Monday, March 1 was the first day teams could start practicing. Officially, that is. On Tuesday, the Chicago Public Schools sent a memo to athletic directors stating that sophomore spring athletics must cease immediately ...

I saw a dizzying amount of baseball in 2009. Best believe I saw my share of bad baseball, in bad weather, with a lot of bad umpiring. I also saw my share of great games and fantastic finishes, indelible moments that helped me forget the bad stuff. My top 10 moments of 2009 ...

As superb of a pitcher as Zach Hirsch was at St. Charles North HS, it paled in comparison to his off-the-field impact. Recently, Hirsch was featured on the Today Show on NBC for his single act of kindness that changed another student’s life forever ...

One of my all-time favorite high school players to cover was Ryne White, a Class of 2005 grad from St. Rita HS. The sweet-swinging lefty is coming back to Chicago after he was dealt to the Cubs ...

I caught a glimpse of some of the best young talent in the state at the Chicago White Sox’s underclassmen Black and Silver event at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. While I have a pretty good feel for the top 2010 and 2011 players in the state, this event really helped me get a better feel for what the sophomore and freshmen classes have to offer ... and other news from around the state.

Over the course of the year I’ve heard grumblings from “in-the-know” baseball people that the Class of 2010 is a down year for Illinois. It’s still early, but take a look for yourself. I’ve charted the top 30 ranked prospects from each class dating back to 2005. While by no means does this chart represent the depth in each class, it at the very least puts the different classes in perspective ...

 I feel like I say this every fall, but this time I really, really mean it: this current junior class has the potential to be one of the finest group of prospects Illinois has seen in a while, certainly right up there with the classes of 2005 and 2007 ...

Last week I had the pleasure of observing a workout for some of Chicago’s best and brightest young talents. If the 40 or so players present were any indication, then the inner-city should have a bumper crop of prospects coming through the ranks soon ...

Who's been the most dominant teams in Illinois since 2005? Glad you asked. I provide statistical proof who the most successful teams have been over the last half-decade, then throw the stats out and give you my own two cents ...

The last six weeks have been one big blur. Kind of like a Kyle Farnsworth fastball: hard, straight and managed to find the barrel of my brain stem every time. Starting with the two weekends of the state tournaments, it’s been a dead sprint from one showcase to the next ...

After spending roughly 26 hours this weekend at the Class 3A and 4A state tournament in Joliet, my brain is officially mashed cauliflower, which, if you haven’t tried, is quite a tasty healthy alternative to mashed potatoes. OK, so you get my point about my brain. It’s not quite producing linear thoughts ...

After sitting through a not-so-fun Class 1A and 2A tournaments last weekend, I am slap-me-in-the-face silly about this weekend's Class 4A and 3A state semifinals. Who's going to win it all? Heck if I know. What I do know, though, is if St. Rita wins, than the Curse of the Cover Shot will be ceased ...

In high school athletics, let's strike the word upset from our vocabulary. There are no upsets in high school sports: Goliath isn't that much bigger and stronger than David, and you can never predict what is going to happen. With that said, man, did you see all the upsets in the Class 2A playoffs?

There have been some amazing feats this year, but this one has to take the prize. In fact, I did some crack research – i.e. Google searches – and Thursday’s feat may never have been done before ... and other assorted notebook items.

The date Wednesday, May 13 has been circled on the calendar since the beginning of this rain-plagued season. St. Rita at Brother Rice. Be there. And other assorted notebook items ...

I’ve recently become fascinated with the phenomenon of Twitter. Twitter is everywhere, Twitter is hip, Twitter is … what exactly is Twitter? Once I learned what it was, it dawned on me that we can all keep each other abreast of what's going on in Illinois high school baseball, and become one big, happy information-disseminating machine. Together ...

My Wednesday schedule was all mapped out. I had the big Western Sun Conference showdown between Batavia (16-5) and Geneva (15-5) at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva earmarked as the game of the day. That is, until Batavia’s school doors were temporarily closed because of the Swine Flu ... and other diamond notes ...

Want to see a great pitching matchup Monday? Then go to Hoffman Estates and see two Kentucky recruits go head to head on Monday ... and other news and notes from around the state ...

