Prep Baseball Report 2008 All-State Teams

First Team

Jake Odorizzi (Player of the Year) // RHP-SS // Highland HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: After going 71 consecutive innings, Odorizzi allowed his first and only earned run of the year in the playoffs.  He finished with a 14-0 record, a ridiculous 0.08 ERA, struck out 146 batters and walked only 6 in 89.2 innings this year. At the plate, he hit 15 HRs, 10 doubles, 2 triples while scoring 64 runs and drove in 41 as the team’s leadoff hitter.

Bryan Roberts // RHP // Benet Academy // Class of 2008
The Skinny: The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Roberts became one of the most dominating pitchers in the state, racking up 133 strikeouts to 16 walks in 71.2 innings pitched. Facing some of the top teams in the state, the University of Illinois-bound right-hander finished with a 0.89 ERA and a 9-2 record with three saves. He also batted .404 with 14 doubles.

Greg Billo // RHP // Sandburg HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Signed at St. Joseph’s College, the 6-foot-3 Billo helped Sandburg to a sectional championship by going 12-1 with two saves. He posted a 1.11 ERA and struck out 91 and walked 27 in 70.1 innings pitched. He allowed 12 earned runs and 47 hits. Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 28th round.

Eric Rohe // RHP // Mundelein HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: The right-hander won his first 13 games, his only loss coming in an eight-inning complete game in the sectional final. He finished a 0.94 ERA, a WHIP of 0.94 and struck out 113 strikeouts to 23 walks. His win total, which included six shutouts, was nearly half of Mundelein’s victories. He allowed 59 hits in 89 innings. Headed to Carthage College.

Dominick D’Agata // Catcher // Schaumburg HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Signed at Purdue, the left-handed hitting D’Agata was one of the toughest catchers to run on in the state, throwing out more than 60 percent of the runners. At the plate, the three-year standout batted .463 with seven homers, 12 doubles, three triples with 33 RBI and 33 runs scored. He only struck out four times all season.

Justin Ringo // First Base // Stagg HS // Class of 2009
The Skinny: The 6-foot, 192-pound junior became arguably Chicago-area’s most feared left-handed hitter. He finished with 15 home runs, 14 doubles, 49 RBI, 47 runs and walked 35 times. He batted .538 and slugged at an amazing 1.200 clip, while only striking out 12 times. As a sophomore, Ringo hit 10 home runs.

Mike McQuillan // Second Base // Brother Rice HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: The left-handed hitting McQuillan was named the Chicago Catholic Blue Player of the Year after he set the school record with 50 runs, tallied 9 doubles, 6 HRs, 44 hits and 18 stolen bases as the team’s leadoff hitter. He batted .436 with a .581 on-base percentage. Signed at the University of Iowa.

Kevin Koziol // Shortstop // Brother Rice HS // Class of 2010
The Skinny: Only a sophomore, the 6-foot-2 Koziol tied the school with 11 home runs, and led Brother Rice’s high-scoring offense with 48 RBI. The two-year standout also tallied 12 doubles, 41 hits, walked 20 times and slugged at a .761 clip. On the mound, the hard-throwing right-hander went 6-2 with three saves and a 1.31 ERA.

Joey DeBernardis // Third Base // Lake Zurich HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Signed at Penn State, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound DeBernardis batted .542 with an astounding 1.125 slugging percentage and a .641 on-base percentage. He broke his own school record with 13 home runs, to go along with 15 doubles, 56 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 42 runs. He also went 7-2 with a 0.82 ERA. Drafted in the 37th round by the Marlins.

John Ruettiger // Outfield // Joliet Catholic Academy HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Signed at Arizona State, Ruettiger did it all for Joliet Catholic in its run to a Class 3A third-place finish. He finished with a .488 batting average with 15 doubles, 17 stolen bases, 57 runs, 59 hits and drove in 39 runs. On the mound, the left-hander went 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 35th round.

