2019's
March 22, 2019
Congrats to 2019 Brandon Johnson and his verbal commitment to play baseball for the Northern Illinois University Huskies!
Johnson, a native of Rochelle, Illinois, is a three-year varsity starter at Rochelle Township HS and enters his fourth season with the Rockford Big Dogs. With the Big Dogs, he has been amongst the top in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, and runs batted in each season. Additionally, he led the team in stolen bases each year.
Below is a recap of a PBR showcase Johnson participated in from the summer of 2017:
“5-foot-10, 225-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a tall, slightly open setup with a short stride and good balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path, showed strength thru contact in batting practice. 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Moves well for size running the 60 at 6.87. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm angle. Showed raw arm strength throwing 81 mph from the outfield.”
Additionally, Johnson is a National Honors Society member.
Congrats, Brandon, the Johnson family, and head coach Shawn Bibby!
February 28, 2019
Congratulations to David Galassi on his commitment to Spoon River College! David has received a full scholarship to play for the Snappers.
David began his journey with the Big Dogs in 2017 and is currently entering his third and final season with our program.
Spoon River is an NJCAA Division II college located in Canton, Illinois. The Snappers play in the hyper-competitive Mid-West Athletic Conference, facing schools such as Parkland College, John Wood College, and Heartland College.
The Snappers have many new facilities and a brand new on-campus field that will be ready in 2020, David's first season with the program.
As a sophomore, after getting the opportunity to play a few games on a conference championship team the year prior, David started every game at the varsity level. Last season, David posted a .380 batting average, .540 on-base percentage, and 1.383 OPS. Additionally, he drove in 15 runners as the team's leadoff hitter and led the NIC-10 with 30+ runs scored. Finally, David nabbed 14 would-be base stealers behind the plate and was selected to the all-conference team and a junior all-star.
David's favorite memories from baseball are: "Definitely the times that I've spent with my friends that I wouldn't have met if it weren't for baseball. Also, last year when we played in the championship game at Kerry Wood Stadium against one of the best teams I have ever played. They blew us out of the water both games before, but we came together as a team in the championship game and were able to take home the hardware!"
David expects to spend time behind the plate and "possibly a little bit of outfield or second base".
Congratulations to David, the Galassi family, and head coach Shawn Bibby on the program's newest commitment!
January 10, 2019
Congrats to Cade Bibby on his commitment to the Midland University Warriors!
Midland is an NAIA school located in Fremont, Nebraska. The Warriors finished second in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) tournament championship last season, posting an overall record of 33-22.
This year, the Warriors were picked to finish second in the preseason coaches poll:
http://www.gpacsports.com/article/4326.php#.XDfgtS2ZNQI
Cade is a lifelong Big Dog and soon to be graduate of Harlem High School's class of 2019. He has played a variety of positions over the years but looks to play third base and pitch for the Warriors in 2020. Cade's father, Shawn Bibby, has also coached with the Rockford Big Dogs for the past 8 years, leading the class of 2019 to numerous tournament titles while traveling all around the United States.
Congrats to Cade and the entire Bibby family! Midland is getting both a great ballplayer and a great family!
June 22, 2018
Johnny Beck has given his verbal commitment to the Western Illinois University Leathernecks!
Starting with the Big Dogs at twelve years old, Beck has played for Coach Shawn Bibby the past 6 seasons. During this time, Beck has blossomed as a pitcher and solidified himself as one of the top-rated pitchers in the state of Illinois.
This past season, Beck tossed a 17 strikeout performance and a 15 strikeout no-hitter to lead his team to easy victories. In 58 innings pitched, the junior lefty struck out exactly 100 batters on the season, finishing with a 7-1 record and 1.40 ERA.
Beck also plays first base for Shawn Bibby's 17u team and adds power to the middle of the lineup as a big left-handed bat and large target to throw to across the diamond.
Congrats, Johnny!
November 20, 2017
Tyler Statler has given his verbal commitment to the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks!
A Big Dog since his grade school days, Statler saw a tremendous spike in his collegiate recruiting after a phenomenal performance on the mound during the 15u CABA World Series. In a hot and humid 100 degree day on Lenz Field's turf, Statler shut down the 15u Chatham Nationals, striking out seven batters in just 2.2 innings of work. Shortly after this performance, the phone started ringing.
