I mean a really TOP player that has already shown D1 or D2 ability.

Matt Behren, C, Holy Cross, 2-time all-conference, hit .450 from the left side last year, 7.0 60-time, 1.85 pop time.

A few names that should be spoken of and where they will go to school

Dean Cademartori,Notre Dame singed with Southern Illinois
Joe Oliver, Maine South singed with Eastern Kentucky
Aaron Newman, Palatine singed with Northwestern

I love Aaron Newman and did not know that. Can't wait to congratulate he and his parents. Way to go Aaron!!

Kevin Schrader from Bartlett High School. He really throws 90. Made Area Code this past year

You can see Kevin Schrader at the Flyers Classic this year!

I can personally speak on Matt Behren's behalf. I coached the young man for a week in Aruba and asked him to play SS. He was lights out as a fielder and a top notch lead off hitter. Now I hear he is a catcher. Wow, talk about a gamer! He could play for me anyday!

Bret 25

Schader from Bartlett made the Area Code team or was invited to try-out at North Central College. A very big difference. I have not seen him but hearing mostly talk. Everyone is better when just talking about players. Seeing is believing.

I had Nate Hart of OPRF in mind when I put this topic on the board. He hits, runs and throws well. He can go get it in cf and it seems he has been under the radar. It looks like some program is going to get lucky late w/ this guy.

JMAN, To the best of my knowledge, he made Area Code. I will confirm this with him next week. As a Jr., Bartlett did not use him as one of their starting pitchers. He probably pitched less than 10 High School Innings last year. I cannot tell you the reasoning behind this. Other than the coach may have thought him to be to valuable in the field. We will see what happens this season. I talked with him this past week and he did not know if he would be pitching or not this H. S. season. I normally don't post on other players, but Kevin has the best velocity that I have seen or caught. He is going to the University of Cincinnati as a pitcher. Since Beenthere and Travel Baseball Illinois listed him as their Top Pitcher maybe they will comment on Kevin as a pitcher.
The last few year we have played Batavia, this past year it was rained out. I have not seen a schedule for this coming season. Have you and are we on it?

There are many guys who train hard (strikes at least once a week), have joined a top traveling team (norwood, lombard etc..)but have just not gotten the chance to prove themselves due to better players at their position or various other reasons. Are these necessarily guys that will hit .450, no, but they are top players rarely mentioned on this board.

JMAN, Yes it has been confirmed Kevin played on the White Sox team at The Area Code Games. Not many people have heard of him or posted about him because he has not played on any of the teams that seem to dominate the board. But let me assure you that he throws heat. I have never caught the Top Tier guys but I have caught all the Norwood guys from the fall as well as the Lombard pitchers. None of them can come even close too the velocity that Kevin can.

Scott Allen from H.D. Jacobs....Look for him to have BIG offensive numbers as he takes over the CF position.

Bret... Schrader can throw heat...has been clocked at 90+ numerous times. He can get out most hs players with that alone, but if he doesn't develope a change up and a curve ball (for strikes) he will be hammered at the next level. At the next level, be it college or pros, if all they have to do is sit "dead red"...90+ doesn't get the job done alone

I personally hope he has been working on those pitches this winter...then he will be a force for Cincinnati

just wondering how Mr. Schrader does not know if he would be pitching or not this spring. Why wouldn't he. He has one of the best arms around

Anyone know what is the reasoning for coach at Bartlett not throwing Schrader? Seems if the kid needs to work on offspeed pitches he'd be better off doing that this spring than next year vs. d1 hitters.
A pitcher like this could win 12-14 games for a team on the mound, how many can he win with his glove?

Matt Mennen from Naperville Central 3rd/pitcher,good hitter.
Matt is going to St. Josephs I think. He is a great competitor.

Joe Froelich, now actively being recruited by the University of Miami.OPRF.Lefty, good command, 83 on the gun,outstanding 12/6 uncle charlie, good change. cool customer on the mound.

soxnole~
not trying to be dirogitory here, just wonder what you mean by "actively recruited"?, because of the July 1st phone call rule and how all these OPRF kids are gettin looked at by FSU and Univ. Of Miami when FSU has zero players any state besides Florida and Georgia and Miami has only 2 kids from the midwest, just does not seem as if they are very active in recruiting in the midwest especially with the amount of talent in the state of Florida

brett g. heres the way it happened. 1st we have some very good players. 2nd two fellows go to the fsu super skills camp with 44 really fine players from all over the country. these 2 guys absolutely tear it up and 1 commits while the other is told that they will be watching him closely.3rd the guy that wasn't offered go's to the xmas miami camp and plays (hits) better than he did at fsu. his buddy go's with him and pitched well.4th from the miami camp the hitter go's to perfect game underclass showcase with the commit and another fellow that was low on radar. the low radar guy is froelich and he proceeds to pitch very well. miami sees him and likes him a lot. meanwhile the uncommitted hitter calls fsu, makes an unofficial visit and gets really close w/ the noles. at this our original 2 fellows, committed and the hitter are having phone conversations (initiated by them) somewhat regularly w/ the noles coaches. the hitter talks frequently with miami as well.5th our coach who works his butt off for these boys, stays in touch with coaches at both schools. he of course gets asked about others and in that way is able to bring more players into the process. finally, froelich gets mentioned by the other players on their info sheets at camp,the coach brags on him and wallah! someone at miami remembers that while watching the hitter at PG that lefty with command is this other fellow froelich. additionally all 4 of these guys were to play for the indiana yankees summer tournament team. that has changed because of the hitters and pitcher # 1's camp and showcase schedule.but froelich and committed will play for the IY and i believe this is 1 more factor. throw in that all 4 work their fannies off at strikes and the wsa etc. and work with personal coaches and trainers.(Whealy,Nelson,Hayward,Hendricks,Palmer)I must also give full credit to playhard who had a couple or 3 well attended workouts in front of scouts.....the other pitcher that went to the miami camp is getting plenty of attention as well.he is very well liked by the pro scouts and along with committed is 1 of 60 young men invited so far to a 150 player east coast showcase that is M.L.B.'s combine. that is how 1 guy has committed, another is being recruited by both schools and froelich has just been asked for transcripts etc. hard work by all involved has really paid off.lots more work though before these 4 guys are done..committed is working to move up in the draft. hitter is weighing several options and froelich is just beginning to get noticed.pitcher # 1 will have plenty of options both pro and d1. time will tell but this just didn't happen out of the blue. hard work and getting seen pays off. almost forgot to mention todd fine's great workout at mvp.