C-N All-Area First Team

JOHNNY AMANN
Jacobs

Amann capped his three-year varsity career with an outstanding senior campaign. The All-Fox Valley Conference Valley Division honoree led the Golden Eagles with a .416 batting average, 11 home runs, 37 RBIs and 32 runs scored. He was also hit by a pitch 12 times, which is one more than the rest of the team combined. Amann, who started in center field and batted leadoff for much of the season, will play at Judson next year.

"Johnny really helped ignite the offense and was a spark plug up at the leadoff spot," Jacobs coach Eric Sanders said. "He did everything we asked of him and did it well."

BRIAN BRAUER
Streamwood

Brauer was second to none when it came to offensive production this season, earning 2009 Courier-News Player of the Year honors. The senior second baseman led the area with 15 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .525 batting average. He also scored a team-best 44 runs and stole 17 bases. This is Brauer's second straight appearance on the All-Area team. He's also a two-time All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree and was a unanimous selection this year. Brauer will play at Judson University next year.

"In the summertime and the fall Brian is in the weight room and doing things to improve his game," Streamwood coach Steve Diversey said. "It was kind of a remarkable season and it got to the point where when he came up to the plate you knew something magical could happen."

DREW BUDDLE
South Elgin

Buddle was the top offensive threat for the Storm during his junior season. The All-Upstate Eight Conference shortstop led the team with a .482 batting average, 32 runs and 16 doubles. He also tied for the team lead in RBIs with 23 and had six stolen bases.

"Drew had some big shoes to fill at shortstop and he did a pretty good job of that," South Elgin coach Jim Kating said. "He still has some work to do, but the big surprise was his offensive output. He's a young man who worked very diligently in the offseason to make himself better and it showed."

RILEY COLEMAN
St. Edward

Coleman's pitching played a key role in the Green Wave's success during his senior season. The All-Suburban Catholic Conference honoree went 8-2 with a 2.02 ERA while striking out 84 batters and walking only 15 in 64 innings. He also batted .306 with 22 RBIs as St. Edward claimed its first regional title since 2005.

"Any time you have a dominant No. 1 starter like Riley it makes it an awfully easy job to coach," St. Edward coach Gene Belmonte said. "I don't think you can overemphasize the value of a dominant pitcher like that."

TANNER FUNKE
Huntley

Funke makes his second appearance on the All-Area team after headlining a deep Red Raiders pitching staff. The senior and two-time All-Fox Valley Conference Fox Division honoree went 9-3 with a 1.78 ERA and an area-best 98 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings. At the plate he hit .372 with three home runs and 20 RBIs. Funke will play at Southern Illinois next year.

"Tanner got the ball in every big game that we had this year," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said. "He is definitely a strikeout pitcher, but he pitched more to contact this year and was still able to blow people away. He's definitely a horse that we're going to miss next year."

LUC GEIER
Larkin

Geier rose to the occasion on the mound time after time for the Royals during his senior season. The All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree was 8-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 71 innings. He also had a .301 average at the plate with 22 RBIs. Geier will play at Elgin Community College next year.

"Luc definitely stepped up," Larkin coach Matt Esterino said. "He put in a ton of work in the offseason and kept us in every game. He's not the hardest throwing pitcher in the conference, but I would take him any day because he throw strikes, keeps teams off balance and lets the defense play."

NICK HAHN
Burlington Central

Hahn splashed on the scene with a stellar sophomore season on the mound and at the plate. He went 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings and was named Big Northern Conference East Division Pitcher of the Year. Offensively, Hahn finished with a .398 average, four home runs, 27 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

"We had Nick pencilled into our rotation right from the beginning, but even for someone you expect to be a No. 1 or 2 starter you still don't imagine him going 11-1 as a sophomore," Central coach Kyle Nelson said. "He pitched some really big games for us and did a really good job all year."

ZACH HIRSCH
St. Charles North

Hirsch did nothing to diminish his reputation as one of the top left-handed pitchers in the state this season. The senior went 5-2 with a 1.15 ERA. He struck out 66 batters and walked only 16 in 55 innings while earning All-Upstate Eight Conference honors for the third straight year. Hirsch, a three-time member of the All-Area team, will pitch at Nebraska next year.

"Zach was our stopper for three years," North coach Todd Genke said. "He's such a competitor and we're going to really miss him. He's a great baseball player and an even better person and I see a lot of success for him in the future at Nebraska."

