PAGE 2 SECTION 4 DAILY HERALD Local sports FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010 D123456 All-Area Baseball team Andrew Arenson Bobby Czarnowski Naperville North Naperville Central The Huskies needed someone to Conlon brought a If a guy was on base, Czarnowski step up in their lineup, and Arenson usually drove him in by hitting .566 became an RBI machine. The with runners in scoring position. all-DuPage Valley Conference first The senior outfielder-first baseman baseman batted .400 with 7 home earned all-DuPage Valley Confer- runs, 43 RBI and a slugging percentage of .675. transfer of power ence honors by batting .449 with 4 homers, 48 RBI Arenson stepped up on the mound as well, winning and a .737 slugging percentage heading into the three games late in the season. “He had a lot of big Class 4A semifinals. “Bobby was our best hitter all hits for us,” coach Carl Hunckler said. By Kevin Schmit season long,” coach Bill Seiple said. [email protected] DuPage County All-Area Captains Brett Buchanan Ryan Dzingel Marc Mantucca is proud to say he was the Willowbrook first to hear the official word. 1989: Erin Dwyer, Glenbard North Wheaton Academy 1990: Clint Jensen, Naperville Central Buchanan did a bit of everything Shane Conlon was transferring to Naper- Player of the year in the Suburban ville Central. 1991: Mark Odzga, Waubonsie Valley to help the team. After an 8-6 Christian Gold, Dzingel didn’t miss Through the wonder of 21st-century tech- 1992: Brett Lauvrick, Naperville Central start, he switched to leadoff and nology, soon all corners of Naperville heard 1993: Justin Pierro, Benet a beat despite missing the first the Warriors took off. The all-West the news. In a town with peaked interest in 1994: Jerry Hairston, Naperville North seven games due to a hockey Suburban Gold second and third high school sports, this was big. 1995: Jody Gerut, Willowbrook commitment. The senior shortstop baseman batted .487 with 18 In terms of being a gift to Naperville Cen- 1996: Scott Schmid, York hit .558 with 19 extra-base hits, a .844 slugging extra-base hits and 23 steals. On the mound he won tral baseball, the only thing missing was the 1997: Russ Bayer, Naperville North percentage, 40 runs scored and 11 steals in 12 three games and saved two. “He’d play anywhere bow. At the beginning of August, Christmas 1998: Russ Bayer, Naperville North attempts. “He does so many things well out there,” and do anything for us,” coach Steve Gilliam said. came early. 1999: Craig Lechowicz, Downers Grove South coach Willie Bosque said. Nick Burdi “He texted me and he was like, ‘I’m com- 2000: Mike Kelly, Waubonsie Valley Mike Gerber ing to Central,’” said Mantucca, a friend of 2001: Dan Walsh, Neuqua Valley Downers Grove South Conlon’s since sixth grade. “Right away I 2002: Sam Shorts, Glenbard East Neuqua Valley shot a text to the whole team. The whole 2003: Kyle O’Brien, Glenbard East Simply dominant on the mound, team was excited. It was awesome.” 2004: Mike Bowden, Waubonsie Valley One of the area’s elite power Burdi reached 94 mph with his Awesome aptly sums up Conlon’s impact. 2005: Mike Bowden, Waubonsie Valley hitters, Gerber earned a second fastball. The all-West Suburban A budding superstar by the end of last 2006: Connor Powers, Benet all-Upstate Eight Conference and Gold junior went 9-0 with a save summer, the senior pitcher and first base- 2007: Pete Cappetta, Montini All-Area nod this senior year. The while almost always facing an man developed into a team leader and 2008: Bryan Roberts, Benet center fielder broke a program opponent’s ace. He posted a 1.03 determined winner this spring for the 2009: Jack DeAno, Wheaton North record with 19 career home runs Redhawks. ERA with 89 strikeouts, allowing only 28 hits and 12 2010: Shane Conlon, Naperville Central and showed immense all-around talent. Gerber hit walks in 53⅓ innings. “We seemed to play better With the perfectly balanced blend of .424 with 10 home runs, 44 RBI and a .814 slugging baseball whenever he pitched,” coach Darren Orel pitching, hitting and defense, Conlon is the percentage. “He does everything well,” coach Robin said. 2010 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Renner said. baseball captain. a summer state championship. Chris Caliva “He’s a great overall player, definitely A couple of weeks later, he sent that magi- Jose Godinez one of the best in the state,” said Wheaton cal text message to Mantucca. Glenbard North North coach Dan Schoessling. “He’s above “I was kind of joking about it with him in Immaculate Conception