Statler is one of the top-ranked pitchers in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report and was invited to represent Team Illinois at the PBR Future Games held in Westfield, Indiana. His standout performance at the prestigious event further advanced his splash on the recruiting scene and allowed him to showcase himself as one of the most intimidating mound-presences in Illinois. Statler is the 12th-ranked RHP in Illinois and is also ranked 33rd overall in the state.
Statler, young for his graduating class, will return to the 16u Woolbright team that went 25-12 last summer and will play in some of the biggest tournaments the midwest travel circuit has to offer. He will continue to work on refining his skills on the mound, but will also see time as a corner infielder on the 16u team. Statler has a considerable amount of power at the plate, which most would expect as he stands at 6'6" and weighs north of 210lbs. We are looking forward to seeing how he excels in his next two years of high school and travel baseball.
Congrats, Big T!
2018's
Nolan Gazouski UTIL
Ranger College
6/28/2017
Nolan Gazouski (2016 grad) will transfer to Ball State University for the 2018 season! Nolan threw 55.2 innings, striking out 63 batters at Ranger College in Texas. Nolan also had 100 at bats; batting .220 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI. After considering interest from the University of Alabama, the University of Texas, and Ball State University, he has decided to transfer into Ball State for the 2018 season.
2017's
Josh Pawlowski OF
Belvidere North HS 2017
March 2017
Josh Pawlowski has given his verbal commitment to the University of Dubuque Spartans! Josh has been a Big Dog since 2012, playing for Coach John Paddock's 2017/2018 team for the next 5 years. During his first year as a Big Dog, Josh and his team won the 12u USSSA AAA/Major World Series.
Josh has received many awards during his high school career. In 2016 he was named to the NIC-10 junior all star team where a handful of players around northern Illinois compete in an annual end-of-highschool all star game. He received the same honors the following year for the senior year all star game. Josh was also a 3 year varsity outfielder for Belvidere North high school where he earned MVP his senior year. Josh excelled in the classroom: he was awarded NIC-10 scholar athlete in both 2016 and 2017. Josh was also a part of two regional swimming teams at Belvidere North.
Congrats, Josh, and we look forward to watching you anchor down the University of Dubuque's outfield!
Kyle Hauser C/MIF
Belvidere North HS 2017
2/26/2017
Kyle Hauser has given his verbal commitment to the Central College Dutch in Pella, Iowa! Kyle has been a long time Big Dog, spending much of his time behind the plate and in the middle infield. In 2016, Kyle batted .306 with a .434 OBP and .799 OPS. percentage. He did this while fielding at a .951 clip. This earned Kyle an invited to the NIC-10/BNC Junior All Star game.
Kyle also excels outside of the baseball field: he has been on the honor roll all four years, maintaining a 3.74 gpa. The combination of his academic and athletic success allowed him to receive recognition as a Northern Illinois Outstanding Scholar Athlete.
Here is a link to Kyle's commitment by Fieldlevel
Thanks for spending your time with us, Kyle! We look forward to seeing you grow as a collegiate student athlete over the next four years!
Kyle Seebach LHP/1B
Rochelle Township HS 2017
10/12/2016
Kyle Seebach has given his verbal commitment to the Northern Illinois University Huskies! Kyle has been with the Big Dogs for all of his high school summer seasons under Coach John Paddock. He will spend his senior summer playing for Coaches Dennis Kehrer and John Paddock on the 17/18u Prospect Team.
Kyle features a very impressive arsenal of pitches, including a low to mid 80's fastball with a ton of arm-side run.
Check out Kyle's showcase bullpen at Judson University here.
Kyle is also an impact performer on the basketball court for Rochelle Township.
He has been a part of many winning teams over the years. In 2013 he was a part of the champion Tri-State All Star team, and most recently a 2016 Game Day USA National champion. Last summer Kyle pitched in 36.1 innings and held batters to a 1.35 ERA.
He also excels in the classroom. Kyle carries a 4.06 cumulative GPA and is ranked 11th in his class. He is also a part of the National Honor Society.
Kyle's favorite memory was "winning the Game Day National Championship and getting a ring from it."
We are excited to follow Kyle's career at NIU, and have him back for one more summer! Congrats, Kyle!
2016's
Jake Reinhardt MIF/RHP
Princeton HS 2016
08/04/2016
Jake Reinhardt has given his verbal commitment to the Augustana College Vikings to play both baseball and football. Jake joined us in the summer of 2015. He impressed us right away with his smooth glove up the middle. Having him and current Murray State starting shortstop Jaron Robinson up the middle gave us one of the strongest middle infields you could hope for. He is not only fast, he is an excellent base runner. He gets great jumps on the bases and stole 10 bases this summer in 37 appearances on base.
