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Chicago Tribune
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Pretty remarkable': West Aurora's Zach Toma is the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball Player of the Year
One day can change your life. West Aurora pitcher Zach Toma found that out on April 3. When he woke up that sunny morning, the junior left-hander knew that he would be on the mound. But he had no idea what was in store for him — and what was in store for his opponent. Toma ended up with 20 strikeouts in a stunning no-hitter for a 9-0 win over Joliet Central, and suddenly, people outside of the Blackhawks' program were talking about the talk of the town. 'It got posted on Prep Baseball Report, I was the player of the week, and after that, things started to roll in for me,' Toma said. 'They invited me to all-state games and that will do a lot for me.' Especially after Toma, the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball Player of the Year, struck out the first 15 batters of the game. That performance shocked everyone in attendance. The only thing preventing Toma's effort from being a perfect game was a dropped third strike on the second-to-last batter. It even prompted a phone call to former coach Dave Rowell. 'Pretty remarkable,' West Aurora coach John Reeves said. 'I called (Rowell) and said, 'Did you ever see anything like that?' He had some pitchers that were drafted, but that's pretty remarkable. '(Toma) was like, 'Why aren't they hitting the ball?' I said, 'Just keep executing your pitches.' He got noticed then. We knew what kind of player he was. At that point, people knew who he was.' But Toma still was taken aback as the game unfolded. 'I've had games like that where I'll strike out the first six guys,' Toma said. 'It got to a point where it kept going. Everything was working for me. It almost felt like it was fake for a little bit.' Toma rolled that momentum into a dominant season, both on the mound and with the bat. Besides going 7-2 with 99 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA in 65 1/3 innings for West Aurora (27-7). Toma also was a force in the middle of the order, batting .459 with six homers and 46 RBIs. As a pitcher, he only allowed 35 hits and 16 walks. At the plate, he also scored 33 runs and added 10 doubles. His RBI total came up only two shy of the program's single-season record. 'He put in the hard work in the offseason,' Reeves said of Toma. 'He played football, which I think playing another sport is helpful. When he came back over the summer, he got taller and thicker. Once football was done, he was in the weight room. 'We even thought he could have been better. For us, we're excited about next year, what he can bring to the table as a senior, learning the game more, understanding how to pitch better and just maturing as a player.' Bartlett coach Alex Coan has been on the other end of Toma's game and came away impressed. 'He's by far one of the best pitchers in the state,' Coan said. 'I will go to war for that on. Locates well, mixes it up really well.' College interest started to ramp up for Toma after the no-hitter, with several schools making contact. The only question now remains — hitting or pitching? 'I would love to go to college and hit,' he said. 'I love hitting. I've always been a good pitcher. I worked hard and it showed with the bat. If I could go two-way, that would be the dream.' The attention only figures to increase this summer with his new travel team, Top Tier West. An extensive travel schedule and a star-studded roster figure to bring plenty of attention his way. 'It's a lot of driving, but I think it's worth the amount of attention we're getting,' Toma said. 'The nerves are there. They've always been there. I'm very excited, especially with the new team. 'I have to work harder to get seen more. It's that feeling of I have to be better and I have to work hard to make myself look good in front of these college coaches.'