AUSTIN JARVIS
Burlington Central

Jarvis continued to bolster his reputation as one of the best catchers in the area during his junior season. The unanimous All-Big Northern Conference East Division honoree returns to the All-Area team for the second straight year after leading the Rockets with a .460 batting average. He also hit six home runs, tallied 24 RBIs, scored 26 runs and connected for 12 doubles.

"Austin is kind of the rock in the middle of our order and our rock defensively as well," Central coach Kyle Nelson said. "Offensively, he came up with big hits for us all year. It seems like he almost never takes a bad at-bat."

JUSTIN KALUSA
Larkin

Kalusa returns to the All-Area team for the second year in a row following a strong season at the plate, in center field and on the mound. The unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree led the Royals with a .473 batting average and 39 runs scored. He also hit six home runs and drove in 25 runs. Kalusa tossed 42 innings and finished 4-2 with a 2.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He will play at Elgin Community College next year.

"Justin did a great job all around, especially with the pitching," Larkin coach Matt Esterino said. "At the plate he had the year I think everybody thought he would. He's just a special athlete."

RYAN KIESEL
Streamwood

Kiesel excelled in the leadoff spot for the Sabres. The senior shortstop compiled a .470 average with three home runs, 19 RBIs and 42 runs scored while earning All-Upstate Eight Conference honors. He also was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts. Kiesel will play at Trinity Christian College next year.

"Ryan kind of peaked at the right time for us," Streamwood Steve Diversey said. "Brian (Brauer) hit a lot of the home runs, but without Ryan getting on base some of those home runs wouldn't have hurt as much. He's one of our defensive leaders and he's going to be a tough kid to replace."

KYLE KINYON
South Elgin

Kinyon combined strong defense behind the plate as the Storm's catcher with a breakout offensive campaign as a junior. The All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree tied for the team lead with 23 RBIs to go with a .419 batting average, 11 doubles and 23 runs scored. He also went 4-0 on the mound with a 1.94 ERA in 18 innings.

"Kyle is starting to show the leadership skills I hope to get out of my catchers," South Elgin coach Jim Kating said. "I don't think he has hit his stride yet offensively so I'm looking for some big things from him this summer and next year."

KENT LARSON
Hampshire

Larson enjoyed a stellar season on the mound, compiling a 9-2 record and 1.46 ERA. The junior logged 72 innings, nearly doubling the total of every other member of the Whip-Purs pitching staff. He struck out 75 batters and walked only 26.

"Usually when Kent pitched we knew he wasn't going to give up many runs and we'd have a chance to win the game," Hampshire coach Steve Ream said. "He just did a great job for us. He loves to pitch and he's already working this summer to try and get better for next year."

ZACH LIEBMAN
Huntley

Liebman's efforts on the mound played a big part in helping the Red Raiders notch 30 wins and claim their first sectional title since 1987. The senior went 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. He was also second on the team with 26 RBIs. Liebman, who earned All-Fox Valley Conference Fox Division honors, will play at Judson next year.

"Zach changes speeds very well and is very quick to the plate with runners on base," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said. "He likes to have a quick tempo and I think that keeps hitters off balance."

CRAIG LIPP
Huntley

Lipp returns to the All-Area team for the third straight year. The senior and three-time All-Fox Valley Conference Fox Division honoree led the Red Raiders with nine home runs, 38 RBIs, 41 runs and 16 doubles to go along with a .326 batting average. When he wasn't playing center field he dominated on the mound, finishing 8-1 with an area-best 0.88 ERA. Lipp, who is signed to play at Heartland Community College next year, struck out 84 batters in 72 innings.

"Craig had a workman's attitude," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski. "He was definitely a run producer and one of the top hitters in the area. He also did a great job on the mound and solidified our rotation."

TJ MADZY
St. Edward

Madzy served as a catalyst at the top of the Green Wave's batting order, leading the team in 11 of 18 offensive categories. The junior shortstop earned All-Suburban Catholic Conference honors after hitting .402 with 40 runs scored and 22 RBIs. He had 10 doubles, two triples and a home run.

"TJ did a fine job at shortstop and got better and better as the season went on," St. Edward coach Gene Belmonte said. "He also nailed down one of the most important positions in our batting order as leadoff man. He had just a great offensive season. He has a very quick bat and makes real good contact."

