Les Norman, Outfielder, Kansas City Royals
Les was a three year starter for the Comets and was a member of the 1985 State Championship team. Upon his graduation in 1987, he was recruited into the College of St. Francis where he enjoyed a highly successful career and was selected to the NAIA All-American Team.
After college he was drafted by the Royals where his career continued to flourish. Despite recovering from a shoulder injury in 1991, he was selected the following year to the Midwest League All-Star Team (Class A), and after his promotion to Memphis, he was named the Class AA Rookie of the Year. The '92 season saw Les become the number two hitter in the Royals' organization with a .319 average and also his selection to the Southern League All-Star Team. After being placed on the Royals' 40 man roster during the winter of '93, Les went to spring training for the first time with the Major League team and was assigned to Class AAA Omaha. He spent part of the '94 season at Omaha and Memphis. He got his call to the big leagues during the '95 season and spent most of the '96 season with the Royals. During the off-season he signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians and spent the '97 season at Class AAA Buffalo. In 1998 he signed with the Rangers and hit .305 with Class AAA Oklahoma before re-signing with the Royals during the off-season.
Brian was a four year standout at RCHS and one of the most dominating pitchers ever to play high school baseball in Illinois. In 1985, his senior season, he lead the Comets to a 30-4 record and the IHSA Class A State Championship. A two time All-State selection and a High School All-American, Brian was selected in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles.
In 1989 he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Keith Moreland and got his call to the big leagues in 1990. During the 1990 season he developed a ruptured tendon in his throwing elbow and it required a tendon transplant and additional surgery to repair. After two full season of rehabilitation and after spending the '93 season in Class AA ball, Brian worked himself onto the roster of Class AAA Rochester. He spent parts of the '94 and '95 season at Rochester (Orioles) and at AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre (Phillies).
Jason was a 1992 graduate of Reed-Custer. He was an All-Conference, All-Area and All-Northern Illinois teams. Following graduation, he accepted a scholarship to Olivet Nazarene University where he immediately became a mainstay of the Tiger staff. Featuring a 90+ MPH fastball he was drafted in the fifth round by the Marlins in '94. Playing for Melbourne in the Gulf Coast League, Jason was an immediate success registering a 4-1 record with a 2.63 ERA. During the '94 season he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the entire '95 season. Jason was released during spring training in 1996.
Matt Nowak, Infielder, Baltimore Orioles
After his senior season he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and played three season in the organization before becoming involved as a Chicagoland scout for the Detroit Tigers organization.
Chuck Kolotka, Pitcher, Oakland A's, San Diego Padres
Chuck was a 1977 graduate of Reed-Custer who went on to Northern Illinois University. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics and was later traded to the Padres. The lanky right hander climbed the professional baseball ladder to the AAA level and seemed destined for the big leagues before a shoulder injury and unsuccessful attempts at surgery ended his career.
