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Illinois Sparks Baseball Club
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Pitching Clinic With Alan Dunn
010310 Alan Dunn Pitching Clinic
Please see the attached brochure for a pitching clinic with Chicago Cub and Baltimore Oriole pitching coach, Alan Dunn. Bo Jackson's Elite Sports Dome, Lockport. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.
IL Sparks Banquet and Awards Ceremony
012910 Sparks Banquet
See the attached form for our first banquet and awards ceremony. Keynote Speaker if former MLB pitcher Dave Dravecky. 1st Inductee Class to Sparks Hall of Fame. Georgios Banquets, Orland Park. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.
Cangelosi 2011 Win Perfect Game/WWBA AZ Underclass World Championship
Cangelosi Baseball Wins 10-2, 9/25/2009 1:15:17 PM
Cangelosi Baseball scored in five of the seven innings to defeat the Perfect Game Gold team 10-2 in early action in the Underclass Tournament.
Two young Cangelosi players in particular showed their prospect tools during the game.
LHP Kyle Wood (2011, St Laurence HS, IL) started the game for Cangelosi and pitched 2 hitless innings. Although he struggled with his control and walked 4, Wood showed a quick and clean arm action and was between 84 and 87 mph on his fastball.
SS Mason Snyder (2011, Marquette HS, IL) batted clean up for Cangelosi and hit a ringing double off the LCF fence on the big league size fields at the Diamondbacks spring training home.
Cangelosi Off to a Hot Start, 9/25/2009 5:31:50 PM
Cangelosi Baseball was as hot as the weather in their first 2 games in the Underclass championships. The Illinois players outscored their opponents 22-2 in 11 innings of play, getting 19 hits in the process.
11 different Cangelosi players have hits already, with 3B Sam Travis leading the way with 4.
Tyler House, Big Projectable LHP for Cangelosi BB, 9/26/2009 10:56:09 AM
Tyler House, a big 6-4, 185 lb 2011 southpaw for Cangelosi Baseball, threw well in Cangelosi's 12-0 win over the ABD Surf Dogs. House, who attends Mt. Carmel HS in Illinois, threw 3 shutout innings in the run rule victory, allowing 1 hit while striking out 5. House pitched between 80-83 mph with his fastball but projects to gain more velocity in the future as he fills out and matures. He also threw an upper 60's curveball and 70 mph change up.
Cangelosi Baseball Edges San Diego Storm, 9/27/2009 6:00:32 PM
The powerful Cangelosi Baseball offense couldnt' put together the big inning against the San Diego Storm, leaving 9 men on base, but they scored just enough to edge the Storm 6-4.
3B Sam Travis continued his hot hitting in the clean up spot, going 2-3 and scoring 2 runs. RF Kyle Wood drove in 3 runs, two on a first inning double.
Championship Game Blog
Cangelosi Baseball avenged a defeat to the ABD Warriors in pool play, winning the championship game of the first Perfect Game/WWBA Underclass National Championship by a 9-7 score.
Both teams were playing with short rosters in the championship game and pretty much out of pitching. A total of 8 different players took the mound for the two teams.
Cangelosi took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when a booming triple to centerfield by SS Mason Snyder scored leadoff hitter CF Matt Trowbridge. Snyder then scored on a wild pitch. They increased their lead to 5-1 in the 3rd inning, with doubles by Snyder and RHP/3B Sam Travis being the key blows.
The Warriors, most of whose players traveled all the way from Hawaii to play in the championship, stayed in the game by scoring 2 runs in the 4th inning behind doubles by 2B Kaimann Algniza and RF Alan Baldwin, making the score 6-3
Cangelosi stretched the lead back to 9-3 in the 5th inning on a 2 runs double by 1B Collin McEnery but the Warriors again fought back, scoring 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning and putting the potential tying run on second base before Trowbridge, the 5th Cangelosi pitcher, closed the game out.
