Page 2 Section 4 Daily Herald Baseball Friday, June 11, 2010

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Tim Bodine Warren Mike O’Donoghue Mundelein Just call him “Bodine the Bunter.” Bodine was Warren’s O’Donoghue got it done on ‘O’ for the Mustangs, but he also lead-off hitter this season and was certainly adept at making All-area roster was the heart of the team’s defense at shortstop. “Mike things happen, especially with the bunt. According to Tim Bodine Warren Sr. OF is such a great athlete and he did it in all phases for us,” Warren coach Clint Smothers, Bodine put down at least 14 Mundelein coach Todd Parola said. “He also ended up giving bunts for singles this season. “He did a great job for us as Nate Clark Libertyville Sr. OF us some quality wins on the mound.” O’Donoghue missed our lead-off hitter,” Smothers said of Bodine. “He also hit Josh DeAngelis Grayslake Central Sr. C about a week of the season with an injured ankle but still above .450, so that really helped. Tim was also really solid for us in the field.” Paul DeJong Antioch Jr. IF put up impressive numbers. Offensively, while hitting in the Bodine, a senior outfielder who was named to the North Suburban Conference Chris Divarco Carmel Sr. IF three-spot, he finished with a .409 batting average. He rolled up 38 hits in 93 all-conference team, rolled up 41 hits in 112 at-bats. He also had 2 triples and Cesar Gallegos Vernon Hills Sr. P at-bats, including 9 doubles, 4 triples and 3 home runs. O’Donoghue, a North 2 home runs and drove in 23 runs. He finished with a .465 batting average Suburban Conference all-conference selection, also drove in 31 runs for the and also stole 20 bases. Bodine will continue his career at the University of Mike Gentile Grayslake Central Sr. OF Mustangs. Evansville. Scott Heelan Warren Sr. C Nick Hibbing Lakes Jr. P Matt Risdon Mundelein Nate Clark Libertyville Jeff Jackson Wauconda Sr. C/IF/OF Dan Johnsen Lake Zurich Sr. P/OF The backstop screen and Matt Risdon are usually close in Clark was in no rush at the plate. His patience made him proximity since he plays catcher. And yet, they aren’t very one of the toughest outs in Libertyville’s lineup. “He was Erick King Stevenson Sr. OF well acquainted with each other. “I can’t even remember arguably the best two-strike hitter on our team,” Libertyville Zach Kisley Vernon Hills Sr. OF the last time a ball got to the screen on Matt,” Mundelein coach Jim Schurr said of Clark. “Nate is a very poised hitter, Corey Lasky Stevenson Sr. OF coach Todd Parola said of his veteran catcher. “He did a very disciplined hitter. He took the pitches he needed to, he Brad Martin Libertyville Sr. IF a great job with our pitchers and he was a great leader swung at what he needed to. That’s why he led our team in Alex May Carmel Sr. C behind the plate. He’s one of the favorite players I’ve base hits.” Clark rolled up a total of 48 hits, including 35 singles, 9 doubles, had over the years. He works hard and he’s always happy to help out the 3 triples and a home run. Clark, a senior outfielder and a North Suburban Matt Murphy Grayslake Central Sr. P coaches.” Offensively, Risdon led the Mustangs with 46 hits in 104 at- Conference all-conference pick for the Wildcats, also drove in 34 runs while Mike O’Donoghue Mundelein Sr. IF/P bats, including 12 doubles and 2 home runs. He also drove in 28 runs and maintaining a .429 batting average. “Nate was also great in the outfield and Matt Risdon Mundelein Sr. C finished with a .442 batting average. Risdon, a two-year starter behind had an uncanny ability to run down balls in the gap,” Schurr said. *Kyle Ruchim Stevenson Sr. P/IF the plate, was named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference Zack Schneider Warren Sr. P team. Josh DeAngelis Grayslake Central Tyler Schweigert Libertyville Sr. IF/P Josh DeAngelis lives in the same neighborhood as Grayslake Jimmy Spagna Carmel Sr. P/IF Kyle Ruchim Stevenson Central coach Troy Whalen. Not only has Whalen watched Travis Vanderwall Lakes Sr. P/IF Ruchim used to be the everyday shortstop who would DeAngelis grow up, he’s also watched the senior grow into Jeremy Wiker Grant Sr. C occasionally pitch. But this season, Ruchim became one of the best catchers he’s ever coached. “Josh has been such a rock solid pitcher that coach Paul Mazzuca rock solid,” Whalen said. “He’s an extremely hard worker Patrick Wilson Stevenson Sr. IF couldn’t help but use him as his ace. “Whenever we and has made himself into a very good defensive catcher. * Captain had a big game, I gave the ball to Kyle,” Mazzuca said. He also really takes charge and handles our pitchers so Honorable mention “I just felt he was the right guy to lead this team. He well.” DeAngelis threw out 15 of 27 base runners who attempted to steal. was a great leader on and off the field and he really Tyler Adams, sr., OF, Mundelein; Parker Asmann, jr., P/IF, Lake Zurich; Offensively, he rolled up 39 hits in 92 at-bats, including 9 doubles and a home had an all-state year.” Ruchim, who was named to the Luis Carrasco, sr., IF, Mundelein; Justin Cokefair, sr., P, Grant; Brandon run. He also drove in 25 runs and maintained a .398 batting average. North Suburban Conference all-conference team and is the