The line between a first team All-State nominee and a second teamer was an extremely thin one, as evidence by the type of talent and statistics you’ll see from our 2018 PBR Second Team All-State members.

Let’s take a look at the 2018 PBR Second Team All-State roster:

PITCHERS

Zachary Lee RHP / Effingham, IL / 2019 Record IP H K BB ERA WHIP 7-1 55.2 36 79 20 0.63 1.01 Kentucky commit. Ace of an Effingham squad that won 25 games this spring. Lee, who runs his fastball into the low-90’s, went 7-1 with a 0.63 ERA. Lee has the frame and stuff to draw attention pro scouts next spring.

Brandon McPherson RHP / Marmion, IL / 2018 Record IP H K BB ERA WHIP 5-1 63.2 40 104 17 1.54 0.89 Wabash Valley JC commit. The physical right-hander put up his impressive numbers pitching in the daunted Chicago Catholic League - Blue division. McPherson tossed back-to-back shutouts against Brother Rice and Providence in April and stuck out 14 in a playoff shutout win over Batavia. When McPherson was on the mound Marmion had a chance to beat anyone in the state this spring.

Kyle Morgan LHP / Huntley, IL / 2018 Record IP H K BB ERA 10-2 71 49 82 14 0.89 McHenry County JC commit. Morgan was the ace of the Red Raiders who finished runner-up in Class 4A and 33-6 on the season. Morgan a high-pitchability left-hander twirled a complete game two-hitter in the state semifinal win.

 

CATCHER

Ryan Hampe C / Sandburg, IL / 2018 Ave 2B HR RBI BB K OBP OPS .433 20 6 35 9 9 .479 1.20 Illinois-Chicago commit. Most any other year Hampe would have been a sure-fire first team selection with the numbers he put up. Unfortunately for him, the 2018 Player of the Year was also a catcher. Hampe pounded out 20 doubles and six home runs this spring all while playing stellar defense for the fourth place finisher in Class 4A

 

FIRST BASEMAN

Jack Grace OF / Fenwick, IL / 2018 Ave 2B 3B HR RBI R BB OBP SLG .400 6 3 8 35 30 15 .613 1.11 Creighton commit. Grace was an imposing figure in the middle of the Fenwick lineup and hit eight home runs while batting .400 on the spring.

 

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Ryan Wheeler 2B / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2018 Ave 2B 3B HR RBI R K OBP .449 11 4 3 25 47 2 .489 Wheeler, the leadoff hitter was one of many standouts in an extremely talented Neuqua Valley lineup this spring. Wheeler remarkably only struck out two times the entire spring while batting .449 and manning the shortstop position.

Ryan Howe SS / Prospect, IL / 2018 Ave HR RBI R SB .470 7 38 22 20 Purdue commit. The dynamic shortstop saved his breakout season for his senior year. Howe hit seven home runs, hit .470 and stole 20 bases on top of it.

 

THIRD BASEMAN

Cade Sullivan 3B / Metea Valley, IL / 2020 Ave H 2B HR RBI R BB SB OBP OPS SLG .477 53 14 1 37 29 30 2 .574 1.21 .631 Sullivan, only a sophomore, had a monster campaign for Metea Valley. Sullivan hit .477 with 14 doubles and had a .574 on base percentage.

 

OUTFIELDERS

Evan Ranneklev OF / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2018 Ave 2B 3B HR RBI R BB OBP OPS .470 9 8 3 33 40 16 .570 1.38 Illinois Wesleyan commit. The highly-athletic left-handed hitter hit in the middle of the potent Wildcat lineup this spring. Ranneklev compiled a .470 batting average on the spring and hit eight triples along with other impressive numbers.

Jason Hodges OF / Marist, IL / 2019 Ave 2B 3B HR RBI R OBP SLG .390 12 3 7 42 32 .489 .733 Arkansas commit. The East Suburban Conference player of the year drove in 42 on the spring, hit seven home runs and 12 doubles.

Jack Rigoni OF / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2018 Ave H 2B 3B HR RBI R OBP OPS .422 43 14 3 4 33 28 .473 1.21 SIU-Edwardsville commit. Rigoni is yet another outfielder from Neuqua to make the list. Rigoni, who possesses physicality and speed hit .422 with 14 doubles and four home runs on the spring.

 

UTILITY

Hayden Juenger RHP / O'Fallon, IL / 2018 Ave 2B 3B HR RBI R OBP POS Record IP H K ERA WHIP .398 16 3 3 32 31 .514 RHP 9-1 54.1 24 74 1.42 0.86 Missouri State commit. The Panthers of O’Fallon (35-4-1) were the No. 1 team in the state during the second half of the spring, heading into the postseason and Juenger was a big reason why. Juenger led the way on the mound going 9-1 and was second on the team in hitting. The athletic right-hander has a quick arm and fastball that climbed into the low-90’s, touching 93 this spring.

Taylor Catton RHP / Dunlap, IL / 2019 Ave 2B 3B HR RBI R OBP POS Record IP H K ERA WHIP .417 17 3 3 30 33 .476 RHP 7-0 46.2 32 72 0.75 0.79 Bradley commit. Catton, known for his ability on the mound, did it all for Dunlap this spring. Catton struck out 72 in 46 innings pitched and hit over .400 with 17 doubles.

 

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