Butler football recruit Mason Strader commits to Libertyville baseball. ‘I totally bought in,' and he scores big.
Libertyville senior Mason Strader approached this baseball season like an athlete with something to prove.
Although Strader had already committed to play football at Butler, he didn't rest on his laurels.
'I've totally bought in to what the coaches have been telling me,' he said. 'I didn't come into the season knowing I had a definite position, so I made a goal for myself to become a contributing member of the team with a defined role.
'Once I earned it, I pledged to hold on to it.'
Strader has fulfilled that pledge. He is the starting center fielder for the Wildcats (34-4), who will play Normal (36-4) in the Class 4A state semifinals at the Joliet Slammers' Duly Health and Care Field at 4 p.m. Friday.
Strader managed to prepare for this opportunity while training for two sports.
'I think I did a good job this offseason of keeping both sports separate but at the same time benefiting both,' he said. 'I knew I had to dial it up baseball-wise and tighten up some of my skills, but I was making sure I was addressing football too.'
Libertyville baseball coach Matt Thompson thinks Strader, who plays safety in football, is better for it.
'He was more of a pull hitter in 2024, but he's hitting to all fields now, and doing all of his strength work for football has given his bat a little more juice,' Thompson said.
Batting ninth, Strader has been productive as a second leadoff hitter for the Wildcats. He's batting .284 with 16 RBIs and 25 runs scored in a lineup where the first five hitters' averages range from .359 to .459. Senior catcher Quinn Schambow and senior pitcher/first baseman Joshua Holst have combined for 45 extra-base hits and 86 RBIs.
'I know if I get on base, I'm no doubt going to score with those guys coming up behind me,' Strader said. 'I try to have a good two-strike approach and get on any way I can – hit, walk, hit-by-pitch, error.'
Strader took two of those avenues during Libertyville's 5-4 win over Lake Zurich in the Stevenson Sectional championship game on Saturday. He went 2-for-3 with two singles and reached on a hard-hit ball to shortstop in his other at-bat.
Leading off the third and fifth innings, Strader got on base ahead of senior shortstop Cole Lockwood and scored, first on a double by Schambow and then on a home run by Holst.
'That was a game where it showed how important that spot in the order can be,' Strader said. 'I'm fortunate to have great people around me and to be surrounded by a bunch of extraordinary athletes.'
Strader also excels in center field, helping make Libertyville's defense up the middle — which includes Schambow, Lockwood and junior second baseman Trevor Wallace — a strength.
Strader manned the corner outfield spots almost exclusively in the previous two seasons. But he has thrived in center with his speed and has become the leader of a tight-knit group that includes sophomore Ryan Wilberding in left and juniors Carson Holmes and Jack Cenar in right.
'I love the pressure when the ball is hit to me,' Strader said. 'That's my favorite part of playing baseball. Those guys are my brothers. They help me read balls, and I'm so appreciative of them. We do a lot of the same communicating as in football.'
Wilberding is a catcher by trade, but his offensive skills forced the coaching staff to get him in the lineup. His transition to the outfield has been made easier by Strader. They're throwing partners and have extended their connection to off-field activities, including fishing trips with Holmes.
'Mason has taken me under his wing a little bit and has been a good mentor,' Wilberding said. 'Our bond as an outfield has grown super strong as the season has gone on. I'll have to be more of a leader next year, and his leadership has helped me realize the kinds of things I'll want to do.'
In the meantime, the Wildcats want to win the first state title in program history.
'I was a believer in this team from day one,' Strader said. 'Team-wise, we have such great chemistry, and I knew we had a team that could win it all. Now it's time to go prove it.'