honorary Fern, jr., IF/OF, Grayslake North; Kevin Fessler, sr., C, Wauconda; Charlie captain of the Daily Herald all-area team, was 7-2 on the mound this Gandolfi, jr., IF, Mundelein; Teddy Heiser, sr., IF, Stevenson; Cameron season and got the win in the supersectional that propelled Stevenson Jerina, sr., OF, Antioch; Chris Marras, soph., C, Vernon Hills; Wills Massie, Paul DeJong Antioch to its first trip downstate. Offensively, Ruchim drove in 46 runs while sr., C, Lakes; Anthony Orlando, sr., IF/P, Lake Zurich; Chris Rana, jr., P/IF, Call it making up for lost time. DeJong missed a majority rolling up a school-record 10 home runs and maintaining a .463 batting Round Lake; DJ Snelten, sr., P, Lakes; Ed Tatera, sr., P, Grayslake North; of his freshman season because of injury. He missed his average. He also holds the all-time home run record at Stevenson with Dar Townsend, soph., P, Libertyville; Chad Uhler, sr., IF, Libertyville sophomore season last year because of a serious knee injury 16 dingers. “He led our team is almost all categories,” Mazzuca said of that occurred during basketball season. As a junior this Selections and capsules by Patricia Babcock McGraw the Northwestern-bound Ruchim. “He came up with big at-bats for us all spring, DeJong was determined to not only play baseball season.” but make a difference. Mission accomplished. “In terms of Dan Johnsen Lake Zurich talent and contributions, would it make a difference if we didn’t have Paul on the field this year? Absolutely,” Antioch coach Paul Petty Clutch catches were Johnsen’s specialty. According to Lake Zack Schneider Warren said of his starting shortstop. “Paul did a lot for us this year and he just got Zurich head coach Gary Simon, Johnsen came up with at The Warren baseball team won a school-record 29 games better every week as he caught up to where he would have been had he not least one game-saving catch per game out in centerfield. this season and Schneider certainly accounted for a big been injured over the previous two years.” DeJong rolled up 34 hits, including “Dan is the best centerfielder ’I ve coached,” said Simon, share. The senior pitcher went 11-2, facing many of 5 doubles and 2 home runs. He also drove in 27 runs and maintained a .318 who has spent 10 years at Lake Zurich and has made Warren’s toughest opponents. In fact, he knocked off batting average. coaching stops elsewhere over the years. “He’s got a strong Carmel in the sectional semifinals last week to thrust the arm, he covers three fields. He did it all for us this season.” Blue Devils into their first sectional title game. “Zack has Johnsen, who was named to the North Suburban Conference all-area team, been so great. To be 11-2 against the competition we Chris Divarco Carmel also pitched for the Bears. He went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA. Offensively, Johnsen play says a lot about him,” Warren coach Clint Smothers Not a bad senior year for Divarco. He was named the East finished with a .372 batting average. He rolled up 32 hits in 86 at-bats and said. “Webster University (which is where Schneider will continue his Suburban Catholic Conference player of the year in a season also drove in 19 runs. career) is getting a gem, without a doubt. His game is all about keeping in which he led his team to the league championship. “Chris his composure and I really like that about him.” Schneider, who was has been key for us all season,” Carmel coach Joe May said. Erick King Stevenson named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, pitched 57 “He is one of those rare talents who can place a team on his Also a football star, King has always been known for his innings and finished with 70 strikeouts. He walked just 15 batters and had shoulders and lead it to great things. We always trusted him a 1.24 ERA. at the plate.” And with good reason. Divarco led Carmel in athleticism. This spring, he also became known for more than almost every offensive category. He belted 43 hits, including 11 home runs that. “He blossomed from an athlete who played baseball and he drove in 38 runs all while maintaining a .453 batting average. The first into a baseball player,” Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca said. Tyler Schweigert Libertyville baseman will continue his career at Northern Illinois. “He’s such an intriguing player because he can run, he can No wonder Libertyville coach Jim Schurr says that throw and hit and he’s strong. Plus, he’s 6-foot-4 and he’s Schweigert “makes us go.” Schweigert was the Wildcats’ got that athleticism. Erick really had a great year for us.” King’s bat got hotter lead-off hitter and at one point in the season had a Cesar Gallegos Vernon Hills as the season progressed and he came up with big hits against Warren for the 24-game hitting streak. “You get a lot of games started Being a closer in baseball can often be stressful. But it was North Suburban Lake Division title and again against Mundelein in the sectional off on the right foot when you’re getting that out of your Gallegos who would often stress out hitters late in game semifinal. The North Suburban Conference all-conference pick maintained a lead-off guy,” Schurr said. “He was getting on base like when he tried to