Just about every game I go to I get the same question: “PBR … Is that Pabst Blue Ribbon?” No, Professional Bull Riders. Then they usually ask me the real stumper: “Who is the best team I’ve seen this season.”
Good question. Really, it depends on who’s pitching, I tell them. And that’s as accurately as I can answer. This spring has been the most unpredictable season in recent memory, and I’m not even talking about April snowstorms. Competition-wise, this season has been a coin-flip. State titles can be had by any number of teams in each class. Yes, there are more talented teams than others, but there are no truly dominant teams like Lockport (Class AA) and Wilmington (Class A) in 2005, Illinois Valley Central (Class A) in 2006 or even New Trier of last year, which was completely dominant all the way up to the championship game.
Just when I thought Harrisburg was going to run away as the favorite to win the Class 2A state title this year, the Bulldogs had their 21-game win streak snapped by Anna-Jonesboro on Monday. Rock Falls, rolling through with a 21-0 record, lost to LaSalle-Peru on Tuesday. And Class 4A is really up for grabs.
There’s not a single team I’ve seen that I can say is truly dominating. Highland is unbeatable when Jake Odorizzi is on the mound, that’s about all I know.
This parity-filled season should make for a fun playoffs in a couple weeks. Coming soon I will bring in JoJo the Rat Boy to make his playoff predictions.
Here are some things I do know:
* Lake Zurich senior third baseman Joey DeBernardis is swinging one of the hottest bats in the state. This week the Penn State-bound DeBernardis hit his 10th and 11th home runs of the season, and earned a victory and a save in the Bears’ sweep over Stevenson. For the season, he’s hitting .485 with 49 RBI and has a 1.085 slugging percentage for the red-hot Bears (22-5), who won their 11 straight Thursday in a 9-5 win over Stevenson.
“He’s just been unbelievable,” said Lake Zurich coach Gary Simon, who led the Bears to the Elite Eight of the summer tournament.
*PBR’s preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams, Brother Rice and St. Rita, will slug it out Saturday for the Chicago Catholic League Blue championship. The teams are deadlocked heading into the final game of the conference season. The game will be played at Brother Rice at 11 a.m.
* Normal West junior outfielder Blake Brown has made a name for himself with his power potential this season. Already Brown has 10 home runs, which broke the school’s record, set by North Carolina State-bound first baseman Harold Riggins.
* Another junior who has emerged this season is Wheaton North’s Jack DeAno, a left-handed hitting centerfielder and right-handed pitcher. Through Tuesday, the speedy DeAno was hitting .464 with four homers, four doubles, three triples, 31 runs and 21 RBI from the leadoff spot. On the mound DeAno has been equally dominant, going 5-0 with a 1.28 ERA.
* Leyden right-hander Jon Weaver has become one of the state’s most intriguing draft prospects this spring. On Monday, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Weaver dazzled a contingent of pro scouts with an 88-91 mph fastball and biting slider. Pitching against heavy-hitting No. 13 Downers Grove South, Weaver struck out 15, which included six straight to open the game, followed by a string of seven consecutive punchouts.
* Marissa unsigned senior right-hander Cale Wine has been nothing short of dominant this season. In 42 innings pitched, Wine has struck out 61 and has given up 14 hits, only one for extra bases. This week Wine improved to 8-0 and holds a 0.33 ERA with two shutouts. Marissa is one of the favorites to win the Class A state championship.