Like Strader has already done.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Report: Blazers sign undrafted Arizona G Caleb Love
The Portland Trail Blazers signed former Arizona standout Caleb Love to a two-way contract after the former Pac-12 Player of the Year went undrafted Thursday, ESPN reported. The 6-foot-4 combo guard played three seasons at North Carolina from 2020-23 before joining the Wildcats for the past two campaigns. After averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists and earning Pac-12 POY honors in 2023-24, Love earned a first-team All-Big 12 nod in 2024-25 with 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. In 174 career games (169 starts) with the Tar Heels and Wildcats, Love averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals. He made 390 career 3-pointers but shot only 32.6 percent from beyond the arc and 38.0 percent overall. Portland selected Chinese 7-footer Yang Hansen 16th overall on Wednesday night with its only pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Get to know Caleb Desnoyers
Follow live coverage of tonight's first round of the 2025 NHL Draft as teams select the next generation of hockey's future stars Getty Images Getty Images In his time in hockey, first on the agency side and now as general manager of the Moncton Wildcats, Taylor MacDougall has seen and worked with his fair share of prospects. Ask him about Caleb Desnoyers, who just centered his team's top line to a QMJHL title and won the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the league's playoff MVP, and he tries not to get carried away. Tries … 'He's a special kid, quite frankly. And a lot of that stuff gets thrown around with top prospects but I try not to and I try to hold those standards very high,' MacDougall said on a recent phone call. 'If you're an NHL organization and you have the opportunity to tie off to this kid for the next 15 years, oh my goodness, I would sleep soundly. There's so many variables that go into trying to win a championship, but you give him 15 cracks at it over the course of an NHL career, that kid's going to figure it out at some point.' Desnoyers is a potential top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft, the league's rookie of the year as a 16-year-old, and a QMJHL First All-Star this year after registering 35 goals and 84 points in 56 games, fifth in league scoring and second in points per game (1.50) to league scoring champ and 21-year-old overager Jonathan Fauchon. Between his MVP playoff run with the Wildcats and the Memorial Cup, he registered another 32 points in 23 games (for a combined regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup total of 45 goals and 116 points in 79 games). Read more below. GO FURTHER Why 'special' Caleb Desnoyers is one of 2025 NHL Draft's top prospects Getty Images Position: Center Center Team: Moncton Moncton Shoots: Left Left Height: 6-foot-1 Desnoyers was one of the best players in the QMJHL this season as a leader on the top team in the league. He was also the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs. The No. 1 pick in his QMJHL Draft, he checks every box for what you want in an NHL center. He's tall and fast and makes a lot happen with and without the puck. Desnoyers displays excellent skill and playmaking ability. He creates offense on the move, off the perimeter and at the net. He has great creativity as a playmaker, while also being a detailed two-way player. Desnoyers can be trusted to check top players as he has a physical edge in his game and gives a high effort every game. He has the potential to be a No. 1 center who can play in any situation. Getty Images Evaluating Anton Frondell ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft is anything but straightforward. Depending on who you ask in the NHL, he's either a future franchise center or a solid middle-six contributor. Scouts are split, with some seeing him worthy of a top-three selection, while others view him somewhere between six and 10. The variance in opinion stems from Frondell's Jekyll-and-Hyde spectrum of performances over the past two years. All players have good games/events and bad ones, but Frondell's have been more pronounced than usual. On his best nights, Frondell looks like a player who can tilt the ice in his favor. His season in the Allsvenskan with Djurgården was a major selling point: 25 points in 29 games against men, production comparable to what William Nylander and David Pastrnak posted at similar stages and slightly behind Elias Pettersson's Allsvenskan numbers in his draft season. That's elite company and a big reason why some scouts are bullish on him. As a 16-year-old, his numbers in Sweden's top junior level were among the best in recent memory. On the international stage, he showed he could rise to the occasion, most notably at the U18 Five Nations tournament in February 2024, where he scored two clutch late goals to upset the United States on their home ice. Moments like that reinforce the belief that Frondell has the potential to be a true difference-maker. However, inconsistencies have clouded his evaluation. Despite strong performances in some tournaments, Frondell had forgettable showings in others, even against relatively modest competition. For instance, during the U18 Five Nations tournaments in both November and February, he was a mixed bag, producing some strong games but also disappearing at times. His