MSL Baseball: All-Conference Teams from 1964 to 1979
The MSL All-Conference Project
Presenting the All-MSL baseball teams from the league’s first season in 1964 through the 1979 season as part of the MSL All-Conference Project. It was a time of transition for the new league, especially in the early years, with many schools joining, departing and opening through Barrington’s arrival in the 1977-78 school year.
An asterisk * denotes the player was a Paddock/Daily Herald All-Area selection. The selection of these teams has changed through the years in terms of numbers of players and coverage areas. There are instances where a player did not make all-conference but made all-area and those players are listed in that category.
One note about the selection of all-conference teams is coaches had/have different approaches where some might nominate only seniors for the honor. We are not saying there is any perfect or “right/wrong” method but it is the case in various sports.
Notes are also included.
Information is from Paddock Publications/Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune. If you have any questions, corrections or suggestions please contact Marty Maciaszek at marty.maciaszek@gmail.com.
1964
DEERFIELD - George Esplin (Jr., P), Brad Schlesinger (Sr., IF), Art Scheskic (Sr., OF)
FOREST VIEW - Tom Lundgren (Jr., P), Ralph Kaspari (Sr., OF)
GLENBROOK NORTH - Scott Fowler (Sr., P), Bill Clifford (Sr., C), Del Machie (Sr., OF), Rick Piggott (Sr., OF)
GLENBROOK SOUTH - Dan Duzsczak (Jr., IF)
MAINE WEST - Andy Jackson (Jr., P), John Gabbert (Sr., C), Chuck Esposito (Sr., IF), Cal Lewis (Sr., OF)
PROSPECT - Grant Gentry (Sr., P), Al Koehler (Sr., 1B), Tom Macaulay (Jr., 3B)
NOTES
- Glenbrook North’s Rick Piggott is the father of Chris Piggott, who was a three-sport star at Stevenson and is closing in on 400 wins as Fremd’s head baseball coach. Rick’s brother Rusty played on the Spartans’ 1974 state baseball champion led by future MLB pitcher Scott Sanderson. Chris Piggott was in attendance at the title game - at 2 months old!
- Maine West entered the MSL as the defending state champion and head coach Al Carstens also won back-to-back titles at Maine Township in 1958-59. All-MSL catcher John Gabbert started for the Warriors’ 1963 title team and was an all-Interim League selection.
1965
DEERFIELD - John Flint (IF), Tom Wells (IF), George Esplin (Sr., OF-P)
FOREST VIEW - Tom Lundgren (Sr., P), Rick Henderson (Jr., IF-P)
GLENBROOK NORTH - Paul Brubaker (P), Scott Krause (P), Chuck Russell (SS), Don Forgione (IF), Bob Breitzman (OF)
GLENBROOK SOUTH - Dave Alamshah (C), Greg Croft (P),
MAINE WEST - Dan Carlson (C), Jim Smith (Sr., P), Stoney Jackson (Sr., 1B), Mike Neese (SS), Jerry Hanselmann (OF), Bill Verber (OF)
PROSPECT - Greg Kowal (Sr., P)
WHEELING - Mark Newman (Jr., 3B-P)
NOTES
- Forest View pitcher Tom Lundgren was taken in the 22nd round of the first MLB draft in 1965 by Cleveland. Lundgren would be drafted FOUR more times in various collegiate phases of the draft at Missouri before going in the 5th round to the Angels in 1970. He pitched 10 games in his only season of pro ball.
- Maine West’s Jim Smith had a Hall of Fame basketball career at Northern Illinois University and was drafted in the 9th round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Hall of Fame.
- Wheeling’s Mark Newman was a successful college baseball coach as an assistant at Southern Illinois and head coach at Old Dominion. He was a major part of building the Yankees’ dynasty in the 1990s as a front office executive from 1989-2014. Newman passed away in 2020.
- Maine West, which won the first 4 MSL titles under Al Carstens, was the first team with six all-MSL selections.
