Nazareth Academy senior outfielder Jaden Fauske was concerned about fulfilling high expectations throughout the baseball season. As a Louisiana State recruit and Major League prospect, Fauske ended up being named the Gatorade Illinois Baseball Player of the Year as well as all-state for the third straight year by the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association.

“Obviously, I think [all-state] this year might mean a little more for me just being through the microscope I had to play under and the extra pressure I had that came with that,” Fauske said.

Nazareth junior shortstop Landon Thome joined Fauske on the Class 4A all-state team for the first time. Fauske was 3A all-state in 2022 as the Roadrunners completed back-to-back state championships before being bumped up to 4A the past two seasons.

“I would say the Gatorade [award] was definitely special,” Fauske said. “I think of that as one of the highest awards you can receive. To cap off my senior year with that really meant a lot to me.”

Fauske had team highs of a .475 batting average, 40 runs batted in and a 1.433 OPS with four home runs, 38 runs scored, and 33 stolen bases.

Thome batted .442 with a team-best six homers and 46 runs along with 25 RBIs, a 1.412 OPS and 23 stolen bases.

Fauske was thankful for the support and insight from head coach Lee Milano and assistant coach Jim Thome, Landon’s father, who was inducted into Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.

“[The key] was just playing through that [pressure] and being myself,” Fauske said.

“Coach Milano helped with that, definitely just reiterating that all of the time. [Thome] helped a lot, just reiterating that. A guy who’s been through the whole process – and a Hall of Famer. Having him in my corner is pretty nice.” 

Fauske could very well be selected in next month’s Major League Baseball draft. He recently returned from the Draft Combine in Arizona, but the focus for him was interviews.

“I was used to it a little bit just because in the fall and winter I did interviews. This was a little higher level than that,” he said.

In last year’s draft, 2024 Nazareth graduate Cooper Malamazian was selected in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers but opted to play at Indiana University. By March, Malamazian (.320, 40 RBIs, 17 doubles) became the Hoosiers’ starting shortstop and was named second-team freshman All-American by Perfect Game and was part of the Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team.

“I was kind of getting an extra year my junior year to experience that [draft process] and look at it from the outside,” Fauske said.

Joining Fauske and Thome on the All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team were Nazareth senior pitcher Chase Zidlicky of Riverside, senior catcher Chuck Roche (.382, 5 HR, 32 RBIs, 32 runs, 1.155 OPS) and junior outfielder Kam Alikhan (.317, 14 RBIs, 24 runs, 15 stolen bases).

Zidlicky, the ace of the Roadrunners’ staff, had a 9-1 pitching record with a 1.06 earned-run average, 85 strikeouts and 28 walks in 59.2 innings and a 1.073 WHIP (walks/hits per inning).

Zidlicky (Middlebury) and Roche (Harper) also will play college baseball.

The Roadrunners (31-7) reached 30 wins for the fourth consecutive season and captured their eighth straight regional title. 

Riverside Brookfield baseball

The Bulldogs (19-14), who finished second in their first year in the Upstate Eight Conference East Division, had four all-conference players – seniors Sean Campbell (team-high .449, 26 RBIs, 1.467 OPS and 11 doubles with one homer and 14 stolen bases), and leadoff hitter Ethan Smith (,376, team-high 36 runs and 25 stolen bases with 2 HR, 14 RBIs) and juniors Damian Noa (.277, HR, 20 RBIs) and pitcher Aidan Polich (5-2, 2.20 ERA, 44 strikeouts in 35 innings).

Campbell (North Central) and Smith (Denison) are among the Bulldogs’ collegiate players. Campbell was All-Metro Suburban Conference in 2024.

Lyons Township baseball

Senior Tucker King was named the West Suburban Conference Silver Division’s Pitcher of the Year after a 4-3 season that included a team-best 2.57 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 49 innings with 17 walks.

King was joined on the All-WSC Silver team senior first baseman/pitcher Dom Pisciotti (.312, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 3-1 as pitcher 3.89 ERA, 24 K, 14 BB in 18 IP), junior third baseman Lou Ratcliffe (.383, team-high 34 RBI and 1.120 OPS and co-team bests of 3 HR, 36 runs and 10 doubles) and sophomore shortstop Blake Ragsdale (.343, 2 HR, 28 RBIs, team-best 24 stolen bases, co-team best 10 doubles).

King (Cincinnati) and Pisciotti (Concordia) will play collegiately. King also was all-conference in 2024.

The Lions (22-11-1) finished third in the Silver at 12-6, one victory from sharing the title.