We knew LaSalle-Peru would be good this year, but certainly no one could've anticipated a 20-0 start and a No. 4 statewide ranking. But the Cavaliers' senior-laden team are getting key contributions from an assortment of players in their quest for a 3A state title ...

Much has been made about O’Fallon catcher Nick Tindall’s hitting spree this season. And rightfully so. Far more quietly, Edwardsville left-handed hitting junior third baseman Michael Failoni has been putting up nearly as staggering numbers for the No. 4-ranked Tigers ... and other notebook items.

O'Fallon catcher Nick Tindall is the hottest hitter in the state. Heck, he may even be the hottest hitter in the country right now. On Monday, he hit his 10th bomb of the season and increased his RBI total to 37. Plus other notebook items ...

It’s not very often that I accidentally stumble into a prospect who’s throwing 90 mph at a high school game. Usually it’s the reverse: I hear a kid’s throwing 90, so I make a long trek to see him, only to get 82-84 on the Stalker. So best believe that I was quite pleased last Thursday, and other notebook items ...

Hard to believe, but I get criticized. Quite a bit, actually. The main criticism I get is that I’m ugly. I agree 100 percent, but nothing I can do about it, unfortunately. Another common criticism I receive is that I over-hype the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division ...

You have to feel for Morton West High’s Jeremy Wilson. The 6-foot-1 junior right-hander pitched an unbelievable game – actually, it was more like a game and a half – on Saturday against Downers Grove South and got nothing but a no-decision and a conference loss ... and other notes ...

Clearing out the notebook: Brother Rice outfielder makes up for lost time at the plate ... Harrisburg's Christian Cummins tearing it up ... Grayslake Central's Kevin O'Rourke and more notes ...

The snow has melted and the sun seems to be happy today, so might as well get out while the getting is good. The best game of the day – and the week – is No. 2 Lincoln-Way East will be at No. 1 Brother Rice on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ... And other notes ...

The Dolphins are the Rodney Dangerfield of Illinois high school baseball: no respect. I, for one, haven’t exactly given them their just do. After knocking off No. 1 St. Rita on Wednesday, among many other impressive feats over the last three years, I stand formally corrected ...

So by now we know that Lincoln-Way East won the IHSBCA summer state tournament. As good as the No. 4 Griffins were over the summer, I had my doubts as to how it would translate this spring. I mean, how much better could they be from last year’s 22-11 squad after graduating eight starters?

The rumor had been in the air for some time, and it’s finally been confirmed when the Naperville Sun published the story about Neuqua Valley ace Ian Krol being suspended for his senior season ... and other notes from around the state ...

Fully rested and in incredible shape, Joliet Catholic Academy right-handed pitcher A.J. Plese made his senior spring debut Sunday against No. 1 St. Rita. Two words: he’s back. ...

Injuries are an unfortunate part of athletics. My heart always goes out to those players who work tirelessly in the offseason but miss the season because of an injury of some sort. Unfortunately, the state lost one of its brightest talents recently when Rock Falls HS senior left-handed ace Taylor Eikenberry suffered an elbow injury ...

The season is only three days old, and we already have the hottest hitter in the state: Rochester middle infielder Brock Harding ... Plus other random items.

People are crazy. Not you. You’re cool. Sane as the setting sun. It’s the other guy. The one sitting on the opposing bleacher heckling a 16-year-old. He’s the certifiable loon. Or maybe it’s a she? Taunts are so hard to decipher these days.

The rarest of talents recently attended a Prep Baseball Report Underclassmen Showcase, Meet Ryan Perez, a 5-foot-11, 150-pound freshman from Westminster Christian, a Class 1A parochial school in Elgin. Perez will never be forgotten at the PBR headquarters after he brought two mitts to the mound and proceeded to throw freshman cheddar with either arm.

The Class of 2010 is shaping up to be a stellar crop of prospects, one that has good depth and some impressive arms. By now we’ve heard of most of the top-ranked players in the class, but here’s a group of lesser-known players who have emerged as prospects to pay close attention to in the coming year ...