March 26, 2023
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2023 Daily Chronicle Baseball Preview: 5 to Watch

By Chris Walker
Hinckley-Big Rock's Martin Ledbetter delivers a pitch Monday, May 16, 2022, at Hinckley-Big Rock High School during the play-in game against Indian Creek to decide who will advance to participate in the Class 1A Somonauk Regional.

Hinckley-Big Rock's Martin Ledbetter delivers a pitch Monday, May 16, 2022, at Hinckley-Big Rock High School during the play-in game against Indian Creek to decide who will advance to participate in the Class 1A Somonauk Regional. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

Tommy Townsend, sr., 1B/P, Sycamore

How can this Butler recruit top his junior year? As a slugging first baseman, he hit .434 with nine homers and 40 RBIs. As a closer, he struck out 34 in only 23 innings while notching seven saves with a miniscule 0.61 ERA. Could he be the one getting the final out to get the team to state and/or to win a state title?

Martin Ledbetter, so., C/P/1B/3B, Hinckley-Big Rock

Will teams continue to pitch to this sophomore? That’s a huge question as his bat (.507 avg., 1.576 OPS, six HR, 35 runs, 32 RBIs) was sizzling all spring a year ago. And if you walk him, he’s liable to put himself in scoring position, after swiping 19 bags as a freshman.

Nate Nunez, sr., C/INF, DeKalb

Can the Barbs best hitter earn All-DuPage Valley Conference accolades for the third straight year? He certainly can if he continues to put up numbers like a .462 batting average with 17 runs and 18 RBIs like he posted in 2022.

Parker Violett, jr., OF/1B/P, Kaneland

This 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior was an ominous presence for pitchers last season, taking them deep seven times while driving in 33 and scoring 38 runs. He led the Knights with a .340 batting average and had an OPS of 1.094.

Kyle Hartmann, jr., C, Sycamore

The Spartans have high hopes this season, and coach Jason Cavanaugh calls his new junior catcher “a definite Division 1 college player.” How will Hartmann fit in with catcher/second baseman Hunter Britz? How will he complement a pitching staff that includes veterans like Jimmy Amptmann, Owen Piazza, Joey Puleo and Conner Williar and newcomers like Teague Hallahan and Matt Rosado?