Jake has a long list of highlights: He earned Three Rivers All Conference his sophomore, junior and senior years. During his senior year he was a finalist for Princeton's athlete of the year.
He also excels in the classroom. His grades were top 10 in his class, he was a part of the National Honors Society, and he received many awards for academic excellence.
Jake was offered by Highland Community College and Judson University this past summer. He was recruited by various divisions for both basesball and football, finally narrowing his choices down to Augustana College, North Park University, and Carthage College.
We were very pleased to have Jake with us these last two years. With his talents, he could easily be a "me-first" guy. However, his focus is always on what is best for the team. We are very excited to hear about Jake's success on both the football field and baseball field!
Mark Wanner UTIL
Rochelle HS 2016
05/10/2016
Mark Wanner has signed with Indian Hills Community College in Iowa! Mark has been a Big Dog since 2010 and has seen his abilities as a baseball player and athlete grow as he dedicated himself to the weight room. During the offseason, Mark attended strength and conditioning camps with a militaristic style of training. He also traveled south to participate in baseball skill and development. Mark packed on muscle to his frame from 2014-2016 and we immediately saw a difference in how the ball came off his bat, and his velocity from the outfield.
Mark certainly has a decorated baseball career. He was named All Conference by the Northern Illinois Baseball Big 12 Conference in 2014, 2015, and 2016, including unanimous selections in 2015 and 2016. He was also a 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All American.
For the 2016 summer, Mark was 5-10 at the plate with 3 stolen bases.
Mark's work ethic will put him in a great position to become a leader over his next 4 years of college. We are very glad to call Mark one of our own and look forward to seeing his continued development in college!
Drake Sundstrom MIF
Machesney Park Harlem HS 2016
12/30/2015
Drake Sundstrom has given his commitment to Coach Kevin Vest and the Rock Valley Golden Eagles. He will join 2015 Big Dogs grad Evan Schultz.
Drake was with the Big Dogs from 12-16 years old, and returns for his senior year. He has played shortstop and second base exclusively. Recently he had a major growth spurt, going from 5' 4" to 6' 3" in 2 years! The college weight room and added strength that comes with it will certainly play a positive role in his collegiate development as a baseball player.
This year in conference play (NIC-10) he batted .321 with 25 hits and 8 doubles. His on base percentage was .429 including 7 hit by pitches. He started the year off strong, lining a double for his first at bat of the season. He also only made two errors all year and struck out just once.
We are glad to have Drake back with us for one more summer and wish him and his family the best of luck for not only this next summer with us, but as he continues the rest of his collegiate career!
Justin Woolbright 1B/3B/RHP
Rockford Lutheran HS 2016
5/01/2016
Justin Woolbright has given his verbal commitment to Coach John Rabe and the Quincy University Hawks(currently 28-10 and is ranked 1st in the Midwest and 10th in the nation in Division 2 baseball). Justin received many offers from various levels of baseball and narrowed his decisions to Northwestern College, Upper Iowa, Iowa Lakes, North Park, and Quincy. He will join fellow Big Dogs 2016 grads Alec Powell and Matt Rosko.
Justin has played for 2016 Head Coach Tom Woolbright since the program became a multi-team organization in 2006. He plays at Rockford Lutheran with fellow Big Dog teammates Johnny Sanchez, Nick Brigham, Brady West, Nick Todaro, and Justin Mercer.
He has been named to the Big Northern All Conference team in 2014 and 2015, as well as leading the conference with a .477 batting average in 2015. He has also been named a Perfect Game Preseason All American Honorable mention for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
This season justin has been sitting in the low 80's and touching mid 80's. He has a strong arm at his postion, clocking in at 84 from first and third base.
Justin has done an excellent job anchoring the middle of the lineup, as well as contributing as a valuable arm out of the bullpen. He is incredibly self-reflective and is his biggest critic. That constant effort and desire to better himself will not only help him finish out his high school career on a strong note, but will also carry him to impactful college seasons as well. Congratulations, Justin and we are looking forward to spending one more summer with you!
Jared Cantu OF/RB
Belvidere North HS 2016
4/14/2016
Jared Cantu has given his verbal commitment to Coach Luke Johnson, Coach Mike Conway, and the North Park University Vikings. Yes you read that correctly, Jared will work as a running back in the fall for the football team, and an outfielder during the spring for the baseball team. He will join 2012 Big Dog alum Tyler Woolbright. He was narrowing his decision to play both sports at either Rockford University or North Park University.
