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:

OF Danny Gleaves

Team: St. Rita
Preseason Rank: 3
2015 Record: 32-7
Conference: Chicago Catholic League - Blue
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Mike Zunica
Playoff Run: Lost in the Sectional Final
2015 Final Rank: 4
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 5

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Danny Gleaves, OF, 2016 (Michigan State)
Mateo Zunica, OF, 2016 (Kansas)
Cal Greenfield, C, 2017 (Florida)
Dominic Sarro, SS, 2016 (Villanova)
Max Franklin, RHP, 2016 (Heartland CC)
Killian O’Hanlon, RHP, 2017
Steven Washilewski, LHP, 2017
Blake Soria, C, 2017
Colan Fitzgerald, OF, 2017
Sam Basalone, LHP/1B, 2017
Matt Verdun, INF/RHP, 2017

X-FACTOR
Cal Greenfield. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Florida recruit is the No. 1-ranked prospect in Illinois’ 2017 class and one of the top catchers in the country. Not only is Greenfield a top-level defensive catcher, he is an offensive force at the plate.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
RHP Killian O’Hanlon. The 6-foot-6 junior right-hander features a heavy, hard fastball in the mid-to-upper-80s. O’Hanlon gives the Mustangs three frontline guys at the top of the rotation.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
SS Marty Bechina (Michigan State)
SS Tyler Halas (Palm Beach State)
OF Shane Peisker (Navy)

STAT RAT
Coach Mike Zunica announced that he is retiring after the 2017 season. Already, Zunica is knocking on the 600-win door, with a career 563-175 record at St. Rita. He has finished as the Class 4A state runner-up three times, in 2009, 2010 and 2014.

OUTLOOK
Perennial powerhouse St. Rita has been a mainstay at the top of the state rankings for more than a decade under long-time coach Mike Zunica, who has guided the program to three state runner-up finishes. Zunica said this year’s pitching staff has the potential to be the best he has ever had, which says a lot. Although the Mustangs graduated quality positional talent, which includes two PBR All-State selections in SS Marty Bechina and INF/3B Tyler Halas, St. Rita’s lineup still features four Division 1 commitments and excellent team speed. The Mustangs came out of the gates hot last year, starting the season at 25-0, only to lose in the sectional final. St. Rita has the horses to make another run at the Class 4A state championship. On the mound, RHP Max Franklin is a hard-throwing Heartland CC recruit who has the potential to be a shutdown ace. Behind Franklin, junior LHP Steven Washilewski should accumulate a lot of wins over the next two seasons behind a solid three-pitch mix and mid-80s fastball. Junior RHP Killian O’Hanlon is a physical right-hander with a heavy fastball. Offensively, the Mustangs feature premium speed, starting at the top of the lineup with senior CF Danny Gleaves. A Michigan State recruit, Gleaves is one of the best athletes in the state and a base-stealing threat every time he’s on base. Senior OF Mateo Zunica, a Kansas recruit, also returns to give the Mustangs a top-level defensive outfield. Zunica provides more athleticism and left-handed pop in the middle of the lineup. Behind the plate junior Cal Greenfield is a difference-maker, both defensively and offensively, as he proved as a sophomore last spring. Greenfield, a Florida recruit, is one of the top catching prospects in the country and gives St. Rita middle-of-the-lineup thump. Senior SS Dominic Sarro, a Villanova recruit, will anchor the infield with the graduation of Bechina. Overall experience in the infield is a concern, though Zunica has several options.

BOTTOM LINE
St. Rita gets the slightest edge in the rugged Chicago Catholic Blue Conference thanks to its pitching. The Mustangs will always score runs, and will again this year. If the infield defense steadily performs, then this could be the year St. Rita gets over the hump.

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