region players to watch in 2012 who are from Illinois. The list is selected by the ABCA All-American Baseball Committee chaired by Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University.
Pre-Season All-Americans:
Outfielder Andrew Brauer, Lewis University, Andrew transferred from the College of Dupage, went to Montini HS and lives in Bolingbrook Illinois.
Outfielder Mike Bolling, Lewis University, Mike attended Guerin Prep HS and lives in Chicago Illinois.
RHP Brian Thompson, Quincy University, Brian went to Monmouth-Roseville HS and lives in Monmouth Illinois.
Players to Watch:
RHP Pat Lahey, Lewis University, Pat attended Downers Grove South HS and lives in Downers Grove Illinois.
Outfielder Mitchell Broughton, Quincy University, Mitchell went to Centralia HS and lives in Centralia Illinois.
RHP Eric Meyerchick, Saint Joseph's College, Eric went to TF South HS and lives in Lansing Illinois.
Newcomers to Watch:
Shortstop Mike Barajas, Lewis University, Mike is from Nazareth HS and lives in Chicago Illinois.
The Pre-Season Big Ten Baseball projected order of finish along with top players to watch in 2012. The list was determined by the coaches from the Big Ten.
Projected Order of finish:
Purdue
Michigan State
Minnesota
Illinois
Nebraska
Ohio St.
Michigan
Penn St.
Indiana
Iowa
Northwestern
Projected Pitcher of the Year:
RHP - Tony Bucciferro - Michigan State, Tony is from Minooka HS and lives in Joliet Illinois.
Other Top Players to Watch from Illinois:
3B Brandon Hohl, Illinois, Brandon is from Lincoln Way East and lives in Mokena.
OF Willie Argo, Illinois, Willie is from Davenport Iowa.
RHP Kevin Johnson, Illinois, Kevin is from Mount Carmel HS and lives in Midlothian Illinois.
Relief Pitcher Matt Milroy, Illinois, Matt is from Marmion Academy and lives in Batavia Illinois.
LHP Jarred Hippen, Iowa, Jarred is from Rock Falls HS and lives in Rock Falls Illinois.
RHP Nick Brown, Iowa, Nick is from Wheaton Warrenville HS and lives in Warrenville Illinois.
2B Mike McQuillan, Iowa, Mike is from Brother Rice HS and lives in Evergreen Park IL.
RHP/2B Zach Morton, Northwestern, Zach is from Evanston HS and lives in Evanston Illinois.
RHP Luke Farrell, Northwestern, Luke is from Weslake OH.
DH/P Paul Snieder, Northwestern, Paul is from Hawaii.
SS Trevor Stevens, Northwestern, Trevor is from Glenbrook South HS and lives in Glenview Illinois.