Snyder was named the Most Valuable Player. The 2011 grad from Marquette HS in Ottawa, Illinois went 8-19 at the plate with 10 runs scored and 8 Rbi's. Six of his 8 hits went for extra bases and he also played solid defense at shortstop.
Cangelosi Baseball LHP Tyler House was named the event's Most Valuable Pitcher. The 6-4, 170 lb southpaw from Mount Carmel HS, Richton Park, Illinois, went 2-0 in 7 innings, including a clutch 4 inning relief outing in the semifinals.
Steven Bajenski (May 8, 1992 – August 28, 2009)
On August 28th we lost a teammate and a friend, Steven Bajenski.
Steven was born with aortic stenosis. When he was an infant, he had surgery to temporarily correct the defect. In 2007, when he was 15 years old, they added a ballooning of the valve. In February of this year, they unsuccessfully tried this procedure again. On July 30th, he had the Ross Konno Procedure done, the same surgery that MLB player Aaron Boone had, and was doing very well. During the early morning of August 1st, complications occurred.
Although Steven was a young man that lived 17 short years, he accomplished 100 years worth during his time with us. We want to thank Steven’s family, Mark, Karen, and Paige for sharing him with us. We are so much better for knowing him, coaching him, and playing alongside him. As an organization, we wrap our collective arms around the Bajenski family to grieve together and shoulder some of their tremendous burden.
Steven Bajenski will never be forgotten in our program. Steven’s legacy will be remembered by our program in a special way to be determined at a later date.
We know that Stevie is in perfect health now and in a perfect place.
Sparks 18U Headed To Connie Mack World Series
Congradulations to the IL Sparks 18U Team of Coach Vitas, Thompson, Marino, Savas and Renner. After falling in to the loser bracket of the double elimination North Central Regional Tournament in Battle Creek, MI; Vitas' team won three games in a row with their backs to the wall to punch their tickets to Farmington, NM.
Pictured are: David Suarez, Eric Zwintscher, Pat Gannon, Anthony Maldonado, Rick Palmer, Coach Marino, Coach Thompson, Coach Savas, Coach Renner, Justing Ringo, Chris Savas, Tony O'Shea, Corey Walden, Tim Drish, Brady Renner, Bob Schuch, Jake Naumann, Jack DeAno, Pat Kaminska and Coach Vitas.
Good luck in Farmington!
Tony Zych Makes USA Baseball Collegiate National Team
Congradulations to current Louisville RHP and former St. Rita HS Mustang and Illinois Spark, Tony Zych.
Way to go!
Cangelosi Baseball 09s Take 2nd In Perfect Game's 2008 WWBA World Championship
Congratulations to Cangelosi Baseball 09's for finishing 2nd in this tournament attended by 80 teams from across the country, Canada and Puerto Rico. Perfect Game's WWBA World Championship is attended by more professional scouts and college coaches than any other single high school baseball tournament in the world. It is estimated that 700 scouts and coaches were in attendance at the home of the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals spring training complex.
Cangelosi Players: Pat Gannon LHP Brother Rice, Justin Kopale MIF/3B St. Rita, Mark Payton OF/LHP St. Rita, Luke Mottashed C/2B Cary Grove, Charlie White OF/LHP Naperville North, Steve DalPorto MIF/3B Nazareth, Matt Highland OF/MIF Herscher, Brandon Hohl 3B/MIF Lincoln-Way East, Chris Savas 3B/1B Willowbrook, Don Stopka 1B/3B Carmel Catholic, Dan Huenecke RHP Palatine, Kevin Gates RHP Chesterton, Jake Naumann RHP Naperville North, Mike Hollenbeck C Joliet Township, David Suarez RHP/3B Lasalle Peru, Pat Kaminska RHP Naperville Central, Mike Kane OF/1B Notre Dave, Anthony Andres LHP/OF St. Rita, Sam Picchiotti MIF/OF Oak Park River Forest, Jack Murphy C/RHP Oak Forest, Brian Krolikowski RHP Batavia, Brian Baldwin RHP/1B Brother Rice
Cangelosi Coaches: Dave Payton, Bill Copp, John Cangelosi, Joe Murphy, Brian Baldwin, Brian White, Jason Vitas
Cangelosi went 4-0 in pool play outscoring their opponents 30 to 8. The pool play wins were 14-1 over New Jersey PG Red, 5-4 over the Ohio Warhawks (pool & tournament favorite), 7-1 over the Dulins Dodgers and 4-2 over Team Worth.