Jared has been a three year varsity athlete in both football and baseball at Belvidere North.
For football, he was named offensive MVP as a junior, overall MVP his senior year, and named first team All NIC-10 as a senior.
For baseball, Jared was named the overall MVP as a junior where he batted .400 in 87 plate appearances, scoring 32 times and striking out only 3. He is looking for another regional title entering his senior season with fellow 18u teammate Levon Smith.
Jared is one of the fastest Big Dogs in program history. Clocked at a 6.6 60 yard dash, his speed makes him a huge threat both on the baseball and football fields. His willingness to take over the outfield and make the big play has helped him anchor his nationally recognized 18u Big Dogs team in centerfield.
Jared has played a pivotal role in keeping runners still in the outfield. The amount of ground he covers and readiness to make the big play gives his pitchers that much more confidence to fill the zone up with strikes. We are excited to watch him develop on both the football and baseball fields and are excited to see him back for one more summer!
Chris Hoffman C/3B
Christian Liberty Academy HS 2016
1/5/2016
Chris Hoffman has given his verbal commitment to Coach Bob Koopmann and the Rockford University Regents. Chris joins fellow Big Dog alums Nick Naber, Mitchell Gorsuch, and Tyler Joyce. Chris dedicated himself to strength and conditioning over the last couple summers and the physical improvements made to his body contributed greatly to his play on the field. He was noticed and recruited by Trinity International, Judson, College of Lake County, and Rockford where he ultimately decided to pursue an education and baseball career for the next 4 years.
Chris played with Tom Woolbright's team in 2013 and 2014. He returns for the 2016 summer with Coach Dennis Kehrer. Last year Chris was NAC All Conference and a Daily Herald All Area Honorable Mention. He was one of the leading hitters on his team with a batting average of .407.
Chris's dedication to the weight room and conditioning drastically improved his athletic successes. He cut a second and a half off of his sixty time in a little over two years, lowered his pop time by half a second, and gained more than ten miles per hour across the infield.
Check out Chris's progress on his Prep Baseball Report profile here.
It is always a coach's dream to have natural hard workers who are willing to go the extra mile to better themselves and their team as a whole. Chris exemplifies this and we wish him the best of luck on his next four years of college baseball!
Johnny Sanchez RHP/3B
Rockford Lutheran HS 2016
12/25/2015
Johnny Sanchez has given his verbal commitment to Coach Jared Wacker and the McHenry County College Scots. Johnny emerged on the summer circuit and caught the eyes of many colleges. He finally narrowed his options down to UW-Whitewater, Parkland, North Park, and ultimately decided on NJCAA D2 McHenry County College.
Johnny has been with Tom Woolbright's Rockford Big Dogs team since the program became a multi-team organization in 2006. He has always been a power hitter, blasting no doubters while celebrating before the ball sailed over the fence at 10 years old. He continued to do the same thing 8 years later, hitting a towering go ahead homerun off the Dayton Flyers' number one pitcher and D1 commit. This comeback, sparked by him and teammate Levon Smith, allowed the Big Dogs to go on to the championship game in the Indiana World Series. He was also the 17u's most lockdown pitcher on the mound. With a 2.36 ERA, 3 saves, and a team second best 27 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched, he was always the first right hander to go down to the bullpen.
Johnny is a two-time BNC All Conference winner as a pitcher and third baseman, and 2015 BNC West Pitcher of the Year. He wants to thank all his coaches, family and friends for all of the support over the years. He is excited to continue the winning tradition and excellence at MCC.
It is exhilirating to watch Johnny on the baseball field. Whether it's the 10 year old bat flipping, or the closer coming in to strike 18 year olds out on three straight fastballs. We wish Johnny the best of luck in the next big step of his career!
Nolan Gazouski UTIL
Rockford Christian HS 2016
12/08/2015
Nolan Gazouski has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Josh Blakley and the Ranger College Rangers in Texas. Nolan was contacted by a plethora of NJCAA and NCAA schools. He was deciding between Morehead State, Quincy, and SIUe before finally committing to NJCAA Division 1 school Ranger College.
Nolan has been with Tom Woolbright's Rockford Big Dogs team since the program became a multi-team organization in 2006. He has never locked himself into one postion and can adapt to any place you put him on the field. Despite being 6'7" tall, he split time with former Big Dog teammate, and current Murray State Racer, Jaron Robinson at shortstop. On the mound he has been up into the low 90s, and this has peaked interest in some professional scouts for the 2016 first year player draft.