finish off the job with his unique submarine .420 batting average while rolling up 42 hits. He also scored 30 runs. every other time.” Schweigert rolled up a team-leading 54 pitching style. “Hitters struggle against the submarine hits and also led the Wildcats in doubles (11), home runs delivery,” Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said. “I can’t tell Zach Kisley Vernon Hills (6), runs (45) and batting average (.439). The senior shortstop, named to you how nice it is to be able to hand the ball to someone and With his power at the plate, Kisley started the season hitting at the North Suburban Conference’s all-conference team, also led the team in know they can finish a game. Cesar has the mentality to get the job done.” stolen bases and had the fewest strikeouts on the team. “Tyler was such Gallegos, a senior who was selected to the North Suburban Conference 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 a leader for us at shortstop,” Schurr said. “He always worked extra hard all-conference team, went 4-1 with 2 saves. He finished with a 2.18ERA and and just his presence out there went a long way.” When he wasn’t playing 50 strikeouts. Jay Czarnecki said. “Not coincidentally, our offense started to click. Zach has a great on-base average. He is a multiple threat shortstop, Schweigert pitched for Libertyville. He finished with a 3-1 record offensive player as he can hit for power, average and also can on the mound. Mike Gentile Grayslake Central steal bases.” Kisley, a two-year starter in centerfield who was named to the North Many baseball players experience slumps but Gentile was Suburban Conference all-conference team, finished with a .396 batting average. Jimmy Spagna Carmel immune this season. “He was the model of inconsistency,” He also rolled up 40 hits, including 9 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs. Spagna did it all for Carmel, including the intangibles. Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. “He wasn’t below “Jimmy is such a team leader, a captain,” Carmel coach a .400 batting average all year. He started the season on fire Corey Lasky Stevenson Joe May said. “His leadership was one of the reasons and it was non-stop from there. Mike can hit the ball hard to we had a successful team. The others follow him. When all three fields and that’s a rarity for most high school kids.” The speedy Lasky could cover a lot of ground in the outfield, and that was most obvious in his own ballpark. “We have Jimmy speaks, his teammates listen.” Spagna also spoke Gentile, who will play baseball and football at Carthage volumes with his performance at third base, on the mound College next year, racked up 60 hits in 125 at-bats, including 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 at the plate. The hard-throwing right-hander was one of the best 17 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs. He also drove in 43 runs and finished pitchers on the team and went 4-1 with 1 save. He finished with a 2.18ERA . with a .466 batting average. Gentile stole 12 bases and also routinely showed 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. Offensively, while sitting in the No. 3 spot, Spagna hit .382 with 7 doubles his arm strength on defense. The senior threw out four base runners from left and a home run. He will continue his career at John Carroll University. field. 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 Travis Vanderwall Lakes Scott Heelan Warren Suburban Conference all-conference pick, who will continue his career at St. Vanderwall finished the season with a bang. Toward the Admittedly on the small side for a catcher at 5-foot-10, Xavier. “If he didn’t get a hit, he was still getting on base somehow.” Lasky end of the season, he was rolling up hits like crazy. “He Heelan was a He-man for Warren behind the plate this also led the team with 41 runs scored. was getting two to three hits in every game towards the season. Headed to Virginia Tech on a baseball scholarship, end of the season,” Lakes coach Bill Rosencrans said. “The Heelan showed over and over again that size doesn’t always Brad Martin Libertyville last half to third of the season, Travis was on fire.” In fact, matter if you’ve got legitimate Division I skills. “We’re really Martin was Libertyville’s catch-all, meaning he pretty much in a late-season game against Grant, Vanderwall belted a going to miss Scott behind the dish,” Warren coach Clint whopping 3 home runs. “And he missed a fourth home run Smothers said. “As a coach, the nice thing is that you never caught all the balls that were thrown his way at first base. “Brad was arguably the best first baseman in the North in that game by a foot,” Rosencrans said. “Travis hit five of have to worry about pass balls with him back there. In my his six homers this year in the last month. He was just hitting everything. He eyes, he’s had an all-state year and we put him up for it.” Heelan, who has Suburban Conference,” Libertyville coach Jim Schurr said. “He’s such a heady player. Nothing gets by him at first base. also pitched real well for us, too. Travis was by far our best all-around player already been named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, this year.” Vanderwall, who was selected to the North Suburban Conference got the job done on offense, too. He racked up 48 hits in 102 at-bats, with 12 His ability to catch anything and then put a tag on is impres- sive. He’s smart and he just knows how to play the position. We also probably all-conference team, hit .456 on the season. He rolled up team-leading 41 doubles, 5 triples and 4 home runs. He drove in 43 runs, finished with a .472 hits in 90 at-bats, including 10 doubles and 6 home runs. He also drove in a batting average and struck out only 8 times. 