Kurtis Brown
Junior infielder, Champaign Central
The numbers: Chosen Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 Conference despite playing for a 13-23 team. Second in the area in batting average (.468), tied for fifth in home runs (five) and 10th in RBI (33). Twenty-three of 51 hits were for extra bases, including 16 doubles. Walked 17 times, struck out seven times and stole three bases. Fielding average .988, with three errors in 240 chances.
I'm always texting: Lucas Wilson.
Favorite college player: Adam Carlisle
Favorite entertainer: Daniel Tosh
Favorite class: History
Favorite movie: "Bourne Ultimatum"
Favorite store: Express
Favorite restaurant: Panda Express
Favorite car: Volkswagen Passat
My first job was: at Culver's.
Three things on my bucket list: Travel the world, help fund a charity, skydiving.
Terry Deaville
Senior pitcher, Rantoul
The numbers: Second in area in ERA (0.89). Had a 7-2 record, including a no-hitter against Pontiac. Struck out 58 batters in 63 innings. A three-year letterman, was also team MVP. Will play football and baseball at McKendree College. A third baseman when not pitching, hit .326 overall and .433 in league play for the Corn Belt Conference tournament champions. All-Area second team in football as quarterback.
I'm always texting: Carlie.
Favorite college player: None
Favorite entertainer: Will Ferrell
Favorite class: Business
Favorite movie: "Step Brothers"
Favorite store: American Eagle
Favorite restaurant: O'Charley's
Favorite car: Camaro
My first job was: typing on computers all day.
Three things on my bucket list: Visit Europe, meet Will Ferrell, have my own successful business.
Austin Fender
Senior outfielder/pitcher, Unity
The numbers: Finished sixth in the area in strikeouts (105), averaging 1.6 per inning. John A. Logan Community College recruit compiled a 7-3 season record with a 1.35 ERA. An All-Area second-teamer in 2011, totaled 17 wins in his varsity career with 225 strikeouts and a career 1.82 ERA. Batted .316. Three-year varsity starter, two-time all-league first-teamer, helped school to 78 wins.
I'm always texting: my girlfriend.
Favorite college player: None
Favorite entertainer: Kevin Hart
Favorite class: Drafting
Favorite movie: "The Book of Eli"
Favorite store: Lids
Favorite restaurant: Maggiano's
Favorite car: Jeep Wrangler
My first job was: at Monical's.
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, mountain climbing, going to Europe.
Zack Girton
Senior utility/infielder, Oakwood
The numbers: Top hitter (.431 average) on a 21-12 team. The four-year starter ranks among the school's career leaders. His 47 hits this season are tied for fourth, and his 107 career hits are tied for fifth all time. Tied for sixth with 24 career doubles. Compiled a .343 career batting average. "Best third baseman I saw this year defensively," Oakwood coach Bob Sermak said.
I'm always texting: Kirstie Nicholson.
Favorite college player: Casey Fletcher
Favorite entertainer: Kevin Hart
Favorite class: History
Favorite movie: "The Blind Side"
Favorite store: Eastbay
Favorite restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings
Favorite car: Gran Torino
My first job was: None yet
Three things on my bucket list: Go to every major league stadium, see LeBron James play basketball, live a full life.
Dillon Hoel
Senior infielder, Tuscola
The numbers: Tied for second in the area in home runs (six, only two of which came at home) and tied for eighth in RBI (34), leading the Warriors to the Class 1A state finals. Team's top hitter (.415) who stole 23 bases. Hit for the cycle against Windsor. As a pitcher was 6-1 with a 3.03 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 60 innings. Walked 19. Started every game during his four years on varsity.
I'm always texting: friends.
Favorite college player: Adam Carver
Favorite entertainer: Josh Brookins
Favorite class: Physics
Favorite movie: "Major League"
Favorite store: Scheels
Favorite restaurant: Steak 'n Shake
Favorite car: 2012 Camaro
My first job was: mowing lawns.
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, going to every major league stadium, traveling to Europe.
Blake Hoveln
Senior infielder, St. Joseph-Ogden
The numbers: Repeat selection is a Parkland College recruit who batted a team-high .380 this season and wound up his four-year varsity career with a .399 average. The shortstop led the Spartans with 17 stolen bases in 17 attempts. "Blake is a coach's dream on the field. He communicates and knows where everyone is supposed to be," SJ-O coach Josh Haley said. Had a fielding percentage of .945.
I'm always texting: Josey Fruhling.
Favorite college player: Lukas Graves
Favorite entertainer: Brantley Gilbert
Favorite class: Trigonometry
Favorite movie: "Remember the Titans"
Favorite store: Any sporting goods store
Favorite restaurant: Taco Bell
Favorite car: Chevy Camaro
My first job was: None yet
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, mountain climbing, bungee jumping.
Joe Kenney
Freshman infielder, Mahomet-Seymour
The numbers: Burst onto the prep scene in impressive fashion, leading the area in home runs (seven) and RBI (50). Second on a 24-win team in batting, with a .364 average. Had 120 putouts and assists. "The best shortstop we've seen all year, hands down," M-S coach Nic DiFilippo said. "Without him, we do not win this many games." Lone freshman on the All-Corn Belt Conference first team.
I'm always texting: my friends and my brother.