Currently ranked as the 45th overall player by Prep Baseball Report in the state of Illinois, Nolan is as 5 tooled as it gets. He runs a 6.78 in the 60 yard dash, has been up to 92mph on the mound, 90mph from the infield, 95mph exit velo off of a tee, and has been a leadoff hitter for the 17u Rockford Big Dogs. He has pitched in many big games: winning a state championship with Big Dog teammate Alec Powell in 2015, and beating the Evoshield Canes at the WWBA in Georgia during the 17u National Championship. Nolan refuses to take the game too seriously, and his teammates will often reflect his inability to crack under pressure.
Nolan was named a 2A All State player as both a pitcher and a shortstop, as well as multiple all conference awards. During his explosive summer season in 2015, he was also recognized to the 17u WWBA National Championship All Tournament team in Georgia.
Nolan has been a pleasure to watch develop and grow within our organization, and we are looking forward to watching him dominate the college circuit and beyond.
Brady West C
Rockford Lutheran HS 2016
12/07/2015
Brady West has given his commitment to play for Coach Rich Benjamin and the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. Brady was contacted by numerous NJCAA and NCAA schools before deciding on Indiana Wesleyan.
Brady has spent his last six summer seasons with the Rockford Big Dogs coached by Tom Woolbright. Coming into high school baseball as an undersized second baseman, Brady saw his power numbers begin to spike as a sophomore when he invested himself in a serious lifting program. Not long after that he became an All State 3A catcher as a Junior where he slugged 13 homeruns and twenty doubles, shattering previous records for Rockford Lutheran. He proved that he could hit against the best the country had to offer as he blasted three doubles, two triples, and two homeruns in a week long tournament at the WWBA 17u National Championship in Georgia. He was also named to the All Tournament team at that tournament .
In one of the many championship games the 17u Big Dogs played in, he hit a towering, no-doubt home run over the right field wall against the nationally ranked Indiana Bulls. It seemed the bigger the stage, the more Brady performed as he totalled 4 walk off game winning hits in the summer of 2015.
Brady is ranked by Prep Baseball Report at 90th in the state of Illinois. He has recently won a conference championship for Rockford Lutheran alongside Coach Mark West (Big Dog and Rockford Lutheran HS Coach) and fellow Rockford Big Dogs teammates Justin Mercer, Johnny Sanchez, Nick Todaro, and Justin Woolbright.
Brady was not blessed with size and power, but he worked to become one of Illinois's most feared power hitters in the 2016 class. Brady's ability to deal with adversity should be admired by any player that aspires to play college baseball
Alec Powell RHP & Matt Rosko OF
Rockford Christian HS 2016/Kaneland HS 2016
08/15/2015 11/05/2015
Alec Powell has given his verbal commitment to pitch at Quincy University. Alec has been with the 2016 Rockford Big Dogs, coached by Tom Woolbright, for the last six years. Alec saw a velocity spike from high 70s two years ago, to now consistently mid to high 80s. This peaked the interest of numerous scouts.
Initially committed to Indiana Wesleyan, Alec opened his recruiting options once the initial coach he committed to stepped down. Alec and several other Big Dogs attended Quincy's camp last year. They followed him since that camp and offered him the athletic and academic package he was looking for.
With one more year left, Alec has already left behind a decorated High School career. This last year he was the BNC East Pitcher of the Year, BNC All Conference, First Team All State, Academic All State, Northern Illinois All Area team, and had a state leading 0.396 ERA with 92 strikeouts. A dual threat of Alec and fellow summer teammate Nolan Gazouski led Rockford Christian to a 2A State Championship.
Matt Rosko also joins Alec as a part of the 2016 class. After a hot streak of games at the WWBA in Georgia this past summer, he began receiving interest from many schools.
He was recently named All Conference in the Northern Illinois Big 12, as well as a part of the Northern Illinois showcase team that played in Plainfield.
Here is a video of one of Rosko's no-doubter home runs
2015's
Jaron Robinson SS/RHP/OF
Mendota HS 2015
7/10/2015
Jaron has given his verbal commitment to be a two way player for Coach Kevin Moulder and the Murray State Racers.
Jaron is a 3 time BNC All Conference player who has played with the Big Dogs for his entire High School career.
