New Trier’s Anthony Calarco and Loyola Academy’s Ben Wagner headline The North Shore Weekend/DailyNorthShore.com Diamond Kings. Here’s our 2017-18 All-Area Baseball Team.
Photography by Joel Lerner and George Pfoertner
DIAMOND KINGS
Gold List
Player of the Year: Anthony Calarco (New Trier, Sr.)

Anthony Calarco
Pitcher of the Year: Ben Wagner (Loyola Academy, Jr.)

Ben Wagner
Rookie of the Year: George Korompilas (Glenbrook North, Fr.)

George Korompilas
Newcomer of the Year: Jake Novak (Loyola Academy, Jr.)

Jake Novak
** First Team **
Corner Infielder (1B): Anthony Calarco (New Trier, Sr.)

Anthony Calarco
Corner Infielder (3B): David Rubin (Glenbrook North, Sr.)

David Rubin
Middle Infielder (SS): Caleb Durbin (Lake Forest, Sr.)

Caleb Durbin
Middle Infielder (SS): Noah Shutan (Highland Park, Sr.)

Noah Shutan
Outfielder: Tyler Gussis (Highland Park, Sr.)

Tyler Gussis
Outfielder: Jake Novak (Loyola Academy, Jr.)

Jake Novak
Outfielder: Trey Torain (Loyola Academy, Sr.)

Trey Torain
Catcher: Cam Redding (New Trier, Sr.)

Cam Redding
Designated Hitter: Jason Vrbancic (Loyola Academy, Sr.)

Jason Vrbancic
Starting Pitcher: Jack Garibaldi (Glenbrook North, Sr.)

Jack Garibaldi
Starting Pitcher: John Miskella (Glenbrook South, Sr.)

John Miskella
Starting Pitcher: Ben Wagner (Loyola Academy, Jr.)

Ben Wagner
Relief Pitcher: Will Woidat (Lake Forest, Sr.)

Will Woidat
** Second Team **
Corner Infielder (1B): Jack Greenwald (Highland Park, Sr.)

Jack Greenwald
Corner Infielder (1B): George Korompilas (Glenbrook North, Fr.)

George Korompilas
Middle Infielder (2B): Andrew Gough (Lake Forest, Sr.)

Andrew Gough
Middle Infielder (2B): Mike Snow (Glenbrook South, Sr.)

Mike Snow
Outfielder: Kyle Caponi (New Trier, Sr.)

Kyle Caponi
Outfielder: Chris Heywood (Glenbrook North, Sr.)

Chris Heywood
Outfielder: Will Jackson (Loyola Academy, Sr.)

Will Jackson
Catcher: Daniel Spencer (Glenbrook North, Sr.)

Daniel Spencer
Designated Hitter: Matthew Raymond (Loyola Academy, Sr.)

Matthew Raymond
Starting Pitcher: Pete Burnside (New Trier, Jr.)

Pete Burnside
Starting Pitcher: Henry Haracz (Loyola Academy, Sr.)

Henry Haracz
Starting Pitcher: Andrew Kost (New Trier, Jr.)

Andrew Kost
Relief Pitcher: Ben Harkey (Glenbrook North Sr.)