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 team-leading 30 RBI. On the mound, Vanderwall went 5-2 with 42 strikeouts rolled up 44 hits, including 10 doubles and 5 home runs. He also drove in 38 in 38 innings. He also walked only 5 batters, which is tied for eighth in the IHSA record books. Nick Hibbing Lakes runs and finished with a .415 batting average. Martin was named to the North Hibbing can be all about kidding, and joking and keeping Suburban Conference all-conference team. life in the dugout light and loose. But on the days Hibbing Jeremy Wiker Grant was scheduled to pitch, he wasn’t his usual self. “Nick is Alex May Carmel Wiker likes to talk baseball. And talk and talk and talk kind of a character and he’s really fun to be around,” Lakes about it. “He is constantly talking about baseball,” Grant coach Bill Rosencrans said. “But he’s also one of the most Looking for an easy out? Look past May. He struck out an average of only once every five games while maintaining a coach Dave Behm said. “He talks about high school competitive players I’ve ever coached. And when it was his baseball, college baseball, pro baseball. He knows players day to pitch, he almost became a different person. It was .432 batting average. “He was the toughest out in the Carmel lineup,” Carmel coach Joe May said. “He was so consistent and stats and can’t get enough of the game. That is the serious because he just wants to win so badly. It’s kind of same way he practices and plays baseball, with a love for nice to have that kind of player on your team because it kind of spreads to the at the plate. We had to move him up in the lineup and he delivered beyond expectations. He started quite a few rallies the game and that is one of the big reasons he has been other players.” Hibbing, a junior who has already committed to Iowa and was so successful this year and over his three-year varsity named to the North Suburban Conference all-conference team, went 7-0 on 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 career at Grant.” Wiker, who was named to the North Suburban Conference the season. He rolled up 76 strikeouts in 45 innings and finished with a 1.09 all-conference team and will be continuing his career at North Central ERA. 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 College, led the Bulldogs in just about every offensive category. Hitting out the quarterback on the field,” May said. “He made a lot of calls defensively.” 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. Jeff Jackson Wauconda The outfield, the infield, behind the plate…Jackson was Matt Murphy Grayslake Central able to play anywhere. “The fact that Jeff could play all Patrick Wilson Stevenson Murphy was Grayslake Central’s ace and often faced its those positions and play them all so well really gave us a lot Stevenson ran out to a 23-1 start this season and Patrick of flexibility as a team,” Wauconda coach Bill Sliker said. most challenging opponents. And yet, not one team got the best of Murphy. He finished the season with a perfect 9-0 Wilson was a big reason why. He was hitting on all “It made us better and it gave us the ability to keep other cylinders from the get-go. “Patrick carried us in the early players who could play only one position in their positions record on the mound. “You don’t get to be 9-0 by accident,” Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. “Matt is such a part of the season and that’s why we got off to such a good because Jeff could fill in where we needed him.” Jackson, start,” Stevenson coach Paul Mazzuca said. “He was a a North Suburban Conference all-conference pick who will hard-nosed, tough kid and a competitor. He always wanted the baseball.” In 65 innings, Murphy racked up 73 strikeouts while allowing great four-hitter for us and he was in the top three in all be continuing his career at Wabash Junior College, also was a difference offensive categories.” Wilson, a first baseman who was named to the North maker at the plate. He finished with a .440 batting average and rolled up 4 just 12 walks. He also finished with a 2.10ERA . “Matt just attacks guys,” Whalen said. “And he’s got three things that all the scouts look for: size (he’s Suburban Conference all-conference team, had 47 hits and 4 home runs. He home runs and 13 doubles. He also drove in 22 runs and stole 15 bases. “His also drove in 40 runs and maintained a .443 batting average. confidence is a big part of his game,” Sliker said. “Every time he goes to the 6-3), velocity and movement. Two of out three usually gets a lot of guys into plate, he believes he’s going to produce. I’ve never seen him waver on that.” 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.