production against U18 players was actually worse in his draft season than in his draft-minus-one season. At the 2024 World Junior A Challenge, he was solid but unspectacular as a 17-year-old, tallying just four points in five games against a fairly average talent pool. He also didn't even touch a point/game against in Sweden's top junior league in 10 games played this season. Read more below. GO FURTHER Why Anton Frondell is 2025 NHL Draft's most difficult top prospect to evaluate Getty Images Position: Center Center Shoots: Left Left Team: Djurgarden Djurgarden Height: 6-foot-1 Frondell's season started off slow, in part due to injury, but he was very good versus men in the Allsvenskan in the second half of the season. Frondell has a ton of skill and a real smooth element when he's around the puck. He makes difficult plays with consistency and can do so on the move. Frondell skates well and competes hard, often outmuscling others bigger than him. Despite his average size, he has a translatable style of play to the NHL that appeals to scouts. Frondell is a good playmaker but he's also a very dangerous shooter with a bullet shot that projects to beat NHL goalies from range. He's not a dynamic offensive player, though, and had a few too many quiet games at the international level this season. He has the potential to be a very good all-around top-six center even if he's often played wing this season. Getty Images The consensus No. 3 prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft is right winger Porter Martone. Our Corey Pronman has him at No. 3 while Scott Wheeler has him at No. 4. Will the Blackhawks elect to draft Matone or will it go in a different direction? Getty Images Below is an amateur scout's take on right winger Porter Martone: 'Porter brings size, a high-skill package, he's got hockey sense and good hands, and he's a big body who is always in the middle of everything. When you see Porter Martone play, he's not a great skater but he gets to where he needs to be and he's kind of a Ryan Smyth type of guy where he's always around the action, he's always around the net, he's always in the corners, pluys he's got the hand skills and the offensive creativity to be a aprt of a lot of offensive chances. "I think you're looking at a pretty complete player who's got size and brings an edge to his game, so he can complement a lot of players. He can be up and down your lineup. He can be with a lot of skill players and be net-front or working the corners or he can be on the fourth line and be more physical.' Getty Images His junior head coach and general manager, his skills coach and his minor hockey coach all use the same three names. Corey Perry. Brady Tkachuk. Matthew Tkachuk. That's what you're getting, they'll tell you — and are telling NHL teams — in Porter Martone. James Richmond, his head coach and general manager with the Brampton Steelheads, sees Perry in particular — and not, he says, just because both have worn No. 94. 'That's Corey Perry' was the first thought he had when he watched Martone all the way back in minor hockey. 'When I've watched Corey Perry I say, 'Man that guy is just a dog and he's super skilled,'' Richmond said. '(Martone's) around the puck all the time and he's unbelievable with the puck on his stick, and he gets under the skin of people on the other team, and he can score and he can pass and he's ultra-ultra-competitive.' Shortly after arriving at Barrie's Sadlon Arena ahead of a recent game against the Colts, Martone, dressed in a checkered suit, said those names suited him just fine. 'That's who I am,' he said of modelling his game after Perry and the Tkachuk brothers. 'I feel like I'm a big, powerful forward who sees the ice very well, can make plays and can score. But I like to be a hard player to play against. I like to get underneath the other team's skin and just make an influence on the game every night and be a big player in big moments.' Read more below. GO FURTHER How 'phenomenal' Porter Martone has made a case for the top of the 2025 NHL Draft Getty Images Scott Wheeler: Despite this being a center-heavy draft at the top, there are some who believe each of Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Brady Martin and even James Hagens may end up on the wing. Caleb Desnoyers is really the only consensus 'that's a center' profile in that top group. I'd argue that Misa and Hagens are better-suited for the middle and believe both will be centers, but I can see it going either way for Martin and Frondell. I don't think you make your decision at No. 3 based on locking in two 5-10 centers as your 1-2 Cs of the future, though. I think you want your best players at the middle of the ice, and that Bedard will get his faceoffs and defensive play to where he needs to get it to in order to be successful at 1C. But I'd argue that all of the potential candidates at No. 3 in this class are likely better fits as the 2C than Nazar, freeing Nazar to play the wing with this year's pick or Bedard. I'd consider Porter Martone, the one true winger, there, but as we've written, he's not their type. Of the three they're believed to be considering, I'd order them Misa-Desnoyers-Frondell. Corey Pronman: Frondell and Misa have experience playing the wing, as Frondell was a winger most of the season versus men. Obviously, Martone is the top winger in this year's class. I would probably not be so rigid in this thinking, though. It's a