Trio of players from Class 4A state champion Providence lead first and second teams loaded with top-shelf talent.
First Team
Tyler Bell, Lincoln-Way East, senior, infielder: Hit .400 with eight doubles, four homers and 25 RBIs. SouthWest Suburban Blue’s player of the year. Repeat all-area. Committed to Kentucky.
Nick Bestrick, Sandburg, senior, pitcher: Went 9-0 with 1.00 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 56 innings. All-conference. Committed to Southwestern Illinois Junior College.
Sean Cody, Richards, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .460 with 50 runs, 31 stolen bases, six doubles, nine triples, four homers and 27 RBIs. Went 6-3 with 1.15 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings. South Suburban Red’s player of the year. Repeat all-area. Committed to Illinois-Chicago.
Conor Essenburg, Lincoln-Way West, junior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .388 with 31 runs, 12 stolen bases, 12 doubles, four homers and 29 RBIs. Went 10-2 with 1.48 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 52 innings. All-conference and repeat all-area. Committed to Kansas State.
Jake Gimbel, Joliet Catholic, senior, pitcher: Went 9-1 with 1.27 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 58 innings. East Suburban Catholic Conference’s pitcher of the year. Committed to John A. Logan College.
Sir Jamison Jones, St. Rita, senior, catcher: Hit .385 with eight doubles, three triples, four homers and 38 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Oklahoma State.
Landon Mensik, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, infielder: Hit .461 with 38 runs, 30 stolen bases, 14 doubles, seven homers and 35 RBIs. SouthWest Suburban Red’s player of the year. Repeat all-area. Committed to Xavier.
Nate O’Donnell, Providence, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .441 with 43 runs, 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 55 RBIs for Class 4A state champs. Went 2-3 with 3.29 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 34 innings. Catholic League Blue’s player of the year.
Joe Olson, St. Laurence, junior, pitcher: Went 8-1 with 0.49 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Louisville.
Jacob Parr, Lemont, junior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .407 with 37 runs, eight doubles, five triples, three homers and 35 RBIs for Class 3A state runners-up. Went 3-2 with 3.19 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. All-conference.
Jackson Smith, Providence, senior, infielder: Hit .410 with 51 runs, 10 doubles, four triples, six homers and 45 RBIs. Won Lawless Award as Catholic League’s top senior. Repeat all-area. Committed to Bradley.
Ian Tosi, Mount Carmel, sophomore, pitcher: Went 7-1 with 1.77 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 75 innings for sectional champs. All-conference.
Lemont’s Jacob Parr connects on a pitch against De La Salle in the Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional at Ozinga Field on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Second Team
Lucas Acevedo, Lincoln-Way West, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .330 with 33 runs, seven stolen bases, five doubles, one homer and 23 RBIs. Went 6-0 with two saves, 1.13 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Illinois-Chicago.
Cooper Eggert, Providence, junior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .429 with 43 runs, nine doubles, five triples, five homers and 25 RBIs. Went 5-1 with 2.12 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 43 innings. All-conference.
Jack LoConte, Andrew, senior, utility: Hit .380 with 28 runs, seven doubles, a homer and 29 RBIs. Went 7-2 with 3.07 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Grand Valley State.
Andrew Lucas, Oak Forest, senior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .364 with 35 runs, 14 stolen bases, eight doubles and 21 RBIs. Went 5-0 with 3.85 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. South Suburban Blue’s player of the year. Committed to Roosevelt.
Nolan Maciejewski, Tinley Park, junior, outfielder: Hit .553 with 53 runs, 28 stolen bases, 12 doubles, three triples, four homers and 24 RBIs. All-conference.
Max Michalak, Lemont, senior, utility: Hit .394 with 40 runs, 12 doubles, three triples and 27 RBIs. Went 1-0 with a save and 0.91 ERA in 7 2/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Parkland.
Braden Meyer, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, catcher: Hit .414 with 31 runs, 10 stolen bases, nine doubles, four homers and 28 RBIs. All-conference.
Declan Musil, St. Laurence, senior, pitcher: Went 8-1 with 2.80 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 45 innings. Catholic League Blue’s pitcher of the year.
Kenny Perez, De La Salle, senior, infielder: Hit .374 with 39 runs, 10 doubles, nine homers and 26 RBIs for sectional champs. Catholic League White’s player of the year. Committed to Western Illinois.
Jackson Stanek, St. Rita, senior, infielder: Hit .443 with 21 runs, 11 doubles, four homers and 40 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Southwestern Illinois.
Gavin Triezenberg, Brother Rice, junior, infielder: Hit .369 with 30 runs, 14 stolen bases, 13 doubles, three triples, three homers and 25 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Arizona.
Tino Villagomez, Reavis, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .402 with 32 runs, eight doubles, three homers and 35 RBIs. Went 4-0 with 0.39 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18 innings. All-conference.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Braden Meyer (4) catches a throw as Lincoln-Way East’s Tyler Bell (6) scores during the Class 4A Lincoln-Way Central Regional championship game in New Lenox on Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)
Honorable Mention
Juan Avila, Reavis, sophomore, pitcher.
Matthew Carrano, St. Laurence, senior, catcher.
Anthony Chavez, Mount Carmel, sophomore, infielder.
Tyler Earmsmuth, T.F. South, senior, outfielder.
Aidan Flinn, Marist, junior, pitcher.
Justin Gibbs, Oak Forest, junior, infielder/pitcher.
Neil Glynn, Richards, senior, infielder.
Ryan Groberski, Lockport, senior, outfielder.
Ryan Hartz, Brother Rice, senior, outfielder.
Ethan Highfill, Sandburg, senior, infielder/pitcher.
Enzo Infelise, Providence, junior, catcher/infielder.
Tyler Kummer, Evergreen Park, senior, catcher.
Aiden Licea-Gonzales, Bremen, freshman, infielder/pitcher.
Cannon Madej, Lemont, sophomore, pitcher/designated hitter.
Anthony Massa, Lincoln-Way West, senior, infielder.
Valente Melero, Argo, junior, infielder/pitcher.
Bren Milburn, Crete-Monee, junior, infielder/pitcher.
John Olejniczak, Oak Lawn, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher.
Logan Randle, Andrew, senior, outfielder.
Rowan Smyth, Evergreen Park, junior, pitcher.
AJ Snell, Beecher, senior, infielder/pitcher.
Anthony Sukalo, Stagg, senior, infielder.
Noah Tomaras, Lemont, senior, catcher.
Jake Troyner, Joliet Catholic, senior, infielder.