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Introducing the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball All-Area Team
Three players from Hampshire, which had dominant regular season, lead first and second teams. Zacharia Barkho, South Elgin, junior, pitcher/shortstop: Went 8-2 with 1.29 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 65 innings. Hit .313 with 10 runs, three doubles and 15 RBIs. All-conference. Braden Behringer, Sandwich, junior, infielder: Hit .410 with nine doubles, three triples, two homers and 40 RBIs. Conference player of the year. Honorable mention all-state. Noah Brandt, Somonauk, senior, outfielder/infielder: Hit .491 with 27 runs, 21 steals, seven doubles, two triples, two homers and 19 RBIs. All-state. Committed to Grand Valley State. Josh Colaizzi, Bartlett, junior, outfielder/pitcher: Batted .425 with 20 extra-base hits, 20 steals and 23 RBIs. Pitched 53 1/3 innings with 83 strikeouts and 1.58 ERA. All-conference. Brodie Curry, Aurora Central Catholic, junior, outfielder: Hit .369 with 24 runs, nine doubles, four triples, three homers and 27 RBIs. All-conference. Martin Ledbetter, Hinckley-Big Rock, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .618 with 35 runs, 34 steals, six doubles, six triples, nine homers and 35 RBIs. Went 2-0 with 53 strikeouts and 1.56 ERA in 31 1/3 innings. Four-time all-conference. Team MVP. Committed to Wabash Valley. Connor Lund, South Elgin, senior, outfielder: Batted .433 with 32 runs, 28 steals, six doubles, a triple, a homer and 11 RBIs. Upstate Eight West's player of the year. Committed to Elgin Community College. Jason Phillips, Plano, junior, infielder/pitcher: Hit .474 with 12 doubles, a program-record seven triples, two homers and 29 RBIs. Struck out 78 with 3.97 ERA in 49 1/3 innings. All-conference. Preston Popovich, Kaneland, senior, pitcher/infielder: Batted .402 with 35 runs, 14 steals, four doubles and 30 RBIs. Went 4-1 with 1.59 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. Honorable mention all-state. All-conference. Team MVP. Committed to Benedictine. Owen Roberts, Waubonsie Valley, senior, pitcher/shortstop: Went 8-2 with 0.49 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 72 innings. Threw no-hitter against Batavia. Hit .367 with 32 runs, five doubles, two triples, two homers and 19 RBIs. All-state and all-conference. Committed to Indiana State. Calen Scheider, Hampshire, senior, pitcher/outfielder/infielder: Hit .336 with 33 runs, 18 steals, six doubles, four triples, a homer and 27 RBIs. Went 7-3 with 2.98 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Bradley. Zach Toma, West Aurora, junior, first baseman/pitcher: Beacon-News/Courier-News Player of the Year. Hit .459 with 33 runs, 10 doubles, six homers and 46 RBIs. Went 7-2 with 1.39 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings. All-state and all-conference. Team MVP. Oscar Alexander Jr., West Aurora, sophomore, catcher: Hit .359 with 40 runs, eight doubles, four homers and 33 RBIs. All-conference. Joey Arend, St. Charles East, senior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .298 with 32 runs, 22 steals and 12 doubles. Had six wins on the mound, striking out 83 in 53 innings. Set DuKane Conference career records for wins with 14 and strikeouts with 114. All-conference. Committed to Xavier. Jack Burns, Aurora Christian, senior, shortstop/pitcher: Hit .387 with nine doubles, two homers and 30 RBIs. Had 2.40 ERA. All-conference. Andrew Deegan, Jacobs, junior, shortstop: Batted .393 with eight doubles, four triples and three homers. All-conference. Committed to Belmont. Ari Fivelson, Hampshire, senior, outfielder: Hit .343 with 44 runs, 16 steals, five doubles, four triples, a homer and 23 RBIs. All-conference. Committed to Bradley. Tyler Gluting, Metea Valley, sophomore, outfielder: Hit .362 with 33 runs, five doubles, three triples, three homers and 23 RBIs. All-conference. Keaton Reinke, St. Charles North, junior, pitcher/outfielder: Went 5-2 with 2.73 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. Hit .313 with 36 runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 14 RBIs. Stole program-record 35 bases. All-conference. Committed to Northwestern for football. Matt Ritchie, St. Charles North, sophomore, pitcher/third baseman: Went 6-5 with 2.00 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings. Hit .280. All-conference. Jared Russell, Dundee-Crown, senior, pitcher: Went 9-3 with 1.39 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. Set the program career record with 1.65 ERA. All-conference. Team MVP. Committed to Judson. Connar Temple, Batavia, senior, pitcher: Went 4-3 with 1.21 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 52 innings. DuKane Conference's pitcher of the year. Committed to Northern Illinois. Wilson Wemhoff, Hampshire, senior, outfielder/pitcher: Hit .337 with 26 runs, nine steals, 12 doubles, two triples, three homers and 35 RBIs. Went 5-2 with 1.95 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. All-conference. Hiroshy Wong, Waubonsie Valley, senior, third baseman: Hit .387 with 25 runs, nine doubles, a triple, a homer and 23 RBIs. All-conference.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
South Elgin's Nevaeh Gyurko is the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year: ‘Sky's the limit.'