lot easier to move a guy to the wing than vice versa, and you can never have too many natural centers if you think they are the best player. Getty Images Position: RW RW Team: Mississauga Steelheads Mississauga Steelheads Shoots: Right Right Height: 6-foot-2 Martone was a top player in the OHL this season; however, he did struggle at the World Juniors for Canada. Martone's skill level and creativity with the puck are elite, especially for a man his size. His reach and skill will allow him to beat a ton of NHL defenders one-on-one. He makes a lot of difficult plays and does so in traffic. Martone competes well, showing no hesitancy to engage physically or create at the net. Martone's major issue is the pace in his game. When he turns the corner and gets up ice, his foot speed is decent, but his first few steps are heavy, with a semi-wonky looking stride, and he doesn't always play with a ton of tempo. The size/skill combo is so good he could overcome that problem, but as one head scout has said, "Martone has the biggest weakness of any of the top five picks." He projects as a top-line scoring winger in the NHL who could put up a ton of points and play a heavy game. Getty Images Position: Center Center Shoots: Left Left Height: 6-foot-0 6-foot-0 Team: Saginaw Spirit Misa was given exceptional status to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old. He looked very impressive in his first two seasons, but he took off in his draft season, becoming one of the best players in the OHL. He's a high-end skater with clear NHL edge work and top speed. He's highly skilled and creative with tremendous vision. His ability to improvise in tight areas and on the move is elite and makes it easy to envision him scoring in major numbers in the NHL. Despite his huge goal-scoring numbers this season, I don't view him as a sniper. Rather, he generated a lot of goals off timing and getting to the net. Misa won't run guys over, but he competes well and is diligent without the puck. He projects as a star No. 1 center in the NHL that you can build a winning team around. Getty Images Scout 1: 'Misa would be our top forward followed by (James) Hagens but there's a sizable gap from Schaefer to those guys.' Executive 1: "Schaefer is the best player in the draft. It's not close, quite frankly. After that, Misa is the top forward, but it's close. He has the best chance to be a No. 1 center, all-around player who scores a lot.' Getty Images Chris Lazary still remembers what he was thinking during that first practice, as he stood against the wall watching Michael Misa navigate his way around the ice — and through and past his new teammates. Thank God we have him and I get to be his coach for the next three years. I know how much I'm going to learn from working with a player of this calibre. He still remembers the thought he had from behind the bench as he watched Misa, the sixth-ever player to be granted exceptional to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old, score twice in his debut for the Saginaw Spirit, too. He's going to change our franchise. In between that first skate and that two-goal OHL debut, Spirit general manager Dave Drinkill sent a text to the team's owners with a revelation, telling them Misa is one of those rare players where even when he has a quote-unquote bad game, you look down at the scoresheet and he still has an assist — or two. 'That's just who he is as a player,' Drinkill said. 'He has that innate ability to produce for his team. And that's just because the puck follows him around and that hockey IQ is off the charts.' Read more below. GO FURTHER For Michael Misa, OHL exceptional status and the 2025 NHL Draft are just the start Getty Images After the New York Islanders, the San Jose Sharks hold the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Based on the five original lists forming The Athletic 's consensus, including our very own Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman, the most likely pick at No. 2 is Saginaw Spirit captain Michael Misa. Read more about the consensus draft ranking below. GO FURTHER 2025 NHL Draft consensus big board: Schaefer, top centers headline class Getty Images Below is a quote from an amateur scout on likely No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer: 'I think when you see him, the first thing that pops out at you is that he's an effortless skater. The second thing that jumps out is his high IQ and his ability to make plays with and without the puck. And I think when you watch games, shift after shift and game after game, he's the best player on the ice a lot of times. And he has done that at the U17 level, he's done that at the world U18 level, he's done that at the Ivan Hlinka level, and he's just a very mature, responsible player where nothing is too big for him, no situation is too big for him offensively or defensively. It's a lot of smart, simple plays. "You see a lot of highlight reel plays, but he doesn't have to do highlight reel plays to be a very effective player. People talk about it being a 19-year-old tournament and the reason you talk about it being a 19-year-old tournament is because a lot of the younger guys might be physically mature enough but they don't have that pro mentality or that of a 19-year-old world junior player where a lot of the time the simple play is more effective. Schaefer has that ability to just make smart, simple, quick plays, which is what wins you