Favorite college player: Kyle Parker
Favorite entertainer: Adam Sandler
Favorite class: Mathematics
Favorite movie: "Hancock"
Favorite store: Dick's Sporting Goods
Favorite restaurant: Jimmy John's
Favorite car: Enzo Ferrari
My first job was: None yet
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, driving a Ferrari, deep sea diving.
T.J. Onstott
Senior catcher/designated hitter, Tuscola
The numbers: A two-sport All-Area first-teamer (also in football as a linebacker) will pursue football in college at Lindenwood-Belleville, where he will major in criminal justice. Third in area in RBI (39) and a .375 hitter for a 24-14 squad that placed second in the Class 1A state tournament.
I'm always texting: my girlfriend, Lindsay Troike.
Favorite college player: Shaheen Shabrou
Favorite entertainer: Adam Sandler
Favorite class: Mrs. Hoel's English IV
Favorite movie: "Act of Valor"
Favorite store: Dick's Sporting Goods
Favorite restaurant: Cody's Roadhouse in Mattoon
Favorite car: BMW M5
My first job was: working on Lance Little's farm.
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, traveling the world, becoming a state police K-9 officer.
Michael Plecki
Sophomore outfielder, St. Thomas More
The numbers: Leadoff batter on 18-17 Class 2A regional champions batted .396 with a team-high 42 runs scored along with 15 stolen bases. Led Sabers in hits (44) and walks (21). The left-hander also pitched, compiling a 6-2 record and 3.00 ERA. Was the winner in the regional title game. In two varsity seasons has committed one error in center field (none this season). Also plays football and basketball.
I'm always texting: my girlfriend, Brooke Plotner.
Favorite college player: Dan Plecki
Favorite entertainer: Will Ferrell
Favorite class: History
Favorite movie: "Transformers"
Favorite store: Polo Outlet Store
Favorite restaurant: LeRoy Selmon's
Favorite car: Lamborghini Murcielago
My first job was: None yet
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, going to Las Vegas, going to Italy.
Chuckie Robinson III
Junior catcher, Danville
The numbers: Repeat selection, Area Player of the Year led Vikings (22-15) to regional and sectional titles and an Elite Eight berth. Allowed seven stolen bases for the year. Batted team-high .412. Drew 25 walks (second best in school history), had 27 RBI, 14 stolen bases and five home runs. A three-year varsity regular, has a .397 cumulative batting average. "The best defensive catcher in the area," coach Gary Gritton said.
I'm always texting: K.K.
Favorite college player: None
Favorite entertainer: Kevin Hart
Favorite class: Mathematics
Favorite movie: "Friday"
Favorite store: Dunham's Sports
Favorite restaurant: Cheesecake Factory
Favorite car: Audi
My first job was: None yet
Three things on my bucket list: Go to Dubai, ride in a submarine, take Alicia Keys out to dinner
Korie Vire
Senior DH/infielder, Georgetown-RF/Chrisman
The numbers: Area batting champion (.471) moved up from second-team status in 2011. Stole a team-high 17 bases and shared the team lead in home runs (three) on an 11-11 squad, A three-sport athlete, the Webster University baseball recruit also drove in 20 runs. A year ago compiled a .507 batting average. All-Area special mention in football and All-Area honorable mention in basketball.
Favorite college player: None
Favorite entertainer: Adam Sandler
Favorite class: History
Favorite movie: "The Rookie"
Favorite store: Nike Outlet
Favorite restaurant: Gross Burgers
Favorite car: Malibu
My first job was: maintenance at the courthouse.
Three things on my bucket list: Graduate from college, go somewhere in baseball, open a baseball facility for kids not financially able to play.
Jacob Williams
Senior pitcher, Monticello
The numbers: Southern Illinois University recruit was the area strikeout leader (155), an average of 2.3 an inning. Fanned 20 in the regional semis. The three-year letterman (who missed his junior year with an elbow injury) had a 6-3 record and 1.98 ERA. "He is a fierce competitor and brings that competitiveness to the rubber each time he pitches," Sages coach Chris Jones said. Hit .338 with three homers. Four-year football letterman.
I'm always texting: my girlfriend, Kylie Mumm.
Favorite college player: Cody Forsythe
Favorite entertainer: Sean Hannity
Favorite class: Zero Hour
Favorite movie: "Avengers"
Favorite store: Team Mickey
Favorite restaurant: Fuji
Favorite car: Silverado 1500
My first job was: working on my dad's farm.
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, going to Normandy, visiting Lincoln's Memorial.
Cully Wilson
Senior outfielder, Centennial
The numbers: Second in area in stolen bases (36), a total that broke the Chargers' 23-year-old single-season record. Also established the school's career mark for stolen bases. Among squad members with at least 20 at-bats, was the top batter (.380) on a 25-win team. Led in hits (46) and runs (38). Kankakee Community College recruit ended with more walks than strikeouts (16-15).
I'm always texting: my girlfriend.
Favorite college player: Willie Argo
Favorite entertainer: Drake
Favorite class: Sociology
Favorite movie: "Billy Madison"
Favorite store: Nike
Favorite restaurant: Dos Reales
Favorite car: 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
My first job was: bagger at Schnucks.
Three things on my bucket list: Skydiving, meet Tim Tebow, become a professional baseball player.
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