1966
CONANT - Dan Grueneich (Sr., OF)
FOREST VIEW - Kurt Koentopp (Sr., SS), Mike Helstrom (Sr., OF)
MAINE WEST - Bill Gastorf (Sr., P), Bob Banger (Soph., 1B), Tony Gyssier (Sr., OF), Rich Farias (Jr., OF)
PALATINE - Barry Yurtis (Sr., P), Mike Ferguson (Jr., 2B), Ken Johnson (Sr., SS), John Grove (Sr., OF)
PROSPECT - Dave Kingman (Jr., P-OF), J.D. Thorne (Sr., 1B-P), Tom Lundstedt (Jr., C), Maury Gallagher (Jr., OF)
WHEELING - Mark Newman (Sr., P-IF), Dan DeVito (Jr., 3B), Bob Krug (Sr., C), Jon Hittman (Jr., OF)
NOTES
- Prospect is the only MSL team to have two future big-leaguers playing at the same time in Tom Lundstedt and Dave Kingman. Lundstedt caught for the Cubs and Twins and Kingman had a 16-year MLB career where he hit 442 homers with 7 teams - including the Cubs from 1978-80. Both were also all-MSL in basketball and Lundstedt, who played both sports at the University of Michigan, is a member of the IBCA Hall of Fame. Kingman was one of the most sought-after prospects and played at USC for the legendary Rod Dedeaux.
- Wheeling’s Jon Hittman was the head football coach at his alma mater for 4 years. His 1981 team went 7-2 but didn’t get an at-large playoff berth.
- Palatine’s Ken Johnson was the head baseball coach at Hoffman Estates for 6 years (1978-83).
1967
ARLINGTON - Brad Somers (Sr., OF), Bob Hecht (Sr., OF)
CONANT - John Furio (Soph., P), Bill Nuyttens (Jr., IF)
ELK GROVE - Bob Artemenko (Jr., SS-P)
FOREST VIEW - Dan Smith (Sr., OF), Hank Tasche (Sr., OF)
MAINE WEST - Al Fritz (Sr., P), Craig Rowells (Sr., C), Bob Banger (Jr., 1B), Tommy Kehe (Sr., IF), Harry Tistle (Jr., OF-P)
PALATINE - Mike Ferguson (Sr., 2B)
PROSPECT - Dave Kingman (Sr., P-OF), Tom Lundstedt (Sr., C), Joel Theiss (Sr., IF), Robby Robinson (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - Skip Grandt (Sr., P), Rex Peterson (Sr., IF)
NOTES
- Prospect’s Dave Kingman was taken in the 2nd round of the 1967 MLB draft by the Angels and teammate Tom Lundstedt was taken in the 65th round by the Dodgers. Kingman was drafted twice more in the first round of secondary phases and was the No. 1 pick of the Giants in 1970. He made his MLB debut in 1971. Lundstedt was taken in the first round of the 1970 secondary phase with the 17th pick by the Cubs.
- Maine West’s Al Fritz was a 40th-round MLB pick of the White Sox in the 1967 draft.
1968
ARLINGTON - Darrel Kasl (Sr., OF),
CONANT - John Furio (Jr., P), John Moffat (Sr., 1B)
ELK GROVE - Bob Artemenko (Sr., P-SS), Jim DiVito (Sr., 2B), Gary Pleickhardt (Jr., OF)
FREMD - Steve Bahn (Sr., P), Gerry Grybash (Jr., C), Wes Dixon (Sr., SS). Don Wickersham (Sr., OF)
FOREST VIEW - Tom Bartlett (Sr., 2B), Tony Lanzaratta (Sr., OF)
PALATINE - Al Bambrick (Jr., 1B), Bob Esmail (Sr., 2B), Dave Hasbach (Soph., OF)
PROSPECT - Jim Gumz (Sr., 1B), Joel Theiss (Sr., SS), Marc Schillinger (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - Jim Muelhausen (Sr., P), Jack Bastable (Jr., C)
NOTES
- Bob Artemenko led Elk Grove to the MSL title and would be an all-Big Ten player at Northwestern. Artemenko was taken in the 19th round of the 1972 draft by the Yankees and pitched for two seasons in their minor-league system.
- Prospect’s Jim Gumz was a three-sport athlete who would become a highly respected tennis coach for 50 years at Rolling Meadows.