In the round of 16, Cangelosi defeated the Florida Bombers Scout Team 4-1. In the round of 8, Cangelosi defeated the Royals Baseball Club 3-0. In the round of 4, Cangelosi defeated the Texas Scout Team Yankees 3-1. And in the championship game, Cangelosi was defeated by the ABD Bulldogs 7-3.
Congratulations to Mark Payton who was named the championship’s Most Valuable Player for his role in the middle of the batting order, outstanding defense in centerfield and leadership.
The links below will take you to Perfect Game CrossChecker Cangelosi and tournament stories:
Perfect Game CrossChecker's 2008 Jupiter Top 10 List, #1 Cangelosi Embodies Team Concept
Perfect Game CrossChecker's Tournament Blogs
IL Sparks 18s Finish 2nd at Perfect Game's WWBA 2008 Grads 18U National Championship at East Cobb
Congratulations to our 2008 18U players and coaches for finishing 2nd in arguably the most prestigious 18U tournament in the country. The Sparks accomplishment represents the first time that a nothern team has ever advanced beyond the Elite 8 in this tournament's history. This year's tournament was made up of 186 teams and players from across the country. The Sparks finished 9-1 going 5-0 in pool and 4-0 in the tournament round before its only loss in the final championship game of the tournament. John Ruettiger OF/LHP of Joliet Catholic Academy / Arizona State University was named the tournament MVP. The IL Sparks were a recipient of the PG PRO AWARD as well. The recipient of this award is the team that displays the most professionalism, the most class and the best sportsmanship.
You can visit Perfect Game at www.perfectgame.org.
Present College Commitments
| Arizona State University |
| 2010 Mark Payton OF St. Rita |
| Ball State University |
| 2009 Jon Cisna IF/LHP Lockport HS |
| Baylor University |
| 2009 Steve DalPorto SS Nazareth HS |
| Belmont University |
| 2009 Dan Huenecke RHP Palatine HS |
| Bradley University |
| 2009 Bob Schuch OF/IF Brother Rice HS |
| Central Michigan University |
| 2009 Chris Savas IF Willowbrook HS |
| 2009 Dietrich Enns LHP Lincoln-Way East HS |
| 2009 Scott Marinier RHP/OF St. Rita HS |
| Heartland Community College |
| 2009 Brett Maus LHP Andrew HS |
| 2009 Luke Mottashed C/2B Cary Grove HS |
| Howard College |
| 2009 JoJo Maldonado IF Oak Park River Forest HS |
| John A. Logan College |
| 2009 Mike Kane OF/1B Notre Dame HS |
| Joliet Junior College |
| 2009 Tim Drish OF Batavia HS |
| Miami University of Ohio |
| 2009 Brian Krolikowski RHP Batavia HS |
| Purdue University |
| 2009 Pat Gannon LHP Brother Rice HS |
| Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville |
| 2009 Matt Highland IF/OF Herscher HS |
| St. Xavier University |
| 2009 Tony O'Shea C/OF Mt. Carmel |
| Stanford University |
| 2009 Justin Ringo 1B/OF Amos Alonzo Stagg HS |
| University of Evansville |
| 2009 Jake Naumann RHP/IF Naperville North HS |
| University of Illinois - Champaign |
| 2009 Brandon Hohl IF Lincoln-Way East HS |
| 2009 Kevin Johnson RHP Mount Carmel HS |
| University of Iowa |
| 2009 Kevin Gates RHP Chesterton HS (IN) |
| University of Kentucky |
| 2009 Jon Carlson LHP Rolling Meadows HS |
| Vanderbilt University |
| 2009 Jack DeAno OF/RHP Wheaton North HS |
| Wright State University |
| 2009 Justin Kopale SS St. Rita HS |
| 2009 Sam Picchiotti IF Oak Park River Forest HS |
PG Invitational Tournament - Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
The IL Sparks are excited to announce that Perfect Game has invited our 17U program to participate in this invitational event at the home of the Minnesota Twins. This event will take place on June 10th, 11th and 12th before Perfect Game's National Showcase which will be held over the weekend at the Metrodome. Other programs participating in this event with the IL Sparks include the Minnesota Starz, Midwest Blazers, East Cobb and Orlando Scorpions.
