By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

At long last, the Illinois high school baseball season is here, which means the ninth-annual Prep Baseball Report’s 2013 Season Preview Magazine is out to serve as your roadmap throughout the spring. Packed ineloquently inside the 64-page issue is a wealth of statistical information, team analysis, expanded player rankings, conference predictions and much more.
 
In preparation for our ninth-annual season preview, we’ve spent countless hours polling coaches, crunching numbers, examining rosters, dissecting pitching staffs, analyzing schedules, and throwing darts. Our hard work, of course, means squat because only time will tell who the state’s top teams will be when it really matters – in June.

Until that happens, let the debating begin. In the upcoming Prep Baseball Report magazine, we have detailed reports on the Prep Baseball Report’s preseason top 50 teams. While preseason prognostications are only really purposeful to sell magazines – in theory, that is – you can bet these 50 teams will be strong this spring.

The final two teams standing in Class 4A last spring both hailed from the West Suburban Silver Conference, with Oak Park edging Lyons Township for the championship. Lyons Township, which is on an incredible hot streak, having won the 2011 state championship, the 2012 IHSBCA summer state title and a runner-up finish in 2012, is our preseason pick to bring home more hardware.

No team in the state, however, has more talent than Lincoln-Way North. The Phoenix should pose the biggest road block for Lyons Township. And let us not forget about nearly every team in the Chicago Catholic Blue Conference, all of which can potentially vie for the state title.

Joliet Catholic Academy is the heavy favorite to win Class 3A and, frankly, would challenge for the 4A crown as well. Gear up for another exciting year of baseball. And let’s hope for some better weather this year. We’ll see you at the field.

Inside the 2013 Preseason Issue

• Breakdown of the Preseason Power 50 Teams
• 50 Other Teams to Watch
• Class 3A Preview
• Class 2A Preview
• Conference Predictions
• Must-See Games of the spring
• 10 Toughest Schedules
• Expanded Class of 2013 Player Rankings
• Expanded Class of 2014 Player Rankings
• Expanded Class of 2015 Player Rankings
• Initial Class of 2016 Player Rankings
• Hundreds more players to watch

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See you at the field … weather permitting, of course.

Click Here to Purchase your copy of the 2013 Preseason Magazine