No state qualifiers, but MDH area delivers

If 2009 was a down year for Morris Daily Herald area baseball, that fact is a testament to the constant success the area had in past seasons.

This was the second straight year without a local state finalist after the area had produced one in three straight springs through 2007. Despite being one of just two area teams that finished the year with a losing record Dwight got within a game of the 2009 Class 1A State Tournament, falling in the super-sectional round. Coal City also won its own 2A regional.

All in all, the area boasted three conference champions, two second-place finishers and one team that ended up third. As usual, there was plenty of talent powering all of those wins. The rest of the 40-player 2009 MDH All-Area team, which is led by Most Valuable Player Josh Hall of Gardner-South Wilmington, is listed below.


PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Colt Smith
Junior, Coal City

When the Coalers needed a victory, they sent Smith to the mound. Though he regularly went up against the opposition's ace, Smith went 8-3 on the season for a team on which nobody else won more than three games and he recorded one save. His ERA was 2.11 in 73 innings, and he limited opponents to 58 hits and 20 walks while recording 84 strikeouts.

"As long as Colt is locating his stuff, we know he'll usually keep it a low-scoring game," said Coal City coach Jerry McDowell during the season.

When not on the mound, Smith played primarily in center field for the Coalers. He batted 87 times with a .310 batting average, totaling a double and two home runs, which both came in an 8-2 victory over Westmont May 12. He had 22 RBI, 16 runs scored and four stolen bases. Coal City was 17-14, won its eighth straight regional championship and tied with Seneca for the Interstate Eight Conference North Division title at 9-7.


PITCHING ROTATION
Mike Foltynewicz
Junior, Minooka

It is safe to say that Foltynewicz had the best season of any area pitcher with a 3-2 record. Facing off against No. 1 after No. 1 throughout the Indians' brutal schedule, he compiled a 2.23 ERA in 59.2 innings (a total limited by a midseason injury). He held opponents to 43 hits and 28 walks in 59 2/3 innings, and totaled 79 strikeouts.

"He didn't get a lot of help in many of his starts," said Minooka coach Jeff Petrovic. "I'll take Mike on the mound against anyone."

Foltynewicz hit .287 in 101 at-bats for the Indians, who were 23-11 overall and 16-5, which earned them second place, in the Southwest Prairie Conference. He managed eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, 25 RBI, 18 runs and eight stolen bases.


Ben Crater
Junior, GSW

Crater was the workhorse for the 17-10 Panthers. He pitched 59 innings and went 7-2 with a 2.14 ERA and a pair of saves. He compensated for his 65 hits allowed by giving up just eight walks, though he hit 10 batters. He totaled 54 strikeouts and was All-River Valley Conference for GSW, which won the conference with an 8-2 record.

Also a third baseman, Crater hit .421 on the year, which ranked just fourth among the GSW regulars. He had a team-high six home runs to go with six doubles and a triple. He added totals of 29 RBI and 30 runs scored.


Jake Evans
Senior, Reed-Custer

The first left-hander to make the team, Evans is the team MVP for the Comets, a two-time All-Area choice and a two-time All-Conference pick in the I-8. His ERA in 70 2/3 innings was 2.87 as he compiled a 6-4 record with one save. He struck out 61, allowing 74 hits with only 20 walks. Opponents batted .250 against him.

Evans, who will attend the University of St. Francis on a baseball scholarship in the coming weeks, helped the Comets finish 19-15 overall and 11-4, which was good for a second-place tie with Herscher in the South, in I-8 play. He also batted .240 in 96 at-bats with four doubles and a .352 on-base percentage.


Josh Higgins
Junior, Seneca

Another southpaw, Higgins went 6-2 with a 3.34 ERA for the Fighting Irish. In 65 innings pitched, he surrendered 62 hits and 26 walks. He fanned 69 hitters and earned All-Conference honors in the I-8, where the Irish tied with Coal City for first place in the North with a 9-7 record.

Higgins also batted cleanup and played center field for Seneca, which went 16-16 overall. His batting average in 92 at-bats was .446, and he slugged nine doubles and six home runs while totaling 30 RBI, scoring 31 times and stealing 11 bases.