At least the first time, junior forward Nevaeh Gyurko dreaded the phone call that she knew had to be made to South Elgin coach Jerzy Skowron. The high-scoring striker was about to break the news that she was electing to skip the high school season and focus her attention instead on club. 'She called me two times, probably three months apart,' Skowron said of Gyurko. 'The first time she told me she wasn't coming back. The second time was three days before our tryouts. 'Her first words were, 'Save me a jersey.'' After erupting last spring as a sophomore with 26 goals and 12 assists, Gyurko originally felt club offered the better chance of optimizing her national visibility and recruiting profile. The allure of school pride and close friends proved too great to turn down. 'I just couldn't see myself bypassing my junior year with all of my close friends who are on the team,' Gyurko said. 'We have some amazing players, especially our seniors. 'I'm really happy with my decision because I think this year ended up being my best season yet.' Gyurko, the 2025 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year, validated that decision with a glittering blend of athleticism, agility and power. Using her elite 5-foot-11 size, Gyurko scored 23 goals and also added eight assists as the Storm (15-8-2, 5-0-1) went out and captured their third consecutive conference championship. Along with West Aurora's Olivia Del Toro, a James Madison recruit, Gyurko ended up sharing the conference MVP award for the Upstate Eight West. Her play, presence and leadership transformed the Storm, according to senior defender Ashley Gonzalez. 'Nevaeh is an amazing player who can adapt her game and also bring her teammates up with her,' Gonzalez said. 'She uses her strengths such as her intense speed and technique to beat players and make her way to scoring easier. 'She has a great finish with either foot.' Gyurko, who also won a sportsmanship award this season, took South Elgin to a wholly different level. And not just in the way she played. 'I couldn't pay anybody enough money in the world to say anything bad about her,' Skowron said. 'She's the most athletic, dangerous player on the field. Her personality and nature are contagious. 'As she becomes a more clinical and classical finisher, the sky's the limit for her.' Her selflessness of putting the team and friends before her own interests was evidenced by the way she played. If scoring is a privileged talent, sharing the ball is an intuitive skill. 'I've always thought of myself as a team player and I've never been afraid to pass the ball,' she said. 'I'm always going to do whatever I need to in order for the team to be successful. 'I don't really play for statistics. I take just as much reward and satisfaction in assisting others as I do scoring for myself. I have always wanted to be that person who encourages others and lifts them up when they're struggling.' As far as her family goes, she comes by the sport pretty naturally. Her father, Mark, played soccer in college at Wisconsin-Parkside. Her mother, Stacey Dolezal, played at Boca Raton. Gyurko's excellence on the field, however, is just one part of her multifaceted character. She's set to spend part of her summer on a church-affiliated mission to Nicaragua. 'I'm fluent in Spanish,' she said. 'I started learning in a special kindergarten to sixth grade language program. I want to be a teacher.' The experience has only deepened her resolve to expand the parameters, efficiency and effectiveness of her game. 'I'm thankful for my talent and being tall and fast,' Gyurko said. 'I've wanted to be a part of this program since my freshman year. I also know I haven't hit my full potential. 'My best soccer is yet to come.'
Chicago Tribune
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Nick Lambert answers call on mound as Waubonsie Valley rolls past West Aurora. Key factor? ‘Better every time out.'
Senior right-hander Nick Lambert was definitely ready to take the mound Saturday morning for Waubonsie Valley. He just wasn't sure that was going to happen before the playoffs began. After Owen Roberts pitched the Warriors to Thursday's win, however, the coaching staff was faced with a decision — start Lambert or go with Seth Gilliland? Lambert, indeed, got the call. And he had to focus in quickly. 'I found out a day or two ago, so I had to mentally prepare for that,' Lambert said. 'I had a little bit of nerves, but I knew all I had to do was throw strikes, pitch my game and it would be fine.' Fine would be an understatement. Lambert cruised through five innings for the host Warriors in a 15-0 win over West Aurora in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional championship game. Lambert (7-1) struck out four and scattered four hits without a walk for Waubonsie (21-12), which plays at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against the host Porters (24-13) in a Lockport Sectional semifinal. The Warriors scored 11 runs in the fourth inning to break Saturday's game open against West Aurora (27-8), sending 17 batters to the plate. It took pressure off Lambert and the Warriors. 'We've had three guys throwing the ball well all season,' Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said. 'Going down to two games and two pitchers, we felt good. Nick has gotten better every time out. 'That was kind of the deciding factor. It was definitely a tough call. Seth has been really good.' Ryan Lucas produced two hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in three in the fourth for Waubonsie. Nick Cerilli added a two-run double. Roberts, Hiroshy Wong and Seth Nielson each had two hits, while Roberts and Nielson also drove in two runs apiece. Mason Atkins, Henry Hinkle, Eliseo Liscano and Chase Yusi had hits for West Aurora. Having three solid starting pitchers is a luxury in the regular season. In the playoffs, when two can carry the load to state, difficult choices need to be made. That was the case Saturday. But Lambert delivered exactly what Acevedo was hoping. 'He commands the zone,' Acevedo said. 'He throws three pitches for a strike. He's not going to walk you, so you're going to have to beat us when he's on the mound. That's what we saw.' Still, Lambert did find himself in a two-out jam in the bottom of the third inning. An error followed by a single from Liscano had the Blackhawks threatening in a scoreless game. Lambert got a strikeout to end the threat and then Waubonsie opened the floodgates. 'I think that's what carried our momentum,' Lambert said. 'Everybody had nerves, but once we got out of that inning, everybody was more relieved.' Josh Hung led off the fourth inning with a single and Shane Torres bunted him to second. 'We were playing for one and Nick was going to keep us in it,' Acevedo said. Waubonsie had other ideas, though, and the bottom of the order got it started. Lucas, Cerilli and Nielson combined for four RBIs to get the Warriors on the board and they kept going from there. 'The fourth inning there was like the inning from hell,' West Aurora coach John Reeves said. 'We couldn't get out of the inning. Honestly, I don't even know how to describe it.' The inning went so long that Lambert had to go down to the bullpen to stay loose. He was unfazed, retiring West Aurora's final six hitters in order to end the game. 'I just knew I had to go back out there and shut them down,' Lambert said. 'You can't give them any momentum.' And now, the momentum is with Waubonsie heading into the sectional. 'We like our chances,' Acevedo said. 'If we play clean defense and score a couple of runs for (Roberts), he's going to give us a chance to win a baseball game.'