- Fremd’s Steve Bahn became the head baseball coach at his alma mater for 4 years (1994-97).
1969
ARLINGTON - Gary Crain (Sr., P)
CONANT - John Furio (Sr., P), Wally Wiener (Jr., 1B)
ELK GROVE - Mike Losch (Jr., SS), Gary Pleickhardt (Sr., OF)
FREMD - Gerry Grybash (Sr., P), Don Dixon (Sr., OF)
FOREST VIEW - Frank May (Sr., 1B), Rich Olson (Jr., SS), Pete Cavallaro (Jr., 3B)
HERSEY - Bruce Frase (Soph., SS)
PALATINE - John Dempster (Sr,. P), Dave Hasbach (Jr., P-OF), Al Bambrick (Sr., OF)
PROSPECT - Jeff Suss (Sr., 3B)
WHEELING - Marty Crain (Sr., P), Jack Bastable (Sr., C), Cary Salm (Sr., SS), Gary Schweitzer (Jr., 3B), Scott Day (Jr., OF-P)
NOTES
- Three-sport star Jack Bastable, one of the best athletes in MSL history, led Wheeling to the first of only two perfect MSL regular seasons. The Wildcats’ only loss was in their regional opener. Bastable played football and baseball at Missouri and was taken in the 8th round of the 1972 draft by Oakland. He spent 2 of his 6 minor-league seasons in Triple-A.
- Conant pitcher John Furio was the first three-time all-MSL baseball selection.
1970
ARLINGTON - Jim Bokelmann (Sr., P)
CONANT - Mike Arkus (Sr., IF), Wally Wiener (Sr., OF)
ELK GROVE - Mike Losch (Sr., SS-P), Dave Ristau (Sr., 2B-P), Kevin Chesney (Sr., OF), Gordie Hollywood (Sr., P)
FOREST VIEW - Rich Olson (Sr., SS), Bob Kaspar (Jr., 2B), Kent Koentopp (Jr., OF), Pete Cavallero (Sr., C), Ed “Buzz” Johnson (Sr., P)
GLENBARD NORTH - Tom Pauling (Sr., C)
HERSEY - Bruce Frase (Jr., SS), Ken Kennepp (Jr., 2B)
PALATINE - Chris Andriano (Sr., OF), Dave Hasbach (Sr., P)
PROSPECT - Mike Musial (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - John Dyson (Sr., SS), Scott Day (Sr., OF-P), Dean Sheridan (Sr., C)
NOTES
- Arlington’s Jim Bokelmann is the son of Dick Bokelmann, an Arlington grad who pitched for 3 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (1951-53)
- Palatine’s Dave Hasbach was taken in the 11th round of the 1970 MLB draft by Cleveland but opted to attend Miami (Ohio). He was drafted two more times and was taken with the first pick in the January 1974 secondary phase by Kansas City. Hasbach pitched 5 seasons in the minors and got as high as Triple-A in three of them.
- Palatine’s Chris Andriano became one of the state’s most successful high school football coaches at Montini. Andriano won 300 games in 38 seasons (1979-2016) and won 6 state titles, with 4 in succession (2009-12). His teams also finished second twice and qualified for the playoffs 29 times.
1971
ARLINGTON - *Russ Kirchhoff (Jr., OF), John Brodnan (Sr., SS), Mike Moffo (Sr., P-2B), Chuck Donchess (Sr., C)
CONANT - Randy Jones (Sr., OF), Bill Arkus (Jr., P-SS), Rich Gallas (Sr., C)
FOREST VIEW - *Randy Jespersen (Jr., SS), Kent Koentopp (Sr., 1B), Ed Bansfield (Sr., C)
FREMD - Dave Hauswirth (Sr., OF), *Dave Wickersham (Sr., 3B), *Bill Cheney (Sr., 2B), Mark Wicklund (Sr., P), Rick Peekel (Sr., P-1B)
HERSEY - *Bob Andreas (Jr., OF), Ken Morales (Sr., 2B), Bruce Frase (Sr., SS), Terry Smith (Sr., P)
PROSPECT - Dennis Tite (Jr., OF), Dave Lundstedt (Sr., SS)
WHEELING - Jim Kass (Jr., OF), Tony Fricano (Sr., 3B), Dwaine Nelson (Sr., P)
NOTES
-This was the first year The Herald picked an All-Area baseball team.
