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.
Yorkville’s Kam Yearsley tries a quick pickoff throw to first base against Oswego East during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Yorkville on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Yorkville, Illinois. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
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.
West Aurora’s Carson Bantz (23) rounds the basses after hitting a home run against Yorkville during a rain-shortened Southwest Prairie Conference game in Aurora on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
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.