BULLPEN
Justin Troyner
Senior, Minooka

Set to serve as the closer for the Indians entering the season, Troyner pitched his way into their rotation. He could well serve in that capacity for the All-Area team, except he would be a force out of its pen. He went 7-2 on the year, with a 1.75 ERA in 56 innings of work. He did have three saves and made 13 relief appearances and four starts in which he gave up 38 hits and 18 walks and struck out 61.

Troyner also batted .345 in 103 at-bats while serving as the primary first baseman for the Indians. He hit eight doubles and one home run, had 16 RBI and scored 15 runs. He also made the All-SPC team.


Kyle Cahill
Senior, Dwight

Cahill's 85 2/3 innings pitched were more than twice the total logged by anyone else on the Trojans' staff and it also led the area. He went 7-5 for a team that finished 15-20 overall. He also had three saves and a 3.89 ERA. During Dwight's super-sectional run, Cahill went 2-0 with two of his saves. Other totals turned in by the Elmhurst College-bound Cahill were 88 hits allowed, 20 walks and 108 strikeouts.

Over 104 at-bats, Cahill's batting average was .337. He hit four doubles, a triple and two home runs, notched 19 RBI and scored 26 runs. He was All-Conference in the I-8, despite the Trojans compiling a 2-13 record that left them last in the South.


Kevin Henry
Junior, Morris

Though Henry was just 3-4 on the season, he drew most of the tough assignments for the 8-25 Redskins. He compiled a 3.85 ERA in 56 1/3 innings with 36 strikeouts, 54 hits and 46 walks. Opponents batted .241 against him.

During his 67 at-bats on the season, Henry batted .194 with a home run, three doubles, nine RBI and nine runs scored.


Grant Van Haelst
Sophomore, Reed-Custer

Van Haelst was a steady winner behind Evans in the Comets rotation, going 5-2 over eight starts and 45 1/3 innings pitched. His ERA was 3.55, and opponents batted .243 against him. He allowed 44 hits, walked 22 and struck out 61.

An All-Conference pick in the I-8, Van Halest was also a regular in center field for the Comets, despite his youth. He hit an even .400 over 85 at-bats, with eight doubles, seven home runs, 20 RBI, 32 runs and 14 stolen bases.


David Balzer
Senior, Morris

Though Balzer pitched just 24 innings for Morris, his ERA of 3.50 was lowest on the team. He was 1-2 on the season, with 32 hits and 13 walks given up and 14 strikeouts. Most of his time defensively was spent on the left side of the infield.

The lone All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection for the 4-17 Redskins, Balzer batted .337 with a .439 on-base percentage. He hit seven doubles, a triple and four home runs while totaling 21 RBI and 22 runs scored.


Jake Butler
Junior, Minooka

The right-hander went 4-3 with a 3.61 ERA for the Indians in 11 pitching appearances, five of which were starts. His body of work on the mound included 22 hits and 29 walks allowed in 31 innings, along with 46 strikeouts.

Also a utility player, Butler batted 49 times for the Indians and batted .388 with a .434 on-base percentage. He had three doubles, a triple, 8 RBI and 13 runs scored.


Chris Robinson
Senior, Reed-Custer

Winner of the Mr. Hustle award for the Comets, Robinson was 4-4 with a respectable 3.07 ERA in 43 1/3 innings. He made five starts and gave up 51 hits and 17 walks, notching 46 strikeouts in the process.

A three-year starter, Robinson was the primary shortstop for the Comets, and was honored as an All-Conference player in the I-8. He was a .357 hitter in 112 at-bats, with a team-high 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts. Robinson hit five doubles, three triples and three home runs, scored 27 times and drove in 17 runs.


Noah Trainor
Senior, Dwight

Other than Cahill, Trainor was the only Trojans player  with a winning record this season. The lefty went 5-3 with a 4.85 ERA. He had a strikes-to-balls ratio better than 2-1. He gave up 43 hits and walked 18 in 42 2/3 innings, striking out 40.

Dwight also played Trainor in the outfield. He batted 97 times and maintained a .258 batting average with a .416 on-base percentage. He scored 13 runs.


Joe Pershey
Junior, Minooka

Pershey's eight starts were second-most by any Indians' player. He took advantage of them, going 4-1 with a 3.83 ERA. Over 49 1/3 innings, Perschey gave up 51 hits and 23 walks and totaled 41 strikeouts. He had one save.

