Meet the Herald-News 2024 Interregional Baseball Team

It wasn’t easy with so much talent to choose from, but here is the 2024 Herald-News All-Area Baseball Team.

First team

Lincoln-Way East’s Tyler Bell connects for an RBI single against Lockport. (Gary Middendorf)

Tyler Bell, IF, Sr. Lincoln Way East

Bell overcame a slow start to the season to finish with a .391 average, .591 OBP, 25 RBIs, was walked 33 times and stole 31 bases. He is a Kentucky commit and expected to be selected in the early rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft. ESPN ranked him among the top 100 draft prospects in the country.

Minooka’s Nate George competes in a race against Plainfield North. (Gary Middendorf)

Nate George, OF, Sr., Minooka

Once committed to Eastern Illinois, George is also looking to be selected in the draft, and for good reason. An athletic star as well as a baseball star, George finished that season with a .404 batting average, nine home runs, 40 RBIs, 41 runs and went 22 of 24 on stolen base attempts.

JUNE 03 Providence’s Nate O’Donnell at bat during the Class 4A super-sectional game against Mt. Carmel. (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Ne/Dean Reid)

Nate O’Donnell, IF/P, jr., Providence Catholic

A former Creighton commit who just reopened his recruitment, O’Donnell was sensational during the Celtics’ playoff run. He was also outstanding before that, posting a .430 batting average on the season with a 1.337 OPS, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs and 43 runs scored. He also had a 3.15 ERA on the mound.

JUNE 03 Providence’s Jackson Smith goes to second base during a Class 4A supersectional game at Crestwood. (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Ne/Dean Reid)

Jackson Smith, IF, sr., Providence Catholic

Smith, a Bradley commit, was one of, if not the best, players on the Class 4A state champions. He finished his final season in green with 48 RBIs, 51 runs scored, six home runs and a .416 batting average.

Baseball: Joliet West vs. Lincoln-Way West on April 19 Joliet West’s Jimmy Anderson throws a pitch during the non-conference game against Lincoln-Way West. (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Ne/Dean Reid)

Jimmy Anderson, IF/P, sr., Joliet West

Anderson was the most valuable blue hitter in the Southwest Prairie Conference after finishing with a .473 batting average, a .550 OBP, 48 RBIs and 37 runs scored. On the mound, he went 5-0 with 52 strikeouts and a 2.18 ERA

Joliet Catholic’s Jake Troyner races against Minooka in the WJOL tournament championship. (Gary Middendorf)

Jake Troyner, IF, Sr., Joliet Catholic

The UIC commit finished his senior year with a .394 batting average, 1.025 OPS and 41 hits. He was also remarkable on the field. Troyner was named the East Suburban Catholic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Lemont’s Jacob Parr delivers a pitch against Crystal Lake Central during the IHSA Class 3A championship game at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet. (Gary Middendorf)

Jacob Parr, OF/P, jr., Lemont

Parr, named All-South Suburban Conference and nominated for conference player of the year, hit .407 with 35 RBIs and 37 runs scored while finishing with a 3.19 ERA on the mound.

Morris’ Cody DelFavero delivers a pitch against Highland during the IHSA Class 3A third-place game at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet. (Gary Middendorf)

Cody DelFavero, OF/P, sr., Morris

DelFavero hit .370 this season with 36 RBIs, 33 runs scored and a .670 slugging percentage. On the mound, he went 14-0 with 93 strikeouts, 1.28 ERA and 0.861 WHIP for the Interstate 8 Conference champions.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Landon Mensik makes a throw to first for the out against Lincoln-Way West in the Class 4A Providence Section semifinals. (Gary Middendorf)

Landon Mensik, IF, Sr., Lincoln-Way Central

Mensik, a Xavier commit, was simply exceptional. He was the Southwest Suburban Red Conference Player of the Year and was an all-region nominee. He hit .461 with a 1.437 OPS, 41 hits, seven home runs, 35 RBIs, 38 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.

Lincoln-Way West’s Lucas Acevedo delivers a pitch against Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox. (Gary Middendorf)

Lucas Acevedo, IF/P, jr., Lincoln-Way West

Acevedo was an All-SWSC selection and is a UIC commit. He finished his penultimate season with an OBP of .504, led the team in runs and had 31 hits with 23 RBIs. As a pitcher, he went 6-0 with a 1.13 ERA and allowed just seven earned runs.