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Known for his pitching, West Aurora's Zach Toma takes his hitting to whole nother level. ‘Just feeling confident.'
West Aurora's Zach Toma is best known for his pitching, and rightfully so. The junior left-hander has been one of the area's breakout stars this season. What casual observers may not realize is he has also become the Blackhawks' leading hitter this spring. So, bring on the spotlight in the batter's box. 'I really wanted to be the guy up in that situation,' Toma said. 'I felt like I was seeing the ball really well, and I kind of felt like he was going to throw me a curveball in that situation. 'I got it and didn't miss it.' Indeed, Toma's two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday was the difference in a 5-3 victory over Neuqua Valley in a Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinal in Aurora. Toma also settled in on the mound after his big hit and finished off a complete-game win for the Blackhawks (27-7), who will play at 11 a.m. Saturday for the regional title against the semifinal winner between Naperville Central (19-11) and Waubonsie Valley (14-12). While Toma struck out six and allowed three runs, two earned, on three his and two walks, Braiden Williams came through with a pinch-hit, two-run single in the fourth to tie the game. Henry Hinkle and Eliseo Liscano added two hits apiece for West Aurora. Colton Maita doubled and scored for Neuqua (13-17-1). But the big double by Toma loomed large in the end. 'I expected it out of him,' West Aurora coach John Reeves said. 'He's been great with the bat in his hands. He can do it both ways, on the mound and at the plate.' That's true on both accounts. Offensively, Toma leads the team with 46 RBIs. As far as the pitching part of the equation goes, Toma improved his record to 7-2 with a 1.07 ERA. Reeves credited a program-wide mandate to increase time in the weight room as helping with that process. Mason Atkins and Toma, two football players, took it to heart the most. 'They spent a lot of time in the weight room, which I think shows,' Reeves said. 'Especially with guys like Mason and Zach.' Toma cited several factors for his offensive breakout, including switching travel teams and reworking his swing. The biggest factor, he agreed, came in the weight room. 'The strength part of it especially, we lift all the time,' Toma said. 'We lift in season. In past years, I haven't lifted in season. This year, that's been a huge difference-maker with my strength. 'Just feeling confident up there. Our coaches pushed the whole team into the weight room. And then Mason, he's always getting on me about lifting after practice, so it helps.' Toma's offense was needed after he got off to an uncharacteristically shaky start on the mound. Through 3 1/3 innings Wednesday, he trailed 3-1. He retired the final two batters of the fourth to get out of a jam, however. After his double, he retired Neuqua's final nine hitters in order. 'The beginning of the game, I wasn't getting that first-pitch strike down,' Toma said. 'Then toward the end, I really started to get that pitch down. 'Getting that first-pitch strike is huge, man. Then you have every pitch in your arsenal to throw.' Toma's heroics were set up by Williams' clutch hit, which helped the Blackhawks catch their collective breath. 'It felt really good to help the team out and win this game,' Williams said. 'That just raised our confidence and helped us.' It's always nerve-racking to be in a close game in a one-and-done scenario, but Toma was unfazed. He hopes that paves the way to the program's first regional title since 2006. 'It got me nervous a little bit, but to be honest, we had so much time left and I have a lot of confidence in our hitters,' Toma said. 'I knew we'd come through and scrap out some runs.'
