Alec Novotney, a recent graduate of Marquette Academy, has been crowned the 2026 Times Baseball Player of the Year, a distinction that underscores a high school career marked by both pitching dominance and a potent bat.
His family moved from Yorkville to La Salle County, seeking a rural lifestyle and a smaller school environment that would allow him to thrive academically while honing his athletic talents.
A season of records
During the 2026 campaign he batted .472, compiled 28 extra‑base hits and drove in 44 runs, while on the mound he finished 8‑2 with a 1.45 ERA, striking out 105 batters and walking only five in 58 innings. His two defeats came at the hands of Sacred Heart‑Griffin and St. Joe‑Ogden, both state champions, highlighting the fierce competition he faced.
Coaches and teammates alike credit his success to an intuitive grasp of the game and a relentless work ethic, qualities that have defined his development from a promising freshman to a standout senior.
Novotney will continue his baseball journey at Valparaiso University, where he has been offered a scholarship to pitch and also play as a position player, signaling the next chapter of a career that has already left a lasting imprint on Illinois high school baseball.