College Players From IL

JB Blanchard, LHP, DePauw, Fresh, New Trier HS '08. First appearance, first save...just the start of what will be a successful collegiate career.

Brock Simon, LHP, Western IL, Freshman, Lake Zurich HS

Jordin Hood, 2B/3B, NIU Huskies, JR. Lake Zurich HS

Matt Fine Pitcher/1st baseman University of Saint Francis (Joliet Illinois) Freshman from Romeoville High School

Chase Sonen, RH Pitcher, Saint Josephs College, Senior, Cary Grove HS, 1-0, 2.08 era. Pitching in Florida on Saturday.

Andy Deain...NIU...Sr. RHP ---big win today over Missouri
Andrew Burkett...Jr. RHP University of Cincinnati
Joe Dimaggio...Sr. Catcher UNLV
Trevor Rutkowski...Jr. 3B Niagara University
Ryan Biner...Jr. 1B Johns Hopkins
David Mitroff...Fr. Catcher Liberty
Bobby Martin...Fr. SS Ohio
Mike Heesch...Fr. LHP UIC
TJ Swank...Fr. RHP Coastal Carolina
Nick Martini...Fr. OF Kansas State

All are Prairie Ridge grads

Chris Serritella, SIU, Fresh, Loyola Academy '08. 6 GP/GS, .421 BA, .526 Slg%, .421 OBA.

Maine South Grads

Pete Tountas-ss--Evansville

Dan Leddy-p- Saint Xavier

Vince Mathe-ss-Elmhurst

Charlie Capozzoli-of-Illinois Wesleyan

Joe Blum-2b-Illinois Wesleyan

Andrew Lieber-ss-Gettysburg

Nick DePaul-p-Benedictine

Brain O'Toole-3b-Benedictine

ALSO


Adam Rosales-3b-Cincinnati Reds

Brian Schlitter-p-Chicago Cubs

MArk Ori-1b-Houston Astros


**Rosales and Schlitter are currently in major league camp with their respective clubs.

Go Hawks

MAINE WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Mike Santa Maria Illinois P Frosh

Garrett Glover Indiana P Frosh

Eric Romani MacMurray P Frosh

TJ Van Der Pluyme P Ohio Northern Frosh

John Hrka Oakton CC P/OF Soph

Mike Stankiewicz Illinois P Senior

Steve Hagstrom OF/P Elmhust Senior

Kevin Capps P Elmhurst Senior

Chris Ivanic Purdue P Senior

Dave Hardt Trinity C Senior

Tyler Ladendorf SS Minnesota Twins

Kevin Sullivan - Highland Park - Frosh Illinois Wesleyan P/OF

Does anyone know what happened to Jimmy Risi from Highland Park HS? I know that he signed with Kansas State but I did not see his name on the roster. He is mentioned in several Kansas State related articles on the internet when he is googled.

I was kind of looking forward to following him this year since he will finally not be playing against a team my kid is on. He has been painful to play against ever since he was 8 years old playing on a 9 year old travel team!! Without a doubt one of the best hitters I have ever had the pleasure to watch play.

MOre Maine South

Kevin manson-p-Illinois

Brian Storce-of-North Park

Luke Kalliantasis-p-north central

.
From the University of Rochester

Kudos to Andy Cannon VERY impressive!

Risi is no longer part of the program at Kansas State. There are varying stories as to what happened so, until I can talk with his dad, I won't even try to guess the reasons. According to the '09 players he might try Oakton CC next season.

Eric Romani is at McKendree College, not McMurray.

It is great to see all those names up there, I had the pleasure to work with many of them over the past 5 years!

Other Lyons Township grads, in addition to Andy Cannon (above):

Casey McMurrey So. OF U of I
Kyle Corcoran Jr. P Michigan State
Grant Fillipitch So. 3B Butler
Steve Kehr Sr. OF/1B St. Francis
Matt Brewer Sr. OF Benedictine
Jack Holden Jr. OF Benedictine
Ryan McMillin Fr. IF Western Michigan
James Murray Jr. P Macalester (MN)
Brian Lorenz Fr. P/OF SIU Edwardsville
Chas Straface Fr. IF Washington & Lee (VA)
Don Cizek Fr. P Lewis

Others that I think may be playing, but I don't know where: Justin Birks, Anthony Genna, Brad Winkler (anyone have info on these 3?) Also, CJ Esposito is playing club ball at Indiana Univ. and Luke Gacek and Alex Georges club ball at U of I.

Don't forget Dan Brewer. Drafted in the 8th round in 2008 by the Yankees. Still hit the longest HR I've seen, and he did it on field I at East Cobb.

Winkler, an ex-Norwood Blues player is a freshman at Monmouth.

Thanks for the info on Brad--hopefully he does well at Monmouth after a tough year with his injury last year. I didn't forget Danny--him getting paid actual $$ instead of scholarship $$ puts him in a different category. He did well at Staten Island; hope he's able to move up. Grant Johnson, assuming he's still in the Cubs organization, is in the same category.

I just checked the roster at Benedictine----there are 41 players with a number and 12 without one...Talk about over-recruiting!

Is there such a thing as "over-recruiting"? If a kid is willing to be 50th on your roster, sans number, why not let him? That is, if he can indeed help your ball club somewhere down the road.

Is Benedictine one of those D3 schools with a no cut policy?

Congradulations to 2008 Lincoln-Way East HS grad, John Lorenz, who hit his 1st collegiate homer today in Michigan's win over Siena.