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Date
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Time
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Visitor
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Home
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Location
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6/10/2008
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12:00 PM
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Midwest Blazers Scout Team
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Illinois Sparks 17U
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Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
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6/11/2008
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12:00 PM
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Illinois Sparks 17U
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Orlando Scorpions 17U Purple
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Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
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6/11/2008
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2:30 PM
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Illinois Sparks 17U
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East Cobb Braves 17
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Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
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6/12/2008
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11:30 AM
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Minnesota Starz
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Illinois Sparks 17U
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Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
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You can visit Perfect Game at www.perfectgame.org.
Sparks 10U - 15U Teams
Illinois Sparks Mission
Our mission is simple: We will strive as a program to ensure that the young men in our organization are provided professional training and instruction. Additionally, we will place a significant emphasis on exposing the IL Sparks to collegiate baseball and the necessary qualities they must possess to play at that level.
Our intent is to play at the highest level of national competition while concurrently providing the required exposure to college coaches and professional scouts. We take a great deal of PRIDE in being a Spark, not only on the field, but off the field as well. We strive to teach each of our players that no individual is larger than the team, and without each other, there is no team.
Illinois Sparks Organization
The Illinois Sparks are one of the region's top amateur programs at the 16U, 17U and 18U levels. Having succeeded on the national stage in many different venues, the program has become recognized nationally because of its talented players. This recognition is very important to the IL Sparks as we have developed many significant relationships with college coaches and professional scouts that will assist our players in achieving their baseball related goals. We are an organization that places our emphasis on creating great practice habits. We promote team play. We feel strongly that the foundation of our program comes from the strength and professionalism of our coaches, as well as the support from the players and parents of the entire organization. We are a non-profit 501C organization. Without the support from our benefactors and parents, this program would never be possible.
Past College Commitments
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Arizona State University
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Ohio University
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2007 Seth Blair P Rock Falls HS
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2008 Nick Egan RHP/3B Wheaton Warrenville S HS
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2008 John Ruettiger OF Joliet Catholic HS
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Oakton CC
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Augustana College
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2006 Andrew Hagins OF OPRF HS
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2006 Mike Odenthal IF Naperville Central HS
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2006 Lenell Mcgee IF/RHP Mt. Carmel HS
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Blackhawk College
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2006 Devin Foreman IF Hales Franciscan HS
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Tom Marsh OF Wheaton Warrenville South HS
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2007 Lou Vicelli C Glenbard East HS
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Casey Manheim P/C Wheaton Warrenville South HS
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Parkland CC
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Bradley University
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2007 Max Friedman IF Whitney Young HS
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2006 Alex Zerman RHP Stevenson HS
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Penn State University
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Butler University
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2008 Joey DeBernardis 3B/RHP Lake Zurich HS
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2007 Grant Fillipitch IF Lyons Township HS
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Saint Ambrose University
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2008 Stephen Kaffel 1B Carl Sandburg HS
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2007 Steve Heaney P/DH St. Rita HS
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2008 Ryan Salvino RHP Nazareth HS
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Saint Louis University
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2008 Brian Padove C Marian Catholic HS
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2003 Bill Musselman C Providence Catholic HS
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Carthage College
