Five players from Class 4A state champion Libertyville highlight the first and second teams, which also include three players each from Antioch, Lake Zurich and Mundelein.
FIRST TEAM
Ryne Dzierzynski, Grant, senior, shortstop/pitcher: Batted .387 with .500 on-base percentage, 1.102 OPS, three home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored, 17 walks and six strikeouts. Also went 6-0 with 1.96 ERA, 56 strikeouts and eight walks in 55 innings. All-conference. Committed to Wisconsin-Parkside.
Caden Earing, Mundelein, senior, first baseman: Batted .433 with .545 on-base percentage, 1.295 OPS, program-record 18 doubles, three home runs, 31 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 10 steals. All-conference and Class 4A all-state honorable mention. Committed to Saint Louis.
Ryan Fostiak, Wauconda, senior, outfielder: Batted .443 with .514 on-base percentage, 1.227 OPS and 24 extra-base hits. All-conference and 3A all-state first team. Committed to Illinois Tech.
Joshua Holst, Libertyville, senior, pitcher/first baseman: Went 13-0 with 1.34 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 118 strikeouts and 25 walks in 73 1/3 innings for 4A state champion. Also hit .361 with five home runs and 44 RBIs. Conference pitcher of the year and 4A all-state first team. Committed to Air Force.
Cash Kaczmarek, Lake Zurich, senior, first baseman: Batted .417 with .500 on-base percentage, 1.196 OPS, five home runs, 37 RBIs and 42 runs scored for 4A sectional finalist. All-conference and 4A all-state honorable mention. Committed to Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Owen Klosinski, Lakes, senior, outfielder: Batted .471 with .532 on-base percentage, 1.208 OPS, 18 RBIs and 30 runs scored. All-conference and 3A all-state. Committed to Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Chase Lockwood, Libertyville, junior, pitcher: Went 10-0 with 0.82 ERA, 64 strikeouts and 14 walks in 59 2/3 innings for 4A state champion. All-conference and 4A all-state.
Cole Lockwood, Libertyville, senior, shortstop: Batted .421 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, 52 runs scored and 38 steals in 40 attempts for 4A state champion. All-conference and 4A all-state. Committed to Valparaiso.
Quinn Schambow, Libertyville, senior, catcher: Batted .449 with 18 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 47 RBIs and 32 runs scored for 4A state champion. Conference player of the year and 4A all-state. Committed to Oklahoma State.
Evan Schmidt, Antioch, senior, first baseman: Batted .446 with .513 on-base percentage, 1.275 OPS, 17 doubles, five home runs, 30 RBIs, 29 runs scored and 10 steals. Conference player of the year. Committed to Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Grayslake Central’s Cal Hanson pitches against Prairie Ridge during a nonconference game in Crystal Lake on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Ryan Rayburn / News-Sun)
SECOND TEAM
Baris Brua, Mundelein, senior, pitcher: Went 5-3 with 1.40 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 54 innings. All-conference. Committed to Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Colin Chung, Lake Zurich, junior, pitcher/second baseman: Went 4-4 with 1.45 ERA, 61 strikeouts and 21 walks in 48 1/3 innings for 4A sectional finalist.
Cal Hanson, Grayslake Central, senior, first baseman/pitcher: Batted .395 with 13 doubles and 32 RBIs. Also went 4-3 with 1.40 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 39 innings. All-conference. Committed to Parkland.
Carson Holmes, Libertyville, junior, outfielder: Batted .419 with .536 on-base percentage, 1.252 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 17 runs scored for 4A state champion. All-conference.
Joey Kafka, Mundelein, senior, pitcher: Went 5-1 with 1.50 ERA, 54 strikeouts and 10 walks in 41 2/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Valparaiso.
Ben Lichtenfeld, Highland Park, senior, pitcher/infielder: Went 7-2 with 2.86 ERA in 49 innings. Also hit .378 with 20 RBIs and 12 steals. Conference player of the year.
Josh Marzec, Lake Zurich, senior, pitcher: Went 8-2 with 2.42 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings for 4A sectional finalist. All-conference. Committed to McHenry County College.
Javier Rolon, Round Lake, senior, shortstop: Batted .393 with .494 on-base percentage, 1.297 OPS, six triples, four home runs and 12 steals. All-conference. Committed to College of Lake County.
Nathan Yeager, Antioch, senior, outfielder: Batted .466 with .593 on-base percentage, 1.218 OPS, 44 runs scored, 24 walks and 23 steals. All-conference. Committed to College of Lake County.
Carson Young, Antioch, senior, pitcher:Â Went 8-1 with 1.94 ERA, 72 strikeouts and 27 walks in 54 innings. All-conference. Committed to Bethel University.
Stevenson’s Kosuke Sakamoto bats during a North Suburban Conference game at Lake Zurich on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)
HONORABLE MENTION
Brett Beerbower, Lakes, junior, pitcher
Nate Brezak, Lake Forest, junior, pitcher
Stephen Cole, Lake Forest, senior, shortstop
Colin Dreckmann, Warren, junior, shortstop
Carson Hamblin, Lake Zurich, sophomore, shortstop
Mitchell Hughes, Grayslake North, senior, shortstop
Brett Karman, Highland Park, senior, pitcher
Brandon Marano, Mundelein, senior, catcher
Braylan McCarthy, Warren, junior, pitcher/outfielder
Ian McGowan, Grayslake Central, senior, third baseman
Trevor Meathe, Grayslake Central, senior, outfielder
AJ Neargarder, Zion-Benton, senior, pitcher
Easton Newman, Deerfield, junior, shortstop
Kosuke Sakamoto, Stevenson, senior, outfielder
Luke Sickmeir, Wauconda, sophomore, outfielder
Owen Strahl, Lake Zurich, senior, outfielder
Johnny Weiss, Mundelein, junior, shortstop
Carson Woods, Grayslake Central, junior, second baseman
Gavin Worklan, Grant, senior, outfielder
Ethan Zbylut, Vernon Hills, senior, pitcher/first baseman
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.