Initially committed to RVC in pursuit of an NCAA D1 offer, he showed well at the WWBA in Georgia and the phone began ringing. In a string of games, he made two diving plays up the middle, and hit a double to left, center, and the right field walls. His opposite field power is some of the best the high school baseball circuit has to offer.
He received many offers from various collegiate levels and finally narrowed it down to Murray State, SIUe, and Western Illinois.
After receiving offers from Murray State and SIUe on campus, Murray State gave him the offer he was looking for and he committed not even a week later.
Logan Thake LHP
Amboy HS 2015
5/25/2015
Logan has given his verbal commitment to pitch for Coach Jami Isaacson and the Knox College Prairie Fire.
Logan was named Second Team Three Rivers All Conference and Honorable Mention All Area in 2014.
He narrowed his recruiting options down to Augustana, Knox, and Illinois College.
He played in the Fall for Coach Dennis Kehrer and is returning to pitch for him in his senior summer.
Jeremy Morehead OF
Winnebago HS 2015
5/20/2015
Jeremy Morehead has given his verbal commitment to Coach Paul Wyczawski and the University of Dubuque Spartans.
Jeremy was recently named a unanimous selection to the 2015 Big Northern All Conference team.
He was a 2014 BNC All Conference selection as a Junior.
He will spend his senior summer with Coach Dennis Kehrer.
Brandon Streed P/1B
Belvidere North HS 2015
5/20/2015
Brandon Streed has given his verbal commitment to Coach Jared Wacker and the McHenry County Scots.
He spent the 2014 summer season with Coach Dennis Kehrer and returns for his senior year.
Evan Schultz OF
Mendota HS 2015
12/01/2014
Evan Schultz has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Kevin Vest and the Rock Valley Golden Eagles. Evan narrowed his recruiting down to RVC and Augustana College.
Evan has spent his high school travel years under Head Coach Tom Woolbright where he has mainly played the outfield. He hovers around a 7.05-7.1 sixty yard dash and has great defensive actions. He earned BNC All Conference honors in 2014 as a Junior.
2014's
Adam Budron OF/LHP
Belvidere HS/2011/2013
After finishing his two years at RVC, Adam Budron is now attending and playing baseball at Upper Iowa University, a Division Two school in Iowa.
Adam played centerfield and rightfield for us and was named to the 2010 NIC-10 All-Conference team as a junior. When he played on the 14u team in 2008, he was awarded 2nd place for the Fastest Feet Competition in the USSSA AA World Series in 2008.
Tyler Joyce P/UT
Rochelle HS/2014
11/08/2013
Tyler Joyce has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Bob Koopman and the Rockford University Regents.
Tyler started with the Big Dogs in 2012 and will finish his last season of travel ball with Coach Dennis Kehrer for the summer of 2014. Tyler is mainly a pitcher for Dennis as well as Rochelle, but can also play many positions on the infield as well.
2013's
Devan Glenn P/2B/OF
Belvidere North HS/2014
12/3/2012
Devan Glenn has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Jared Wacker and the McHenry County Scots.
Devan was a three year varsity starter for Coach Dennis Kehrer at Belvidere North where he was a career .310 hitter. He pitched, played second, and also the outfield for the summer of 2013 with the 18u Big Dogs.
Dalton Garst - INF/RHP
Winnebago HS/2013
Dalton has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Paul Wyczawski and the University of Dubuque Spartans.
Dalton has been selected unanimously all four years of high school to the Big Northern Conference All Conference team. During his years at Winnebago, he led his team to many regional games, including a regional title.
He was also invited to the prestigious Chicago White Sox Silver and Black Series that showcases the best talent in the state for future college and professional prospects.
This 2013 summer season will be his third season with the 18u Big Dogs and Coach Dennis Kehrer where he will catch, pitch, and play third base.
Jared Bloom - LHP & Casey Williams - RHP
Rockford East HS/2013
Jared Bloom and Casey Williams have given their verbal commitments to play baseball for Coach Kevin Vest and the Rock Valley Golden Eagles.
Jared and Casey have played with the Big Dogs since their sophopmore years of High School and have played with the 18u Kehrer team for all three years.
Jared has been used as a Closer and Casey has been a setup/relief pitcher. They have both played a big part in East High School's pitching rotation and also have been consistent pitchers for Coach Kehrer.
Jared Bloom also closed the Top Tier game in the summer of 2012, allowing starting pitcher and Big Dog alum Jalen Wimberly to secure his win.
