2023 PBR Illinois Third Team All-State

As named Fox Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, Dorchies’ performance this season landed him a spot on our third-team. Allowing just seven earned runs over 55.2 IP, Dorchies’ 0.782 ERA and 0.894 WHIP reflect dominance on the mound. The UIUC commit struck out 71 batters this spring. His best stuff came in one of the most important games of Cary Grove’s season. As a junior in the regional championship game, he pitched a complete game shutout that was one of his nine wins on the season. He showed a prowess for going the distance, as that was one of his two complete game shutouts and one of his three complete games. 

A Valparaiso commit, Foley turned in a stellar season for Lake Zurich as he went 6-0. Foley struck out 93 batters, threw 51 IP, and allowed just 8 ER. Foley ended the year with a 1.10 ERA and a 0.843 WHIP. The southpaw was a workhorse for Lake Zurich as he tossed three complete games and one no-hitter. With that, the sixteenth-ranked LHP in Illinois' 2023 class lands on our third team after an impressive spring.

Liss turned in a season on the mound for Evanston that earned him third-team honors. As a senior, Liss tossed 53 frames and struck out 89. He finished the season with a 1.32 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP, obtained by allowing just 10 ER. The numbers, combined with competitiveness on the mound, saw him finish with a 7-2 record. The right-handed Liss will head to Belmont in the fall.

Cohn’s success at, and behind, the plate landed him third-team honors this season. In 120 ABs, he recorded 49 hits, 37 RBI, and 26 XBHs, 12 of which were home runs. Cohn ended the season with an impressive slash line of .408/.479/.842. His strong senior season saw him move up the records at McHenry as he became the record holder for doubles in a career. In addition, he found himself near the top of the record books in career home runs and career RBIs. 

Barczi became the first to be named DuPage Valley Player of the Year three times, and his performance this season explains why he received the honor. Barczi recorded 25 hits in 60 ABs and finished the year with a slash line of .417/.576/.917. He launched 8 HRs and 31 RBIs which led to his record-breaking accolade. He was just impressive behind the plate as he finished with a perfect fielding percentage and didn’t allow any passed balls. The Vanderbilt commit missed time this season due to an illness that kept him sidelined for multiple weeks. The top-ranked catcher in the state still posted impressive numbers in the ABs he recorded, all while being pitched around. 

Essenburg did it all for Lincoln-Way West this spring, which resulted in him earning third-team honors. At the plate, he recorded 124 at-bats, 45 hits, 40 RBIs, and seven home runs. Essenburg finished with a slash line of .363/.397/.653. On the mound, he broke a school record with 98 Ks over 54 IP. The Kansas State commit kept a BAA of .186, cementing himself as one of the top two-way prospects in the 2025 class. Just a sophomore, Essenburg is a high-follow prospect for the upcoming years.

Stukenberg’s impressive senior season at Lyons Township resulted in being named to our third-team. He slashed .481/.547/.787 with 36 RBIs and 22 XBHs, three of which were home runs. Stukenberg set school records for most hits in a season and career with 52 and 85, respectively. The athletic middle infielder will head to Saint Xavier in the fall.

Funkhouser was a key piece for the title-winning Edwardsville roster this season. The Central Missouri commit recorded 54 hits, 27 RBI, and slashed .372/.466/.566 in 145 at-bats this spring. The senior stole 13 bases on the year and was a crucial piece of the Edwardsville defense.

Smith’s slash line of .511/.578/.772 shows why the uncommitted junior landed on our third team. Smith’s season for Providence Catholic cemented himself as a high-follow prospect in the 2024 class. The middle infielder recorded 28 RBI and 65 hits during his junior campaign and was a sparkplug in the Providence Catholic lineup. 

The Johnson County CC signee was impressive on both sides of the ball in his senior campaign, which landed him on our third-team. At the plate, Link posted 55 hits, 41 RBI, and 18 XBHs, five of which were home runs. The 6-foot-3 two-way posted a final slash line of .534/.628/.825. On the rubber, he went 9-0 and posted 80 Ks in 55 IP for Gillespie. He allowed just 7 ER, had an ERA of 0.88, and held a BAA of .152. 

Bakes’ senior season for Huntley was one to remember, as he posted standout numbers and was named Fox Valley All-Conference. Committed to Indiana, the future Hoosier posted 40 hits, 35 RBI, and launched 10 HRs in 101 ABs. The second-ranked outfielder in the Illinois 2023 class finished with a slash line of .396/.534/.842. Bakes is accompanied on the third team by his brother, Ryan.

The 6-foot-4 outfielder earned East Suburban Catholic Conference player of the year, and also earned himself a spot on our third-team. Committed to Illinois, the senior recorded 44 hits and 30 RBI in 101 at-bats this spring. Jennings slashed .436/.536/.752 and was a prominent piece of the Marist lineup. He also recorded 19 XBHs, five of which came via the long ball. 

The Eastern Illinois commit posted a strong season for Minooka, earning him third-team honors. The junior started the spring season off as one of the hottest hitters in the state, and finished the year slashing .380/.460/.833. George impacted the Minooka season in every way possible. He recorded 41 hits and 42 RBIs in 108 ABs this spring and was perfect in the outfield, committing no errors. George is currently the twelfth-ranked prospect in the Illinois 2024 class and continues to impress at every look. 

McPherson leaves Reed-Custer this year as one of the most decorated athletes in the school’s history. At the plate, he recorded 39 hits, 26 RBI and 7 HRs in 101 ABs. He also slashed .386/.496/.713 on the season. However, McPherson stacked up the accolades and phenomenal performances on the mound. His 0.13 ERA is the second-lowest single-season ERA in Reed-Custer history. Named PBR Pitcher of the Week of 3/27, he tossed the third perfect game in Reed-Custer history vs. Herscher where he struck out 14 batters. On top of that, he fired a no-hitter and two other one-hitters during the season, all while allowing just 1 ER on the year.

The Sangamo Conference Player of the Year, Foster capped off his season with top performances in some of the most crucial games of Maroa-Forsyth’s year. Forster spun a perfect game in the Regional Championship victory against Williamsville, his third career Regional Championship as the winning pitcher. On the season, Forster was a workhorse for his school’s pitching staff as he threw 60.1 IP and struck out 112 batters. With a final ERA of 1.16 and WHIP of 0.829, Foster’s 8-2 record makes the season one to remember. On the other side of the ball, Foster slashed .447/.559/.734 on the year. Recording 42 hits and 26 RBI in 94 ABs, Forster cemented himself as one of the top two-way performers this spring.

A South Carolina commit, Bakes played a critical role in the Huntley lineup this season and was effective behind the dish. Bakes raked at the plate this spring as he recorded 41 hits and 35 RBI, ending with a slash line of .404/.538/.909. He tallied 25 XBHs, 13 of which were launched for home runs. The right-handed power bat is the second-ranked catcher in the Illinois 2023 class and is ranked nineteenth nationally at the position.

Ledbetter set the Hinckley-Big Rock record for most home runs in a season (12) in his sophomore season this spring. A unanimous all-conference selection, Ledbetter had an impressive slash line of .563/.644/1.268 and tallied 43 RBI. Ledbetter also toed the rubber as he spun 28.2 IP and punched out 61 across those frames. Just a sophomore, Ledbetter has established himself as a high-follow prospect in the Illinois 2025 class.