JON MEIDEL
Larkin

Meidel emerged as one of the more versatile players in the area during his senior season. The All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree led the Royals with nine home runs and 43 RBIs. He also scored 33 runs and finished with a .394 batting average. Meidel started at seven different positions and also logged 22 innings on the mound, going 2-3 and striking out 22 batters.

"Jon was a pleasant surprise," Larkin coach Matt Esterino said. "He helped us out pretty much all over the field before settling in at shortstop. He was probably our most consistent, steady presence in the lineup."

COLIN O'CARROLL
St. Charles North

O'Carroll made the most of his senior season, leading the North Stars with 39 runs scored. The senior center fielder also hit .434 with three home runs, 22 RBIs and 16 doubles. He was a unanimous All-Upstate Eight Conference selection.

"Collin is a great story," North coach Todd Genke said. "As a junior he didn't get a lot of opportunities to play, but he took advantage of it this year and had a phenomenal season. He worked his tail off in the weight room and got a lot stronger. He waited his turn and was patient and did a great job."

GREG PARTYKA
Bartlett

Partyka emerged as the top offensive threat for the Hawks and was also effective behind the plate as the team's catcher in his first varsity season. The junior All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree led Bartlett with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs and a .475 batting average.

"For a junior to step in and make an impact as he did right away speaks a lot to his work in the offseason," Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton said. "He just gave teams fits with the bat. Defensively, he saved our staff numerous wild pitches by getting dirty and sacrificing his body to block the ball."

BO PRICE
Hampsire

Price filled the leadoff spot in the Whip-Purs batting order with much success, earning unanimous All-Big Northern Conference East Division honors in the process. The senior second baseman led the team with 35 runs and the area with 28 stolen bases. He also hit .381 with one home run and 17 RBIs.

"Bo will do whatever it takes to get on base and then he looks to go from there," Hampshire coach Steve Ream said. "It's hard to replace a player like that at the top of the order and we'll miss him next year for sure."

RYAN RICHARDSON
St. Charles North

Richardson was a force on offense and defense for the North Stars. The junior shortstop led the team with a .459 batting average, 40 RBIs and 18 doubles. He also scored 35 runs and was named to the All-Upstate Eight Conference team for the second straight year, this time as a unanimous selection.

"I call Ryan a professional hitter," Genke said. "He just goes up there and has a great idea of what he's going do with the ball. He also leads by example and is a total team player. On top of all that, he's phenomenal at short and makes unbelievable plays."

DEVIN ROWLAND
Bartlett

Rowland emerged as the top pitcher for the Hawks during his senior season. The All-Upstate Eight Conference honoree went 8-1 with a 1.98 ERA and struck out 56 batters in 49 2/3 innings. He allowed only one earned run in conference play. At the plate Rowland had one home run and 13 RBIs to go with a .328 batting average.

"After two or three starts Devin definitely put things in place," Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton said. "To give us that No. 1 pitcher-type effort every single time helped us achieve what we did this year."

TANNER SCOTT
Burlington Central

Scott packed a powerful punch at the plate for the Rockets. The freshman outfielder clubbed a team-high 10 home runs and also led the squad with 32 RBIs and 35 runs scored. He also connected for 12 doubles and was a unanimous All-Big Northern Conference East Division selection.

"Tanner really keeps everything pretty simple offensively," Central coach Kyle Nelson said. "He's a kid who obviously has tremendous talent, and the fact that he was able to adjust so quickly to varsity pitching really shows what he can do physically and mentally."

BRANDON SIEWERT
Westminster Christian

Siewert stood out at the plate and on the mound during his senior season. The All-Private School League honoree led the Warriors in home runs (4), RBIs (31), runs (37), batting average (.453) and stolen bases (13). He also went 9-4 with a 2.48 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings.

"Brandon really did a great job leading and putting the team before himself," Westminster Christian coach Jeff Moeller said. "He tried to stay positive in every situation. He did a great job as our ace showing poise and determination on the mound and he also hit a ton."

ALEX VanNESS
Bartlett

VanNess contributed at the plate, in center field and on the mound for the Hawks. The senior led the team with 43 runs and nine stolen bases. He also compiled a .441 batting average and finished with five home runs and 18 RBIs. As a pitcher he went 2-2 with three saves and 18 strikeouts in 22 innings.

"Alex knew what it took to go out there and compete at a high level," Bartlett coach Chris Pemberton said. "He definitely drew on all his talents and that was a big advantage for us."