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South Suburban CC
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2008 Marty Dzik RHP Bolingbrook HS
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2006 Tony Lepore MIF Sandburg HS
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Chandler Gilbert CC
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Southern Illinois University
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2005 Tim Dennehy LHP OPRF HS
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2006 Louie Johanns IF Naperville Central HS
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Eastern Illinois University
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2006 Tom Cerven C Minooka HS
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2003 Mark Chagnon OF Providence Catholic HS
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2007 Nick Rice LHP Tremper HS
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2007 Sean Estand IF/P St. Rita HS
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2008 Jordan Sivertsen RHP/OF Carmel HS
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2007 Mike Recchia IF/P Shepard HS
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St. Joseph College (Indiana)
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Eastern Kentucky University
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2006 Thomas Zurliene IF Joliet Catholic HS
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2007 Ryan Faidley IF/OF Crystal Lake South HS
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2007 Matt Foltz 1B/3B Wheaton Warrenville South HS
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2008 Andres Rodriguez OF Marian Catholic HS
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2007 Josh Zenawick OF Marist HS
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Furman
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2007 Chris Chojnowski P St. Rita HS
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2008 Bobby Lyne RHP Carmel HS
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2008 Phil Trowbridge LHP Providence Catholic HS
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Long Island University
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United States Military Academy
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2008 Julian Kenner IF/C Whitney Young Magnet
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2007 Kirk Porter P Lake Zurich HS
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Garden City CC
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University of Dayton
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2006 Edwin Krupa IF/RHP Lockport HS
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2006 Bobby Simmons IF/RHP Driscoll HS
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Harvard University
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University of Illinois - Champaign
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2007 Dillon O'Neil OF Benet Academy HS
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2006 Micheal Giller C/OF St. Patricks HS
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Illinois State University
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2007 Casey Crosby LHP Kaneland HS
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2007 Kevin Tokarski OF Downers Grove North HS
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2008 Corey Kimes LHP Ottawa HS
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Illinois Wesleyan University
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2008 Brian Roberts RHP/C Benet HS
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2006 Pat Kirchhofer RHP/OF Wheaton North HS
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2008 Will Strack RHP Sycamore HS
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2006 Joeseph Froehlich LHP OPRF HS
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University of Illinois - Chicago
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Indian Hills CC
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2000 Brendan Aubin P Sandburg HS
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2006 Oscar Sanchez LHP Clemente HS
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2004 Brett Schaefer C Brother Rice HS
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Indiana State University
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2006 Andy Leonard IF Stagg HS
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2007 Brian Reigler C Downers Grove South HS
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2007 Deven Melecio OF Clemente HS
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Indiana University
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2007 Rafael Garcia IF Clemente HS
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2006 Brian Lambert IF Pontiac HS
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2008 Michael Heesch LHP Prairie Ridge HS
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John A Logan CC
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University of Iowa
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2006 Nick Herrera C Geneva HS
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2006 Tyson Blaser C Rockridge HS
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Joliet Junior College
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2007 Trevor Willis IF Lockport HS
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2007 Tyler Thompson 2B/C Carl Sandburg HS
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2008 Nick Brown RHP/IF Wheaton Warrenville South HS
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2007 Brett Velon SS/OF Carl Sandburg HS
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2008 Jarred Hippen LHP Rock Falls HS
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Lewis University
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2008 Mike McQuillan IF Brother Rice HS
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2007 Rich Forkin IF/P Lockport HS
