By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

RHP Garrett Acton

Team: Lemont
Preseason Rank: 12
2015 Record: 20-14
Conference: South Suburban Blue
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Brian Storako
Playoff Run: Lost in the Sectional Semi-Final
2015 Final Rank: Not Ranked
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 6

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Garrett Acton, RHP/OF, 2016 (St. Louis)
Nick Wisz, INF, 2016 (Parkland JC)
Ryan Sublette, RHP, 2017
Austin Tittle, 3B/RHP, 2016 (Lewis)
Nate Madej, LHP/1B, 2017
Casey O’Brien, C/1B, 2016 (Heartland CC
Dom Connolly, SS/OF, 2017
Angel Salinas, MIF, 2017

X-FACTOR
Garrett Acton. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior right-hander is a three-year varsity starter who has the stuff to compete with any pitcher in the state. The St. Louis recruit features an 88-91 mph fastball that has climbed as high as 93 in the fall. He missed a chunk of the season last year with injury, but proved to be a big-game pitcher when he beat Joliet Catholic’s Drake Fellows in the Class 3A regional playoffs. As a sophomore, when Acton helped Lemont to the Class 3A state championship and the No. 1 team in the state, he posted 5-2 record.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Jack Small. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound sophomore outfielder and first baseman has the offensive abilities to contribute on varsity this spring.

STAT RAT
Infielder Nick Wisz earned PBR third-team All-State honors as a junior after he  hit .510 with 23 extra-base hits: 18 doubles, one triple, and four home runs. He posted 34 RBI, 36 runs scored, an .824 slugging percentage, .575 on base percentage, and a 1.399 OPS.  

OUTLOOK
The Indians’ strength rests in their pitching. Senior RHP Garrett Acton and junior RHP Ryan Sublette give coach Brian Storako two right-handers who can dial it up to 90-plus. Both are highly ranked prospects in their respective classes and have big-game experience. Senior 3B/RHP Austin Tittle is a two-way talent who will contribute on the mound, and junior LHP Nate Madej is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he struck out 34 in 21.2 innings. In all, Storako returns six pitchers with experience, and seven positional starters. Offensively, senior INF Nick Wisz has been an offensive force for three seasons. Junior SS/OF Dom Connolly will serve as the team’s sparkplug at the top of the lineup. Big senior C/1B Casey O’Brien provides some pop in the middle of the lineup, and junior MIF Angel Salinas also returns for the Indians.

BOTTOM LINE
With Acton and Sublette at the top of the rotation, the Indians have the talent to make a run at their second Class 3A state championship in three years. With that said, they also run the risk of not even making out of regionals, as they are usually stuffed in the state’s most absurd regional with Joliet Catholic, Lincoln-Way West and Oak Forest. Whatever happens in the postseason, Lemont should be in for another strong season.

Make sure to follow @pbrillinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the season.

SEASON COUNTDOWN

+ Preseason Top 25 Team Countdown Previews 

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Rankings

+ Complete Illinois High School Schedules (Coming Soon)