- Schaumburg’s John Blasco was an All-Area selection, but was not included on the MSL All-Conference team because the Saxons played an independent schedule in their first year as a varsity program.
- Arlington’s Russ Kirchhoff missed the 1972 season because of an illness.
1972
ARLINGTON - Jim Hopkins (Sr., P), Jim Locascio (Sr., SS-P), Dick Kolari (Sr., 3B), Dave Kubik (Jr., OF),
CONANT - Bill Arkus (Sr., P), Keith Steelman (Sr., 1B), *Gary Pemberton (Sr., OF)
ELK GROVE - *Steve Scholten (Sr., C), Scott Pruitt (Sr., 1B), Bob Chen (Sr., OF)
FOREST VIEW - Larry Monroe (Soph., P), Dale Schoenbeck (Jr., C), *Randy Jespersen (Sr., SS-2B),
FREMD - Doug Pettit (Sr., P), Terry Kukla (Sr., OF),
HERSEY - *Mark Leonhard (Sr., P-OF), Steve Heidt (Sr., P), Pat Broderick (Sr., C), *Brad Smith (Sr., 3B), Dave Zare (Sr., 1B)
PALATINE - Buddy Hughes (Soph., P), Andy Knotek (Jr., C), Steve Garoutte (Sr., OF), Mike Hughes (Jr., OF-P)
PROSPECT - *Jim Prandini (Sr., 2B), Jim Dumke (Jr., 1B-P)
SCHAUMBURG - Ken Gast (Sr., P), Steve Hull (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - Mark Griffith (Sr., P), Dave Giles (Sr., 1B-P), Bert Newman (Sr., OF)
NOTES
- Elk Grove’s Steve Scholten would become an IBCA Hall of Fame basketball official.
- Hersey’s Brad Smith was a two-time state champion wrestler as a junior and senior (combined record 64-0) and led the Huskies to the only team state titles in MSL history. Smith won an NCAA title at Iowa and became one of the best high school wrestling coaches in Iowa and the country. In 46 years, his teams won an Iowa record 19 titles. He is a member of the Illinois, Iowa and national wrestling halls of fame.
- Palatine’s Andy Knotek became a head coach at Highland Park and his final team won 26 games and a regional in 2008.
- Wheeling’s Bert Newman was taken in the 30th round of the 1976 MLB draft by the Cubs out of Southern Illinois University. Newman played one season in the minors in 1976.
1973
ARLINGTON - Dar Townsend (Soph., C), *Greg Hauptly (Sr., P-1B), John Dillon (Sr., OF)
CONANT - *Jim Brown (Sr., SS-2B), Jeff Ironside (Jr., C-SS), Neal Thompson (Sr., OF)
ELK GROVE - Jim Laing (Sr., P), Loren Crites (2B),
FOREST VIEW - *Larry Monroe (Jr., P), Rick Hanning (Sr., P-1B), Dale Schoenbeck (Sr., C), Craig Stiles (Sr., 2B-SS)
FREMD - *Ken Roggenbuck (Sr., P), Larry Coughlin (Sr., P), Bob Burke (Jr., 3B), *Jeff Brisson (Jr., OF)
HERSEY - Tom Good (Jr., P)
PALATINE - *Andy Knotek (Sr., C), Mike Bourbon (OF)
PROSPECT - Jim Dumke (Sr., IF-P), Mark Hartley (Jr., 3B), Ray Seeber (Sr., OF)
ROLLING MEADOWS - Gordy Johnson (Sr., P), *Pat Earley (Sr., 3B), Rich Sidor (Sr., SS), Bruce Hanson (Jr., OF)
SCHAUMBURG - Art Abraham (Sr., SS)
WHEELING - Gary Wennerstrom (Jr., P), George Kaage (Jr., 1B), *John Theriault (SS)
NOTES
- Hersey’s Tom Good played on the 1974 basketball Elite Eight team that was the MSL’s first state tournament qualifier.