Almost exclusively a pitcher for the Indians, Pershey had just one at-bat all year.


CATCHERS
Deric Punke
Senior, Seneca

Along with a rifle from behind the plate, Punke brought a .455 batting average to the table over 88 at-bats. He slugged 10 doubles, a triple and four home runs while totaling 29 RBI and 32 runs scored. He was All-Conference in the I-8 and is headed to Aurora University to play college baseball.


Zach Sorensen
Senior, GSW

Second only to area MVP Hall among the Panthers in hitting with a .457 average, Sorensen batted cleanup. Among his 37 hits in 81 at-bats were six doubles, a triple and two home runs. He drove in 27 runs and scored 26 of them.


Niko Capodice
Junior, Minooka

Capodice hit .288 this season while stabilizing a position the Indians deemed a weakness heading into 2009. He hit six doubles, a triple and three home runs in 108 at-bats, helping him make the All-SPC team. Capodice ended with 25 RBI and scored 21 times.


Chris Tidmore
Senior, Reed-Custer

While his offensive numbers were down, the Concordia University-bound Tidmore threw out 45 percent of attempted base stealers while winning his second team Gold Glove award. In 94 at-bats, Tidmore batted .234 with four doubles, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored. He was All-Conference in the I-8.


FIRST BASEMEN
Joe Briner
Senior, Dwight

Briner's .409 batting average led the Trojans, as did his eight home runs and 27 RBI. His 11 doubles tied for the team lead, and his 23 runs scored were tied for second. Also a pitcher, Briner went 1-5 over 41 2/3 innings of work.


Chris Irvin
Junior, GSW

Irvin batted .392 in 88 at-bats, totaling 10 doubles, a triple and a home run. His 30 RBI were second among the Panthers, and he scored 29 runs. Irvin was 3-2 in 21 1/3 innings pitched and had a 5.91 ERA.


Micah Hintze
Senior, Seneca

Over 86 at-bats, Hintze was a .302 hitter for the Irish. He totaled 20 RBI and 22 runs scored. In the field, he had six errors with 152 putouts and 7 assists.


SECOND BASEMEN
Alec Smith
Junior, Coal City

Over 62 at-bats, Smith also turned in a .306 batting average, with four doubles. Smith scored 21 runs, drove in 15 runs and stole four bags. A defensive standout at second, he also went 3-4 with a 5.92 ERA while pitching 39 innings. Smith was All-Conference in the I-8.


Kirk Telford
Junior, Dwight

Though Telford primarily played shortstop for the Trojans, he would best serve the All-MDH team at second. He brings a .333 batting average with 11 doubles, a triple and two home runs in 105 at-bats. He stole eight bases, notched 24 RBI and scored 23 times. On the mound, Telford had one earned run-free relief appearance.


Michael Terry
Senior, Seneca

Terry entered the year in what was supposed to be a platoon situation at second base, but earned most of the at-bats (74 of them) after hitting .297. He hit six doubles and a home run, with 18 runs scored and 12 RBI. In limited pitching duties, Terry had a 1-3 record.


SHORTSTOPS
Kevin Gabehart
Senior, Coal City

Leading off for the Coalers virtually all season long, Gabehart set the table by coaxing a team-high 17 walks and batting .363 in 91 at-bats. He showed some pop as well with eight doubles and a triple. He had 23 runs and 23 RBI. He also pitched five innings and was All-Conference in the I-8.


Alan Hardisty
Junior, Newark

Hardisty batted third for the Norsemen in 30 games as they went 18-14 overall and 12-4 for second place in the Little Ten Conference. He justified that spot by hitting .372 with a .709 slugging percentage. He had seven doubles, two triples, a team-high six home runs, 31 RBI, 41 runs scored and 21 walks.


Matt Grimler
Junior, GSW

Setting the table for a GSW offense that scored 251 runs in 27 games, Grimler hit .452 with a .558 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot. He had six doubles, a triple and five home runs in 105 at-bats. Grimler's 39 runs scored were second among the Panthers, and his 33 RBI led them. He also pitched 22 1/3 innings and went 1-2 with one save.


