Area’s best assembled on The Times 2022 Baseball All-Area Team

We are proud to present The Times 2022 All-Area Baseball Team, as voted on by The Times Sports staff.

FIRST TEAM

Julian Alexander, Marquette, fr., OF/P

The Crusaders newcomer made a splash in his debut season, batting .347 with a whopping 40 runs scored and 30 RBIs.

This is Alexander’s first Times All-Area Team appearance.

Matt Cruise, Seneca, sr., P/IF

A unanimous choice, Cruise may have been the most dominating dual-threat player in the area – .400 batting average with two homers and 18 RBIs coupled with a 7-2 pitching record, 1.80 ERA and 104 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings for the Fighting Irish.

Cruise was named to the All-Tri-County Conference first team and was voted its Pitcher of the Year. This is his second consecutive year on our first team.

Brady Ewers, Marquette, sr., UT/P

A unanimous choice, Ewers hit .386 with three home runs and 30 RBIs for Marquette during its third-place run in Class 1A.

Ewers was named to the All-Tri-County Conference first team. This is his first Times All-Area Team appearance.

Brady Grabowski, Streator, jr., RF/P

Grabowski drove home 24 runs and scored 19 more for the Diamond Dogs while posting a .348 batting average with four home runs.

Grabowski was voted onto the All-Illinois Central Eight Conference Team and was a member of our second team last spring.

Payton Knoll, Ottawa, jr., UT/P

A reliable member of a solid Pirates pitching staff, Knoll also batted .322 with 17 RBIs.

Knoll was awarded honorable mention to the All-Interstate 8 Conference Team. This is his first Times All-Area Team appearance.

Mitchell Kruser, Newark, sr., 1B

Kruser posted a .390 batting average with 27 runs scored and 28 RBIs for the Norsemen, also adding a 3.72 ERA in limited appearances on the mound.

This is his first Times All-Area Team appearance.

Joe Martin, Newark, jr., P/IF

A unanimous choice, Martin was 7-2 on the mound with a 0.68 ERA, while at the plate hitting .434 with 29 RBIs, 33 runs scored and two home runs.

Martin was voted unanimously to the All-Little Ten Conference Team, and this is his second straight Times All-Area first-team honor.

Sean McGurk, Streator, sr., C/IF

A unanimous choice, a healthy McGurk behind the plate after an injury-hampered junior season was a difference-maker with his .432 batting average, five home runs, 24 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

McGurk was voted onto the All-Illinois Central Eight Conference Team and was a Times All-Area first-teamer in 2019.

Sam Mitre, Marquette, fr., IF/P

A unanimous choice, Mitre quickly evolved into a key contributor for the Crusaders, batting .471 with 32 runs scored and 41 RBIs.

Mitre was named to the All-Tri-County Conference second team and is making his first Times All-Area appearance.

Logan Nelson, Marquette, jr., SS/P

A unanimous choice, Nelson was 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA on the mound and hit .383 with 48 runs scored and 32 driven in – including four homers.

Nelson was voted unanimously to the All-Tri-County Conference first team and is a Times All-Area first-team selection for the second consecutive year.

Lucas Pasakarnis, Newark, sr., C

A unanimous choice, the Norsemen backstop batted an even .500 with two homers, 38 runs scored and 38 RBIs.

Pasakarnis was voted unanimously to the All-Little Ten All-Conference Team. He was a first-teamer on the 2021 Times All-Area Team and received honorable mention in 2019.

Brendan Roberts, Somonauk, sr., P/IF

A unanimous choice, Roberts posted a 7-2 pitching record for the Bobcats built on a 2.18 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings. He also had a .344 batting average that included 15 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

Roberts was voted unanimously to the All-Little Ten All-Conference Team. In 2021, he was on the Times All-Area second team.

Taylor Waldron, Marquette, jr., P/OF

A unanimous choice, Waldron carried an 0.89 ERA and struck out 99 over 55 innings on his way to an 11-2 pitching record, also batting .274 with 17 RBIs.

Waldron was selected second-team All-Tri-County Conference, an Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State pick and the 2022 Times Baseball Player of the Year. He was second-team Times All-Area as a sophomore.

Adam Williamson, Streator, jr., P/IF

A unanimous choice, Williamson was a leader both on the mound (6-2 record, 3.23 ERA, 59 Ks over 43 1/3 innings) and at the plate (.426 average with 23 RBIs and 19 runs scored).

Williamson was chosen for the All-Illinois Central Eight Conference Team and last season was on The Times All-Area honorable mention list.

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SECOND TEAM

Luke Cushing, Ottawa, sr., SS

Tommy Durdan, Marquette, jr., 2B

Beau Ewers, Marquette, sr., 1B

Tanner Faivre, Serena, so., IF/P

Paxton Giertz, Seneca, fr., P/OF

Bryar Keller, Earlville, sr., C/P

Jake Kruser, Newark, jr., P/OF

Hayden McKenna, Marquette, sr., C/P

Parker Phillis, Streator, sr., 3B/P

Carl Sass, WFC, sr., P/1B

Cole Shannon, Serena, sr., C/P

Clayton Shirley, Fieldcrest, sr., OF/P

Tyler Sulzberger, Seneca, sr., P/OF

Aidan Thompson, Marquette, jr., P/IF

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HONORABLE MENTION

Carson Bahrey, Somonauk, jr., OF

Christian Benning, Streator, so., SS/P

Dylan Cartwright, Serena, sr., P/1B

Ryan Chamberlain, Ottawa, jr., 2B

Rylan Dorsey, Ottawa, jr., P/IF

Andy Golinski, Sandwich, sr., P/IF

Timmy Luckey, Fieldcrest, sr., SS/P

Jack Olson, Ottawa, sr., P/1B

Hunter Pavia, Sandwich, jr., OF/P

Broc Slais, Somonauk, jr., P/OF

Caden Wheeler, Newark, so., P/3B