Recently, they have teamed up to beat Belvidere High School to earn their first Regional title.
T.J. Highland - RHP/1B & Dillon Martenson - OF
Rochelle Township HS/2013 & Indian Creek HS/2013
10/29/2012
TJ Highland and Dillon Martenson have given their verbal commitments to play baseball for Coach Rene Valdez and the Sauk Valley Skyhawks. TJ and Dillon have played with the Big Dogs since their sophomore year.
TJ is a big, 6'2" pitcher and first baseman who relies on his curve to keep hitters off balance.
Dillon is a fast twitch athlete that likes to drive the ball the other way.
Both TJ and Dillon will play with Dennis Kehrer's 18u Prospect team this year.
Sauk Valley is a part of NJCAA D2 Region IV where they play schools such as Illinois Valley CC, Kankakee CC, and McHenry County College.
Nick Naber - MIF/OF
Rockton Hononegah/2013
09/07/2012
Nick has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Carl Tebon and the Loras College Duhawks. Nick has played with us as a 16 and 17 year old.
According to Perfect Game: "Nicholas Naber is a 2013 MIF with a 5-11 150 lb. frame from Rockton, IL who attends Hononegah High School. Slender build with room to fill. Good balance and body control at SS. Works through ball, low release on throws. Big, wrap load, toe-tap trigger at plate. Loads well, long swing that produced hard pull contact."
Loras plays in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC). Also in the IIAC are: Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Dubuque, Luther, Simpson, and Wartburg.
Jack Granath - RHP
Rockton Hononegah/2013
08/09/2012
Jack has given his verbal commitment to play for Coach Ken Henderson and the Southern Illinois University Salukis. Jack has played a total of 4 years for the Big Dogs. He has had a plethora of baseball honors; White Sox Silver and Black Series, NIC-10 All Conference twice as a Sophomore and Junior, and has been constantly ranked in the class of 2013 Top 50 in Illinois according to Prep Baseball Report.
Jack is a big 6'5" righty that sits 82-84 and has been up to 87mph on the mound.
Abe Martin Field was named in honor of Glenn "Abe" Martin, the facility has served as home for the Salukis since 1964. Martin retired in 1971 after 33 years of service, including 19 as SIU's head baseball coach. One of the reasons for the Salukis' success has been the support of the home fans. Though no official attendance figures have been kept, crowds as large as 4,000 have swarmed in and around Abe Martin Field. The overflow of crowds settle on the hill behind the first base dugout to form SIU's unique "Hill Gang."
Also located on the Abe Martin Field grounds is a four-tunnel, outdoor, carpeted batting unit. SIU's hitting complex is located adjacent to the field and was recently equipped with two state-of-the-art pitching machines.
Southern Illinois University participates in the Missouri Valley Conference. Also included in the MVC are; Bradley, Creighton, Drake (no baseball), Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Univ. of Northern Iowa, and Wichita State.
Troy Vandenbroek - OF
Belvidere HS/2013
07/01/2012
Troy has given his commitment to play for Coach Jim Schmitz and the Eastern Illinois University Panthers. Troy was a part of the 2008 team that placed 3rd in the 14u USSSA World Series. He participated in the Fastest Feet Competition and finished with one of the fastest times (Troy's recent 60 yard dash time is a 6.87).
Last season as a Sophomore he earned All-Conference honorable mention, and this season was selected to the NIC-10 First Team.
Eastern Illinois baseball has competed on its current site since joining the NCAA Division I ranks. Recently the former Monier Field received a facelift and opened as Coaches Stadium at Monier Field for the 2002 season. It is one of the premier stadiums in the midwest with chairback seating for 500 fans with the ability to expand seating capacity in future years. Fans can also bring their own seating and watch a game from outside the first or third base foul lines. The new facility also includes brick dugouts, an underground sprinkler system, modern press box and concession stand. The outside of the stadium is surrounded by 14 red brick pillars each honoring a previous EIU head coach.
EIU participates in the Ohio Valley Conference and under 3 time OVC Coach of the Year, Coach Schmitz, they have 4 outright titles, 19 players drafted or signed as free agents, 2 trips to the NCAA Tournament, 3 OVC Players of the Year, and 43 All-Conference First Team and Second Team selections.
Troy's goal is to simply "stay on stride." Troy told us, "I set goals for each step of my baseball career. So as I reach each goal I look to start a new goal. Baseball can be a game of failure, and as a freshman I would like to progress from each failure. That will mean setting many more goals to reach. You can always get better, and that's what I want to do."