1974
ARLINGTON - *Dar Townsend (Jr., P-C), *Brett Frase (Soph., 3B)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Tony Spinelle (Jr., 3B-C)
CONANT - *Jeff Ironside (Sr., SS), *Gary Oslance (Sr., OF)
ELK GROVE - *Scott Scholten (Sr., 1B)
FOREST VIEW - *Larry Monroe (Sr., P), *Don Stevens (Sr., 1B)
FREMD - Mitch Gullett (Sr., P), Bob Burke (Sr., C), *Jeff Brisson (Sr., OF)
PALATINE - *Buddy Hughes (Sr., P), Lon Snyder (Jr., OF)
PROSPECT - *Mike Quade (Jr., SS), *Rick Streng (Sr., OF)
ROLLING MEADOWS - Bob Schmidt (Jr., P), *Steve Breitbell (Jr., C), Joe Riplinger (Sr., 3B), Bruce Hanson (Sr., OF)
SCHAUMBURG - Ray Fairbanks (Jr., 1B), *Dave Sterle (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - Willie Kozel (Sr., P),.*Paul Groot (Sr., C), *George Kaage (Sr., 1B), Carl Pfister (Jr., SS)
DAILY HERALD POY/ALL-AREA CAPTAIN: Larry Monroe (Forest View)
NOTES
- Forest View’s Larry Monroe was the 8th pick of the 1974 draft by the White Sox. Arm trouble limited his MLB career to 8 games in 1976, but he went on to a long career with the Sox as a scout and front-office executive who played a big role in their 2005 World Series title. His son Grant was a two-time all-MSL, all-area pick at Schaumburg.
- Wheeling’s Paul Groot became the winningest baseball coach in MSL history at Schaumburg with 611 from 1985-2012. His 1997 team is one of two from the MSL to win a state title (with 1986 Barrington) and he had teams take second (1989) and make the Elite Eight (AA 2005 and 4A 2012).
- Wheeling’s George Kaage was also an all-MSL and all-area basketball standout. Kaage was taken in the 26th round of the 1976 MLB draft by the Dodgers out of Kankakee CC and played 3 years in the minor leagues.
1975
ARLINGTON - *Dar Townsend (Sr., P-1B), *John Mertins (Soph., P-OF), Jerry DeSimone (Sr., SS), John Vukovich (Jr., 2B), Matt Splitt (Jr., OF)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Mike Ledna (Soph., SS)
ELK GROVE - Glen Stromberg (Sr., 2B)
FOREST VIEW - Neil Schmidt (Sr., C), Keith Mallian (sp., Sr., P)
FREMD - *Scott Orbin (Sr., 1B), *Carl DePaolis (Jr., 1B), Jim Van Meter (Sr., OF)
HERSEY - Don Bianchi (Sr., 1B), Gary Hart (Sr., OF)
HOFFMAN ESTATES - Randy Brown (Jr., C), Ray Gawron (Soph., P), Joe Gajewski (Jr., 1B)
PALATINE - Rob Hughes (Sr., P), Jeff Williams (Jr., OF)
PROSPECT - *Mike Quade (Sr., SS), Paul Baranowski (Sr., OF)
ROLLING MEADOWS - *Steve Breitbell (Sr., C), John Igrasek (Jr., P), *Bob Schmidt (Sr., P), Scott Green (Sr., 1B), Dave Bell (Jr., 3B), Tom Haugh (Sr., SS)
SCHAUMBURG - Bob Poplar (Sr., 3B)
WHEELING - Steve Rymer (Sr., 2B), *Al Newman (Sr., OF)
DAILY HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Dar Townsend (Arlington)
NOTES
- Arlington three-time all-MSL pick Dar Townsend was a two-time MVP at Illinois State. Townsend won 3 regional titles during his 15-year tenures as Warren’s head baseball coach (1993-2007) and in 2025 he was the interim head softball coach at Libertyville.