Tim Barry // Outfield // Oak Forest HS // Class of 2011
The Skinny: As the first freshman to be named All-State, Barry certainly earned the honor. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Barry tallied 73 RBI, a total that ranks second all-time in IHSA history. He also notched 15 doubles, 13 home runs and batted .495 for the year. Perhaps most amazing was he struck out only eight times.

Jason David // Outfield // Neuqua Valley HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Headed to Illinois State, David’s story is a real-life Hollywood script. Less than a year from being involved in a near-fatal car crash, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound outfielder/pitcher batted .453 with 11 home runs, nine doubles and drove in 52 RBI to help lead the Wildcats to a Class 4A third-place finish. He also won five games on the mound.

Jarred Hippen // Utility // Rock Falls HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Signed at Iowa, Hippen led Rock Falls to a Class 3A second-place finish after going 14-0 with a 0.49 ERA. In 71 innings, the 6-foot-3 left-hander recorded 140 strikeouts to 31 walks. At the plate he was equally as impressive, batting .483 with seven homers, 11 doubles and 46 RBI.

Second Team

Ian Krol // LHP // Neuqua Valley HS // Class of 2009
The Skinny: The left-hander was simply dominating in his junior year. He went 9-1 with two no-hitters and a perfect game. In 57 innings he struck out 109 and had a 0.94 ERA. Also hit .500.

Michael Heesch // LHP // Prairie Ridge HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Headed to UIC, the 6-foot-5 left-hander went 10-1 with a 1.49 ERA for the 4A state champs. In 80 innings, he struck out 94 and walked 22. Pitched a complete-game in state semis.

Tony Bucciferro // RHP // Minooka HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: The Michigan State recruit finished 31-3 in his three-year standout career. This spring he went 10-2 with 102 strikeouts to 15 walks in 89 innings. He tallied six complete games w/ 1.73 ERA.

Jimmy Risi // First Base // Highland Park HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Headed to Kansas State, the left-handed hitting Risi was one of the state’s most feared hitters, evidenced by his 43 walks. He finished with 11 HRs, .907 slugging, and a .996 fielding percentage.

Nick Ratajczak // Second Base // Joliet Catholic Academy // Class of 2009
The Skinny: The left-handed hitting junior batted .491 with 19 doubles, 6 triples and 2 HRs. More amazingly, he tallied 55 RBI and scored 55 runs while amassing 57 hits for the Hilltoppers.

Josh Parr // Shortstop // Illinois Valley Central HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Arguably the state’s best defensive shortstop, Parr led IVC to a Class 2A runner-up finish. Signed at Illinois, Parr scored 58 runs, tallied 47 hits and 26 RBI from the leadoff hole.

Tim Scanlan // Third Base // Prospect HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Signed at Eastern Kentucky, the three-year starter earned MSL-co Player of the Year after hitting 8 homers and driving in 47 runs. He finished with a .441 batting average.

Blake Brown // Outfield // Normal West HS // Class of 2009
The Skinny: The athletic junior set the school record with 11 home runs to go along with 16 doubles, 51 RBI and scored 42 runs. He finished with a .440 batting average, 11 SBs, and struck out 6 times.

Nick Martini // Outfield // Prairie Ridge HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: Headed to Kansas State, the left-handed hitting Martini tallied 18 doubles, 7 homers and two triples for the 4A state champs. He also stole 32 bases, was walked 23 times and batted .434.

Seth Schwindenhammer // Outfield // Limestone HS // Class of 2009
The Skinny: The left-handed hitter enjoyed a breakout junior campaign by blasting 13 home runs and driving in 43. He had a slugging percentage of .925 while playing a stellar outfield.

Adam Davis // Catcher // Driscoll Catholic HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: The Illinois recruit has arguably the best throwing arm in the state. At the plate, the two-time All-State pick hit 10 homers (25 for his 3-year career), 38 RBI and slugged at a .796 clip.

Braden Kapteyn // Utility // Illiana Christian HS // Class of 2008
The Skinny: The Kentucky recruit batted .578 with 16 doubles, 7 HRs, 2 triples, 44 RBI and 45 runs. On the mound he was equally as dominant, going 8-2 with 93 strikeouts in 55 innings.