2012's
Tyler "Wooly" Woolbright - Corner/RHP
Rockford Lutheran HS/2012
04/17/2012
After being recruited by more than 40 colleges from Juco to D1 along with a few athletic scholarship offers, Tyler has verbally committed to North Park University. Tyler, currently on our 18U team, has been a Big Dog since BD Baseball was formed in 2006. He played on the 2008 team that placed 3rd in the 14U USSSA World Series. While at the series Tyler won the Home Run Derby with 6 homeruns in 10 at bats.
Tyler is a physical 6'3" 210lbs middle of the lineup hitter.
In 2011 Tyler earned All-Conference honors while playing for Rockford Lutheran in the Big Northern Conference. The Chicago White Sox invited Tyler to the Silver/Black game two years in a row and the Area Code tryout. Other invitations include the White Sox Academy - Summer High School Prospect Games, Suburban Baseball Tournament (Plainfield Showcase) and the Northern Illinois Baseball Jr Showcase All-Star Game.
North Park Baseball is currently in first place in the CCIW and has been ranked in the top 25 in the nation all year. Tyler told us, "I hope to help Coach Luke Johnson, the 2011 and 2012 CCIW Coach of the year, and two-time defending CCIW Champs North Park University become D3 National Champions in the near future. I want to work as hard as I can to bring out the very best in myself and my teammates."
Hunter Grady (UTIL) and Derrick Mason (1B)
Belvidere HS/2012 and Harlem HS/2012
Verbally committed to McHenry County College. Derrick played first base and pitched for us and was named to the NIC-10 All-Conference team in 2011 as a junior.
Hunter and Derrick were both invited to the Suburban Baseball Tournament (Plainfield Showcase) and Derrick was invited to the Northern Illinois Baseball Jr Showcase All-Star Game.
Hunter is on 18u Kehrer as a utility player, but will mainly focus on second base for Coach Jared Wacker and the Scots.
McHenry has produced 8 All-Americans and 10 professional baseball players. In 2005 they were ranked 15th nationally. They are currently a game behind Oakton Community College who is first place in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference.
Alex Trautmann - OF/Corners
Guilford HS/2012
12/29/2012
Verbally committed to Grand Valley State University. Alex played third base and outfield for us. Alex was selected to the NIC-10 All Conference team twice his Sophomore and Senior years. Alex was also a part of the Northern Illinois Jr Baseball Showcase in Plainfield.
Alex is 6'2" 195lbs, but don't let his size fool you! He still runs a 7 flat 60 yard dash.
Grand Valley State has been constantly ranked in national polls.
The Laker Baseball Field was originally constructed prior to 1975 and was located to the southwest of the Fieldhouse. In the mid 1990's, the field was resurfaced for better drainage and a sprinkling system. Since then, a press box, turf floor batting cages, and a new scoreboard have been added. When the old softball field was moved in 2008, the press box was relocated behind the third base dugout of the baseball field. This has been converted into a player clubhouse with individual lockers for each player.
Grand Valley State University participates in the Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The GLIAC is split into a North Division (Ashland, Ferris State, Hillsdale, Lake Superior State, Saginaw Valley State) and South Division (Ashland, Findlay, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican, Tiffin, Wayne State).
Charlie Cerniglia - LHP
Belvidere North HS/2012
Verbally committed to Rockford College. Charlie newly joined our 18u Highland team for the upcoming 2012 season.
Charlie is going to pitch for Coach Bob Koopman and the Regents.
Rockford College plays their games at Riverhawks Stadium and they compete in the Northern Athletics Conference. The Regents are looking to secure a regional tournament berth.
2011's
Derek Breit - 3B/SS
Jefferson HS/2011
Playing baseball at Lincoln College. Derek played shortstop for us in 2010.
Derek is considering a couple of different colleges after Lincoln, including South Dakota State.
Lincoln College has a long tradition of successful teams and individual athletes. Many of the athletes have gone on to participate and contribute nationwide in Division I, Division II and Division III programs. Athletes at Lincoln College participate on a competitive NJCAA Division II level.
Lincoln College plays in the Mid-West Athletic Conference where they play teams such as Heartland, Parkland, and John Wood.
Tom Weissbeck - DH/3B
Rockford Lutheran HS/2011
Playing baseball at Central College. Tom played third base for us and was named to the 2010 and 2011 BNC All-Conference team as a junior and senior.
