A bevy of heavy hitters lead the selections for the first and second teams.
First Team
Josh Caccia, St. Charles North, senior, pitcher: Went 8-0 with 1.05 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 73 innings. Gave up only 13 walks. DuKane Conference’s pitcher of the year. Committed to Elgin Community College.
Josh Colaizzi, Bartlett, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .435 with 40 runs, 20 steals, five home runs and 30 RBIs. Went 3-0 with 2.06 ERA. Upstate Eight Conference’s player of the year.
Gavin Duran, Harvest Christian, senior, shortstop: Hit .440 with 27 stolen bases, four homers and 28 RBIs. Four-year starter. All-conference. Committed to John Wood.
Brady Gilroy, Burlington Central, senior, infielder/outfielder/pitcher: Hit .450 with six doubles, five triples and three home runs. Went 5-2 with three saves and 47 strikeouts. Committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Nate Harris, Yorkville, senior, outfielder: Hit .365 with 42 runs, nine doubles, a triple, six home runs and 30 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Kentucky.
Martin Ledbetter, Hinckley-Big Rock, sophomore, infielder/pitcher: Scored 36 times and had four doubles, four triples, nine homers and 28 RBIs on 31 hits. Intentionally walked 20 times. Added 49 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. All-conference.
Ben Mitchell, Harvest Christian, junior, catcher/pitcher: Hit .436 with four homers and 34 RBIs. Also had 1.75 ERA. All-conference. Committed to Bellarmine.
Owen Roberts, Waubonsie Valley, junior, pitcher: Ended up 10-0 with two saves, 1.10 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. Hit .464 with 26 runs, 10 doubles, two triples, four homers and 31 RBIs. DuPage Valley Conference’s player and pitcher of the year.
Caden Scheider, Hampshire, junior, pitcher: Went 6-1 with 1.27 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings. Allowed only 21 walks. All-conference.
Jackson Spring, St. Charles North, senior, shortstop: Batted .400 with 47 runs, nine doubles, three homers and 24 RBIs for North Stars. DuKane Conference’s player of the year. Committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Parker Violett, Kaneland, senior, outfielder: Hit .394 with 35 runs, seven doubles, three triples, seven homers and 36 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to St. Xavier.
Caleb Williams, South Elgin, senior, pitcher: Went 7-0 with 0.81 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 51 innings. Gave up just 19 walks and held opponents to .189 batting average. All-conference.
Kameron Yearsley, Yorkville, senior, outfielder/pitcher: Batted .462 with 34 runs, nine doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 54 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to John A. Logan College.
Second Team
Kaden Aguirre, Plano, senior, pitcher/outfielder: Hit .414 with 38 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, two homers and 32 RBIs. Went 7-0 with 67 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Joliet Junior College.
Joey Arend, St. Charles East, junior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .308 with two homers. Had 1.59 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings. Honorable mention All-conference. Committed to Xavier.
Carson Bantz, West Aurora, senior, third baseman: Hit .421 with eight doubles, six homers and 38 RBIs. All-conference.
Brendan Campbell, Bartlett, senior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .439 with 30 runs, 10 doubles, a triple, five homers and 30 RBIs. Went 5-2 with 52 strikeouts. Team MVP. Committed to Minnesota-Duluth.
Chris Cole, Streamwood, senior, shortstop: Hit .360 with 17 stolen bases, eight doubles, three triples, six homers and 30 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Augustana.
Jack Cozzi, St. Edward, senior, outfielder: Hit 479 with 12 doubles, a triple, 10 homers and 37 RBIs. Had three wins, two saves, 55 strikeouts and 1.75 ERA. All-conference.
Jake Greenspan, St. Charles East, senior, shortstop: Hit .326 with 23 runs and six doubles for Saints. All-conference.
Owen Myet, Metea Valley, senior, outfielder: Hit .366 with 25 runs, four steals, nine doubles, six homers and 29 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Wheaton College.
Michael Person, Burlington Central, senior, shortstop/pitcher: Hit .352 with 39 runs, 10 doubles, two triples, three homers and 21 RBIs. Went 6-1 with 1.49 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 72 innings. Only walked 29. Fox Valley Conference’s co-pitcher of the year.
Jackson Petsche, Oswego East, senior, first baseman: Hit .352 with 20 runs, 11 steals, eight doubles, four homers and 24 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Southeastern Iowa.
Jason Phillips, Plano, sophomore, infielder/pitcher: Had 50 hits, including a program-record 30-game hit streak. Hit .490 with 35 runs, 13 doubles, five homers and 49 RBIs. All-conference.
Jack Schane, Hampshire, senior, pitcher: Went 4-1 with 2.05 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings. Gave up just 13 walks. All-conference.
Honorable Mention
- Brodie Curry, Aurora Central Catholic, sophomore, first baseman/pitcher.
- Joe DuSell, St. Edward, junior, outfielder/pitcher.
- Ben Ford, Waubonsie Valley, senior, outfielder/shortstop.
- Rudy Griffing, Aurora Christian, senior, first baseman/catcher.
- Ryan Gustaitis, Waubonsie Valley, senior, outfielder.
- Nolan Hooper, Yorkville Christian, junior, pitcher.
- Jake Johnson, Burlington Central, junior, catcher.
- Jackson Kottmeyer, Kaneland, senior, pitcher.
- Gage Martin, Jacobs, senior, outfielder.
- Christian Martyn, Oswego East, senior, catcher/pitcher.
- Preston Regnier, Yorkville, senior, pitcher.
- Easton Ruby, Oswego, junior, catcher.
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