Ben Harkey
** Third Team **
Corner Infielder (1B): Drew Golde (Lake Forest, Sr.)
Corner Infielder (3B): Danny Saslow (Highland Park, So.)
Middle Infielder (SS): Chris Karasinski (Glenbrook North, Jr.)
Middle Infielder (SS): Matthew Rozsypal (Lake Forest Academy, Sr.)
Outfielder: Jake Kieffer (Glenbrook North, Sr.)
Outfielder: Ryan Lee (Lake Forest, Sr.)
Outfielder: John Sakos (Highland Park, Sr.)
Catcher: Jack Kramer (Highland Park, Sr.)
Designated Hitter: Duke Olges (New Trier, Jr.)
Starting Pitcher: Evan Barnes (Glenbrook North, Sr.)
Starting Pitcher: Drew Gorski (New Trier, Sr.)
Starting Pitcher: Peter Turelli (Lake Forest, Jr.)
** Fourth Team **
Corner Infielder (1B): Daniel Hrvojevic (Loyola Academy, Sr.)
Corner Infielder (3B): Breck Nowik (Lake Forest, So.)
Middle Infielder (SS): Jack Moran (Loyola Academy, Jr.)
Middle Infielder (2B): Noah Spitz (Highland Park, Sr.)
Outfielder: Jack Anderson (Glenbrook South, Sr.)
Outfielder: Dario Mancari (Lake Forest Academy, So.)
Outfielder: Matt Roth (New Trier, Sr.)
Catcher: Nathaniel Barnes (Lake Forest Academy, Jr.)
Designated Hitter: Simon Farber (Glenbrook South, Sr.)
Starting Pitcher: TJ Gimbel (Highland Park, Sr.)
Starting Pitcher: Jacob Newman (Glenbrook South, Sr.)
Starting Pitcher: Michael Vallone (Lake Forest, So.)
** EDITOR AWARDS **
Best Two-Way Player: Glenbrook North’s Chris Heywood. He’s the ultimate Swiss army knife … in two sports. After doing it all on the football field (running back, quarterback, wide receiver, kicker, punter, punt returner, defensive back, etc., etc.) in the fall, Heywood displayed his vast array skills on the diamond this spring. A quality right-fielder, he batted .379 with a 1.096 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He smacked 12 doubles and three home runs to drive in 28 runs. He struck out only 14 times in 120 plate appearances. And, as a pitcher, the right-hander, with the big smile, finished 6-1 with a 2.22 ERA. He allowed only 22 hits in 34.2 innings with 45 Ks.
• Mound Aces
Best Left-hander: Lake Forest’s Michael Vallone. The sophomore turned into a valuable pitching piece for the Scouts. He ended up with a 4-1 record with 1.28 ERA. He gave up only 19 hits in 32.2 innings with 35 Ks.
Best Right-hander: Loyola Academy’s Ben Wagner. He entered the season as a virtual unknown but wound up being a godsend for the Ramblers. He went 2-0 in LA’s state playoff run. His final numbers were sparkling: 9-0, 2.85 ERA. A prototypical pitch-to-contact hurler, he walked a grand total of eight batters in 54 innings.
Best out of the Bullpen: Lake Forest’s Will Woidat. Featuring a scintillating slider, the senior right-hander came on like gangbusters this spring. He saved six games, including a masterful one in the regional semifinal win over Glenbrook North. In 15 relief innings, he allowed only 13 hits and two walks to go along with 18 Ks. His earned run average was 2.33.
- Silver Bats
Best Power Swing: New Trier’s Anthony Calarco. The Northwestern University signee was the most feared hitter on the North Shore. The senior first baseman (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), a switch hitter, blasted 11 home runs and drove in 37 runs. He hit .345, while his slugging percentage was .798. And his OPS was a lofty 1.310.
Best Gap Hitter: New Trier’s Cam Redding. The senior catcher, who will be playing Division I baseball at St. Louis University, hit the ball hard to all fields. He ended up with a .404 batting average with 11 extra base hits and 26 runs batted in.
Toughest Out: Highland Park’s Tyler Gussis. The left-handed hitter was nearly impossible to strike out. In 118 plate appearances, he fanned only five times. He hit .427 with a 1.036 OPS. And he was good in the clutch, driving in 31 runs.
- Gold Gloves
Best Defensive Infielder: Lake Forest’s Caleb Durbin. In addition to having sure hands, this trusted senior shortstop had outstanding range. In 127 total chances, he committed just six errors and was a part of seven double plays. He’s equally good as a hitter (.362, 12 doubles) and baserunner.
Best Defensive Outfielder: Loyola Academy’s Trey Torain. The senior right fielder, who will play college baseball at George Washington University, already looks like a Division I outfielder. He possesses a great arm and plenty of speed (6.69 60 time).
Best Double Play Combination: Lake Forest’s Caleb Durbin/Andrew Gough. These two Scouts have been playing together a long time — high school and club ball — and it showed. Both — Durbin at Washington University and Gough at Middlebury — will play at the next level.
Best Behind the Plate: New Trier’s Cam Redding. Besides wielding a big bat, the NT senior receiver excelled behind the plate. He’s got a big arm. In NT’s first 10 games of the season, he threw out eight of nine runners trying to steal. According to The Prep Baseball Report, his pop time is a very solid 2.04-2.16.