September 19, 2024
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Softball and baseball: Ottawa has 6 named All-Interstate 8 Conference; Morris, L-P well represented

By J.T. Pedelty
Ottawa’s Maura Condon slides into second safely as Sycamore's Keera Trautvetter applies the tag during their game Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Sycamore High School.

Ottawa’s Maura Condon slides into second safely against Sycamore this past season. (Mark Busch)

The Interstate 8 has released its spring 2024 all-conference teams, with standout performers for Ottawa, Morris and La Salle-Peru among those receiving honors.

Baseball

Ottawa’s baseball team had three players receive All-Interstate 8 accolades.

Adam Swanson and Lucas Farabaugh – both sophomores for the Pirates – were voted first-team all-conference by the coaches of the league.

Swanson was the Pirates’ top hitter this season with a .395 batting average, three home runs and 32 RBIs, also going 6-4 on the mound with a 3.32 ERA over 52⅔ innings worked. Farabaugh pitched 17⅔ innings and recorded one win, but it was on offense with his .318 batting average, 18 RBIs and 14 stolen bases that he made the biggest impact.

Senior pitcher Tate Wesbecker was Ottawa’s third honoree, earning honorable mention after going 1-0 with three saves and a 1.09 ERA over 32 innings pitched.

Ottawa’s archrival, La Salle-Peru, also had three all-conference players – first-team seniors Brendan Boudreau and Seth Adams along with honorable mention pick Jacob Gross, a junior.

Conference champion Morris had six all-conference first-team selections – Jack Wheeler, AJ Zweeres, Brett Bounds, Griffin Zweeres, Nazim Baftiri and 2024 Interstate 8 Player of the Year Cody Delfavero – and honorable mention selection Merek Klicker.

Morris' Cody DelFavero (right) is congratulated after homering by teammate Griffin Zweeres during their Class 3A state semifinal game against Crystal Lake Central Friday, June 7, 2024, at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet.

Morris' Cody DelFavero (right) is congratulated after homering by teammate Griffin Zweeres during their Class 3A state semifinal game at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet. (Mark Busch)

Softball

The Pirates softball team also scored three all-conference slots after its seventh consecutive 20-win season and fourth regional title over the past five postseasons.

Maura Condon and Kendall Lowery were voted first-team All-Interstate 8 by the coaches of the six-team league.

Condon, a junior, batted .320 this spring with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 33 runs scored, also going 10-4 in the circle with a 3.94 ERA over 71 innings pitched. Lowery, a senior who also received all-state mention, hit a team-best .424 with six homers, 21 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

The player who split time in the pitching circle with Condon, Peyton Bryson, was awarded Interstate 8 honorable mention after going 8-4 with a 2.45 ERA over 117 innings pitched while batting .311 with 14 RBIs.

La Salle-Peru had five players voted to the All-Interstate Conference team. Taylor Vescogni, Callie Mertes, Ava Lambert and Addie Duttlinger were selected to receive first-team honors, with Karmen Piano earning honorable mention.

Morris had three all-conference selections, with freshmen Cami Pfeifer and Halie Olson receiving first-team accolades. Mylie Hughes was accorded honorable mention.