Prep Baseball Report

2021 PBR Second Team All-State


By Peter Hamot and Drew locascio
Illinois Scouting Staff

On Thursday, the PBR Illinois team released its First-Team All-State honors for the 2021 IHSA season. Today, we’re announcing the recipients of our Second-Team All-State honors. Given the amount of talent residing in the state, the Second-Team roster is stacked with selections representing all corners of Illinois.

Keep an eye out in the coming days when we release our Third-Team.

But for now, and without further ado, here is the roster for the 2021 PBR Illinois’ Second-Team All-State.

PITCHERS

Landen Looper RHP / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2021

POS IP W/L K BB ERA WHIP
RHP 44.1 8-0 60 18 0.47 0.95

Louisville commit. 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander served as the ace of the staff for Lincoln-Way East who finished 27-3 on the season, landing at No. 8 on the final Power 25 rankings. Looper, who finished 8-0 on the season, featured some of the best feel/command for his off-speed in the class. In 44.1 innings pitched, he struck out 60, scattered 24 hits to a tune of a 0.47 ERA.

Julius Sanchez RHP / LaSalle Peru, IL / 2022

POS IP W/L H K BB ERA WHIP
RHP 42 3-2 18 85 13 0.33 074

Illinois commit. The 6-foot 215-pound right-hander produces some of the easiest velocity in the state with a minimal effort low-90’s fastball. Despite finishing the year with a mundane 3-2 record, Sanchez had some of the most dominant stuff and numbers of anyone across the state. Sanchez put together a sparkling 0.33 ERA in 42 innings pitched. The Illini bound Sanchez allowed just 18 hits on the year while punching out 85 batters and only walking 13.

Jake Swartz RHP / Normal University, IL / 2022

POS IP Saves W/L K BB ERA WHIP
RHP 38.1 1 6-1 61 16 0.55 0.78

Illinois commit. 6-foot-1 165-pound right-hander was the ace of a stacked Normal University pitching staff this year, leading the team to the 2A State Semifinals and eventually an overall 32-4 record. Swartz finished with a 6-1 record of his own and possesses some of the best swing and miss stuff in the state. In 38.1 innings, he scattered just 14 hits while striking out 61 opponents, only walking 16 and finishing with a 0.54 ERA. At one point in the season, Swartz twirled back-to-back no-hitters.

Adam Brouwer RHP / Chicago Christian, IL / 2021

POS IP W/L K BB ERA WHIP
RHP 56 8-1 86 6 0.63 0.70

Illinois-Springfield commit. Led a talented Chicago-Christian club to an overall 24-4 record this season. The 6-foot-1 200-pound right-hander is extremely polished for his age, using a three-pitch mix that helped him cruise to an 8-1 record on the mound. Brouwer struck out an astounding 86 batters to only 6 walks and pitched to a 0.62 ERA in 56 innings.

CATCHER

Hayden Christiansen C / Richmond-Burton, IL / 2022

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG
.521 11 5 9 33 32 10 4 .590 1.20

Xavier commit. Christiansen is the definition of an All-State catcher, reliable defensively and stellar offensive production. At the plate he collected a .521 batting average with 11 doubles and nine home runs to slot himself as one of the premier catchers in the state. 

FIRST BASEMAN

Victor Izquierdo 1B / Lockport, IL / 2022

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG
.434 6 1 13 46 36 24 13 .540 .909

Navy commit. 6-foot-2 210-pound frame and one of the more intimidating bats in the state this spring. Izquierdo hit his way into the All-State team with a .434 batting average and 13 home runs. The right-handed hitter proved to be a catalyst in the middle of a talented Lockport lineup. Izquierdo and First-Team selection, Ryan Moerman, were arguably the most dangerous two hitters in any lineup this state, combining for 28 home runs.

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Christopher Worcester SS / Lake Park, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG SB
.545 13 2 4 44 34 8 9 .576 .838 18/20

Eastern Illinois commit. Worcester helped lead Lake Park to the 4A State finals and a 33-5 overall record; as well as landing the Lancers at No. 2 in the final Illinois 2021 Power 25 rankings. The future Panther collected a .545 batting average to go along with 13 doubles. He also proved to be a threat on the basepaths, stealing 18 bases on 20 attempts.

Sam Antonacci SS / Sacred Heart-Griffin, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG OPS
.538 8 6 4 35 52 28 6 .638 .882 1.520

Heartland CC commit. Served as the starting shortstop for Sacred Heart-Griffin and played a large role in the team’s success, also closing games out on the mound. Antonacci helped lead the Cyclones to the 2A State Semifinals and an overall record of 33-3. Antonacci produced a .538 batting average with 52 runs scored, 16 stolen bases and a .638 OBP.

THIRD BASEMAN

Jake Munroe 3B / Champaign Central, IL / 2022

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG SB
.494 11 8 6 27 49 25 5 .629 1.000 19/21

Uncommitted. Munroe had a break-out junior year this past season impressing with multiple tools. The right-handed bat collected a .494 batting average with six home runs, eight triples and 11 doubles. He also showcased speed on the base paths to go along with his reliable bat, stealing 19 bases on 21 attempts.

OUTFIELDERS

Cole Luckey OF / Glenbrook South, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG SB
.462 11 6 8 36 40 6 16 .517 .906 4

Bradley commit. An everyday top of the order bat for Glenbrook South, Luckey dominated this year in every offensive category. The right-hander turned in a .462 batting average to go along with eight home runs, six triples and 11 doubles. Luckey also drove in 36 runs along with 40 runs scored of his own.

Bobby Atkinson OF / St. Rita, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG
.448 8 2 9 41 41 21 10 .551 .854

Heartland CC commit. Atkinson has been a starter for St. Rita ever since his freshman season. The talented left-handed hitter, saved his best year for last, hitting .448 with nine home runs, 41 RBI's and 41 runs scored.

Owen Wolcott OF / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG SB
.494 13 1 6 37 28 21 13 .607 .882 7/8

Uncommitted. The Lincoln-Way West senior dominated this past season with a .494 batting average, 6 home runs and 13 doubles. Wolcott also notched an impressive .607 OBP that in turn allowed him to come across and score 28 times.

UTILITY

Alex Calarco C / INF / New Trier, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SO OBP SLG SB
.438 5 1 8 33 32 36 10 .603 .787 4/4

Northwestern commit. There isn’t much Calarco can’t do, playing multiple positions throughout his high school career and batting from both sides of the plate. Calarco ended the season with a .438 batting average, eight home runs, 33 RBIs and 32 runs scored. The future Wildcat also showed a mature/patient approach at the plate, drawing 36 walks on the year that helped raise his OBP to .603.

Jude Sullivan OF / 1B / Paris, IL / 2021

AVE 2B 3B HR RBI R
.526 15 3 11 47 41

Lake Land JC commit. The left-handed bat of Sullivan had a stellar year in every offensive aspect. The OF/1B tallied a .526 batting average, 11 home runs, 15 doubles, 47 RBIs and 41 runs scored to earn the much deserved nod as an All-State'r his senior season.

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