THIRD BASEMEN
Andrew Dunn
Junior, Seneca

The winner of his team's Gold Glove award, Dunn contributed enough to net All-Conference honors in the I-8. His .411 average over 95 at-bats was the primary reason, though Dunn also led the Irish with 33 RBI. He hit five doubles and scored 22 runs. Dunn also went 2-6 on the mound, but was the primary No. 2 starter.


Anthony Hakey
Junior, Coal City

Hakey played primarily in center field, but due to the crowded All-Area outfield, he'll don an infielder's glove. His .324 batting average in 74 at-bats coupled with three doubles, 18 runs and 14 RBI, are worthy of a spot.


Justin Porter
Senior, Morris

One of Morris' three captains, Porter hit .291 with a .410 on-base percentage in 86 at-bats. He hit five doubles and two home runs, with 16 RBI. As a pitcher, Porter logged 30 2/3 innings in 10 appearances, including five starts.


OUTFIELDERS
Kurt Anderson
Senior, Newark

After Anderson did not play baseball his junior year, he returned to the sport with a vengeance. He led the Norsemen in batting average (.523), hits (46), doubles (10), triples (7), RBI (48), total bases (76) and slugging percentage (.864). He also stole 18 bases and registered a .595 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Anderson served as the Norsemen ace. Coach Brian Holman said, "Pitching stats are misleading due (to) the competition I had him throw against." Still, Anderson recorded a 3.65 ERA with a 2-5 record and struck out 42 in 38 1/3 innings. He was the Newark MVP and co-captain and All-Little 10 Conference.


Tom Taylor
Junior, Coal City

By a wide margin, Taylor's .407 batting average, compiled in a team-high 93 at-bats, led the Coalers. He hit eight doubles, two triples and four home runs and totaled 28 RBI and 26 runs scored. When pitching, Taylor made the most of his 10 1/3 innings, going 1-0 with a 1.18 ERA.


Drew Tollefson
Senior, Newark

A four-year varsity letter winner and two-time All-LTC selection, Tollefson batted .494 this spring with nine doubles, a triple, a home run, 30 RBI, seven steals and 27 walks. His .615 on-base percentage led the Norsemen, for whom he was a co-captain.


Brian Martin
Senior, Minooka

Martin's .367 batting average, compiled in 109 at-bats, was tops among Indians with 50 or more at-bats. He hit four doubles, scored 31 runs, notched 19 RBI and sparked the top of the lineup with 19 stolen bases in 20 tries. He had a .473 on-base percentage and was all-conference in the Southwest Prairie.


Mark Opyd
Junior, GSW

Yet another Panther with a batting average above .400, Opyd came in at .403 over 83 at-bats. He hit eight doubles and two home runs, drove in 25 runs and scored 20 of them.


Adam Kruse
Junior, Minooka

By hitting .319 with a .430 on-base percentage in 72 at-bats, Kruse earned All-Conference honors in the SPC. He hit five doubles and a triple, scoring 23 runs and driving in 10. He stole seven bases, and his on-base percentage was .518.


Ryan Collier
Junior, Coal City

Collier thrust himself into the middle of the Coalers order by hitting .320 in 75 at-bats, with three doubles and three home runs. He drove in 20 runs and scored 18. Collier also was a starting pitcher, going 2-5 on the season and working 38 innings.


Kjeld Torkelson
Sophomore, Morris

A bright spot for the Redskins, Torkelson was second among them with a .324 batting average in 74 at-bats. Three doubles and three home runs were among his 24 hits, and he totaled 13 runs and 13 RBI. He also had one pitching appearance.


Jared Walsh
Senior, Seneca

Walsh continued his steady work at the top of the lineup for the Irish by batting .293 in 99 at-bats. He hit three doubles, stole a team-leading 19 bases, scored 23 runs and drove in 13 of them. Another category in which Walsh led the Irish was sacrifices, with five.


HONORABLE MENTION

Coal City — Cody Onsen, freshman. Dwight — Blake Becker, senior; Dan Grubbs, senior. GSW — Sean Elens, junior. Minooka — Daktota Brown, sophomore; Andy Pieczynski, junior. Morris — Josh DeGraaf, sophomore. Newark — John Avery, sophomore; Russell McGrath, junior. Reed-Custer — Derek Albin, junior, Chase Fisher, junior. Seneca — Alex Applebee, senior.