A catcher before he had ACL the crowd in every aspect that can be the summer, and then all of a sudden he Godinez led the Knights to a fourth- surgery early in high school, Caliva measured.” was like ‘Maybe,’” Mantucca said. “If he place finish in Class 2A. The junior made a smooth and successful One life-changing decision — the switch were here all four years it would have made all-Suburban Christian Conference transition to first base. An offensive from St. Rita to Naperville Central — us better, obviously, but he’s here now.” catcher and pitcher boasted a surge in the summer continued into brought it all together. .464 average with a .810 slugging the spring. The all-DuPage Valley Conference senior “It was a tough decision either way,” Con- The homecoming percentage, 7 homers and 50 hit .450 with 5 home runs and 29 RBI. “He was lon said. “I went back and forth on it, but RBI. Godinez went 7-4 with two no-hitters and 102 I’m pretty happy.” Conlon proved to be the final piece for a really consistent for us,” coach Rich Smelko said. strikeouts in 60 innings. “He always came through So is Naperville Central. Redhawks lineup that graduated only two “He had some pop in his bat.” “I had no idea he was as good as he is,” starters from last year’s sectional cham- in clutch situations,” coach Dan Holleman said. Sam Carius said Redhawks coach Bill Seiple. “Obvi- pionship team. He enrolled at Eric Jagielo ously, he’s a terrific player, but every- Naperville Central in August Waubonsie Valley thing else he brings to the table is just and made a seamless Downers Grove North tremendous.” transition. A two-time all-Upstate Eight Few area players in recent years “I just thought it would Conference and All-Area selection, Instant impact be great to finish what we have enjoyed the kind of season Carius broke the program’s all-time started when we were Jagielo had this senior campaign. batting average record that stood In terms of all-around ability, few younger,” said Conlon, The third-year shortstop and two- for 25 years. The senior third players matched Conlon this season. who rejoined youth time All-Area pick batted .585 with baseman was a mainstay in the No. Following Monday’s win over travel league team- 72 hits, 17 doubles, 16 homers, 3 spot in the lineup, batting .435 with 6 homers, 46 O’Fallon in the Class 4A supersec- mates Mantucca, Matt 47 RBI and 52 runs scored — all program records runs scored and 39 RBI. “He never took a day off,” tional, Conlon holds an 11-0 record Soria, Matt Cmiel and for the Trojans. “He’s the best pure hitter I’ve seen coach Dan Fezzuoglio said. and a 1.21 ERA heading into today’s Mason Hallett. “It’s just a come through here,” coach Chad Isaacson said. state semifinals. The hard- reunion of sorts.” Joe Claver throwing left-hander has Conlon’s transfer made Matt Kaiser Downers Grove North struck out 112 batters Naperville Cen- Lake Park against only 11 walks tral a near-unani- Claver went 7-1, suffering his only in 75 innings. mous No. 1 enter- The powerful heart of the Lancers loss while throwing a no-hitter in That alone ing the season. offense, Kaiser helped the team to the playoffs. He struck out 85 in places Con- After the Red- its first regional title in nine years. 56 innings and posted a 1.98 ERA. lon among the hawks cruised With determined focus the senior Hitting leadoff, a new role for him, state’s elite through the first baseman earned all-Upstate the senior used his tremendous players, but DuPage Val- Eight Conference honors. Kaiser hit athleticism to spark the Trojans’ offense. He hit .372 it’s only one ley Confer- .380 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, 42 runs scored and with 22 RBI. “He always put us in a position to win element of his ence with a .769 slugging percentage. “He’s so determined, the game,” coach Chad Isaacson said. total game. a 20-1 he plays with no fear,” coach Dan Colucci said. At the plate record, Matt Cmiel Conlon’s been they won Jon Surber a critical stick regional Naperville Central in the Red- and sec- Lisle Ideally suited for leadoff, the senior hawks’ lineup tional A four-year starter, the pitcher and center fielder — twice all-DuPage from the No. titles first baseman set Lisle’s season Valley Conference and All-Area — 2 spot. With 2 before records for doubles, homers and excelled in the three spot. Cmiel hit doubles on Mon- claiming Mon- RB, and tied the mark for wins. .411 with 28 RBI, 39 runs scored day he’s batting day’s supersec- Twice all-Interstate Eight Confer- and 29 steals heading into the Class 4A semifinals.