12 hours ago
Introducing the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball All-Area Team
Three players from Hampshire, which had dominant regular season, lead first and second teams.
Zacharia Barkho, South Elgin, junior, pitcher/shortstop: Went 8-2 with 1.29 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 65 innings. Hit .313 with 10 runs, three doubles and 15 RBIs. All-conference.
Braden Behringer, Sandwich, junior, infielder: Hit .410 with nine doubles, three triples, two homers and 40 RBIs. Conference player of the year. Honorable mention all-state.
Noah Brandt, Somonauk, senior, outfielder/infielder: Hit .491 with 27 runs, 21 steals, seven doubles, two triples, two homers and 19 RBIs. All-state. Committed to Grand Valley State.
Josh Colaizzi, Bartlett, junior, outfielder/pitcher: Batted .425 with 20 extra-base hits, 20 steals and 23 RBIs. Pitched 53 1/3 innings with 83 strikeouts and 1.58 ERA. All-conference.
Brodie Curry, Aurora Central Catholic, junior, outfielder: Hit .369 with 24 runs, nine doubles, four triples, three homers and 27 RBIs. All-conference.
Martin Ledbetter, Hinckley-Big Rock, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .618 with 35 runs, 34 steals, six doubles, six triples, nine homers and 35 RBIs. Went 2-0 with 53 strikeouts and 1.56 ERA in 31 1/3 innings. Four-time all-conference. Team MVP. Committed to Wabash Valley.
Connor Lund, South Elgin, senior, outfielder: Batted .433 with 32 runs, 28 steals, six doubles, a triple, a homer and 11 RBIs. Upstate Eight West's player of the year. Committed to Elgin Community College.
Jason Phillips, Plano, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .474 with 12 doubles, a program-record seven triples, two homers and 29 RBIs. Struck out 78 with 3.97 ERA in 49 1/3 innings. All-conference.
Preston Popovich, Kaneland, senior, pitcher/infielder: Batted .402 with 35 runs, 14 steals, four doubles and 30 RBIs. Went 4-1 with 1.59 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. Honorable mention all-state. All-conference. Team MVP. Committed to Benedictine.
Owen Roberts, Waubonsie Valley, senior, pitcher/shortstop: Went 8-2 with 0.49 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 72 innings. Threw no-hitter against Batavia. Hit .367 with 32 runs, five doubles, two triples, two homers and 19 RBIs. All-state and all-conference. Committed to Indiana State.
Calen Scheider, Hampshire, senior, pitcher/outfielder/infielder: Hit .336 with 33 runs, 18 steals, six doubles, four triples, a homer and 27 RBIs. Went 7-3 with 2.98 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Bradley.
Zach Toma, West Aurora, junior, first baseman/pitcher: Beacon-News/Courier-News Player of the Year. Hit .459 with 33 runs, 10 doubles, six homers and 46 RBIs. Went 7-2 with 1.39 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings. All-state and all-conference. Team MVP.
Oscar Alexander Jr., West Aurora, sophomore, catcher: Hit .359 with 40 runs, eight doubles, four homers and 33 RBIs. All-conference.
Joey Arend, St. Charles East, senior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .298 with 32 runs, 22 steals and 12 doubles. Had six wins on the mound, striking out 83 in 53 innings. Set DuKane Conference career records for wins with 14 and strikeouts with 114. All-conference. Committed to Xavier.
Jack Burns, Aurora Christian, senior, shortstop/pitcher: Hit .387 with nine doubles, two homers and 30 RBIs. Had 2.40 ERA. All-conference.
Andrew Deegan, Jacobs, junior, shortstop: Batted .393 with eight doubles, four triples and three homers. All-conference. Committed to Belmont.
Ari Fivelson, Hampshire, senior, outfielder: Hit .343 with 44 runs, 16 steals, five doubles, four triples, a homer and 23 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Bradley.
Tyler Gluting, Metea Valley, sophomore, outfielder: Hit .362 with 33 runs, five doubles, three triples, three homers and 23 RBIs. All-conference.
Keaton Reinke, St. Charles North, junior, pitcher/outfielder: Went 5-2 with 2.73 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. Hit .313 with 36 runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 14 RBIs. Stole program-record 35 bases. All-conference. Committed to Northwestern for football.
Matt Ritchie, St. Charles North, sophomore, pitcher/third baseman: Went 6-5 with 2.00 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings. Hit .280. All-conference.
Jared Russell, Dundee-Crown, senior, pitcher: Went 9-3 with 1.39 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. Set the program career record with 1.65 ERA. All-conference. Team MVP. Committed to Judson.
Connar Temple, Batavia, senior, pitcher: Went 4-3 with 1.21 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 52 innings. DuKane Conference's pitcher of the year. Committed to Northern Illinois.
Wilson Wemhoff, Hampshire, senior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .337 with 26 runs, nine steals, 12 doubles, two triples, three homers and 35 RBIs. Went 5-2 with 1.95 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. All-conference.
Hiroshy Wong, Waubonsie Valley, senior, third baseman: Hit .387 with 25 runs, nine doubles, a triple, a homer and 23 RBIs. All-conference.