- Arlington’s Jerry DeSimone was a two-time MLB draft pick out of Southern Illinois in 1978 (Brewers 12th round) and 1979 (Padres 11th round). DeSimone played 6 seasons in the minors and the last three were entirely at Triple-A. DeSimone was a two-time all-Missouri Valley Conference SS and played for SIU’s 1977 team that took 3rd in the College World Series.
- Prospect’s Mike Quade was also all-MSL baseball and football and has had a long career in professional baseball. He managed the Cubs in 2010-11, was a coach for the A’s and Cubs and managed 19 seasons in the minors. He also played 5 seasons in the minors.
- Rolling Meadows joined 1965 Maine West as teams with six all-MSL baseball picks.
1976
ARLINGTON - *John Mertins (Jr., P), *Matt Splitt (Sr., OF), Mike Mayerck (Jr., OF), Don Stebbins (Sr., C)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Mike Marshall (Soph., 1B-P), *Mike Ledna (Jr., SS), *Steve Chobanian (Sr., OF)
ELK GROVE - Bob Ray (Sr., DH), Tom Curran (Jr., P)
FOREST VIEW - Larry Dahl (Jr., IF), Jim Petran (Sr., DH)
FREMD - Kerry Field (Jr., P-OF)
HERSEY - *Tom Barnard (Sr., 1B), Mark Knuttel (Sr., C)
HOFFMAN ESTATES - *Randy Brown (Sr., C), Ray Gawron (Jr., P)
PALATINE - Dan McSweeney (Jr., DH), Mike Crnich (Sr., 3B)
ROLLING MEADOWS - *John Igrasek (Sr., P-OF), Paul Marsillo (Sr., SS), Dennis Drolet (Jr., P), Guy Tenuta (Sr., 2B)
SCHAUMBURG - Terry Zarbock (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - Keith Pecka (Sr., P), Glenn Barry (Sr., OF), Bob Terreberry (Sr., DH)
DAILY HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Paul Marsillo (Rolling Meadows)
NOTES
- Hersey’s Tom Barnard was a long-time fixture in area baseball as a coach and MLB scout.
1977
ARLINGTON - John Mertins (Sr., P), Frank DeSimone (Sr., OF)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Phil Czosnyka (Sr., P), Dave Martin (Sr., C), *Mike Ledna (Sr., SS), *Mike Marshall (Jr., 1B-P), Scott Groot (Sr., OF)
CONANT - Scott Schafer (Sr., OF), *Rob Totten (Sr., OF)
ELK GROVE - Tom Curran (Sr., P)
FOREST VIEW - *Larry Dahl (Sr., P-1B)
FREMD - Chris Pethley (Sr., SS)
HERSEY - Joe Pusatera (Sr., IF)
HOFFMAN ESTATES - Ray Gawron (Sr., P)
PALATINE - Kevin McKenna (Sr., P), *Dan McSweeney (Sr., C)
PROSPECT - *Jim McDonald (Sr., P), Pat Higgins (Sr., C), Paul Lundstedt (Jr., 1B)
ROLLING MEADOWS - Dennis Drolet (Sr., P), *Bill Bilsley (Sr., 3B)
SCHAUMBURG - Rick Baker (Sr., OF)
WHEELING - *Rick Heredia (Sr., 2B), *Bill Knuth (Sr., OF)
DAILY HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Mike Marshall (Buffalo Grove)
NOTES
- Buffalo Grove three-time all-MSL pick Mike Ledna was chosen in the 21st round of the 1977 MLB draft by the Dodgers. He would play one season in the minors in 1981 for the White Sox.
- Hoffman Estates’ three-time all-MSL pick Ray Gawron became the most successful baseball coach at his alma mater (231-203 from 1983-99) and his 1985 team went to the AA Elite Eight. Gawron’s 1988 and 1989 teams won the program’s only MSL titles and they won 5 MSL South titles.
- Palatine’s Kevin McKenna starred in basketball at Creighton but also pitched in baseball. McKenna is the only player to win Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament, NBA and Continental Basketball Association titles. McKenna averaged 5.4 ppg for 4 teams in 6 NBA seasons and was a rookie with the 1982 NBA champion Lakers. His long college basketball coaching career includes a stint in charge at Indiana State and he has been an assistant at Oregon since 2010.
1978