“Plainfield Central’s JT Augustyniak knocks out Joliet West’s Dan Lukancic”. (Gary Middendorf)

JT Augustyniak, IF, jr. Plainfield Central

Augustyniak was an all-conference selection after hitting .420 with a .619 slugging percentage, 33 RBIs and 37 runs while striking out only five times during the season.

Baseball: Joliet West vs. Lincoln-Way West on April 27 Lockport’s Ryan Groberski in action during a non-conference game against Joliet West. (Dean Reid for Shaw Local News Ne/Dean Reid)

Brayden Zilis, IF/P, jr., Minooka

An Illinois State commit, Zilis was an outstanding two-way player for Minooka. He hit .407 with a 1.25 OPS, 48 hits, seven home runs, 33 RBIs and 43 runs scored. On the mound, he was just as impressive, going 7-1 and allowing just four earned runs for a 0.58 ERA.

Lemont’s Max Michalak connects for a single against Crystal Lake Central in the IHSA Class 3A championship game. (Gary Middendorf)

Max Michalak, OF, Sr., Lemont

Another all-conference selection, Michalak led the team in doubles (12) and runs scored (40), with 27 RBIs, 22 stolen bases and a .389 batting average.

Morris’ Jack Wheeler locks out on a field at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet. (Gary Middendorf)

Jack Wheeler, IF, jr., Morris

A University of Illinois commit, Wheeler proved himself worthy of the scholarship this year. He hit .382 with 42 hits, 40 RBIs and 43 runs while striking out just seven times all year.

Second team

• Matt Washington, FI, Bolingbrook.

• AJ Zweeres, IF, Morris.

• Ryan Goberski, OF, Lockport.

• Jake Gimbel, P, Joliet Catholic.

• Enzo Infelise, C, Catholic Providence.

• Brayden Meyer, C, Lincoln-Way Central.

• Anthony Massa, RN, Lincoln-Way West.

• Noah Tomaras, C, Lemont.

• Blake Phommachanhom, FI, South Plainfield.

• Lucas Ice Rink, INF/P, Wilmington.

• Paxton Giertz, FI, Seneca.

• Joe Guiliano, IF/P, Plainfield North.

• Cael Karczewski, FI, Joliet West.

• Gabe McHugh, IF/P, Coal City.

Honorable mention

• Owen Dunlap, SI, Dwight.

• Luke Gallet, IF/P, Dwight.

• Ryan Witt, OF, Bolingbrook.

• Lance Cuddy, IF/OF/P, Coal City.

• Ayden Collom, IF/OF/P, Gardner-South Wilmington.

• Zach Pomatto, C, Joliet Catholic.

• Zach Beitler, OF, Catholic from Joliet.

• Jay Zepeda, IF/P, Joliet Central.

• John Stasiak, C, Joliet Central.

• James Love, IF/P, Joliet West.

• Owen Young, C, Joliet West.

• Christian Chignoli, OF, Joliet West.

• Cannon Medaj, P, Lemont.

• Luke Mensik, P, Lincoln-Way Central.

• Ethan Godlewski, P, Lincoln-Way East.

• Jack Linko, IF, Lincoln-Way West.

• Ben Shea, IF/OF, Lincoln-Way West.

• Justin VanderTuuk, OF, Lockport.

• Trace Schaaf, P, Lockport.

• Brett Bounds, P, Morris.

• Griffin Zweeres, C, Morris.

• Ximi Baftiri, FI, Morris.

• Ruben Velasco, IF/P, Peotone.

• Cory Brock, P, Plainfield Central.

• John Andretich, OF, Plainfield North.

• Daniel McCauley, FI, South Plainfield.

• Blake Phommachanhom, FI, South Plainfield.

• Cooper Eggert, OF/P, Catholic Providence.

• Kasten Gobbert, P, Catholic Providence.

• Cameron Smith, C, Reed-Custer.

• Nolan Holgado, OF, Romeoville.

• Braden Lee, OF, Romeoville.

• Casey Clennon, FI, Seneca.

• Kyle Farrell, P/IF, Wilmington.

• Ryan Kettman, IF/P, Wilmington.