Monmouth to Challeng Knox and Illinois College for 2010 Midwest Conference Baseball Crown

2009 proved to be a pivotal year in the MWC as the conference earned two NCAA bids, neither of which went to traditional power Ripon. St. Norbert snagged a controversial Pool C bid based largely on their incredible strength of schedule while the Beloit Buccaneers swiped the Pool A bid with an unforeseen run through the league.

Much like the Civil War, the power in this conference lies in the North. As the waters of the MWC begin to clear this season, it appears that Beloit will again be the team to beat as they return their entire line-up from that NCAA experienced 2009 squad. The Bucs are lead by junior pitcher/utility player Mike Kovach(Plainfield, Illinois - Joliet Catholic) who landed on the D3baseball.com pre-season team as an Honorable Mention utility player. St. Norbert counters with 2009 MWC player of the year Jared Yost (.465, 13 2B). Still, never count out a Ripon squad that, except for a slight bobble in 2009, has owned this conference.

In the South Division, Monmouth returns four all-league selections and looks to challenge Knox and Illinois College for the South Division crown. Do not sleep on Grinnell who returns 21 players from a solid 2009 and has upgraded its roster with top-notch recruits for the 2010 season. That being said, the South is the weaker of the two divisions in the MWC and the North will prevail in the end.

2010 Big East Conference Players to Watch from Illinois

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

Listed below are the top players to watch for 2010 in the Big East Conference based on how the Big East Conference coaches voted in the pre-season.


Players to Watch From Illinois:

LHP - Steve Sabatino - University of Notre Dame - Lockport Township High School, lives in Lockport, Illinois

C - Cameron McConnell - University of Notre Dame - Deerfield High School, lives in Bannockburn, Illinois

3B - Phil Wunderlich - University of Louisville - Downers Grove South High School, lives in Chicago, Illinois

C - Jimmy Jacquot - University of Cincinnati - Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville East High School, lives in Swansea, Illinois

Division II Pre-Season All-Americans

From Baseball in Illinois News Sources

The American Baseball Coaches Association has picked the 2010 pre-season all-americans for Division II.  Following are the players in the midwest region that are from Illinois:

Pre-Season All-Americans - Midwest Region
SS Sean Estand - St. Joseph's in Indiana - Sean graduated from St. Rita High School and lives in Evergreen Park, Illinois.

Players to Watch - Midwest Region
P Joe Scumaci - Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois - Joe graduated from St. Laurence High School, attended Trition College and lives in Chicago, Illinois.

P/1B - Tyler Choate - Southern Indiana - Tyler graduated from Carmi-White High School and lives in Carmi, Illinois.

OF - Nate Weglarz - St. Joseph's in Indiana - Nate graduated from Homewood Flossmor High School, attended Parkland College and lives in Homewood, Illinois.

DH/INF - Brett Zurliene - Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois - Brett graduated from Breese Central High School, attended Kaskaskia Community College and lives in Aviston, Illinois.

Newcomers to Watch
P Matt Frahm - Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois - Matt graduated from Olympia High School and lives in McLean, Illinois.

P Steve Styck - St. Joseph's in Indiana - Steve graduated from Herscher High School, attended Joliet Junior College and lives in Kankakee, Illinois.

P Mike Mueller - Qunicy University in Quincy, Illinois - Mike attended Southwestern Illinois College and lives in Belleville, Illinois.

Baseball Adds Eight for 2011 Season - SAINT LOUIS OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Baseball Adds Eight for 2011 Season - SAINT LOUIS OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE: "Baseball Adds Eight for 2011 Season"

Baseball in Illinois will only show details on players from Illinois.

Nov. 23, 2009

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis head baseball coach Darin Hendrickson today announced the addition of eight players who will begin their eligibility in the 2010-11 academic year. They will first suit up for the Billikens during the 2011 season.

Included in the class are four current high school seniors in Missouri: Danny Brennan (St. Louis, Mo./Fort Zumwalt South), Derek Mazzio (St. Louis, Mo./CBC), Devin O'Rourke (Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst) and Brett Vanover (Eureka, Mo./Eureka). In addition, four college transfers will join the team next season. They are Trey Burris (Troy, Ill./SWIC), Steve Jensen (Omaha, Neb./Butler CC), C.J. Rose (St. Louis, Mo./Jefferson College) and Zack Smith (St. Louis, Mo./Johnson County CC).

Trey Burris/Troy, Ill./Triad HS/Southwestern Illinois College/RHP

Burris will play his second season at Southwestern Illinois College in the spring and will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2011 season. Last year at SWIC, Burris helped the Blue Storm to a 43-18 record. He posted a 5-4 record on the mound and struck out 47 batters in 69 innings. During his senior year at Triad High School, Burris went 3-1 with an average of 6.4 strikeouts per seven innings. The Knights posted a 21-14 record that season, including a 7-3 league mark.

"Trey is a big, physical pitcher who comes from a great program at SWIC," Hendrickson said. "He throws hard, has command of three pitches and knows how to win. I expect him to compete for a starting job, and he will undoubtedly be prepared when he arrives on campus after playing in a great junior college program and facing stiff competition."