2015 PBR Third Team All-State

June 29, 2015

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

Today we’ll wrap up our All-State coverage with our Third Team, led by a talented set of middle infielders that all put up huge numbers in 2015.

The headliner is utility player Nick Dalesandro, drafted in the 33^rd round by the Detroit Tigers, after a stellar high school career that saw him capture a class 3A State Championship as a sophomore, and a summer state title in 2014.

Enough talking about it, let’s take a look at the 2015 PBR Third Team All-State members:

Pitcher

Kyle Strepek, Plainfield North, 2015
Strepek went 9-0 this spring with a 1.58 ERA, allowing only 49 hits in 70.2 innings pitched. He struck out 94 and walked only 29, posting a 1.16 WHIP. Over the past two seasons, Strepek went 18-1 overall. The talented southpaw also hit .361 at the plate, with seven doubles, one triple, 21 runs scored, and 27 RBI. Strepek led the Tigers to their first even sectional championship, before falling in extra innings to eventual Class 4A runner-up Mount Carmel. He’ll attend the University of Illinois Springfield.

Eric Orze, Glenbard North, 2015
The DuPage Valley Conference Player of the Year and Co-Pitcher of the Year, Orze went 12-0 with a 1.05 ERA this spring. In 80 innings pitched he allowed only 51 hits, struck out 91 and walked nine, good for a minuscule 0.75 WHIP. If the mound work wasn’t enough, Orze also hit .331 and drove in 18 runs this spring for the Panthers. He’s committed to Northwest Florida State.

Alec Powell, Rockford Christian, 2016
Powell was the ace of the staff in leading Rockford Christian to its first state title in any sport, when the Royal Lions captured the IHSA Class 2A State Championship. This spring the hard throwing junior righty went 10-0 with a 0.39 ERA, striking out 92 in 70.2 innings pitched, allowing only 39 hits and walking only 28. The 6-foot-1 righty has been up to 87 mph, and features a hard 12/6 curveball in the 72-75 mph range. He’s currently uncommitted.

Jeff Lindgren, Champaign Centennial, 2015
The Illinois State-commit dominated on the mound in 2015 for the Chargers, going 10-1 with a 0.58 ERA. In 72 innings pitched, Lindgren allowed only 41 hits, struck out 96, and walked only 13, good for a miniscule 0.75 WHIP. The hard throwing righty led Centennial to a 29-9 overall record and a No. 21 final ranking in the PBR Power 25.

Catcher

Joe Donovan, Westmont, 2017
Donovan, who’s older brother Charlie made PBR 1^st Team All-State, set a school record for home runs this spring with 10. The Michigan commit hit .454 with an incredible 26 extra-base hits, also adding 13 doubles, and three triples to his power output. He posted an .866 slugging percentage, and showed off his athleticism with 24 stolen bases as well. A plus athlete behind the plate, Donovan has improved his catch-and-throw skills within the last year, and impressed this spring reeling off sub 2.0 pop times, as low as 1.93, shutting down opponents’ running games in the process.

First Base

Nick Wisz, Lemont, 2016
Wisz has been a mainstay in the middle of the order for Lemont the last two years, and 2015 was no different as he continues to be one of the best pure hitters in the Chicagoland area. This spring, Wisz hit .510 with 23 extra-base hits: 18 doubles, one triple, and four home runs. He posted 34 RBI, 36 runs scored, an .824 slugging percentage, .575 on base percentage, and a 1.399 OPS. After playing second base as a sophomore, Wisz moved over to first base, impressing defensively both there and occasionally at the hot corner.

Middle Infielders

Tyler Halas, St. Rita, 2015
Halas has been a mainstay in the middle of the order for the Mustangs the last three seasons, while also putting up solid numbers in the rotation. In 2015 the offensive second baseman hit .396 with 22 extra base hits: 14 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 36 RBI, 36 runs. He posted a .726 slugging percentage, 1.219 OPS, .492 on base percentage (18 walks), and also stole 12 bases.

Mike Madej, Providence, 2016
Providence’s gritty second baseman led the Celtics to their second consecutive Class 4A State Championship, impressing with his clutch play down the stretch. Madej delivered the walk-off RBI single in extra-innings to give the Celtics a 6-5 win over Mount Carmel in the title game. The switch-hitting Madej hit .421 this spring with 12 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 32 RBI, and 45 runs scored. He also showed plate discipline walking 25 times, posting a .512 on base percentage. He’s currently uncommitted.

Cody Grosse, Joliet West, 2015
The athletic shortstop hit .485 in 2015 with a .557 on base percentage, adding 12 doubles, four triples, 40 runs scored, 10 RBI, 27 stolen bases, and 14 walks from his leadoff spot. He struck out only six times on the year. Defensively, Grosse became well known over his high school career for his ability to make highlight reel players. He’ll take his glove and leadoff skills to Chicago State next year, after hitting .498 over his three-year varsity career, with 120 runs scored, 60 stolen bases, and less than 20 strikeouts in 350 career plate appearances.

Jason Sullivan, Wheaton St. Francis, 2015
Sullivan led Wheaton St. Francis to a Class 3A 3^rd Place finish. The Central Michigan-bound middle infielder was a two-way standout for the Spartans hitting .439 with 18 extra-base hits: 13 doubles, one triple, four homers, 32 RBI and 43 runs scored. On the mound, the righthander went 11-2 with one save, posting a 0.92 ERA in 84 innings pitched. Sullivan struck out 97 and walked only 15, while allowing 62 hits on the year.

Outfielders

Jordan McFarland, Gibault Catholic, 2016
Hitting third all season for Gibault, the Arkansas commit is one of the best power hitters in the St. Louis area. McFarland hit .442 this spring with six doubles, five triples, eight home runs, and 42 RBI. He posted a .907 slugging percentage, .551 on base percentage (19 walks). He also went 10-for-11 in stolen bases, while excelling defensively at four different positions (mostly in the outfield). On the mound, Halas went 7-2 with a 1.95 ERA, allowing only 43 hits in 57.1 innings pitched.

Matt Zielonko, Edwardsville, 2015
Physical rightfielder had a breakout year for the Tigers this spring hitting .418 in the middle of the order with a team leading 33 RBI, 43 runs scored, nine doubles, four triples, and four home runs. He also stole 14 bases and made only one error in the outfield in 37 games played, helping to lead Edwardsville to a 14-0 Southwestern Conference record, and a 35-2 overall record. Committed to Parkland College.

Utility

Nick Dalesandro, Joliet Catholic, 2015
Dalesandro did it all for Joliet Catholic in 2015, mostly behind the plate and on the mound, but occasionally moved to third base and centerfield to give his arm a rest. Capable of playing any position on the field, Dalesandro went 3-0 on the mound in 39 innings pitched, allowing 24 hits, striking out 55 and walking only 9, good for a miniscule 0.89 ERA. At the plate, he hit .380 with seven doubles, three triples, two home runs, 31 RBI, 32 runs scored, and 16 walks. He routinely reeled off pop times in the 1.90 range behind the plate this spring, and also was a gamechanger in centerfield. Dalesandro was drafted in the 33^rd round by the Detroit Tigers, was a four year varsity starter for the Hilltoppers, and will attend Purdue if he does not sign.