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2008 Chett Zeise IF Green Bay Notre Dame HS
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2007 Mike Vuscko IF Marist HS
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University of Kentucky
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2008 Cameron Anello 3B Brother Rice HS
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2007 Mike Kaczmarek P/OF Andrews HS
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Michigan State University
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University of Louisville
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2007 Kyle Kaminska P Naperville Central HS
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2007 Phil Wunderlich IF Downers Grove South HS
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2007 Tyler Newsome P/IF Marist HS
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2008 Tony Zych RHP/IF St. Rita HS
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Mesa CC
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University of Missouri
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2006 Joey Dispensa OF/IF St. Rita HS
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2004 Lee Fischer IF Sandburg HS
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2008 Diego Martinez OF/RHP St. Rita HS
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2007 T.J. McFarland LHP Stagg HS
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Northern Illinois University
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University of Notre Dame
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2004 Dave Nykiel P Sandburg HS
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2006 Billy Boockford OF/RHP Glenbard West HS
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2005 Bobby Stevens IF Guerin Prep HS
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2007 Mick Doyle IF Benet HS
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2005 Brandon Copp LHP West Aurora HS
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University of St. Francis
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2006 David Reynolds IF/OF Sandburg HS
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2006 Pat Grady C/IF Sandburg HS
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2006 Anthony Maziur OF Oak Forest HS
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2007 Mark Ahern P Homewood Flossmoor HS
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2007 Brad Allen IF/P Geneva HS
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2007 Mitch Labuda P/OF Downers Grove North HS
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2007 Marvin Sanchez IF Clemente HS
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2007 Eric Zehme P Carl Sandburg HS
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2007 Kevin Smith C Wheaton North HS
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2007 Tom Whelan IF/OF St. Rita HS
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2007 Zach Oates RHP Wheaton North HS
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2008 Matt Huck RHP Marian Central Catholic HS
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2007 Brandon House OF Marian Catholic HS
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University of Tennessee
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2008 Brett Frantini C Minooka HS
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2006 Steve Crnkovich RHP Downers Grove So HS
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2008 Jake Hermsen OF/LHP New London HS
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Wake Forest University
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2008 Kyle Stroup RHP Grant Community HS
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2007 Ian Tomkins C Loyola Academy HS
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2008 Chris Wakefield RHP/1B Cherokee HS
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Western Michigan University
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2008 Tom Barry LHP/UT Providence Catholic HS
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2007 Brian Stroud P Providence Catholic HS
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Oakland University
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2008 Mike Frigo IF/OF Lockport HS
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2007 Scott Sexton IF Oak Lawn HS
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MLB Draft Picks
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2008 MLB Draft Picks
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| #397 Lenell McGee CF To The Los Angeles Dodgers, 2006 Mt. Carmel HS; 2008 Oakton CC |
| #1053 John Ruettiger CF To The Texas Rangers, 2008 Joliet Catholic Academy |
#1138 Joeseph DeBernardis 3B To The Florida Marlins, 2008 Lake Zurich HS
#1349 Julian Kenner SS To The Chicago White Sox, 2008 Whitney Young HS
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| #1386 Tony Zych RHP To The Chicago Cubs, 2008 St. Rita HS |
| #1502 Kyle Stroup RHP To The Boston Red Sox, 2008 Grant Community HS |
| 2007 MLB Draft Picks |
| #137 T.J. McFarland LHP To The Cleveland Indians, 2007 Stagg HS |
| #181 Casey Crosby LHP To The Detroit Tigers, 2007 Kaneland HS |
| #766 Kyle Kaminska RHP To The Florida Marlins, 2007 Naperville Central HS |
| #913 Bill Musselman C To The AZ Diamondbacks, 2003 Providence Catholic HS/2007 SLU |
| #1102 Oney Guillen IF To The Chicago White Sox, 2007 North Park University |
| #1388 Seth Blair RHP To The Oakland As, 2007 Rock Falls HS |
| #1416 Tyler Newsome LHP/IF To The Baltimore Orioles, 2007 Marist HS |
| 2006 MLB Draft Picks |
| #789 Lenell McGee IF To The Houston Astros, 2006 Mt. Carmel HS |
| #794 Tim Dennehy LHP To The NY Yankees, 2004 Oak Park River Forest HS/2006 Chandler Gilbert CC |
| #829 Andrew Hagins OF To The Tampa Bay Devel Rays, 2006 Oak Park River Forest HS |
| #883 Devin Foreman IF To The Boston Red Sox, 2006 Hales Franciscan HS |
| #1253 Joey Dispensa OF To The Los Angeles Dodgers, 2006 St. Rita HS |
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