hockey games.' Getty Images The New York Islanders hold the top pick, and the consensus No. 1 prospect is defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The left-shot blueliner has the full package: size, skating, legit offense and a high compete level. He projects to play big minutes in all situations and has the potential to be a legit No. 1 NHL defenseman. But there's a local wrinkle. James Hagens, once projected to be the top pick in this class, hails from Long Island. The idea of the Islanders drafting a homegrown, dynamic forward with elite skill has emotional and marketing appeal. That said, Hagens' stock cooled in the second half of the year, with many scouts now placing him closer to No. 5 on their boards. It seems highly unlikely the Islanders would go away from Schaefer for either Hagens or Saginaw's Michael Misa, but still, within the NHL, the possibility hasn't been completely discounted in the lead-up to the draft. Getty Images Matthew Schaefer barely played this season after contracting mono in the first half and then suffering a broken clavicle at the World Juniors, which knocked him out for the duration of the year. When he was on the ice, though, he looked like a potential star No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. He was the clear best player at numerous international showcases, and he was great in the Ontario Hockey League. Schaefer's skating is exceptional, which allows him to close gaps quickly and transition play with ease. His puck skills, intelligence and compete level are all notably above NHL average as well, and he makes an impact at both ends of the ice. Schaefer has also overcome significant personal adversity with the recent death of his mother. He is one of the youngest players in this class; he was a few weeks away from being eligible for the 2026 draft, showing the significant runway he has for development. Getty Images Already forgotten which team is drafting where in Round 1? You and me both, hockey fans. Fear not, because here's the full first-round order for the 2025 NHL Draft: New York Islanders San Jose Sharks Chicago Blackhawks Utah Mammoth Nashville Predators Philadelphia Flyers Boston Bruins Seattle Kraken Buffalo Sabres Anaheim Ducks Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins (from VAN via NYR) Detroit Red Wings Columbus Blue Jackets Vancouver Canucks Montreal Canadiens (from CGY) Canadiens Calgary Flames (from NJD) St. Louis Blues Blue Jackets (from MIN) Ottawa Senators Flyers (from COL) Predators (from TBL) Los Angeles Kings Blackhawks (from TOR) Predators (from VGK via SJS) Washington Capitals Winnipeg Jets Carolina Hurricanes Sharks (from DAL) Flyers (from EDM) Flames (from FLA) Getty Images The 2025 NHL Draft is taking place in Los Angeles, Calif., at the Peacock Theater. Unlike previous years, where the event would take place at an NHL arena with team executives and personnel on the "draft floor," with conversations and potential trades being formulated, this time it's decentralized. That means teams will stay in their home cities, operating virtually. According to the league, 93 prospects will be in attendance in L.A. along with approximately 3,000 fans. There will be over 100 cameras to bring the viewer closer to the front offices, making these decisions remotely. Will this be a one-and-done format? Perhaps given the appetite for the old "draft floor" format, with everyone in one place. But it will be interesting to witness nonetheless how the broadcast pulls this off. NBA and NHL free agency are around the corner. MLB is approaching its All-Star festivities. Don't forget about Wimbledon, the Open Championship, and F1 races, which also happen in July. There are still a lot of sporting events on the horizon. Which is why The Athletic is the perfect place for high-quality, thorough sports journalism. Subscribe to The Athletic using the link here.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
2 former Butler basketball players sign contracts with NBA teams
Former Butler basketball players Jahmyl Telfort and Patrick McCaffery signed undrafted free agent deals with NBA teams. They didn't hear their names called during the 2025 NBA Draft, but former Butler basketball players Jahmyl Telfort and Patrick McCaffery will both have chances to catch on with NBA teams. Telfort signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, Life Sports Agency announced. Butler announced that McCaffery signed with the Sacramento Kings. Telfort led Butler in scoring at 16 points per game last season to go along with 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. McCaffery emerged as a 3-point marksman during his lone season with the Bulldogs. Patrick, the son of longtime Iowa coach and current Penn coach Fran McCaffery, led Butler with 77 made 3-pointers. He averaged 11.2 points per game and shot 41.6% from 3. Telfort has an NBA frame at 6 foot 7, 225 pounds. He's not the most explosive athlete, but he's a savvy player with the strength to get to his spots on the court. McCaffery began his career as a slasher looking to get downhill. At 6-9, his transition to a perimeter shooter should serve him well at the next level. The Clippers begin Summer League play July 11 in Las Vegas. The Kings will be playing in the California Classic Summer League starting July in Sacramento. The Kings will be hosting the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and Chinese National Team.
